Hello everyone! Yes, a new story! I know you guys are wondering why we haven't updated our other fanfics in a while, well that's because school's been pure hell, and Victoria and Vanessa go to a different school then me and Katerina. :'( So we don't get to see each other more often. So anyways, Katerina and I are writing this new story. She had this idea stuck in her head for a while, so we figured, why not write it and post it on fanfiction? So we did and tada! This is probably our favorite story, so please R&R!

IMPORTANT: Everyone is human! RXD, this takes place a long time ago, probably in the 1800s I think...haha, were bad at history. But anyways, I don't really care if we didn't get the facts right, so no smartass comments! Haha, thanks!

Chapter 1

Some things fall, when other things prosper. I, for one, don't know which I am. My name is Princess Rosemarie Catherine Mazur of Turkey. My father, Abraham Mazur, is the King of Turkey. My mother died in childbirth eighteen years ago, so I have never met her. I have only met her in my dreams. My father has told me anything about her. Only that she was a brave woman who was quiet the challenger. He hasn't spoken to a soul about her ever since.

I am the Princess of Turkey, yes. Although I am in line for the throne, my father disagrees. He would like my step-brother, Adrian Mazur, to be the next King. Father remarried three months after my mother died. His new mistress, Daniella Mazur, married him, which made her and her three year old son (twenty-one now) apart of our family. Although Adrian could be quiet a lady's man, he is a true brother. He protects me as if a war was being fought, and he loves me like a dear sister. I love him as well.

I am not disappointed that father would like to pass the throne down to Adrian. But I am disappointed that he has arranged for me to marry the Prince of Russia. I do not know anything about him and I think he is vain. Father wants peace and a connection with Russia, so since this Prince is next in line for his throne, I will be the Queen of Russia. The wedding is set for mid-fall. Today is the third of January. I have about ten months or so until I am given away to an unknown Russian family. I do not even know his name.

Today we are leaving for Russia. My betrothed, the Prince, will arrive in his armada of ships to escort me to his homeland. Father wants me to behave my best because he knows I do not want this. But I will do this for my country. I do not believe in arranged marriages. I believe that a man and woman must find themselves in a deep pool surrounded by love, and actually love each other, instead of it being arranged. I will marry the Russian Prince, but I will never love him. And I will stand by my decision as long as I live.

"Your majesty, it is the morning. The Prince shall arrive soon," my lady Lissa announced, waking me up.

I sat up in my canopy bed and rubbed my eyes. "Very well, Lissa. And for the last time, please call me Rose. We are good friends."

She gave the faintest of smiles then curtseyed. I rolled my eyes and sat up.

"Run a bath for me, please," I ordered. "And tell Mia to set out the gown Father wants me to wear for the Prince."

She did as I asked and left. I stood up, wobbling on my feet a little, then smoothed out my plain, white nightgown. I looked around my familiar room, taking in everything. I would miss this place. I would miss my palace, and I would miss the land of Turkey. I would be living in Russia for now. Father and Daniella would have to stay behind and sail to Russia for the wedding during the fall. Adrian would come with us, as well as his soon-to-be bride, Sydney. Her full name was Sydney Annika Loretta Sage, and she was the Princess of Hungary. Adrian's marriage was not arranged, much to my surprise. Sydney was sent by her father to retrieve something from Turkey, and ended up meeting Adrian. They fell in love and Adrian proposed to her before she left for Hungary. A few months later, she came back and they will get married after the Prince and I. Adrian was a womanizer back then, but when he met Sydney, he stopped and his mind was enhanced with the thought of just her. It was pure love, and it wasn't forced.

Lissa helped me into the bath and I soaked all my parts into the steamy hot water. One of my ladies named Mia came in and helped me into the dress I was wearing to Russia. It was a two piece dress spun of really gold from the mines. The top piece ended right below my breasts and started right on top of it, leaning out towards elegant shirt cuffs. The design on the dress was little flowers and vines running down the dress. It showed a big part of my stomach. Then there was a long, floor length skirt that curled at the bottom. The skirt started about mid-hip and flowed down with intricate swirl designs and spots of black. And there was also a sari, imported from India, that was mostly black but was also shaved and soaked from gold. I wrapped into around me so it covered some of my bellybutton and firmly around my wrists to hold it up. The dress was very fancy, and Father wanted the Prince to think of me as beautiful as I already was.

Lissa let my long hair that was arranged into loose curls down, so it made a pool down my back. My ladies made sure I was presentable then sent me downstairs while they packed my possessions. I didn't have time to say goodbye to my chamber because the Prince would arrive anytime soon. I went to the kitchen rather quickly and ate whatever the chefs laid out for me. It was some bread smothered with honey, and I shoved it into my mouth, walking to the grand ballroom were father wanted to meet me.

"G'morning, kizim," my father greeted. He was standing in the middle of the ballroom with Adrian and Daniella at his side. Sydney holding Adrian's hand dearly. I walked over to them and each one kissed my cheek.

