Her Majesty's Claims

Company #3

*POV: Rozette

When I got back at the sun's setting, the castle was bustling with maids, and buttlers, and chefs. People were flying about and fluttering around. As usual my parents were in control of the situation; a dinner. Or rather, a dining. Tonight I would be introduced for the first time to my betrothed. My parents didn't see a flaw in the surprise of theirs. I was gone all day and they didn't worry a hair grey. I could have run away with Julius into the woods and they would have never know.

Run? With Julius? I had too much fresh air if I ever thought that could be possible...I must have gotten too much sun to be thinking about him at a time like this. My mother came to me babbling about the dinner my father had already spouted the news about.

"Mother, I don't see the point in meeting him before. I have to marry him whether I like him or not. You might as well give me hopes for another week that I could possibly share affections with this man." I told her.

"Oh, darling, he's more than a man. He's the richest Prince of Europe! Fine breeding too I might add, not so much the mother though..." My mother, the queen, had been born princess like me. She married my father instead of the prince she was to wed. My father was a wealthy count, although all was soon forgiven, my mother's actions were frowed apon. She did it in love, they had known each other since the ages of 14 and 15 (my mom being the latter.) She was to marry the father to my betrothed.

"My Queen!" A servant interupted, "There's not another pig large enough at market. What do you suggest?"

"If we can't serve more ham then find duck, beef, lamb! Anything but chicken, please." My mother put a hand to her forehead. "That would be a disaster."

My mother turned to me. "Did I tell you he refuses to eat the meat of poultry. He's a little supersticious of its health value..." I frowned. What kind of man doesn't enjoy his meat? Luckily then my mother left to carry on her duties. I didn't want to talk about this dinner, I needed a gown to wear! Where is Ada?

I carried myself up the flights of stairs to my room. I called out to my personal maid. She was my age and had been my best friend since I was fifteen. She was already at my tower and met me on the stairs. She was more breathless than I was.

"Hurry up we don't have more than a few hours to get you at your best!" Ada said sounding like a sprinter at our summer olypics festival.

"Can't we keep that for my wedding?" I asked wishing I could just go to sleep, and hoping she wouldn't ask me why I was still in my night gown with only my cloak to cover.

"No! First impressions mean a lot to men!" She looked at me at the top of the stairs and paused. "What are you wearing?" I pushed her along and mumbled, incoherently blaming Julius.

We rushed into my room and shut the doors. Without any candles I had to leave one window open as Ada squeezed my boudice tight with a corsette. I was used to the pain in my ribs and chest for lack of air, but she was doing it a bit much.

"Ada, I think that's a little too much."

"Too much! Are you insane, you know there's one thing you'll want to draw attention too, and you want to be sure there's not another woman to steal his sight around here. He is a wealthy man and there are more than enough gold mining women in this city." I laughed breathlessly.

I slipped on the silver green dress and the gold necklace with the green stone to match it. It brought out the shadows of jade in my eyes. Once the tall heeled shoes that matched were also put on me, Ada began designing my hair. She pulled it in curls over one side of my shoulder, and pinned the other side, this way it wouldn't come back over. She put delicate pearls that matched the design of my dress expertly entwined in the curls. My hair looked delicate, so she powdered my face and aplied a light shade of lipstick, and finally some blush. I looked truely like a princess.

I sat up straight and took in the full length jade green and gold dress. The sleeves came down mid way on my fore arm, with the golden vine and pearl flowered design. The shoes, that gave me quite a bit of extra height, were nearly as uncomfortable as the tight corsette. My eyes looked more hazel than usual and my hair was delicately woven into a perfect arrangment.

Ada left me to finish putting on my perfumes and attended to her duties. I dismissed her pleasently. She may be under my class, but she is the only friend I have my age other than Julius. Once she was away I put on my two favorite sents in modesty.

I made my way downstairs slowly. There was still another hour until the arrival of the prince was expected. I wandered what he would expect of me. Would he think I was a suitable queen? What if he didn't? Would the wedding be off? What if he wasn't a suitable king? My parents wouldn't force me to marry a snide, evil, greedy man would they? He would have nothing to bring to the kingdom. He would simply take.

Thoughts were swirling through my mind, they swarmed me so that the time passed quickly. It was all a blur as I made my way through the windng of people. I felt calm compared to the rest and relaxed because what nerves could you have when there's no choice. The duty of a Princess is to have no freedom, but to be a slave to her city. So here I am, the slave with no choice. This fiance could be terrible, horrible, or even trecherous; yet I didn't have the say.

I made my way to a quiet passage and stare out the window to the village. Yet, the village seemed just as still as me, as if it was missing the life. As if, Julius wasn't there in the kingdom. I know it's silly, that I love him but I can't help it. He's been my best friend and my only real friend. Ada has to work here and be around me. Julius puts up with my errogance and confident royal aire no matter what. Look what I've done, married another than who I love! I'm going to miss Julius...

"Roze?" I hear from behind me and I know that voice anywhere. I loose focus of who I am, and who I have to become, and what's best for the kingdom. I still have Julius though, and I blush as I was just thinking of him. He doesn't notice though, and I don't give hime time too. I wrap Julius into a close embrace and burry my face into his shouler. I don't know why, but it's on instinct. I can't let him go.

"Don't cry, Roze. I know you missed me already, but I promise it will all be okay. I'm right here. You don't have to be afraid." I take deep breaths and relax into Julius's muscular form. I calm down as I take in his perfect woodsy sent.

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Hey I promise there will be more! But I feel so bad for leaving this story sit :'( I'll write more and update better I promise! I love you readers please forgive me????

<3SRD