Chapter 6





Christian's POV 


Walking into my Dad's office was really nerve wracking but I know I have to do this. I could see my Mom calmly looking at me while my Dad signalled me to sit. I took my seat and looked at my Dad in the eyes trying not to get intimidated by him. The room was quiet, too quiet. 


"I am willing to do the selection " I said before watching my parents looks go from surprised to unconvinced.


"but.. " I said seeing my Dad smirking like he didn't expect me to agree that easily. 


"But what Son?" he asked 


"I have conditions" i said gulping a little. 


"Go on" he replied 


"I get to make every decisions concerning the selection, if I find someone I like or connect with , I get to decide when we get married and... " I said fidgeting a little this time trying to avoid his eyes. 


"and what? " he said a little menacingly like he already knows am about to say something he his most definitely going to reject. 


"and... and.... If I don't find the one, you cancel the selection and let me find love on my own terms and pace " I said. 


My mom suddenly stood up with anger written all over her face. 


"No way!! That is not possible Christian. We accept everything but not that " she shouted 


"but Mother.. " I said before I was interrupted by my Dad. 


"You heard your mother and that is final" 


This time around, i stood up with anger. I am fed up. I am tired of their rules. I am no longer a kid and it's time I start making my own decisions. 


"No Father... " i countered. 


My father can be very intimidating but this time I won't let him . 


"What did you just say?" he asked looking so shocked that I just disregarded him. 


"If you don't accept my conditions then maybe you can find someone else to do the selection. Or better still, another so.." I had not completed my sentence when I felt a sharp pain on my left cheek. 


 My mother just slapped me. I turned around and looked her in the eyes. She was teared up. 


"You will never say that ever again. We are your parents, we love you and we want the best for you " she exclaimed. 


I rubbed my cheek and looked her in the eyes, not backing down. 


"If you love me then let me make my own decisions. Mother you and father always talked about how in love you were when you met each other. Dont you want that for me too?" I began to let it all out.


 My tears were flowing. My father said future kings aren't supposed to cry but I couldn't take it anymore. 


"Do you want me to enter into a loveless marriage and be sad all my life? Do you want me to live with regrets all my life? wondering how it feels to actually be with someone you love? Is that what you want? What kind of parents does this to their own child? You said it yourself Father, the Crown is not easy but once you have the people you live beside you, it becomes bearable. Do you want me to live the rest of my life in misery?" I asked as my voice got weak. 


I watched my mother's face as she realizes what she's doing. She moved to me and hugged me. 


"Oh my son... I am sorry, i didn't realize this is so hard on you... I am a bad mother, I am sorry. You can do whatever you want . I accept whatever decisions you make. I won't allow any tradition ruin my son's life " my mother cried while hugging me tight. 


I looked at my father, he looked sad but didn't seem like he his ready to break . My mother looked at him with a look that says you better accept it now. She is the only one that can control my Dad. 


"Fine, you can do what you want but the time limits still stands... It's holding for three months " he said wanting to have the final say. Typical Dad. 


"Yes Father, thank you " I said and bowed . 


"Tomorrow you will be selecting the names, be prepared " he said while looking at some documents on his table. 


"Very well father, i will take my leave now mother" I bowed and left the office with a smile on my face. 


I walked to my room with gladness. I can't believe they actually agreed to it. Wait until I tell Jessica, she is going to flip. 


I entered into my room and saw Jessica arranging my room. She wasn't aware that anyone was in the room. I tiptoed to her and attacked her with tickles. 


"Tickle attack " I screamed and started tickling her. At first she was frightened but started laughing really hard. 


"Stop... Aah.. Aah... Christian.. "


"I will stop if you tell me who your favorite person in the world is" 


" You.... Aah... "she said still laughing 


"Louder!" 


"Aaah.. You!! " She screamed.


 I saw that she was get really flustered so I let her go. Immediately i let her go, she stood up and started chasing me with a duster. I made her chase me all over my room knowing fully well that she can't catch me. After she chased me for so long, i gave in and surrendered to her. I sat on my bed but she pounced on me trying to take revenge. As she was about to tickle me, she suddenly stopped. She was looking at my cheeks. 


"Oh my goodness Christian, what happened to your cheeks? " she asked shocked. 


She stood up , quickly went to my refrigerator and took out an ice pack. She placed it on my cheek and was massaging it gently not wanting to hurt me. Jessica is the sweetest most amazing girl I know. I never really tell her but she's the most important person in my life. She's my best friend. She has been there my whole life and the only one I can rely on. Whoever she chooses to be with in future is one lucky man. I don't think I will let her go that easily though , i don't think I can live without her. 


"My mother " I said making her stare at me shocked. 


