The Kingdoms of Silver and Gold

Chapter Three: Sometimes Being a Princess Has Its Perks

Prince Kinsley looks so handsome in his ruby and gold suit, his blonde hair brushed back, allowing his incredible brown eyes to shine with every movement of his glorious head. Too bad I can only admire him from across the banquet table. He sits between his mother, Queen of Gold, and another woman of royal birth whom I don't know. She is beautiful, with long curly hair and bright green eyes. Now why is she allowed to have unruly curly hair when mine most be slicked back? Even though I do not want my love falling for this rat-faced woman, I do hope he likes her hair. It would be much less of a bother for me to leave my hair the way it grows naturally.

Every time this woman touches his arm, vying for his attention, I want to throw my soup spoon at her and scream Get away from my love! but there is too much at stake for me to lose my temper now. So I grin and bare it, though I do cringe every time she laughs. It's like a high-pitched gurgle, and I know Kinsley hates it.

We have made eye contact a few times, but our smiles are conserved. Friendly but distant. We must play our parts well in order to escape our duties later. 

The Queen speaks to this other woman, who again laughs her exasperating laugh, and I have to look away. The Queen rarely smiles at those she deems beneath her, so this girl must be important. Kinsley and I are both of marrying age, so this might be one of Kinsley's possible brides. Yuck.

"Princess, are you all right?"

I look to the voice and see my father, King Devereux of Silver, looking at me. There is worry in his eyes as they move from my face to my hand. I follow his gaze and see my knuckles have turned white as they clench my spoon. I release the spoon and feel blood flow through my fingers again.

"Yes, father. I am fine."

I can tell he does not believe me, but a banquet is no place for further questions of this nature. No need to let the Kingdom of Gold know the Heir of Silver can't properly hold her soup spoon.

Looking for something as distraction, I notice that the red-headed man-stealer is sitting next to a younger boy who is quietly sipping his soup. His eyes are green, too, but there is a sadness to them I see sometimes in my own face.

"This soup is my favorite," I say loudly.

The boy looks up at me and I smile, hoping to put him at ease. He lifts his cheeks in what he hopes is enough smile to pass, and he returns his attention to the soup.

I try again. "We don't have this kind of soup in the Kingdom of Silver. This is one of the reasons why I love Remembrance Day so much! The food from Gold is always quite exquisite."

Again the boy looks at me, but he remains silent. Before I can ask him a direct question, the man-stealer interrupts:

"I agree, Princess. I have always found our soup quite delicious! There's something preferable about hot soup to cold soup."

Wow. Is she really disrespecting me through soup? The Kingdom of Silver is famous for its cold soup. The only words coming to mind are profound and unbecoming for a lady of any standing, let alone a princess, so I bite my tongue while letting my eyes do all the talking.

"I think hot soup is overrated," Prince Kinsley chimes in, smiling at me. "When the day is hot, cold soup would be the perfect meal."

"I agree, Prince Kinsley. You are a man of wise words," I praise. 

We smile at each other, ignoring the look of irritation and jealousy wafting from red-headed's rat-like face. It was not my intent to have a conversation with Kinsley in front of our royal parties, but now that the door is open...

"How are you enjoying the Remembrance Day Festivties so far, Prince Kinsley?"

"They grow more and more splendid with every passing minute, Princess Kiara."

Oh my goodness, I haven't heard him speak my name aloud in a year, and it sends tingles all throughout my body. I was so worried he would have found someone else to grace with his affection, but in only a few short sentences about unimportant soup and festivities, I know I still have his heart.

"I'm rather looking forward to the jousting competition," Prince Kinsley continues.

This almost makes me blush, knowing his true meaning. We first met outside of royal events and pleasantries during the jousting match, the first moment we could both sneak away from our royal duties. It has since become tradition to meet during the joust, and return once all of the competitions are over, which gives us a good three hours of alone time.

 "I am as well. Tis always a favorite, of all the friendly competitions."

"I enjoy the fact that we are all such friends now," Kinsley says, looking around the room. Rapping his wine glass, he raises it high and calls for everyone to hear, "A toast, to the friendships between the Kingdoms of Silver and Gold! And," he returns his eyes to me, "may we ever grow closer and closer."

"Here, here!" I yell louder than anyone else at the table, not taking my eyes off his. We drink together and return to our own thoughts, our own conversations. In my heart I know today will be the day we either succeed at binding the two kingdoms together in our love, or we run and never see the kingdoms again. Surprisingly, I am okay with either outcome.

All I want, nay all I need, is Kinsley. The kingdoms come second.

"I like cold soup," a small voice squeaks out.

I turn my attention back to the green-eyed boy, who looks up at me with big, terrified eyes. It must have taken a lot of bravery for him to speak to me. My smile returns, knowing the man-stealer's attention is back on me.

Leaning over the table a bit, I smile and say, "You have good taste. Have you tried the silver mushroom soup?"

The boy scrunches his nose and I laugh. "I don't like mushrooms," he admits in a whisper.

I nod my head. I did not either at his age. "That is quite alright. Mushrooms are not for everyone. You will like them one day."

"Blech," he sticks out his tongue, making me laugh. "I will never like mushrooms."

"I said the same at your age, but look at me now! A mushroom lover."

I take a large spoonful of cold mushroom soup to my mouth and slurp it down happily. The boy scrunches his nose again, but there is a huge smile on his face now.  This only makes the woman even angrier. She cannot think of an appropriate retaliation, which makes me grateful for my royal station for once in my life. Sometimes being a princess has it's perks.

The rest of the meal consists of quiet chit chat, none so pleasing as that surrounding the soup. But it is of no matter. Just another few trivial duties to take care of before my secret meeting withe Kinsley. In his last letter, he said he would be bringing me a surprise, and I am losing my mind over what it could be. A proposal of marriage is what I cannot even allow myself to hope for, but a ring would be the most lovely thing in all the world! Although, anything given to me by my love will make me happy and truly blessed. 

Only one more hour to go. I can make it. Even with that rat-faced man-stealer giving me dirty looks through the entirety of the royal banquet, I can make it. Nothing will stand in my way. Absolutely nothing.