Break

Chapter 2: Prince Charming

Heart fluttering in my chest, I skip up the brick road to the castle. The doors open, revealing the brightly lit entrance of my home. The beautiful white stairs greet my eyes as I enter, and the lights of the crystal chandelier dance off of the polished white floor. My eyes search for Prince Delsair, but all I see are butlers and maids. I swear I saw another carriage out there though....

"Are you looking for me, princess?" the dashing prince says from behind me.

Before I can turn around, he has already grabbed my waist and spun me around to face him. I think I may swoon. His smile makes my heart pick up its pace, and my knees nearly buckle out from under me. Luckily, his form grip keeps me upright.

"Holy crap he's real," Josephine mumbles in complete disbelief.

"How about that dance, milady?" Delsair offers, releasing me and bowing with his hand help out.

Taking his hand, I smile and say, "I'd love that."

He leads me to the room where my family usually holds our dances and other festivities. The emptiness of it all feels almost unreal. Gently, he places his hand on my waist, and I place my hand on his shoulder just like my father taught me. If my dress was long, I'd use that hand to hold one side up, but this dress is short enough that I don't have to.

"Follow my lead," he tells me with confidence.

I nod my head in response. The dance itself is simple, but memorizing every move and when is hard. Delsair keeps me in step by counting to three in a rhythmic fashion. A few times, I almost step on his feet, but I save myself from embarrassment just in time. We grin and laugh when I mess up, and he always assures me that I am getting better. This all feels like a dream.

After an hour of dancing, we finally get the dance down perfectly. Content and out of breath, we stop and take a breath. Clapping from the entrance takes our eyes off of one another. A man with a thick black beard and almond eyes stands next to my shaven and much leaner father, both wearing a smile on their faces.

"You never told me you had an interest in the Embolar family's daughter," King Forarte says cheerily.

"I met her today, Dad," Delsair tells him. "Also..." he looks at me and smiles, "I am in love."

"I wasn't lying to you, sir," Josephine says to my father as she emerges from behind the wall. "She seriously just bumped into the man of her dreams on the street."

"Isn't this an interesting turn of events," Father murmurs to himself. "Do you plan on marrying her?"

"If you would allow me to, King Embolar," Delsair replies enthusiastically.

"We will plan the wedding soon then!" King Forarte announces gleefully. "Tell the scouts to send word to Klestia that my son shall marry the daughter of Sanfellios!"

"Now hold on just a second!" Josephine objects, her voice raised with anger. "Pardon to rudeness, my king, but you shouldn't just marry off your daughter to someone she just met."

"What say do you have in this, maid?" King Forarte scoffs as though he is speaking to a mere rat. I tense up in anger. How dare he speak to Josephine like that!

"King Forarte, this maid has been by my side for years. My late wife had assigned her to care for my daughter before and even more so after her passing. She out of anyone deserves a say in all of this," Dad defends her.

The king seems confused for a second, but regains his composure and looks at Josephine. "What objections do you have to this marriage? Is my son not enough?"

"No, King Forarte, your son is more than I could hope for the princess, but how does anyone know if the other side has any hidden motives?" she points out.