Royal Revved

Alexis sat in the car on her way back to the palace, probably going to get a scolding from her father for coming home so late but she didn't care, her mind was bothered about the thoughts of getting married to Vincent. She didn't find him repulsive, she didn't hate him… she just couldn't picture herself being his wife or the queen of Latvia.

As children, they were friends, always playing hide and seek together and running around the palace corridors then they became teenagers, going to the same prestigious high school. There was a time her family went on a trip and didn't return early when school had resumed for the session, the day they returned, a rumor had already spread that they were dating and were engaged to get married after high school. Vincent had said it was just a harmless joke but he couldn't possibly tell her that both her parents and his were in on it too.

Their relationship with each other was…off, so to say. When their engagement was publicly announced, it was clear that it was supposed to be a beautiful and blessed union but they've never kissed, never hugged or even talked to each other without yelling or screaming at themselves. It's not like they did anything couples were supposed to do in private, when it was just the two of them, it was clear that they would soon reap each others' throat out.

Their engagement party ended earlier than it should have and the wedding date was being discussed. She just couldn't marry him, she didn't have a reason but she knew that she wouldn't live in the royal palace of Latvia. The worst part of it was that no matter how poorly she behaved as a princess in front of his mother and father, they never spoke against their marriage, sometimes it got her thinking, did they badly want her to marry their son because she was sure they didn't like her that much, right?

She drove back to her garage and left the car there before locking the place up. She used the tunnel to return to the mansion, she didn't even bother turning her flashlight on. After walking for a while in the darkness, she knew she'd gotten to the wall that separated her room and the tunnel, she felt around the wall for the part of it that could go inwards. She pushed it in when she found it and walked into her room after the wall slid open. She fell on her bed lazily and shut her eyes.

"You left here in good spirits, why did you come back looking gloomy? Didn't you see your cars?" Alice asked as she loomed over Alexis who lay on the bed quietly breathing.

"Tell me I'm living in an alternate universe where I'm a princess and I have to marry Vincent,"

"I really wish that were true Alexis,"

"Please Alice,"

"Okay fine," Alice said. "Relax Alexis, this is just an alternate universe, you're not really a princess, in your real life, you're a race car driver and you don't have to marry any man named Vincent," she said. "Do you know how stupid this sounds?"

"I do," Alexis said as she opened her eyes. "But I wish it were true,"

"What happened?"

"Vincent said he loves me and his parents want me to be queen,"

"And what did you say to him?"

"What I've always said Alice, that I didn't love him or want to marry him or become queen of Latvia and that I never would,"

"Never is a really strong sister," Alice said. "I think the saying goes never say never,"

"What is that supposed to mean? I won't marry him and I won't be queen of Latvia,"

"I never said you would," Alice said with a smile. "Anyway I came to ask where the hell your suit for the race is."

"Uh…I uh, I don't have a suit,"

"What happened to it?"

"Accidently burned it in the uh garage after my last race,"

"How the hell did that happen?!"

"I was burning my tires where I put it and I only realized it after it became ashes," Alice sighed.

"Let's get you another one then