the princess

Chapter 3

3.
Adeline

Everybody turns around to bow and show their respect. Cas and I get up.
I give my parents a quick curtsy as they pass by, something I've done since a very young age.
My mother smiles gently. Her long brown hair flowing over her shoulders.
My father doesn't smile, his gaze is very neutral.

As soon as they sit, we sit down too.
I turn to my parents, glancing their way.
My mother is talking to one of her ladies, my father is being served his food.
He will give his speech after breakfast.
Probably something a long the lines of thanking the guests for coming, start of the season and how my brother will be part of it.

I start cutting the food, the servant has served me, lost in thought.

Most of the guests are also sitting now, talking and enjoying their meal.
Just as I'm about to shove a big piece of pancake into my mouth, I feel my mother's eyes on me.
She seems displeased. Her mouth pressed into a thin line.

"Adeline"
I drop my piece of pancake.
" Yes?"
I try to act innocently.
" Do I hear correctly that you were rude to one of our guests?"
I purse my lips, pretending to think.
Then I look at her.
"I'm not quite sure who you're talking about, mother".
Probably Lady Mcforecaster.
Instead of talking about it any further, she just says, "Adeline, you should watch your manners, you don't want anyone to think your unruly. Especially not with what's about to come...", when she says the latter, her strict gaze fades and is replaced by a thoughtful softer one.
I'm confused.
" What...? What are you talking about?".
She looks at me, smiling slightly "Nothing, my dear. Eat your breakfast." Then she turns her head to me once more, "No shoving, small bites", her face is once more strict, but not like before , this time she's too lost in thought, seemingly worried about something.
I sigh, cutting my pancake into smaller pieces. Something disastrous was about to evolve in the on coming weeks, I could just feel it.
It should scare me but all I could feel is this feeling of curiosity and excitement rising deep down in the pit of my stomach.

After the breakfast-banquet, everyone slowly resorts to the the big hall, where there is entertainment and room for conversations.
But not before my father gives his speech, saying exactly what I had expected.

After about one hour of typically bland, superficial conversations and a game of chess, I make my way back to my room.
There, I finally get dressed for the gathering.

When I make my way to the hall my father has asked us to, I start feeling nervous, like I'm about to throw up the pancakes I had eaten.
This is it.
My father wanted us all to gather and we are all here.
I am on the left of my brother who's standing next to my father, my mother, on the other hand is on his right.

All the attention is on the king, people waiting for him to talk. He slowly looks around and then thoughtfully looks at part of the room.
A lot of the courtiers and ladies from breakfast are there, all big important people from rich families.

"Ladies and gentlemen , I have a big announcement to make." He starts pacing around looking at the floor.
"As some of you may know, we're a bit in a political dilemma that could... potentially turn into war." The room tenses up. "Now...there isn't too much to worry about, we have fantastic generals and politicians keeping control, boarder patrols and a whole army ready to fight if there's need. But nothing is ever completely safe, we can never be to one hundred percent assured.
So for the safety of my country and people, I've been offered the support of our neighbor, the United Nations of Metoria.
For the support I have to sign a contract.
A contract that allows the government of Metoria to have endless permission to our resources. Meaning army, weaponry, also politically." I can't help but stare at him, my mouth gaping open. If he signs this contract that would mean Metoria had pretty much all control over our country. Without our resources we are nothing. No country is. He slightly sighs, a display of how difficult this situation is to him.
"I know this is very complex and some of you may think that there's no option. The situation is very dire, either I can ensure the safety of my country for the next era on the condition of giving up our resources to Metoria or... The next following years will be war and battle, no safety for our kingdom, without being controlled, being free."
I can hear whispers. "He has to sign", "This land is doomed", "We can't have Metoria control us".
My father falters before he goes on this time. "There is one more option... The government of Metoria has made us one more offer." I can feel my mother tense up. So does Cas. "There is in fact a way to ensure... a bond between two countries without having to offer up all of our recources..." He glances over to me. I look at him, confusion written over my face.
"The bond of marriage between two royal heirs of each individual country." My mouth drops open once more. He can't be serious?! I look at him with wide eyes. Shocked. Internally already begging.
He looks at me and his look shows, the message is clear, for the better of our kingdom, my kingdom,
He wants me to marry the heir of Metoria.

☆☆☆

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