Is that Princess Caroline?
Emory's eyes widened a little, and his mouth opened for just a moment as a slight gasp escaped.
The dress, the perfectly styled hair, the beautifully clean skin. Oh it was her alright.
He stood straight and bowed to her politely before joining his parents once again as they were led to their quarters. Thankfully, Emory had been given his own room. Now he had the space to brood in solitude, he could try and relax. Although he couldn't, could he? No, very shortly he would be preparing for the only thing he was actually there to do. Once again, he didn't know how he felt on the matter. While it was in his kingdom's best interest, was it something that she wanted to do? He wasn't one of those who would force a lady to do something just because he was apparently superior, that was just inhumane. So it was decided, he would get to know Caroline before jumping straight into things. That was the best thing to do, right?
Caroline stiffened as Prince Emory bowed to her. So . . . polite. She had to admit, she hadn’t expected that. What she had expected was horns and a tail, not a blonde boy who would bow at her. He certainly knew how to make an impression. She stood there for a moment, frozen, then hurried off to the library, smoothing down the front of her dress. She grabbed the book she was looking for and went back to her chambers using the back way.
(No rush, just making sure you don't forget)
(Thank you, I'll be posting my response shortly, just have one more thing to do.)
(Just thinking, should we do like a little time skip to the actual ball?)
(Yeah, we probably should)
(Alrighty, am I okay to start?)
The beginning of the ball was upon them, and Emory for one was not looking forward to it in the slightest. While he knew how to make a good impression at these kinds of events, just as his father had taught him, that didn't mean he enjoyed having to socialise. So tonight, he wasn't going to actually socialise, the plan was to only say the right things to the right people and then hopefully he could return to his chambers before the ball had properly started. Of course, it was a wonderful thing to dream of. But a dream it would remain.
Emory could already hear the chattering of aristocracy before he'd reached the bottom of the grand staircase with his parents.
"Look sharp, Emory." his mother whispered, her usual charming smile spread across her lips. "You'll be fine."
As the doors to the ballroom drifted open, a chubby little man on the other side loudly proclaimed the arrival of Emory and his parents. Emory took a deep breath, and put on a dazzling, award-winning smile as he graciously followed his parents. Smile and wave, that's all you have to do for this part. Speak when spoken to.
Caroline sat in front of her mirror fidgeting with the bracelet on her wrist. Music floated through the castle. She couldn't go down to the party until everyone else important had arrived. Alice, her lady in waiting, poked her head into Caroline's bedroom. "It's time, Your Highness." Caroline nodded and followed Alice down a hall, down a staircase, and down another hall.
The doors to the ballroom were thrown open and Caroline ascended the staircase as she was announced. She smiled and nodded to the other nobles, quickly taking her place in a chair just for her while trying not to seem like she was rushing. It was a moment before people went back to the party. Once Caroline was satisfied that not too many people were still watching her, she stood and started to mill about. She had people to talk to after all.
(Sorry its kinda rushed)
Emory was deep in conversation with one of his father's trading partners, discussing the possibility of changing the produce they traded, when he noticed Caroline in the room. She looked just as gentile as she had on the balcony, though he could tell she wasn't comfortable in this setting. He quickly turned his attention back to the trade partner, his business smile glistening under the light of the chandeliers above. Success. The king of Valedinia strode over to him, patting him gently on the back in a fatherly way. It wasn't a fatherly way though. The king never treated Emory as a son, only as a tool to keep the kingdom powerful.
"The dancing should be starting soon my boy," the king boomed, a cheerful smile lit up his aged features. "I expect the little princess will be waiting for you."
Emory nodded, keeping his face neutral. "Of course father." His father knew he hated dancing, but he didn't have much of a choice right now.
Caroline grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray, hoping the alcohol would calm her nerves. If anyone saw her nerves, saw that she was vulnerable, they would pounce on her. Prince Emory stood next to his father, and she saw them both glance at her. The musicians started a new song, a waltz. Oh saints, he was going to ask her to dance with him. The thought disgusted her. She could practically feel her blood boil every time she thought about him and what his country wanted to do to her's. She took a breath, smiled, and took a sip of her champagne. This had to happen eventually.
The music began to fill the air and with a gentle nudge and firm look from his father, Emory knew it was time.
He silently gulped and made his way over to Caroline. His bright smile became a little nervous, but no less dazzling, as he was finally in front of the princess. Guests were watching them, he could feel their eyes in the back of his head and he just wanted them to go away.
Emory bowed politely, just as he had upon seeing her on the balcony, and gracefully held out his hand as he rose back up slightly. "Your highness, may I have this dance?"
