Emma

We both sit down at the nearest table as he continues to look at me, concern in this eyes. He takes both of my hands on the table; trying to ensure me to speak because everything is going to be fine. ''I'm engaged,'' I mutter which causes his eyes to widen—not quite believing what he heard.

''Engaged as in engaged to be married?'' He blinks a few times.

''Yes, silly.'' I chuckle.

He looks down at my hand, trying to search for the engagement ring but I quickly raise both of my hands up, showing him that there's definitely no ring. Then, he continues to furrow his eyebrows in confusion; probably thinking that I'm insane and creating a fake engagement with an invisible man, ''Who are you engaged to? Is he hot? Handsome? Fuckable?'' His grin widens.

I roll my eyes, expecting his answers already.

''I don't know!'' I reply.

Jace furrow his eyebrows a bit more than necessary, almost squinting his light blue eyes, ''Are you saying that you don't know if he's hot or not? Girl, then you shouldn't marry him. What if he's old or a pervert or a paedophile? That's never safe, I wouldn't be there to protect you, sunshine.'' He raises his index finger before shaking it sideways.

''I mean, I don't know, Jace. My mum told me that I'm engaged to a royalty—how crazy can that sound? She didn't even tell me his name so we can't really search his name for pictures. I'm left clueless.'' I shrug, making a sad puppy face.

''Whoa, wait a minute. You're engaged to a royalty?'' His eyes widen instantly, showing how surprised he is. Then, he starts to stand up—overreacting a little before sitting down once more; but that's Jace, you got to love him, ''Damn, Emma. Go for it! He's a royalty, what more do you want?'' He winks.

''That's exactly what I don't want. Marrying a royalty is pretty cool in Disney movies but in real life, it seems impossible and weird. I'm a normal city girl who doesn't know shit about royalties—besides, this could be a pity joke. I don't what to think anymore,'' I lean my head against the seat, sighing deeply, ''What if he thinks that I'm ugly?'' I add.

''What if he's ugly?'' Jace questions.

I laugh, realising that it's true. I don't know how he looks like and he surely doesn't know how I look like—we both could be simply normal who might like each other or we might end up hating each other and never want to talk about anything. He can be a crazy lunatic or he can be a sweetheart; it's all possible.

''Baby girl, Emma, you're the most beautiful friend I've ever had. I swear, you can make any gay guys go straight but that's not going to happen with me, alright? You obviously have everything you ever wanted here in New York, maybe you can try and see, he could be one in a million?'' He sits beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close; giving me support.

''You friendzoned me, Jace.'' I look up at his blue eyes.

The both of us end up laughing and deep inside, I know that Jace is right. If it's true that I've been engaged to him ever since I was born, I can just go and see how things will go on—if he's a lunatic or something awful, I'll leave and never look back. I either live in regret of not going to see my so—called—fiancé or confirm things.

Who knows? He might be really nice and we might have each other's back.

''You might be right.'' I mutter.

He playfully punches me on the arm, ''What are you talking about, sunshine? I'm always right.'' He replies, chuckling before standing up, ''Look, unlike you, I actually work here and I need to get back before something goes wrong.'' He pats onto my shoulder and he starts to disappear into the kitchen; leaving me here, thinking about my life.

''Boss, you got a phone call!'' One of my employees shout from behind, causing me to quickly run towards the back, taking the call.

After work, I am just chilling in the living room, watching my favourite TV show. It's quite a day at the restaurant since it's actually the weekend, that explains the amount of customer. I've been dedicated towards my dad's restaurant ever since I graduated because when I was younger, he told me that it'll be mine one day.

Only if I work hard enough.

I guess I did work hard enough because if I didn't, I wouldn't be here, running after the restaurant. It's quite thrilling, running after a family business—I once thought on becoming a cardiologist but becoming one is a risk; leaving me here, running a business.

''Hi dad,'' I say after hearing him answering the call.

''Hey, princess. How are you? Is everything okay?'' He asks, making me smile after hearing his voice—I've missed him. The last time I saw him was last Christmas because we've both been busy and he moved to San Diego a couple of years ago.

''I'm good, how are you?'' I feel tears appearing in my eyes; making me press my lips into a thin line, wanting to prevent myself from crying. For no reason, I really feel like crying and tell him everything that has been going on with life but I don't want him to worry.

''The usual, sweetheart.'' He answers and keeps quiet for a few seconds, ''I know there's something wrong, Emma. You can tell me anything. You and I against the world, remember?''

My lips curve up into a smile as I wipe away the tears that has fallen, ''I had lunch with mum today and I found out that your grandfather was a really close friend with the previous king. Due to the fact that they want their friendship to last, they made an agreement.'' I speak, hearing him sigh at the other line; probably not expecting me to find out.

''It's not like that, Emma.''

''How long were you going to keep it a secret, dad?'' I ask.

''It was never a secret. Some people say that you were destined to marry the next king in line because ever since the agreement, you were the only first daughter born and he was the first son born. They have always had a son—it's highly unexpected for them to have a first daughter born.'' He continues, ''The agreement was made centuries ago but an agreement with the royalties are much respected.''

I breathe out, ''I've never had a choice, haven't I? You would never walk down the aisle with me towards the man I love but towards a man I barely know, would you still consider that destiny? What happened to you and I against the world, dad?'' Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I swallow the non—existent lump in my throat.

''I'm so sorry, princess. This is one of the reasons why I don't want you to know,'' He replies.

''You can't keep it away forever.'' I mutter under my breath.

''I love you, Emma. I was only trying to protect your feelings. I wanted you to be the girl with hopes and dreams instead of the girl who knows that she'll never have a choice of her own future because it was decided before she was even born. I was only protecting my little girl,'' He says, somehow, I understand—he's only trying to make me believe that I'll actually have a normal life.

A life where I can choose where I'll stay, what I'll be, who I'll end up with but that has turned into memories. Memories that I don't intend on remembering. Maybe they were right, being an adult is much more difficult than I thought it would be. I've been wanting to grow up fast so that I can own everything, earn anything, be something but I can't seem to believe that it's all decided.

''I love you too, dad.'' I reply, ending the call before sighing deeply; watching the rain through the glass window.