"Good morning, baba," I said back. "Has the Prince arrived yet?"

Adrian shook his head. "Not yet, little sister. We are still awaiting his arrival. But soon, I am sure of it."

"Alright," I said. "But if I must marry this man, I must know much about him. What is his name?"

"Prince Dimitri Belikov. I'm sure you'd love him," Daniella chirped in happily. "And you should be lucky, Rose. The Princess of Egypt and India were also making claims on him."

I grounded my teeth together. I did not make a 'claim' on this so called 'Dimitri Belikov'. For one, I did not want to marry him nor become his wife.

"Behave, Rosemarie," father demanded. "I expect the greatest out of you. You look beautiful by the way. More beautiful then ever. The Prince is a very lucky man."

"Just for my beauty, baba?" I said wearily. "Not for what is inside me?"

"That's not what I meant," he said.

"Yes you did, father," I repeated. "A man should love a woman for what's inside of her. But I have not met the Prince, and I am quiet hard to figure out. It has taken my ladies ten years to learn everything there is to me."

"Then ten years it will take," my father looked at me. "Please, Rosemarie. I beg of you. Do not unleash that monstrous attitude of yours. I know you, and you are a fine woman. Prince Dimitri will praise you like a goddess."

I seriously disagreed with this, but what else could I do? There was no use in debating.

"I will do as you say, baba," I said quietly.

He nodded then smiled, patting my arm. Just then, the royal guard, Eddie, entered the room standing up high with his chin in the air.

"Your majesty, Prince Dimitri Belikov of Russia has arrived," he announced.

"Send him in," father ordered. Then he looked at me and gave me a reassuring look. I nodded my head slowly and straightened up. I might as well make a good impression. At least, while father's in the room. Adrian and Sydney appeared by my side for comfort. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

A few seconds later, I reopened them to see a tall, Russian man walking towards us. I clutched my sari lightly and stared right at him. Wow. I had to admit, he was quiet good looking. He had chocolate brown eyes and silky looking hair that was about shoulder length and tied at the nape of his neck. He wore a beige tunic that showed his some of his bulging abs, and a pair of dark brown slacks with black army boots.

But despite his good looks, I had to keep straightforward. I had to stick to my plan. I would not love him, because it was arranged. I would only marry him, and that is all.

He caught sight of me and nodded. Once he approached us, he knelt before me and took my small hand in his, giving it a kiss. His lips were warm against my skin, which made me shiver. Then, he stood up again and looked down at me with looming eyes.

"I am Dimitri Belikov, your majesty," he said, bowing slightly. I could hear a faint, Russian accent in his voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I looked at him with bored eyes, even though my heart was pounding with adrenaline. "Charmed. I am Rosemarie Hathaway, but you may call me Rose."

"Rose," he repeated. "A beautiful name. In Russia, we pronounce it Roza. May I call you so?"

Roza. It indeed was a beautiful name. It was like a prayer. A song that never ended.

"As you like," I said.

He gave me a small smile then looked at my father. "It is an honor to finally meet you, King Ibrahim." He said my my father's name in Russian, which made it sound twice as better. "Will you be accompanying us on our trip to Russia?"

Father shook his head. "No, but my fair son will. This is he." He motioned towards Adrian. "And this is his betrothed, Sydney of Hungary."

Dimitri made a nodding gesture at them then turned back to father. "Then it is set. We will leave as soon as possible. My mother is eager to meet you, Roza. As well as the rest of my family."

I forced a smile. "And I am eager to meet them. I shall summon my ladies to prepare for the trip."

"Until then, Princess," he drifted, leaning down to kiss my hand once again. I blinked a few times then left the ballroom. I went back up to my chamber and found Lissa and Mia folding my gowns neatly and packing them into sheepskin satchels. Lissa caught sight of me and stopped doing her work to attend to me.

"Is everything alright, Rose?" she asked. Alleluia! She finally calls me Rose.

"I don't know what to think, Lissa. I really don't," I exclaimed, sitting on the bed and folding my hands neatly in my lap.

"Have you met the Prince yet?"

I nodded. "I have, indeed. I must say he is quiet the gentlemen. But I have only met him, so I do not know anything but his name. And I have a feeling that is all I need to know about him."

Mia stopped folding one of my favorite nightgowns and walked over to us.

"You might as well give him a chance," she said softly. "After all, you will be spending your whole entire life with him."

I shot her a death glare and she shrunk back.

"Do not speak of that," I ordered. "I would like to be my on person, like Adrian. Why can I not have his life? He gets to marry whomever he chooses, and father couldn't care less. This is pure hell, Mia."

They both gasped at my bad vocabulary. Sure I was a princess, but I still had my swearing moments.

"Maybe you will grow to love him," Lissa comforted.

I rolled my eyes. "God forbid."

