Married By My Father's Debt

The Ethan family palace is really something. It rises above the city like it is from a time. The iron gates and the gardens are well kept. It is like a different world from the glass skyscrapers around it. I have walked past it times but I never thought I would be going inside. When I was a kid I would press my face against the car window when we drove by thinking it was a museum or something. My father would just. Say, "Some people get to live different lives Freya. It does not make them better, just different." I never thought those words would be a warning one day.

I am standing in the foyer now holding Amelia's hand tight. We are both dressed up waiting to meet the King. I have never met him before. I do not want to be part of his family. The foyer is huge with a ceiling that is painted with clouds and angels. It feels wrong considering why we are here.

"Ms. Williams," a servant says, coming down the stairs. "The King will see you now. Your sister can wait in the room."

Amelia's grip on my hand gets tighter. "I do not want to leave you " she whispers.

"I will be fine " I say, even though my stomach is all nervous. "Just. I will come find you when I am done."

I follow the servant down a hall with pictures of serious-looking people on the walls. They all seem to be judging me like they are deciding if I am good enough to marry into their family. I count at least a dozen pictures and they all look so serious. I wonder if they ever smiled in life or if they just do not allow it in pictures. I look at each face trying to find something that looks like the man I am supposed to marry.. They all just look cold and mean.

At the end of the hall we get to a study that is almost as big as my whole house. The King is sitting behind a desk looking perfect in his suit. He does not stand up. Say hello. He just says, "Sit down Ms. Williams."

It is not a question. I sat down. I try to keep my back and not look scared. I have dealt with people before so I tell myself this is not any different.. It feels different.

The study is meant to scare people, I think. The bookshelves go all the way up to the ceiling. There is a huge fireplace. There is a picture of the King when he was younger wearing robes. He still looks mean in that picture.

"I guess Mr. Griggs told you about the situation, " the King says, putting his fingers together. "Your fathers debt, the marriage contract, what happens if you say no."

"He did, " I say, trying to sound calm. ". I do not understand why my father would agree to this without asking me. It is my life all."

The King's eyes flicker like he's surprised I am not scared. "Your father was trying to save his company. I helped him. He agreed to the terms."

"Terms that include me marrying someone I have never met " I say.

The King's face gets sharper. "Terms that will save your family's company. You should remember that, Ms. Williams. If it was not for my family's money your company would not even exist. You would not have a job. Neither would the four hundred people who work for you."

My jaw gets tight. I try to keep my voice level. ". What about your son? Does he know about this? Is he okay with marrying someone he has never met just because you told him to?"

"My son will do what is best for this family " the King says. "Just like you will do what is best for yours."

I want to meet the King's son so I ask him. "I would like to meet him before I agree to anything. I want to at least know who I am marrying."

The King's eyes do something like he is hiding something. "You will meet him when the time is right. Not before. He is busy with work now and I do not want to interrupt him. You will meet him when you are supposed to."

I do not like this. The King's tone says he will not discuss it anymore. "That seems weird, " I say. "Would it not be better to introduce us instead of waiting?"

The King gets up and walks to the window. "I think it is better if we wait. You both need time to get used to the idea of this marriage. My son needs time to adjust. So do you. I do not see why we should rush it."

I want to ask questions but the King's tone says he is done talking about it. "What happens next?" I ask instead.

"You have two weeks to decide, " the King says. "If you do not agree to the marriage I will have to take steps to make sure it happens. I can affect your sister's education, your company's contracts... There are things I can do if you do not cooperate."

The threat is clear even though he says it nicely. I feel cold. I try not to show it. "I understand, " I say. "Two weeks."

The King turns around. For a moment he looks almost pleased. "You are smarter than I thought, Ms. Williams. Maybe you and my son will get along well."

I leave the study feeling like I just survived a fight. I keep thinking about why the King does not want me to meet his son. It does not feel right.

I find Amelia in the room and we hug without saying a word. We are both shaking a little. I can tell she is worried about me. "What happened?" she whispers. "Did you meet him? The King's son?"

"No " I say, still thinking about it. "The King says he is traveling for work. I have two weeks to decide about the marriage. I will meet him when the time is right." I say it like it is a joke. It does not feel funny.

Amelia's face gets serious. "That is weird, " she says. "I do not like it."

I agree, "It is " I say.. I do not have the energy to figure out every strange thing about this family today. I just want to go. The tiredness of the day is making my bones feel heavy and for once Amelia does not push me to talk than I want to.

As we leave the palace I look back at the building one last time wondering what kind of person grows up inside those cold walls with a father as mean as the one I just met. I wonder if there is any kindness left in him or if the palace made him cold a time ago like it seems to have made everything else cold. I try to picture his face. I came up with nothing. Just a vague idea of someone who has always had everything and seems cold because of it. I have already decided that I probably will not like him without meeting him. It is easier to dislike someone when you do not know what they look like.

I have no idea as I walk away from the palace that the very person I am thinking about is sitting in a café a few miles away thinking about my face in the same way that I am thinking about him. I have no idea that the King's strange delay was not really about work. That something complicated is going on, something that neither Freddie nor I can predict.

That evening I am feeling restless and cannot relax after the day so I go for a walk again. The same kind of walk that I did before when I was feeling sad and upset.. Somehow without meaning to I end up back on the same street in front of the same café with the little bell above the door. The evening air is cool. The city is getting quiet and I tell myself that I am just walking to clear my head.

I tell myself that I am not hoping to see him. I tell myself that it would not mean anything even if I did see him. I tell myself a lot of things standing there on the sidewalk with my hand near the door. I do not really believe any of them.

I open the door anyway. The little bell rings and my heart does something strange when I see a familiar pair of shoulders, in a gray sweater sitting at the same table as before.