𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄, sokeefe

THREE

"MY DARLING," SOPHIE'S MOTHER MURMURED, LOOKING UPON her daughter with the kind of childish pride a child would cherish their art with. Queen Edaline was undoubtedly beautiful, with amber hair cascading past her shoulders and wide turquoise eyes that almost felt like they could see through you. But she was also naive, childishly naive, and Sophie had long ago accepted she would have to fare without her parents in terms of the brains department.

Not that she would ever tell them that.

A slightly forced smile twisted Sophie's lips. "Mother."

"How has life been treating you? What have you been doing?"

Sophie fought back a twinge of annoyance. She'd long harbored a particular hatred for small talk, especially with her parents, whom she loved but couldn't quite be honest with.

And, well, him--but she was trying not to think of him as much as everyone else allowed.

"I've been getting the battlements ready, Your Majesty.  Just in case--"

Sophie knew she shouldn't have said anything; her parents were paranoid about her safety and would not at all approve of an army.

Even if it was secret.

She knew the neighboring kingdom underestimated them--the foolish king and queen with their empty-headed daughter. And since day one, she'd been more than determined to turn the tables.

Edaline sighed, her eyebrows puckering with disapproval. "That will have to be cleared away before--well." She pursed her lips. "And, Sophie, you of all people should know better. If the king found out--"

"I've been cautious--"

"I have no doubt of that, my dear. But all it takes is one small slip, one spy, and..." She snapped her fingers.

Sophie repressed a sigh. So sweet, her mother could be. "I assume you have a reason for summoning me?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Edaline rose, her gaze sweeping over Sophie. "I trust you are now quite familiar with the prince?"

The prince, the prince. Whatever Sophie did, whatever she tried, it all boiled back to one thing and one thing only: him.

"Yes, My Queen."

"Well..." Edaline paused, and her turquoise eyes widened slightly. "Prince Fitzroy feels that you two have been in acquaintance long enough."

Dread pooled in Sophie's stomach, the liquid sloshing and threatening to boil over.

She'd known this was coming. He'd known this was coming. Everyone had known this was coming.

But she'd lived in fear of it happening from the minute they'd been introduced.

She kept her smile poised, though, from years of practice, as her mother continued. 

"Crown Prince Fitzroy," her mother continued, "wishes to arrive to our capital today, in hopes to further our political discussions."

"Today? Mother, I-"

"Yes," Edaline interrupted, "today. Surely you know what is in store for your future--you will have to, ah, handle the prince for a lot longer than a few hours. However--" and here her eyes glinted mischievously--"could you excuse me and your father from this meeting? We have a few matters to tend to. I hope you'll reach an... agreement, without our presence."

Sophie again had to bite back an irritated groan. The mask she'd been putting up for years did its job, and she managed to give Edaline the good response because she was the good princess who would sacrifice her good future for the good of her kingdom.

"Yes, My Queen."