Arranged.

“What could you possibly want with me so early in the damn morning?” I growled out to my parents.

I may be a bitch some days but in the mornings, it was full-on Tez hates the world.

“We were inquiring as to how you were getting along with your fiancé.” My mother said, and I glared at the two of them.

“We are getting along perfectly well. He’s asleep in my bed at the moment. I love him and can’t wait to wed him.” I said, trying to drop the sarcasm.

It didn’t work to well considering the fact that it was before 9 am.

“That’s good.” My father said, looking down at his breakfast and taking another bite, looking up at me calculatingly.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” I asked and rubbed my hand over my face, grimacing.

As I spoke, a servant who realized that I was in nothing but my boxers placed a plush robe around my shoulders.

“Thanks.” I told him as he bowed and walked away, still staring intently at my parents to figure them out.

“I think you should prove your love for him.” The old man dared to say and I groaned, but nevertheless, he continued on. “I think that this is too sudden, and that you’re trying to get something out of him…who knows, but you’re being very kind and sweet to him when on the first day you didn’t want him anywhere near you…”

Before he could start talking about me ‘proving my love for him’, I began speaking, not wanting him to finish what he was saying, sure that it wasn’t something that I was going to like. “Sure, fine, whatever, what do you want me to do, write him a love letter? A poem? What would make you happy?” I questioned, just wanting to return to bed where without a doubt, Elsie would curl his warm body against mine.

“I think you should go and live with him and his parents for a while. Or at least near them; we’ll buy you your own house of course just for the two of you and have plenty of maids and guards and the like.” He said and my eyes widened.

“It would be the perfect opportunity to prove yourself. He came here without knowing anything about this place or what we, the people were going to be like. You need to show him that you care enough to do the same.” My mother piped in.

I groaned, knowing by the smile they shared that they had already decided this for themselves and whether I wanted to go or not, I would be going.

“Fine, I’ll go. Watch me.” I hissed out and turned, leaving the room to head back to bed and wait until Elsie was awake to hear the news.

It didn’t take long for the small boy to wake up, since he usually woke up early to take his puppy for a walk around the mansion. Of course he hasn’t gotten lost before.

“Good morning.” I said, and Elsie tilted his head to the side, looking at me curiously.

“Good morning…you’re up early.” He said and tugged me so that I was laying down more than sitting up, wanting to rest for a little while more but I didn’t want to, I wanted to tell him the news now, knowing that it would make him happy.

“I have something to tell you…” I trailed off, and he looked at me expectantly.

“…well what is it?” He asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

“I’m not sure that I want to give it up that easily…” I let on and looked to away from him, touching my pointer finger to my cheek, the universal sign for ‘kiss here’.

Elsie giggled but leaned forward and pressed his soft lips against my cheek, pulling away to smile at me, his cheeks dusted with pink from the small affectionate act.

“Well, it has been decided that we’re going to go to your home and live there for a little while.” I said, smiling at the way his face lit up and he sprung to his knees to look at me in shock.

“Really?” He asked, excitement filling him.

“Really.” I told him and he let out a soft squeal. “So you’ll come to live with me?” he asked.

I nodded. “You got it, but I think the house we’re living in my parents will get for us so that we can have our privacy; we are engaged after all. Don’t worry though; it won’t be far from your parent’s home.” I reassured him and he snuggled into me, hugging me tightly.

“What do I have to worry for when you’re here, Teza?” He said and my heart didn’t swell at his wordsof course it did.