Secrets novel Chapter 1

Paula's P. o. v

I stood in front of my father, the king who sat on his throne with a calm expression plastered on my face when in truth I was panicking in the inside.

"It's been finalized, your wedding to our neighboring kingdom will be in two days, I hope and believe you are happy with the arrangements I've made. " father said loudly so his advisors could hear his authority lance through his voice.

"Yes my king, it's for the greater good of our people after all. " I answered with my gaze stuck on the floor.

I bowed then stood upright, I noticed the happy smiles that came from all the advisors.

"You raised her well," one advisor said in admiration.

"Of course" father answered with pride.

"Excuse me," I said then turned and walked out of the throne room.

I found my ladies waiting for me at the doorway, when I walked past them they quickly followed me behind in silence.

I pushed the door open to my bedroom and entered with forming tears.

"Why can I never refuse my father? In all my years he has never truly cared about me, he only visits me once a year, today when he summoned me I felt happy and took no time to accept his summon, but yet again he only wanted what was best for his people, what about my feelings? Am I that worthless to him?" I asked sadly.

"You are very important to him my princess, you are his only heir, he loves you a lot, it's just that he is usually busy with his duties. " Lauren my most trusted maiden answered.

"I was raised for the people, taught for the people, but all I have ever done is to see him happy," I said while I sat down on the bed.

"I heard that his majesty who is to take you as his wife is young and very attractive but mostly handsome," Miriam said trying to get all the girls to cheer me up.

"Does that matter to me? You all know that I have never seen any man up close, my father made it clear to always keep my eyes fixed on the floor and covered, so it doesn't matter how the man I'm going to wed looks like, all that matters is to fulfill my father's wish and my duties as a bride to the man I'm to marry. " I said loudly then stood up and walked to the balcony.

"She sure has it hard, she has been guarded in her room with only our company for the past 15 years, the king only summons her when her presence is really needed, I feel sorry for her. " The new maiden who was recently assigned to me whispered lowly thinking I couldn't hear her.

"Lauren" I called.

She quickly came forward and stood in front of me with a bow.

"I want to rest, I'm feeling tired over everything," I said.

"The princess wants to rest" she announced loudly for everyone to hear.

"She's more than pretty. " Janet said.

"Agreed. " Lauren answered.

"Lauren, you are like our elder sister, not only are you the first maiden to ever attend to her, you are her friend right? I too would make you my friend, you are always calm and know how to handle any situation, I really understand why the princess loves you very much" the new maiden said.

"Come on, lets stop the gossip before we wake up the princess" Lauren said.

I heard footsteps then the door open and close.

"I know you are awake, you have been pretending to be asleep," Lauren said.

I slowly sat upright with a low sigh.

"Nothing goes past you it seems" I whispered.

"Yep," she answered then sat next to me and pulled me into a hug.