Heir to the Golden Throne

Roman

'They didn't even sound the drums we are so late' Edwina hissed to her husband as they closed the door to their quarters behind Roman.
'I noticed honey,' Derick said to his wife before nodding to the boy who helped them bring in their luggage,'Roman, there's no time to do anything fancy just get changed as quickly as possible.'
Roman nodded before racing to his room to change for the introduction ball. He's used to running around and doing this last minute. It seems no matter what is going on his family can't make it on time to anything. Even if the event is held by the royal family apparently.
Soon after Roman meets his father back in the common area of their quarters his mother comes out in a rush but still dignified.
'Beautiful as always my dear', Derick said to his wife. Who snorts and joins him by the door.
'No last words of advice Derick. Hopefully our son knows what to do by now. Let's go so we don't miss their entrance', his mother states as his father opens the door for them.
Together they walk down the halls towards the grand hall. For the last three days all his father and mother could talk about was the contest and it's host. They went over rumors and theories about the contest and how best to win the test that the princess gives. Even mentioning a few times the rumors about the princess herself. No one outside of the castle has seen any of the princess's since the heir was a young teenager. No one in the kingdom knows why the King shut the gates and controls entrance so ruthlessly. Some lords and lady's have been summoned to the castle for important meetings but even then no one's has reported seeing anyone other than the King and Queen.
Roman and all the other contestants are certainly curious to see if the rumors about the heirs beauty are true or not. One of the most outlandish rumors about why the King shut the gates is that a foreign Lord came to talk trade routes and after meeting Princess Matilda, his heart stopped working because of her beauty. This caused the king to have problems with foreign courts, so he decided to shut the gates to keep people safe. Roman knew that this rumor was false. No matter how beautiful someone is it cannot stop someone's heart. Although it does paint an interesting picture of the young princess.
His family, although not quite rushing, walked rapidly towards the grand hall. Turning the last corner his parents stopped dead in their tracks, causing Roman to slam into his father's back.
Without flinching or saying, a word, Derek ignores his son running into him and bows at the waist. Edwina next to his father, curtsies low. This causes Roman to sleep next to his father in bow at the waist mimicking his father.
Before Roman and his family, an older man and two younger girls stand before the entrance to the grand hall.
'Lord and Lady Belsen. Why am I not surprised to see your family running late?' The old man with salt and pepper hair ask Romans father.  As one his family rises before his father responds.
'Your Grace,' Derick says to the man before them,' My wife and I apologize for any offense to their majesties for arriving late.'
The old man, or King, looks at his father for a moment then smiles. 'I would expect nothing less Derick.'
Roman has never met the royals before. A tall broad shouldered man who looks to be in his late fifties with salt and pepper hair wasn't exactly what Roman had pictured. He could tell that the Kings hair used to be dark black and the muscles peaking through the Kings clothing are still put to use. Even then in the short amount of time he's been in the Kings present he knows that the King is not the type of man to slow down because of his age. Nor is he the type of man that Roman wants to mess with.
'You had better get in there before my wife arrives though. Sometimes she's less forgiving than I', the King warns and steps aside to let his family through the doors. The two girls behind the King move with the same gracefulness as him. Romans family bow once more before heading into the hall.
'Was either of those girls Princess Matilda?' Roman ask his parents. The hall is alive with chatter so there's no point in trying to stay quiet.
His mother shakes her head,' I don't believe so. If I had to guess that was the princess Evelyn and princess Athena.' Roman nods and looks around the crowd. He noticed a few faces swimming amongst the people but doesn't acknowledge any of them. Too caught up in his own mind to do so.
The princesses with the King were definitely younger than 22, so maybe his mother was right. Both girls had the beauty from the rumors about the heir. Both had long, dark hair and bright blue eye. The King was at least a few inches taller than Roman is. Which is impressive since he stood at 6'6''. But the girls were only a few inches shorter than their father. Making them around Romans height, which if they were no doubting wearing heels is impressive. Either of those girls could easily be the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. The rumors had to be exaggerated because they also say that princess Matilda is the most beautiful of the three sisters.
Before Roman could question his mother about her thoughts on the princesses, the trumpets sound and the doors his family just walked through opened.
The guard nearest the doors stomps his staff twice on the ground to silence the hall. Although the buzz of conversation ends throughout the hall. The buzz of excitement does not in fact, it grows.
'His majesty King Augustus Whitehorn, King of Celestia and it's people, The warrior King and her majesty Queen Diane, Queen of Celestia', someone announced across the hall filling every corner with their voice and introduction of the King and Queen.
The Queen was regal. Her long dark brown hair flowed down her back as her and the King walked in. Her face was the image of beauty with delicate features and sharp sparkling blue eyes.
The King and Queen separate are the portrait of royals, but together they are gods.
Everyone in the hall bowed or curtsied as they walked by making their way towards the dais. Without anyone noticing the doors had closed before the King and Queen made it half way to their thrones. The only reason Roman turned to look was the slight hushing sounds coming from the hall he saw the skirts of a pale blue dress before the doors closed once more. Roman didn't remember the color of the princesses dress but figured it was one of them. He turned back to the dais in time to see the King sit down on his golden throne just moments before the Queen sat to his left. Her throne and the three others on the dais weren't made of gold like the Kings, but their sophistication didn't lack because of it. Instead of gold the other chairs on the dais were made of wood from fallen trees in the gods forest behind the castle. Each had carving etched into the wood that Roman couldn't make out since he was so far away. He had now doubt that their artisanship was immaculate.
As one the crowd turned back towards the entrance waiting for the three princesses. The contestants were curious to see who they were competing for and  for the nobles, Roman had heard some bets were going on about whether the rumors were true or not.
Before Roman could think about the ridiculousness of that the doors open once again. The same guard stomped his staff twice before the same man announced the arrival of the princesses.
'Crowned Princess Matilda, heir to the Golden Throne, a kingdoms delight and her sisters the Princess Evelyn and the Princess Athena.'
The entire hall audibly sucked in their breath at the sight of their heir. For a moment Roman believed the rumors about the foreign lord or died because of her beauty, because for that moment he though he might fall to his knees because the woman who walked in front of the two princesses from earlier was a goddess. Her long dark brown hair flowed behind her on a phantom wind. Then same wind brushed the skirts of her gown delicately behind her as she walked towards her parents. And by the gods Roman was going to lose his mind because that dress is deadly on a body like hers. The cut of the neckline allows for her generous chest to be exposed but not indecently. The waistline comes in and flows out like a song in the wind. The lord could have definitely died if she was wearing that dress.
While everyone else was in awe of Princess Matilda's beauty Roman noticed how she held herself. From the moment the doors opened she never once looked at the crowd, only to her parents at the top of the dais and with her head high, her shoulders back, and her back straight she portrait of a woman who knows the affect she has on everyone in the room. Roman smiles broadly as the three princess reach the dais and find their seats. This contest is going to be interesting Roman decides before he's even talked with the princess.