Broken Dreams (5 Seconds of Summer Royal AU)
Summary: This fanfic is based in the 21st century, but countries are controlled and ruled by royalty like it use to be, so yah! Ashton is soon to become King of Australia, and is still to marry. What Ashton does not know, he is already betrothed to a princess, and he nor she, have a say in the matter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1:
Ashton had only just come home from being out with his friends, and had no idea what was going to be approaching him once he had just settled onto his bed on top of the expensive quilts. His dyed red hair was a slight mess of curls on his head as he shrugged off his jacket, lying back on the bed with his legs hanging over the edge.
He groaned as he heard his mother call for him, her voice echoing throughout the halls of the large palace that he called home. He stood back up from the bed and trudged his way down the stairs to the large living area.
Now Ashton isn’t exactly a bad person, but he had gone his whole life thinking that he wouldn’t have to be king, or that it wouldn’t be happening any time soon, and he had taken advantage of that knowledge, and as soon as he was old enough to drink and go clubbing, he did, and since that day, he partied and drank nearly every couple of days, making the most of his time of freedom before having to find a wife.
He got downstairs and saw his mum, Queen Anne-Marie of Australia, was stood there in front of him, his tired hazel eyes training down to the coffee table where there was magazines spread out across, a lot of them with some sort of obscene picture or headline was plastered on them. He slumped down onto the sofa, picking up one of them, a smirk replacing his frown as he looked at the image, the image showing Ashton getting into his limo with his arms around two models as he was entering.
His mum grabbed the magazine from his hands and threw it down onto the coffee table, glaring at her son as she shook her head.
“Ashton, not the time. Now I have to talk to you about something of great importance.” She began as she sat on the sofa opposite him, folding her hands in her lap as she glared at her oldest son. Ashton rolled his eyes and lent back onto the sofa, his arms spread out across the back of the expensive fabric, and he looked at his mum, waiting for her to carry on. “Your step father is going to be abdicating the throne before the year is out....and you will be taking over his place.” She watched him with expectant eyes as she sighed. Ashton had never known who his father actually was, and he didn’t want to know him. His mother had then remarried within the year of his father leaving so she could keep the throne in her bloodline.
Ashton raised his eyebrow at her, waiting for her to then carry in with the news. “And as you may know, you cannot take the throne without having a wife to bare children for you. And as you are to take the throne so soon, you must marry before your step father steps down...and we must fix the image that the public has of you.” Ashton was completely speechless as he looked at his mum, his eyes nearly popping out of his head at the news.
“Wait but mum, I thought I wouldn’t have to be king until later in life. I’m too young to be king. And how am I supposed to find a wife and fall in love in that short of time...this is so fucking stupid.” His voice was slightly raised in annoyance and he threw his hands in the air on the word fucking, as his mum now raised her eyebrows.
“And fixing your image means no more parties, so more alcohol, no more girls, and no more swearing.” Ashton huffed as he looked down at the magazines on the table, his hands landing on one end of the oak wood with a loud bang and he sweeped his hands across the table, the magazines flying to the floor with numb thuds, making his poor mother slightly flinch at the noise. “Ashton this all starts now. You are permitted to no more than one alcoholic drink a day, and I swear if you are seen out with any other females apart from me, Lauren or your future wife, then there will be consequences.” She finished as she sighed, not wanting to tell him the last piece of news “And your wife must be of royal blood.”
“But the wife aspect of all of this...who? And how?” He asked as he was now pacing back and forth in anger and frustration.
“I’m sorry Ashton sweetie, I never told you when you were younger....but your already betrothed to a princess.” She spoke, not wanting to look up at him. “She is a well loved Princess, and she has been promised to you since her birth twenty years ago.” She told him and Ashton stopped, his hands now hanging by his side as he just looked at his mum, shrugging his shoulders.
“And who is this princess?” He asked, now crossing his arms. At least this would make his life a whole lot easier so he wouldn’t have to go around meeting a whole load of royal snotty princesses.
“Her name is Ruth. Princess Ruth of England.
Meanwhile in England
Ruth sighed as she put her phone down and looked across at Bri. Bri had been her lady-in-waiting and best friend since they were 16, so for four years now since Ruth had chosen Bri to come across to Britain. Ruth shook her head as she groaned gently after seeing another headline about Prince Ashton of Australia.
