"I've told you a million times, I. Don't. Want. To. Pick. A. WIFE!" shrieked the 11- year old prince, who was literally being dragged by His Majesty himself to the ballroom. The king sighed exhaustedly and gave his son a half- hearted glare.

"For the final bloody time, Devin", he muttered, his words falling tiredly from his lips like air from a deflating balloon, "You aren't going to actually get married right now! You're just picking whom you will marry in the future. A fiancé, son, do you understand?" The boy only responded with more kicking and screaming.

"Why, why, WHY!" he shouted. The king ignored him as he pulled out a bottle and popped the fifth aspirin of the day in his mouth. And it's only 11 in the morning. The king gave another weary sigh as he dragged his protesting son down the huge hall, his steps matching the rhythm of his pounding head. Kelsey.Kelsey… Kelsey. The king kept reminding himself with clenched teeth of the reason why he put up with his son's horrible tantrums. As they neared the door, Devin suddenly got eerily quiet. The king glanced at him, and then froze as he realized the boy was holding his breath and turning blue. Something inside him snapped; he's had enough. Grabbing the puffed up boy by the shoulders, he shook him and whisper- shouted, "Now enough of that! What are you, two?" The boy only glared at him with purple cheeks. "Your mother would NOT have approved of this behavior!" the king hissed, and all at once, Devin let his breath out, blasting his wiped out father with hot air.

"Mummy wouldn't have approved of this marriage thing either!" the prince growled, his lower lip quivering. The king was about to retort, but the tears beginning to appear in his son's eyes stopped him. He let him go and began to rub his own face with fatigue.

"Look, son" he started after a moment, but stopped when he heard running steps. Removing his hands from his face, the king saw the prince running down the hall, snickering evilly. Before he had a chance to react, a tall woman with light brown hair in a tight bun and an angry looking little girl in a puffy, medium lavender dress rounded the corner into their hall. As Devin ran by them, the girl casually stuck out her foot, sending him sprawling on the wood floor, his crown rolling away. The two adults froze, and the girl gave the boy a death glare.

"Respect the king, you ungrateful, annoying, little BRAT!" she screamed, her shout echoing in the hall. The hall became deathly silent as Devin gawked at her. After a moment of silence, the tall woman glared at the girl and grabbed her wrist.

"How dare you, little Mistress! That is the young Highness you are addressing!" The girl continued to shoot daggers at the shocked prince as she yanked her wrist away.

"I know who I'm talking to! That's why I said it like I did!" she hissed snottily, sticking her tongue out at the prince. Finally, the prince managed to get over his shock. He jumped up and stood in front of her, their noses touching (though he had to tilt his head down since she was so small).

"How dare you trip me, you tramp!" he shouted in her face. She didn't back away, and instead remarked,

"Who are you calling a tramp? I'm a lady, for your information!" The prince raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I don't think so! 'Ladies' don't go around tripping me!" he hissed, pushing her hard. The girl bumped into the woman, but before she could retaliate, the woman grabbed her wrists and the king called out loudly,

"That is enough!" Immediately, the girl pulled her wrists free again and ran up to the king. She lowered her head, curtseyed gracefully and said,

"My sincerest apologies, your Majesty. Please forgive my frayed temper." She said somberly. The king looked down at her, surprised at her sudden change of attitude.

"Who are you?" he asked curiously. She looked so young, even younger than Devin, but the child had such wonderful etiquette! She looked up, giving him a genuinely sweet smile.

"I am six year old Jessica Rizzo, daughter of Lord and Lady Rizzo from Italy. It is my great pleasure to see you again, your Highness." The king gazed at her and smiled, now able to remember meeting her a year before.

"Ah yes. You were the one that kept offering me finger sandwiches at the ball last year, correct?" Jessica blushed and looked away, nodding as she shifted from foot to foot.

"I assume you are here for the marriage meeting?" he asked, and she nodded again, her smile disappearing. The prince stalked up to the two of them, making a face like he swallowed a nasty bug.

"There is no WAY I'd choose her!" he said, his nose wrinkling up in disgust. Instead of getting upset, Jessica gave him a smug smirk.

"That's great, because I don't want to marry you either!" She pointed to the king. "The only reason I agreed to come is because he is here!" Devin raised an eyebrow.

"You came because my dad was here? What are you, in love with him or something?" She glared at the prince as her cheeks flushed red.

"Anyway", she hissed at Devin, "I can't imagine anything worse than being stuck with you. I'd rather have my eyes pulled out and sewn to my feet than marry you!" Devin grinned evilly.

"Is that so?" he asked. She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. In a flash, he grabbed her wrist; only she couldn't pull away from his grip. "In that case, I choose you!" Jesssica's eyes, along with the adults', widened in surprise.

"What?" they all said in unison. The young prince smirked at their shock.

"If being my wife is so torturous, then I'll marry you. That way you'll have a lifetime punishment for yelling and tripping me!" He started laughing maniacally.

"No, no!" Jessica shrieked, struggling against his vise- like grip. In response, Devin wrapped his arms around her tightly and purred,

"Now, now. Is that anyway to act around your future husband?" He then gave her a light kiss on her cheek. The girl paled and looked like she was about to throw- up as gagging sounds escaped her throat. He smiled smugly at her displeasure, and while the tall woman looked ecstatic, the king frowned.

"Devin, revenge is not a good reason to-" the prince interrupted.

"You said I have to choose, so I did! Not once did I hear you say I had to have a good reason for my choice." Said Devin, holding Jessica like she was his prisoner, which was pretty much the case. The king opened his mouth again, but the stubborn prince refused to let him speak. "Look" he said in an annoyed tone, "It's either her or no one! And don't forget, if this doesn't work out I can just break off the engagement when I turn sixteen."

"You're sure you don't want to meet any of the other girls?" asked the king, and the young prince nodded. The king sighed, defeated. Popping another aspirin in his mouth, he muttered, "Fine." Devin was about to smile, but instead he gave a shriek of pain as Jessica bit his arm. He let her go, and she ran off, disappearing down the hall. The prince chased after her, cackling and shouting triumphantly,

"You can't escape, my love!" The king stared in their direction with weary amusement as he walked over to where his son's crown lay abandoned.

It wasn't until years later that the king realized just how often Devin will do just that; abandon the crown to chase that girl.

Soooo, what do you think? Reviews would be appreciated! I was also wondering if I should continue it. If I get enough reviews and/ or story subscriptions then I will!