A Royal Tale of Hearts | ✔

01| baby suiteth'r

Rows of scented roses and lillies filled the courtyard of the Louvre Palace, where a reception of fifty residents awaited. The nobles stood out in puffier gowns decorated with jewels from the servants, who stood on side lines in brown and white aprons.

All the ladies wore a cross of different rubies an pearls, their faith and message to the newly arrived foreigners made clear.

The only comfort Afsana could take was the fact that she had two of her childhood friends to accompany her on the journey. Her lady-in-waiting, Lubna behind her, and her bodyguard  Zia in front. With these two with her, she could even bare the fact the Nadim had been assigned to be her new bodyguard when the old one died at sea.

"Her majesty, Princess Afsana Jahan Begum of Mughal." A page yelled.

A trumpted was blown, before the four of them began to walk towards the hosts.

The closer they got, the more her heart clenched at the sight of the French and Navarrian court. Most of the noble ladies were scrutinising Afsana and Lubna's attires, whilst the men frowned at her guards, who gripped the top of their khandas tighter in response.

When there was  meter of distance between the two parties, a small man stepped forward and bowed to the rajkumari.

"Your majesty, I am Olivier Cosson, the Duke of Paris." The man said. "Welcome to the Kingdom of France, we hope your stay here will form good relations between the nations."

Afsana drew up a polite smile. "I hope so too, and please do thank the Kings of both France and Navarre for their hospitality."

A murmur breaks through the crowd as they find themselves surprised by the foreigner's ability to speak their language so clearly.

The entire ship was given lessons in French, so they may be able to communicate in the new land, with the Princess and her lady receiving extra lessons in etiquette and culture.

"Your majesty, may I present Prince Francis the Dauphin of France." Duke Cosson said.

No one had prepared the rajkumari for what happened next.

A small boy, in black clothes lined with fur and a head full of blonde curls, bowed to her but did not raise his head to look at her.
Looking over at his small frame, Afsana noted that he could not be any older than her brother Akbar.

Behind her, Lubna attempted to quiten her giggles. Rather poorly.

Masking her shock quickly, the rajkumari bowed. "Your majesty, it's a pleasure. May I ask how old you are?"

Francis kept his head bowed down.

"The dauphin is six, your majesty." Duke Cosson answered for him.

That meant there was nearly a decade of difference between the two of them. For a groom to be older was not unusual, but for it to be the other way round was almost unheard of, discounting the story of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). 

The rajkumari lifted her eyes towards the crowd once again and waited for her second suitor to step forward, but no one did. She looked at the Duke questioningly.

"The Count of Champagne is occupied, your majesty." Duke Cosson said. "But he shall meet you later, during your welcoming feast."

This was meant to be her welcoming, so her suitor must've had a good reason to not greet her. At least that's what she hoped, because given that looking at Francis reminded of her own brother, she was counting on her second suitor to be a good man.

After being introduced to other French and Navarrian nobles, they were given a tour of the Louvre Palace, where they'd be residing until she chose a husband.