“Ugh Bri he is an arse whole. I wish that country luck when he becomes King in the future, because he won’t know the first thing about being responsible.” She spoke as she ran a hand through her ombre hair, looking up at the ceiling. She could hear Bri laugh at her as she was lying on the other side of the bed, just looking at the news article with Ruth.
“Yeh but Roo...you have to admit he is hot. Also have you seen his friends that he hangs around with. Their all as good looking as each other.” Ruth shook her head as she laughed.
“Yeh he’s a hot dick head. And his friends are just idiots. All they do is party, drink and take advantage of women who throw themselves at their feet because they are connected to royals. I feel so sorry for his future wife.” She shot up from her spot lying down when she heard a knock on the door. “Come in!” She called and both her mother and father entered, her mother looking hopeful and her father looking rather sad.
“Bri, darling would you mind giving us 5 minutes with Ruth?” Her mother asked as Bri nodded her head, giving a small curtsy and left the room after giving Ruth a smile and shut the door behind her.
Ruth looked at her mum who came and sat down beside her and her father stayed standing. Ruth couldn’t help but feel that something was off and that there was some important news being delivered to her.
“Now Ruth we have some news for you” Her mum began as she took her youngest daughters hands in hers. Her mother was a kind woman with a good heart and was an amazing Queen who ruled fairly along side her father, but her mum was blunt and to the point, and wasn’t great when it came to talking heart to heart.
Her father was a very fair and kind man with a huge heart and always out others in front of him, wanting to make others happy before him, but also understood that royal duties came before personal matters.
That was Ruth’s entire life. She knew that she would never be Queen as her brother would be King once her father either stepped down or passed away, and she also had her older sister of whom would become Queen and get a husband to be King if there wasn’t her brother to take the throne. An air and a spare as people called it. Ruth was just to be married off and used as a bargaining chip in royal duties. And that’s what this was all about.
“Now Ruth...” her mum began, smiling at her “As you know, you are one day to be married. But there is one thing we never told you...” Ruth looked at her mum, her mind running a thousand miles an hour as she looked at the older woman. She was hoping her mother wouldn’t tell what she was thinking she would tell her. “Your hand in marriage has already been promised to a prince since your birth. And the time has now come for you to meet your betrothed...and you must be married before the year is out.” Her mother finished.
Ruth just sat there, completely speechless. “But mother...I cannot marry somebody if I do not love them.” That was one thing Ruth had always wanted, was to marry somebody she loved, and hoped that even though she had spent her whole life to serve her parents and the kingdom, she was hoping she would at least love the one she would marry.
“Ruth you knew this. You have always known that you wouldn’t have a say who you marry. You have always been the face of the family, and now you must carry this on.” Her mother’s voice was steely as she spoke, not much emotion at all. The young female could feel tears springing to her eyes as she shook her head.
“Father, dad, please...tell her. I have always done what has been best for the kingdom, I have never stepped a food out of line. Please. I cannot marry somebody who I don’t love. No. I won’t do it.” She spoke as she was now standing, anger coursing through her veins
“Ruth you do not have a choice in the matter. You have been promised to somebody your entire life, and it is final. You have two days to prepare yourself, and you can take one friend. There is no saying no to this. It is your duty, and you will do this, even if you have to be dragged onto the plane.” Ruth was now pacing, biting on her acrylic nails as she could feel her heart in her throat.
“Do I at least get to know my future husband?” She asked and turned to her mother, now just feeling pure betrayal.
“His name is Prince Ashton of Australia, and he is to be crowned King of Australia before the year is to end, so you will be married before then. I know this is a lot my love, but I know you can do this. I know you will take this in your stride like you always do.” Her mother finished and stood from Ruth’s bed, giving Ruth a kiss on the head and left the room. The worst part was her father didn’t say anything to her, he just left the room without a word, letting Bri back in as Ruth collapsed on the floor, silent tears falling from her eyes as she let the news sink in.
“Ruth...I was listening through the door...” Spoke Bri, as Ruth just shook her head as she could feel her heart breaking.
“Bri will you come with me...I can’t go without you.” Ruth said and looked up at Bri through tears, seeing Bri nod her head.
“When do we leave?” Asked Bri as Ruth stood up and sat down on the bed.
“I leave in less than 48 hours....for Australia.” Ruth told her, seeing Bri seem to add the puzzle pieces together in her head.
“Wait Australia...King...your marrying Prince Ashton...” Ruth looked up at Bri and nodded her head.
“I’m going to kill my future husband before we can even get married.” Ruth said, a small smile forming on her lips as she stood up from her bed “Help me pack?”