Chapter one

Set in Medieval Europe, about a princess engaged to someone she doesn’t want to marry, so she starts sleeping with his brother, but not out of love. When this brother falls in love with her and asks if she loves him, she hesitates. 1st story not on fanfic

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“You will be married to Victor Montgomery in three month’s time.” The stone cold words repeated themselves in her head, no matter what she did. Kristen absolutely didn’t want to marry Victor Montgomery, possibly the most hideous man on earth. It wasn’t that Kristen was shallow, no, far from it. It was just that this man disgusted her beyond belief.

The way he harried the women, treated most people like dirt, and then pasted on a sickly sweet smile made her want to stab him. And now she was betrothed to him. Kristen strode along the perimeter of the castle’s drafty roof, fighting not the break down and cry. Because survivors didn’t cry. Only the weak did. And she was never going to be weak if she could help it.

She sat down on a stone seat, wondering what she was going to do. And then, Calvin, Victor’s brother silently sat down next to her.

“I heard you are betrothed to Victor,” he said evenly. He had to admit; Kristen was extremely attractive and had had at least half the suitable men in the kingdom court her. Not that she returned the affection.

“Betrothed. I had better begin getting used to that word.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You do not wish to marry him?”

“No. I do not wish to marry him,” she said flatly.

“Why not?”

“He sickens me.” Truth be told, she had always liked Calvin more than his elder brother. He was slightly older than her, and far different from his brother. However, elder being of the highest importance, she could not marry him.

Calvin leaned in closer. “What would you do about it?”

A brilliant idea struck her. If she could fall in love with Calvin, or he with her, he, being of the same family as Victor, perhaps her father would let her marry him instead.

“May I speak to you?” Kristen asked, standing up.

“Of course,” he answered, brow slightly furrowed. Leading her back indoors and through corridors, he opened the door to his rooms and let them both in.

“What do you wish to speak about?” he asked, sitting down on his bed.

Kristen didn’t reply, just pressed her lips fervently to his.

She could feel his surprise, or more likely shock, from under her as she shifted; hand’s sliding down his tunic.

He broke away, eyes dazed and full of want. “Kristen…”

“Shh,” she kissed him softly.

Calvin gave in, undoing her dress and letting it slide to the floor. Then they stripped all their other clothes off and made love.

--

Afterwards, Kristen turned her head to his and kissed him softly. “I must go,” she murmured.

“Then go,” he said softly, unable to tear his eyes from her.

“I will be back on the morn,” she said and slipping on her clothes, she left.

--

Kristen hurried to her room, not really knowing what to do.

A servant brought her dinner, and she ate slowly, drifting over her recent actions. A small smile spread on her face. Calvin was wonderful, so wonderful that she would consider marrying him; if only she knew what her father would say. And he was attractive too.

She closed her eyes, remembering his lean, muscular body and his dark hair and eyes.

Maybe I can make this work. Maybe I can love him…eventually.

After she finished eating she pushed aside her plate, contemplating what to do next. She had to keep this…physical relationship up, but no on could know. Except for maybe…Elene; her best friend.

Kristen took off her gown and lay on the bed, pulling the sheets over her. Tomorrow would be interesting indeed.

--

Elene frowned at her sewing, then sighed and put it away. Her friend had been acting oddly every since this morning, when the King, Paul the II told her she would be marrying Victor Montgomery, eldest prince of the next kingdom. Personally, she thought that Victor wasn’t that bad, and wondered why Kristen seemed to despise him so greatly. Then again…everyone’s tastes are different, especially on men. It’s just something.

And Kristen had almost every man in the kingdom slaving after her. It wasn’t as if she was a prude, she just didn’t...wasn’t attracted to them. So who was she attracted to?

Elene decided that that was something that couldn’t be deduced from thinking it over, so told herself she would ask Kristen the next day.

--

Calvin sat up, thinking of what they had just done. It was already odd in the fact Kristen had kissed him out of nowhere, yet even odder in the fact she was betrothed to his brother. And yet…it had felt so right. Almost as if they were longtime lovers.

