The Prince's Princess

Chapter Three

           

The royal palace is simply breathtaking.

It's built from polished white stone, giving it a very royal and expensive exterior. The large gates are black, with gold embroidery, much like the carriage I am currently sat in. There are large white walls that reach around the building, with guards perfectly placed at every corner and entrance way, ensuring the safety of the royals inside.
It has an aura of sophistication around it but I can also consider it to be mysterious. Besides when I accidentally met the Prince, I know very little about the royal family. Their faces, names and birthdays are the extent of my knowledge of them. I know nothing of their personalities or pasts.

The carriage comes to a stop, just outside the palace gates, and Derek hops down from where he was sitting and pats Thunder a few times before passing the reigns to another man who worked for the palace; I could tell from his black and gold uniform, finished off with the Kingdoms coat of arms sown into the fabric covering the chest.
Derek then looks up at me, a small smile on his lips as he walks over to let the ladder down, letting both me and Carter out of the carriage. He helps me again with one of his hands, but as I reach the bottom of the steps, he unexpectedly tightens his grip around it, instead of letting go.

Walking up to the doors to this astonishingly beautiful building is one moment I could never forget. I feel like royalty just walking this gravel path, the intricate details you only notice when you get nearer come in to view and it's seems so majestic in the pale white glow of the moonlight.

"Eva? Are you well?" I hear Derek ask, pulling me out of the trance this path had put me in. He turns me around, by my hand, to face him. His face is hinting concern as he eyes scan mine for any signs of discomfort.
"Yes, please excuse me," I reply, shaking my head, smiling slightly, "everything's just so... different" I say so quietly I'm not sure if he heard me, until he nods agreement. Derek chuckles gently before squeezing my hand and turning to face forward, focusing back on the conversation he was having with his brother, which was him telling Carter the do's and don'ts when inside the palace. I listen carefully, taking in the rules as well, due to my inexperience of being in the royal family's home.

When we eventually reach the doors, there are two guards are standing between us and the entrance and they are fully equipped with swords, making them very intimidating. Derek gives one of them, the tougher looking one, our three invitations. I feel Carter take my other hand as the guard is analysing our invitations, and I smile down at him as he looks up at me with an uncomfortable smile. I can tell he as just as nervous as I am, due to his usually extrovert stance becoming progressively more introverted. It gives me some comfort knowing that it's not just me feeling a ball of worry fill my stomach.

"Evangeline Capella," the guard states my name gruffly and my eyes widen as both of the brother's hands tighten around mine. I look towards the guard, bowing slightly, not positive as to why, but I want to seem respectful. "Prince Alexander will be most pleased" He smirks, before both he and the other guard open the large, dark oak doors. I feel a heat rise to my cheeks as Derek and Carter look at me with astonishment in result of what the guard just announced.

~~

The inside almost perfectly matches the aesthetic of the exterior, so gorgeously extravagant and royal. I let out a gasp as I look up, my eyes tracing over the delicate paintings of cherubs and angels that cover the whole roof. The soft music of the orchestra is playing, filling my ears with the sweet tunes I barely recognise from my childhood.

I feel Carter tug on my hand that he's holding, and I see that all trace of anxiousness I had spotted earlier had completely vanished from his body. I giggle quietly as I am forced to follow on after him, resulting in Derek doing the same, like we're all links in a chain.
Once we get to the where the crowds have gathered, Carter stops and jumps up slightly, trying to whisper something in my ear. I bend my knees to get to an easier height for him and his hand comes up to cover the space between his mouth and my ear.