The Seventh Prince

Chapter 7

"Good evening, Princess Alice," Luke said, with his usual bow of respect. The princesses had traveled to West Ostaria for yet another dinner. Luke saw her staring at his brother Jack, who oddly was standing by himself with Piper nowhere to be seen. "Where's Piper?"

"She's back at the palace," Alice replied distantly. Suddenly she snapped out of it and turned back to Luke. "She wasn't feeling well today."

"Well, I hope she gets well soon," Luke said, noting Alice's strange behavior. "Shall we take our seats?" he asked. He could almost hear Scarlett laughing at his "royal speak" as she called it.

"We shall," Alice said replying in the same "royal speak". They walked over to the table and Luke pulled out Alice's chair for her before taking a seat on her right. 

Scarlett sighed, as she set the table. Her mother was working late so Scarlett was making dinner. She had had a long day at school and her teachers had been talking to her about further education. 

"Yes, it'll be expensive," they said. "But you're a very smart girl, Scarlett."

Scarlett didn't want to continue school. She'd get a job somewhere as soon as school let out and that would be that. She just wished her teachers would get off her back about.

She drained the pasta and stirred in the sauce as she called her siblings for dinner. "Kaya! Asher! Time for dinner!"

Asher ran in first and sat down, nearly knocking his chair over. "Slow down," Scarlett muttered, but she wasn't mad. He was only nine and had an amount of energy Scarlett couldn't understand. Kaya walked in next and took her seat.

After Scarlett gave them their food, Asher talked excitedly about his day while Kaya asked questions and Scarlett ate slowly and sadly. "What's wrong?" Asher asked.

Scarlett looked up from her food.

"Yeah, you," Asher said. "What's wrong?"

Scarlett knew that Asher wouldn't be able to understand her many worries, but Kaya could. "It's about Luke, isn't it?" Kaya asked.

Scarlett sighed. "Yes," she said. "It's about Luke."

"What about Luke?" Asher asked.

Kaya looked at her, "Scarlett, there's nothing you can do about it. There's nothing I can do about. There's nothing mum can do about it. Luke can't even do anything about it. It sucks, but it's better to just accept it now."

"Nothing you can do about what?" Asher asked.

Kaya gave an annoyed sigh and turned to Asher. "Scarlett's boyfriend is one of the princes and since the countries are being united the princes have to get married to the princesses."

Asher was silent. "Oh," he said, not fully comprehending how truly terrible this was. "Sorry, Scarlett."

"Yeah," Scarlett said. "I know."

"You have such a beautiful castle," Alice said as Luke was escorting her back to her carriage at the end of the night.

"Well, I guess it's just what I've always known," Luke said. "Your castle is very nice too." They were getting close to the carriage now.

"Good night," Alice said, as she followed her sisters into the carriage.

"Have a safe journey home. Good night, Alice," Luke said.