Caroline took a gulp of champagne as Emory bowed. He he straightened back up she set her glass down on another passing tray and smiled as she took his hand. "Oh please, Prince Emory," she said, still smiling a dazzling smile as she placed her other hand on his arm. "There's no need to ask. You and I both know I do not have a choice. No need to waste your breath on such formalities." It wasn't a productive thing to say but the very sight of him made her angry and it was hard to control herself.
"I don't think it's fair that you're being forced into this, it's not right." Emory's eyes seemed to sadden for a moment as he murmured, but his previous demeanor returned when he lead Caroline into the center of the ballroom. All eyes would be on them and he didn't like it one bit, but it was expected of them, they had to do it. He placed one hand on her waist, holding her hand gently, and slowly he eased them both into the waltz.
Caroline blinked at him, thrown off guard. "I'm not being forced into anything," she muttered as he led her to the middle of the dance floor. She didn't even realize she was muttering. This was what she expected. Even when she wasn't so close in line for the throne, she knew she would have to marry someone for the good of the kingdom. This wasn't a new concept for her. What she was not accustomed to was someone feeling sorry for her situation. It's probably a ruse to let your guard down. She smiled again as she fell into step with Emory. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine with this arrangement. That isn't what I'm upset about."
"You're upset because my parents wish to invade?" Emory's words came out as a question, though it was more of a statement. The two of them knew exactly what would happen if Caroline refused to wed Emory. Then again, he hadn't actually asked for her hand, so she couldn't say no to something he hadn't asked.
Why was any situation involving a woman so confusing and difficult? After all these years of being surrounded by women, they have only seemed to confuse him more than make him interested in them.
A sharp stare caught the prince's attention. His father. It was a stare that almost said 'you're wasting time', but he didn't care. Emory twirled a little, lifting the princess gently by the waist. When he set her back down, his hand rested carefully on her lower back. "Tell me, if you weren't attending this ball, what would you be doing?"
“Yes, obviously. Are you always this dense?” Caroline struggled to keep her smile on her face. Apparently, he was that annoying. She gasped when he lifted her. She hadn’t expected him to be that strong or that bold. She remembered days ago, when he had bowed to her as she stood on the balcony. Apparently he was a bold person. “Reading,” she replied before she could think about the question. She blinked at him, suspicious. “Why?” she demanded.
A confused expression crossed Emory's features when the princess called him dense. Was he being dense?
"I am merely curious as to what a lady such as yourself does in her free time." he replied after a moment, refusing to meet her eyes for a second. "Pardon me if I have offended you." He could tell she hated him, the smile on her face was starting to falter and there was a harshness in her tone that he hadn't expected.
Stop being so nice to me.
"Well, I read." Over his shoulder, she caught the eye of Thomas standing next to her father, the advisor that had come up with this wretched plan. She tried not to let his approving smile distract her, and instead fixed her gaze on Prince Emory. She watched him look at anything but her and took pity on him, deciding to play nice, if only for a moment. "Am I to assume that you're happy here at this ball? Or is there also something else that you would rather be doing as well? You don't strike me as a reader."
"Actually, I do enjoy a bit of reading." Emory chuckled softly, shaking his head before looking back at Caroline. No one ever thought he was the type of prince who enjoyed reading, but it was the fictional stories that had found a home in his heart. "The tales of daring adventurers at sea, of romance blossoming between two unlikely characters who were once enemies. Those are the kinds of stories that really get the imagination working. Though I will admit, I prefer painting the images that are created in my head." Emory lifted Caroline up once more, and when he lowered her down, he spun her gently out to the side, and unusually genuine smile was on his lips.
Something genuine started to form in Caroline's smile as well. "Ah of course. You read stories." She gasped a little when he lifted her up again, then tried not to fall over when he spun her. "You paint?" she asked, trying not to seem out of breath, or that she was very close to falling over. But his hand was there and he pulled her towards him again, steadying her. "And I see you have an affinity for dancing, Prince Emory."
"I do paint," Emory smiled as he pulled the princess towards him. "It's quite a peaceful pass time." He placed his hand on her waist once again, beginning to take larger strides with more twirls and dips involved. "As for dancing, well, I've never been that good at it. You, on the other hand, are performing beautifully." He could see that she was out of breath, but the dance would be over soon, so perhaps she would take that time to get some fresh air. At least that's what he assumed she would do.
Caroline studied his face for a moment. “Are you joking? About being good at dancing?” She spun away from him, then they came back together. “Because you seem to have quite the knack for it. I, however, do not. I don’t usually dance at parties. Or not very difficult dances, at least. I’m just following your lead.” She didn’t know the song well enough to know if it would be over soon or not. She hoped it would. Her corset was tighter than usual, and she didn’t want to be known as someone who fainted at parties. Especially not from dancing.