He sighed. There was nothing he could do. This was not his realm, and not his King. And he was not his brother. He had better start getting used to that fact. But he could not get her touch out of his mind.

--

Victor Montgomery leaned back in his chair in one of the best rooms Summertide Castle had to offer and beamed. Finally something was going right for him. His soon to be bride was the catch of the kingdom, and he was the envy of most men in the kingdom. He would have a share in this fabulously wealthy realm, and be in good favor with King Paul. It was almost like a dream come true. But he knew that he had done this himself, getting in good favor with the ruler before asking the King for his firstborn daughter’s hand in marriage. It was all good strategy.

A maid brought dinner up to his rooms and he dismissed her quickly without looking up. Servants were meant to be treated like this; serves them right for not working hard.

He ate quickly and soon pushed the tray away. Time to get a good night of rest for tomorrow.

--

King Paul sat in his study, pouring over his accounts. And yet his thoughts were occupied with his firstborn. Was it right, to force her to marry when she has done much for the realm? Perhaps…perhaps she was too young. But now is the best opportunity; Victor Montgomery, Crown Price of the Kingdom of Weszlo. This will join our kingdoms, and provide additional forces if we are attacked. It is a good match. Good…politically.

Just then a servant knocked. Sighing, Paul muttered, “Come in.”

A man of about thirty-six walked in and bowed. “My lord, terribly sorry to interrupt but ah, young master Paul wishes to speak to you.” Young master Paul, of course, was his son. Paul III.

A smile lifted the edges of the ruler’s mouth. “Send him in.” He leaned back in his chair as he awaited his son.

--

Kristen jerked upright in bed, chest heaving and breathing frantically in a cold sweat. She would have sworn she was about to be thrown off a cliff…but only a nightmare. Only a nightmare. Kristen released a ragged breath and leaned back against the wooden headboard. She could only see by the light of the half moon, peeking from her window. Shivering, she wrapped the cotton sheet around her more tightly and forced her hammering heart to calm down.

It was late, that much she knew. The moon was disappearing slowly and the gray of dusk surrounded everything. Yet she could not sleep.

--

Elene got up and changed quickly into a good dress. Making her way to Kristen’s rooms, she pondered how she could broach the subject with her friend. Kristen usually was not hard to talk to, no, not at all, but she had seemed…there was no other word for it, touchy lately.

Knocking, she went in without an invitation. They never bothered with that. To her surprise, Kristen was still in her shift, on her bed and staring at the sheets in front of her.

“Kristen! Get up already!” she scolded gently.

“Don’t want to…” Kristen sighed.

“Get up!” Elene pulled the covers off her.

“Fine…” Kristen went to her wardrobe and pulled on a light gown.

“Why were you still in bed?” Elene asked.

Kristen shrugged. “Tired.”

Elene narrowed her eyes but didn’t press the subject.

“Why do you find Victor so disgusting?” Elene asked.

Kristen raised an eyebrow. “What is it to you?”

“I was just wondering.”

“He just does. His personality is so different from mine-it would be odd if I did not kill him before the ceremony started.”

“Really? I have spoken to him once or twice and he does not seem so nasty as you make him out to be.”

Kristen’s eyes were the ones narrowing now. “Then you marry him!” she snapped. “I dislike him-is that not enough for you?”

“Dislike is not such as hate! There is a chance!”

“WHAT chance? For me to fall in love with him? Hardly likely!” Kristen hissed.

Elene sighed. “I was only saying it might not be so horrible.”
“Elene. I have envisioned myself only marrying for love for as long as my twenty-one years! And now I must marry Victor Montgomery, for politics. I thought I had done enough for the realm!”

Elene could hear the raw hurt in her voice. Kristen thought she could one day love and be loved-but that was not so. Her father, the good and wise King Paul was marrying her off to the next kingdom’s princes-for what? Politics. Kristen had contributed enough, voicing her opinion on war strategies, punishments and soothing ruffled feathers. Her father had allowed her to do these things, but still said she must marry.

She didn’t know what to say. “Kristen…I am sorry.”

Kristen smiled weakly, painfully. “Do not be.”

Elene left, leaving the Crown Princess to her own thoughts.

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(A/N, continue...?? )