Chapter 1 - Arranged Marriage

                                    

                                          
"I have great news. We've selected a husband for you Eva and he has already been approved by the council."
Princess Eva felt like a bucket of ice water was just poured over her head.
"What? Are you serious?" 
"Yes," her Dad, the King of Norway, said with a smile. "Very serious." 
"But Dad, this is the year 2022, not 1822. Arranged marriages stopped being a thing a long time ago. People marry for love now," the princess argued, pushing her long brown hair behind her ear.
King Hans scoffed and scratched at his thick brown beard. "Love?" he laughed, with his deep booming voice. Saying it as if that word was ridiculous. "Love is a luxury for regular people. It doesn't matter what year it is. Marriage for royals has always been about political strategy and that's never changing. It can turn an enemy country into an ally, be a bargaining chip for better trade deals and give us allies for war. A royal marriage is too valuable to be wasted. You can learn to love this man we've arranged for you to marry."
"I don't want to have to learn to love my own husband. I should love him beforehand. Who's to say I'll even be able to fall in love with whoever this guy is you picked? What then? I spend the rest of my life stuck in a miserable loveless marriage and never get to know what love feels like? I can't imagine anything worse!" she said, raising her voice in frustration.
"Eva," he said softly, resting a hand on her shoulder and looking into her eyes. "As a member of the royal family of Norway you were born with wealth and power, the ability to travel anywhere and have whatever you want. But that privilege isn't free pumpkin.  You have a duty to always do what's best for your country and your people," he said, looking down and exhaling before looking back up into her eyes. "Even if that means sacrificing your own happiness for the greater good." 
"So you're saying you want me to be miserable for the greater good?" she asked her Dad, feeling her eyes burning.
"No I don't want you to be miserable. I want you to stop making yourself miserable. You've always known that your marriage would be arranged since the day you were born so it's not like this is a surprise. You need to stop thinking just about yourself and look at the bigger picture here."
She looked up at him with her big, round blue eyes that were tearing up and he softened a little. 
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it sweetheart. It's all being taken care of. The lucky prince is going to be very happy to have such a beautiful bride," the King smiled. 
Eva was very beautiful. She was tall like the rest of her family at 5'9 and thin and she had straight, shiny brown hair that came to her waist, bright blue eyes with long dark eyelashes and flawless pale skin. She was self conscious even though her Dad was always telling her that she reminded him of a perfect porcelain doll because of her rare beauty and pale, blemish-free skin. No matter how many times people told her how beautiful she was she didn't believe them. She had always wished that she was more curvy and maybe a little shorter.
"Your highness," his assistant said, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry to interrupt but we have a meeting with the ambassador to the United States in five minutes." 
Her Dad stood up and said, "I have to go," before kissing her forehead and walking away. 
Her twin brother, Prince Kristoff had been sitting with them going over some paperwork and had overheard the whole conversation. She looked across the table into his blue eyes that were the same as hers. He was like the male version of her which was understandable since they were twins, only he was taller and stronger.