Before Prince August arrives, I put on the "compromise" dress. It's a dress, but not a full on ball gown. It's a peach color with vertical ruffles starting at my waistline and gold embroidery on the bodice and butterfly sleeves. It goes down to below my ankles and is paired with a gold tiara and heels.
Kaden is stuck with a blue tuxedo and he looks extremely uncomfortable in it.
"This collar is choking me," he says.
"It's only for today. Then we can wear less fancy clothes, but still fancy enough to please them," I reply.
"True. I can't wait," Kaden answers.
"His royal highness, the Crown Prince of Swendway, Prince August Yëgumän," a man announces.
Prince August walks out and greets us. He is much shorter than I expected. I'm at least four inches taller than he is in my two inch heels, so I'm two inches taller than he is, and I'm 5'8! Kaden, at 5'11 towers over him, and the prince is a year older than the both of us!
"Hi, I'm Princess Celeste Schreave," I say, shaking his hand.
"Crown Prince August Yëgumän, but you are permitted to call me Prince August," he replies cordially.
"Prince Kaden Schreave," Kaden tells him.
"You can just call us Celeste and Kaden," I add.
"That would be improper," August, er, Prince August, says.
"It's fine, we don't mind if it's 'improper'" Kaden assures him.
"However, I do mind," Prince August tells Kaden.
"Okay, then. I heard you liked fencing. We can help you if you want," I say.
"That would be appreciated," Prince August says.
"Alright, Celeste, let's see if we can find some extra gear for Prince August," Kaden replies.
I walk out of the room with Kaden and go to the storage room where we keep the fencing supplies.
"He's... more formal than I thought," I say when we get to the storage room where we can't be overheard.
"Smaller, too. We're both taller than he is, and we're younger," Kaden agrees.
"Well, I'm guessing he's about 5'7, so we should be able to find one of your things from a few years ago, since the tailor made his too big and I don't think he brought his own gear if they let him on a plane," I say.
"True. Here, I found it," Kaden says.
"He can use this épée, since we're going to use them and it's best to use the same swords," I say.
"I keep thinking it'll be unfair for him, since we're both taller and more experienced," Kaden muses.
"Let's hope he's good," I reply," or it will REALLY be bad."
"Yeah," Kaden says.
Author's Note
August is stuck-up, isn't he. But don't worry, I have someone else who is yet to be introduced...
-Nom Nom
