Dialogue color code: Indigo
Francesca had been sleeping peacefully until there was a knock on her door, "M'lady the king requests your presence." Came the voice of her maid. A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she sat up, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Come in," She said still half asleep, rubbing at her eyes. The woman walked in and started to help Francesca get dressed in her corset and many lairs of clothes. "Do you know what he wishes to speak with me about?" She asked as the woman brushed out her hair. "I'm not sure M'lady, but there was a rather dashing young man who arrived early this morning" She said. With those words, Francesca got a sinking feeling in her stomach, her father had been trying for years to get her to wed, but Francesca just wasn't interested in the men her dad chose for her, or in any man for that matter.
When her maid was finished with her hair, Francesca got up and walked over to her window, opening the shutters. "M'lady, we shouldn't keep the king waiting." The maid said, ringing her hands a little nervously. Francesca didn't say anything, just rested her elbows on the windowsill leaning out a little, letting the ocean breeze brush against her face, watching the waves as they rolled in.
Her father, King Nicholas, was waiting for her in the dinning hall, seated to his left was a young man about Francesca's age. Compared to other guys her dad has tried to force on her, he was much more pleasing on the eyes, but she still wasn't interested. From the look on the young man's face though, she could tell the same couldn't be said for him. "Francesca, how nice of you to grace us with your presence." Her father said, clearly unhappy with how long he'd been kept waiting. "My apologies," Francesca said, not that she actually meant it, and her father was well aware. The servants quickly started to serve the three breakfast as her father continued to talk. "This is Prince Jamie of Wombourne, he is your betrothed." her father said matter-of-factly, causing Francesca to choke on the water she'd just taken a sip of. "Betrothed!?" She asked, eyes wide. "You heard me. You have turned away many worthy men, but no more. You won't chose a husband so I have chosen one for you." He said as he started to eat his breakfast, not even bothering to look at Francesca, his mind made up. "M'lady, it a pleasure to meet you," The young prince finally spoke up, giving Francesca a kind smile which she returned with a glare of resentment.
Francesca stood up from the table without a word and started toward the door. "Francesca Elizabeth Renaldi, get back here this instant!" Her father demanded, but she ignored him and marched out of the castle. She was beyond furious, being forced into an arranged marriage with a guy she didn't even know, a guy she would never be able to love. She was so angry she felt tears stinging at her eyes. She made her way through town, keeping her head down, hoping not to be noticed, she just wanted to be alone for a while, to forget about everything. She was crossing the bridge that went across the opening to the bay when a wagon came barreling down the street nearly running into her. Francesca quickly stepped to the side, bumping into the wall lining the bridge. She tried to catch her balance but it was a futile attempt and she fell over the side of the bridge, her arms flailing as she hit the water below. Her mouth was open mid-scream when she went under, her mouth and lungs filling with water. She tried to right herself, to get her barring's but a strong current hit her, pushing her farther from the shore out into the ocean.