"It's because of the conditions isn't it? I knew I shouldn't have brought it up.. I am so sorry Christian, i shouldn't have.... " before she could complete her sentence, i interrupted her. 


"No Jess, it worked. They agreed" I watched her go from surprised to excited. 


"Oh my Goodness... Aaahh" she screamed and pounced on me hugging me tight with so much excitement. 


"I can't believe they actually agreed. I wasn't expecting it " She said still surprised. 


 "I am happy for you Christian and not to worry, you will find the best girl in the universe " she said smiling. 


 I smiled back at her, took the ice pack from her and placed it on a small table beside my bed. I then made her sit on my legs as I wrapped my arms around her. I love holding her like this. 


"Do you think I will find love though? " I asked. 


She stayed quiet for a while before she replied. 


"Christian, I think there is someone out there for everyone . I also don't think it's going to be hard for you to find love. C'mon Christian, you are a prince" she said. 


I chuckled because it's true but that's not the love I am talking about. 


" I know Jess but I mean genuine love. I want somebody to love me for me. You know, without the crown and wealth. Just me" I explained as we stared at each other. 


She was looking into my eyes and I could see her getting really flustered. 


"Are you okay?" I asked getting worried. 


"What? " she said breaking the eye contact. 


"You look flustered. Are you getting sick, because your face looks very red right now " I said placing my hands on her forehead trying to check her temperature. 


She removed my hands and shook her head turning her face the other way. 


"Uhm no, it just that this place is getting hot" she said. 


"Oh OK I will increase the Air conditioning then. Alexa increase the air conditioning to seventeen degrees Celsius" 


"Thanks " she said and I nodded. We stayed quiet for a while still wrapped around each other. 


"Let's make a promise Jess" I said breaking the silence. 


" what promise? "


"If I don't end up finding the one and you don't find the one also, lets just marry each other " I said making her gasp. 


She stared at me really shocked that I just said that. 


"What do you mean? Stop joking Christian " she frowned. 


" I am not joking Jess, see we already know everything about each other. You get me, i get you. Viola, perfect match " I said smiling. 


"Well what made you think I won't find the one? " she said while putting air quotes on "the one". 


I gave her a ‘are you kidding me look’


"Jessica, you are twenty one and you have literally never had a boyfriend " I said making her gasp. 


"well... Well... that's be... that's because... " she stammered. 


"because what Jessica? " I asked knowing that she won't have a reply. 


It's just strange. I have known Jessica her whole life and she has never talked about a boy before. Back in school, there have been guys who have begged me to get to her but they always end up saying that she rejected them. It's like she doesn't want to be with anyone. 


"Well I choose to only get married on the basis of true and genuine love. " she answered trying to change the topic. 


"You know I love you Jessica " I exclaimed making her gasp while placing her had on her chest.


 "Well as a friend but still... " I saw how her face dropped and became sad. Awn , my baby "I am the closes guy you have and also , do you want to stay single for life? " I asked an she looked at me in the eyes.


"OK fine. I promise that If we don't find true love and we both end up being single in future which I doubt, then we will just marry each other " she said forcing out a smile . 


I smiled back at her, spat on my hands asking her to shake me to seal the promise. She scrunched her face in disgust and shook her head not wanting to do it. 


"C'mon Jess" I said


"Fine " she replied then spat on her hand before we shook hands. 


I hugged her and whispered a thank you in her ears. Our moment was interrupted by the sound of my door. 


"Hey guys!! " Molly said barging into my room with Jake and Luke behind her. They where holding boxes of pizza , thank goodness I am starving. 


"We brought pizza " Luke screamed as they all took a sit on my bed. 


"Thank God, I am starving " Jess said as she dug in. 


We all started eating when Jake asked" Are you okay dude, we have not seen you since....you know, yesterday? " I nodded my head before taking Jessica 's leftover crust because she doesn't eat it. It's a thing we do. "Yeah I am fine, I agreed to go on with the selection " I answered. 


"You did? " Jake asked shocked. 


"yeah, but with conditions"


"What conditions? "Luke asked 


"I get to make every decisions concerning the selection, if I find... you know... the one, I decide when we get married and if I don't find anyone after three months, the selection will be cancelled " I said smiling. 


"Wow, that's amazing Christian " Molly said 


"I know right, Jess gave me the idea. It wasn't easy to convince my parents but it was worth. " I replied as I sighted Luke smirking while glancing at Jessica. 


Jessica just smiled and avoided his face. There is something up with those two and it better not be what I am thinking. 


"So it begins when?" Molly asked interrupting my thoughts. 


"I am selecting the names tomorrow " 


"Wow, that fast? " she asked


"Yup, can't wait " I replied sarcastically