The King's Crest

Chapter 17

As soon as I walked in to the palace Amelia quickly rushed up to me. "Thank goodness!" Amelia exclaimed out of breath. "I've been looking everywhere for you. It is a good thing you were back sooner than you thought! After you left, the king received word that a prince was coming as a guest for a few days and wants you there at dinner tonight to greet him, too. I know what dress you are to wear, but you need to get in the bath. You are covered in dirt!"

Amelia ran around me judging what she needed to do and I was suddenly regretting having her as my maid. She had grown more pushy as she came to know me more. Obviously, she was just concerned for me though, seeing so, I happily complied and followed her. I was sleepy from the sunny walk, but was curious enough to follow her and do as she wished. It was not until we were walking that I realized if King Ahaz wanted me there, he was growing fond of me. He was trusting me.

We entered my chambers and she quickly stripped me down and shoved me into a lukewarm bath. She would not allow me much time in the bath before she fastened me into a dress and sat me in front of my vanity to put on light lip stain and try to dry my hair. She paced around waiting for my hair to dry more. "Now remember, this is a highly esteemed guest and is important. Be on your best behavior. Oh, Prince Alexander is supposed to escort you and Lady Suzanne, he will come here first. I have no more time to wait to do your hair. Time to start. I am so happy your hair is naturally curly," Amelia continued to mumble on, but frankly I did not care what she was saying. I was still thinking of Rem.

A little while later I was done being made into a fake princess and was told to look in the mirror. I was put in a dark red, velvet dress. It was the color of Rethain, and I was sad to say it suited me well. It had their light gold along the hem, and with my hair done, I looked like a princess. I had to laugh to myself, every little girl wanted to be a princess, and right now it was the last thing I wanted to be. I took a deep breath, and thought of what would happen to me when Rethain would eventually find out who I really am.

"Alright, Amelia, where is my escort?" I jokingly questioned.

"He will be here soon. Oh, this pin is slipping out of your hair, let me fix it before he comes," she frantically said. In a hurry she ran around the room patting down her pockets to find a hair pin. Right as she finished sticking it in, guards opened the beginning chamber doors to let Alexander into the opening. From there he called out to me to join him. I put my shoulders down, a smile on my face and joined him.

"You look wonderful as always," he said out of mere formality. Before I was able to say thank you he quickly switched the subject. "I cannot help but feel my father is trying to arrange for you and tonight's guest to be together. I must earnestly and profusely apologize, for I know how annoying it is. As you know my father has tried to set me up with Suzanne and I feel even with you." He shuttered at the thought of being with either of us and I knew not if I was to be offended. I did not blame him anyway, I would never want to be with him either. Instead I just made idle chit chat until we arrived for dinner.

We were announced and entered in. My heart skipped a beat and jumped in my mouth when I saw the guest.

Standing before me was Prince Charles. My eyes widened and I had to concentrate on keeping my mouth closed because all natural instincts wanted me to scream. "Lady Grace, this is Prince Charles of Lengel. There is a seat across from him for you. I think you would be great acquaintances." Normally I would be upset with Ahaz's demanding demeanor but I was trying not to cry from excitement. Just seeing Charles sent a chill through my body and I was torn between fainting from being elated and running up to him, flinging my arms around him and sobbing into his strong chest.

I only was able to focus on what to do when I was taken by Kenneth to my seat. He looked at me with concern and warning in his eye. I sat down and instantly picked up my glass to take a sip of water. My brain was swimming. Did Charles originally know where I was? If so how? Was he trying to ruin my mission? Was something wrong in Vezana? I was feeling dizzy from all these questions. I took me a few minutes before I remembered I needed to keep pretending to be Lady Grace. "Pleasure to meet you. Prince Charles did Kind Ahaz say?" pretending to not know him was already killing me.