𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑽𝑶𝑰𝑪𝑬 ~Kix~

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂

"My sweet dears!" A woman with the suanter of someone who possessed more wisdom then most entered the shared bedroom between the princesses. "I came as soon as I heard." She added as she quickly threw her arms around Caroline, the closest to her. "Aunt Evelyn." Caroline breathed as she hugged the woman back. Evelyn Gardiner was a fair woman, kinder then most her age. She had gone through a marriage which resulted in her becoming a widow at the age of forty. Now, years later, She might not of had a husband but she had wisdom enough to share. Her loose curly hair began to frost with grey near the roots and anyone could see the age under her eyes but even still she was beautiful. "Oh! You're just as beautiful as the morning!" Evelyn remarked. "All of you are." She added, looking around at all the girls who offered a smile to her in return. "Your mother would be very proud of you girls." She spoke as she addressed them all. "Now I understand that your father has passed away in an unforeseen circumstance and for that I offer my greatest condolences." The girls all bowed there heads in a matter of thanking her for her grieving. "Now I understand how difficult it must be for you all but we have to keep moving forward. I will train your eldest sister and assist her in taking the throne within the weekend." Evelyn addressed the sisters as a whole before turning to Caroline. "Your majesty," She spoke with respect to the future queen. "We need to begin your training at once."

"Captain Rex, you wanted to see us?" Fives addressed the captain as he and the rest of the men reported for a briefing after the state of Atla had been greatly altered in the past evening. "And just where have you been?" Rex asked Fives who merely smirked at the question. "Nowhere." He replied with the smallest bit of an attitude akin to that of a fox after winning over its prey. "Hmp." Rex muttered before turning back to the rest of his men. "If you have not heard already, the king of Atla did not make it last night. " Rex began, "And princess Caroline is to be crowned queen within the weekend. Her coronation will be on sunday and Senator Amidala has been invited therefore we will remain here longer to protect her." "We're gonna stay here even longer?" Jesse complained with a roll of his eyes. "Yeah this has been the most boring mission yet!" Tup added. "It's not so bad." Fives replied, nudging his brothers. "You can't talk you're then one who got laid last night." Jesse replied with a scowl and Fives chuckled. "Jealous?" He teased and Jesse only rolled his eyes. "That's enough." Rex stopped their arguing. "We are staying until the princess is coronated and that's final."

Caroline held the golden hilt of her father's sword in her hand. She had to move past the memories of his death that the sword possesed over her mind. All she could remember while grasping the blade was the final breath of the dying King. "My dear is something wrong?" Her aunt asked as she noticed the distant look in Caroline's eyes as she looked over the sword. Caroline turned to respond but as her eyes met hers she also noticed someone standing behind her aunt in the gardens. The Dantooine Prince stood stoicly in the distance of the castle gardens, observing the daisies that had been planted strategically for princess Caroline, they were her chosen flower after all. Evelyn noticed her distance gaze right past her and turned to follow her wondering eyes and soon she understood. "That is the man you are supposed to mary isn't it?" Evelyn asked and Caroline was pulled from her blank stare at the handsome prince and brought back to her aunt. "Yes." She replied flatly. "Prince Sterling of Dantooine." She added. Evelyn looked at the man, her eyes taking in every feature and note of body language as she possibly could from the distance before turning to Caroline and doing the same. "The way you look at him, Caroline." Evelyn noted with a glint in her eye. "You don't love him." A flinch over took Caroline's body at her aunt's words as her eyes widened in shock of the boldness of the old woman. "What in maker's name possesed you to make such a bold statement?" Caroline asked sharply to the woman who only smiled, the wrinkles and lines on her face became much more evident as she did. Caroline could finally see the kindness and wisdom in her green eyes and she felt her own heart soften at the sight. "Young queen you forget I have also experienced love and loss." She remarked. "A young man such as this prince Sterling with his refined taste and royal mind is one I would be most skeptical with." "And why is that? He was rather charming at the banquet." "That is always how it starts, my dear." Evelyn replied. There was something in her tone that chimed of experience like a crisp and clear bell. "Some men may seem charming and kind on the outside but are deceitful manipulators on the inside. I've seen it before. With Sterling I would have you be on your guard." Caroline didn't know what to make of her aunt's words. "I wish to speak with him." Caroline finally stated and her aunt sighed before giving her a nod. "I cannot stop you, my queen." She replied. "Do as you wish."

"It is a lovely morning for a stroll is it not?" The voice of the eldest princess caused Sterling to turn, a smile dashed onto his face as soon as his blue eyes met those of Princess Caroline. "Your highness," He addressed the princess before takin her hand in his and bringing it up to his lips for a small kiss. His smooth lips pressed against her dainty fingers and caused a slight blush to spread onto the future queen's cheeks. "I was actually just going to look for you." Sterling said, "You were?" Caroline asked and he nodded. "I Wanted to discuss with you the matter of our immedient marriage." This took Caroline off guard. She certainly wasn't expecting to hear that on the eve of her coronation. "I beg your pardon?" "Well I heard about the passing of your father, the king, for which I would like to offer my greatest condolences. I can't imagine how terrible it must be to loose a parent. I'm so sorry." Sterling began and his efforts seemed truly genuine to Caroline who nodded. "Your empathy is well appreciated." She replied and Sterling took that as his opportunity to continue. "I would only assume that with your father's passing you must be wed at once so that your people can have a new king to look to." And that's when it hit Caroline. This was never about her, it was about the throne. She forced a small smile at the prince. "With all due respect, Prince Sterling, I will not need to be wed to assume the throne." She replied a tad forcefully. "Oh?" "I will be coronated Queen tomorrow, the rightful ruler of my people and as queen I will be able to change the rules as I see fit." Caroline retaliated as she narrowed her eyes at the prince. "Are you- are you threatening me?" Sterling asked as if he were now in a state of disbelief. "Of course not." Caroline stated with a smile. "Good day to you." She finally added before leaving a bewildered prince alone in the garden.