After a few minutes, my ladies finished packing and escorted me back downstairs, where preparations were being made for our trip. Father and the rest were nowhere to be seen. Lissa and Mia went off to prepare the carriages, so I was alone. I caught sight of Dimitri talking to one of his men. I just stood there and examined him, thinking of what he would be like. Well, he looked older then me. Probably in his twenties. And he looked quiet serious. I didn't know why he had agreed to marry me, instead of the Princess of Egypt or India. Egypt had all the gold, and India had all the trinkets. What was so special about Turkey?

"Rose?"

I swiveled around and met the eyes of Sydney Sage. I gave her a warming smile and stepped forward to where she was.

"You seem unsure of yourself," she consoled.

"I am, Sydney," I wearied. "I do not want to marry Dimitri Belikov, but I am forced to do it against my will."

"Suppose you will grow to love him," she responded, putting a hand on my forearm.

"Like I will allow that," I said with a hint of sarcasm. "I've always wanted to marry a man that I fell in love with on my own. I don't want anyone involved in our marriage."

Sydney nodded her head, understanding. "Indeed. But sometimes you will need a little help to fall in love with the person. A boast, perhaps. Love takes a while to understand, Rose."

I sighed. "Thank you, Sydney. I appreciate you comfort, but I'd like to handle this situation on my own."

"As you wish," she empathized. "We will be leaving in an hour, at least that is what Adrian has informed me." Then she left to go somewhere else.

The preparation for our voyage continued. Some of our servants had already gone down to the docks to ready the ships, while others stayed to ready the carriages. An hour passed and Daniella called me down to say our final goodbyes. I was mourning this moment, mostly because I would not see my family until the fall, but also because I would be handed off to a mysterious Russian family.

"Be well, kizim," father lamented. He pulled me into a tight hug, and I smiled into his chest.

"I will miss you, baba. Until the fall..."

He kissed my cheek and handed me over to Dimitri. He reluctantly led me over to the big entrance doors of palace. I looked around the familiar place for one last time. This was the place I grew up in. When Dimitri sensed that I was ready, he lead me off the carriages outside. He and I would be taking his carriage alone with my lady Lissa and one of his men named Christian. It would be the four of us in one carriage, Sydney, Adrian, Mia, and Eddie in another, and the rest of the royal guards and servants in the third.

"How long will the trip be?" I asked Dimitri as he helped me into his silver and black carriage.

He hoisted himself up and into the carriage after me. "A day's carriage ride will bring us to the dock. And from there, we will sail the Black Sea to Russia. The whole trip will take a month to the most."

I nodded my head as Christian and Lissa got into the carriage. We were arranged so that Dimitri and I were across from each other, as were Lissa and Christian. A moment later, we started moving. I looked out the window the entire time, saying my farewells to the land of Turkey. Lissa clutched her hand in mine tightly and I squeezed back.

"So tell me about your family," I acknowledged Dimitri.

He turned to me and began, "My family is quiet large. I have three sisters. Karolina is the oldest, and she has two beautiful children, Paul and Zoya, my nephew and niece. Then there is Sonya, she is only a few years older then me, and she is currently with child. She is eight months along. And finally, my little sister is Viktoria. She is seventeen years old, one year younger then you, I presume. My mother is Olena, the Queen. And my grandmother is Yeva ."

"Wow," I responded. "Quiet big."

"Tell me about your family," he encouraged.

"Well," I started, "I live with my father, my step-mother, and my step-brother. My real mother died when I was born. So father remarried Daniella, who already had Adrian in the family. Adrian is like an actual brother to me, and I love him. I love Daniella as well, but I can't help but imagine what my real mother would have been like."

"I'm truly sorry," he sympathized.

"There is nothing to grieve," I insisted. "Sydney is engaged to Adrian. I love her, too. And Lissa," I squeezed her hand, "is one of my dear friends."

Lissa blushed and looked down to her lap.

"It is very wise of you to treat your servants as friends," Dimitri accepted. "Christian here is not only my servant, but he is also my friend as well."

Christian grinned foolishly and punched Dimitri in the arm. Hm. How un-servant like. Usually servants were shy or quiet when it came to them, but not for Christian. How unique. They must be fairly close. Almost like brothers.

"You two are awfully close," I said before I had even realized it had come out of my mouth.

Dimitri nodded. "I think servants should be treated like family, not slaves. We must repay them for all the hard work and labor they have done for us."

Funny. That was exactly what I thought.

We continued traveling until my stomach started to grumble. Good thing Lissa was smart enough to think of bringing food inside the carriage. We had brunch consisting of bread, cheese, olives, boiled vegetables and legumes, and dried beans with cooked meat and crushed wheat. Then after I ate, I fell into a deep sleep.

Oh ya, and there will be some M scenes in this story. xD But were only fourteen, fifteen so pls bear with us! Thank u all and review! NExt chapter willl be up very sooon! I PROMISE!