Chapter 4: Name-Calling, With the Added Bonus of Marriages

No matter how much Sophia loved grandmere, this was something she simply couldn't do.

She flat-out refused to marry some stranger she had just met that same day. The news was still raw, as grandmere's words replayed in her head. The thought itself brought tears to her eyes, and although she knew the words grandmere was going to say before she said it officially, having it put out there, the idea sounded terrible.

With tears stinging her eyes, she resorted to her coping mechanism, sarcasm.

'Grandmere chose him out of any person in this world, I love my life, really,' Sophia uttered in disbelief, denial - and if not obvious enough - sarcasm.

Nicholas seemed to have a similar initial reaction as Sophia did, almost choking on his beverage.

Had it been anyone else, he would've been outraged. Whereas, Julia was a special person in his life. She was more of a parental figure than his own parents ever were.

Noticing both Sophia and Nicholas' astonished expressions, Julia sighed, knowing them all too well.

"Grandmere, this is ridiculous!" Sophia exclaimed.

"I love you, grandmere, but this is too much of an ask," Sophia sputtered.

Nicholas chimed in, helping Sophia out.

"With all due respect, your majesty, as much as I appreciate the offer, I'm going to have to decline," Nicholas said politely.

Julia looked seriously at the two.

"It's amusing the two of you think you can negotiate your way out of this, but, there will be no arguments, this is a final decision," she clarified, if it hadn't been clear as it is.

Sophia's heart dropped, and by then, Nicholas had looked like someone had punched him right in the face.

He was speechless and dumbfounded, yet he knew better than to question her doings.

Louis was just as shocked as Sophia and Nicholas, as his mouth opened and closed, flapping uselessly as he tried to string a sentence together.

As they were about to argue, a butler approached the dowager queen with news to share.

"Your majesty, your presence is requested by the other ministers, Queen Emilia is acting up," the butler informed.

Julia muttered under her breath, annoyed, "That wretched daughter-in-law of mine; what is she up to this time?"

She sighed, shaking her head in disappointment as her gaze returned on her granddaughter and the man she was matchmaking her with.

"I'll have to take my leave now, but I want the both of you to get to know each other," she instructed as she stood up, straightening her priceless dress as she glided gracefully out the room.

Louis tried to hide his expression of amusement as he turned to his sister.

Sophia noticed his expression, as she shot him a look that could kill.

She didn't believe in love. Had she known she'd be set up with a man to wed, she'd have stayed abroad.

Louis knew it'd be better if he left, but he remained anyway, knowing his sister was better off with him there.

Once he came to, the atmosphere had vastly changed.

Nicholas glared at Sophia.

"Taxi-thief," he said mockingly.

Sophia bit her lip.

"If I hadn't apologized enough, I'm terribly sorry about that," she apologized.

Upon seeing her guilty expression, Nicholas' expression softened.

"I guess your doings are excused," he spoke much more softly, his dulcet tones sincere.

He had never noticed Sophia's facial features before; when he had gotten a better view of her face, he felt a strange sensation, yet he didn't comprehend what it was.

He pursed his lips as he thought over what Sophia's grandmere had said, about the two of them getting to know each other better.

To put it frankly, she was asking for them to court each other. And to make things worse, it wasn't a suggestion, it was an order.

To Sophia, she had plenty on the line.

To Nicholas, he was no different. Heck, he had an abundance of problems he wouldn't have been able to solve without this proposition Julia - Sophia's grandmere - had offered him.

See, his kingdom was at war, and without the control of Beldovia's army, which he'd attain once he married Sophia, who was first in line to the throne, with her brother having already abdicated and all.

He had no intentions of falling in love with her, all that was in his mind was to protect his kingdom that he loved.

And for that to happen, he needed to gain control of Beldovia's army, in which he'd gain only by winning Sophia's heart.

Louis cleared his throat, placing his drinking glass on the table as he readied himself to speak.

"Since the two of you are being matchmade by our grandmere, let's see the two of you share some bliss, shall we?" He said, his voice somewhat cocky and mocking.

Sophia wanted to die right then and there from second-hand embarrassment at what her brother had just said.

"Louis!" Sophia exclaimed.

Louis shrugged.

"What? I couldn't help it," he said nonchalantly.

Sophia looked at him before her eyes darted towards the direction of the exit.

She mouthed, 'Get out before you make it even more awkward, brother.'

Louis shook his head, looking to his side to shoot one look at Nicholas.

"You better treat her right or I'll beat you to a pulp and rip your jaw out," he threatened, his voice hushed, being protective of his little sister.

Nicholas seemed unfazed, ignoring the threat Louis had just said to him as his attention returned to Sophia.

"So how exactly do you plan on making up for stealing my cab, your royal highness?" He asked, mockingly.

Sophia shot him a glaring look that could kill.

"I know I took your taxi, but I was here in a hurry, and I'm not inclined to do anything for you in return as I've already apologized," Sophia said as she seethed with anger.

She had no other choice, knowing she would've been reprimanded for her late arrival, and given a long lecture.

"And if it isn't clear, the last thing I want to do right now is to think about marrying someone that clearly doesn't respect someone else's boundaries!" She exclaimed, no doubt being overly sensitive.

She got up, glaring at Nicholas one last time before she left the room abruptly.

Louis winced, his expression softening.

"That's my sister for you," he remarked, by no means shading his sister. It was just how she acted when upset.

"I'll go talk to her. She's always been the spontaneous and stubborn one in the family," Louis said as he got up, ready to look for his sister and reason with her.

There were two people in the entire palace she'd consider listening to, one of which was her brother, the other person being grandmere.

Nicholas tilted his head, meaning to ask Louis a question. They hadn't been introduced, although their reputation perceived each other. Nicholas wasn't one to be able to fully remember who were the other royals from other kingdoms, even if Louis was.

Prince Louis of Beldovia was a highly-spoken name that practically everyone knew of. Although, compared to his spontaneous sister, who appeared on the headlines more often than he did, he was a stranger to the Beldovian people.

Sophia was known for being the special type of royal.

During galas or charity events, she'd be either tardy or found playing with the orphans nearby. She was an advocate of the people, and she undoubtedly had their support. Add the fact that she was always the most intelligent in the room, and that was Sophia's true colours shining through.

On the other hand, Prince Nicholas of Sanguis was a household name as most girls swooned over his dashing looks and athletically inclined frame. They had never paid attention to how he behaved, only ever fawning over him and his perfectly good looks.

"And what about you, not the spontaneous kind of person yourself?"

Louis thought about it for a split second, before he shook his head.

"I was never meant to be king. I'm not one fit to rule, what more be trusted with the responsibilities of a king," Louis explained.

"I rather do good with my title as prince," he said next.

"I'll go find her and try to talk some sense into her," he decided before he left briefly, having a slight inkling as to where she was, or rather, where she was holed up at the current moment.

Right before he walked through the living room's grand doors, his voice lowered as he knew there was barely any chance he could possibly sway his sister's decision as he mumbled, "Although that may not be possible when she never wanted to marry in the first place."