“Do you have any idea how expensive that is?”

Anabelle almost choked. Standing in the doorway was Prince Caspian. He had a look on his face that was amused, not angry like Anabelle would assume.

“It cost 150 gold pieces per bottle." Anabelle responded, "A small fortune in every glass.”

Anabelle emphasized this by taking another sip.

“Lord Trent, would you excuse us?” Caspian turned to Tren.

Trent nodded. He started to leave, remembered the glass in his hand, shot back his glass of bourbon, and hurried out of the library.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dancing right now your Highness?” Anabelle asked.

“Aren’t you?” Caspian responded.

“I… don’t think so.”

Caspian stepped closer.

“Didn’t your maid give you the invitation?”

Anabelle’s maid was a member of the staff here at the palace, not Anabelle’s own. She had been curt and unfriendly toward Anabelle, probably disappointed that she got the least popular princess to wait on.

“No. She didn’t give me anything.”

Caspian sighed.

“No wonder. I invited you to be my fifth dance partner.”

Anabelle was stunned. She quickly set the glass aside and bowed to the prince.

“I deeply apologize! I was not aware of the invitation. I hope you don’t take any offense to my mistake.”

“Of course not. It was not your mistake. Would you perhaps… care to dance with me now?” He held his hand out toward her. She nodded, taking his hand. He wrapped her arm around his and led her back to the ballroom. There people whispered and stared as they walked in together.

Anabelle did not mind the whispers; she was used to them by now being the outcast princess. Prince Caspian seemed to be reveling in the attention, smirking at everyone who dared to meet his eye.

When they reached the center of the dance floor, the music stopped mid-song and the musicians started a new one. Anabelle easily floated around on her toes, just because she spoke uncouth did not mean she danced like it. In fact, dancing was one of the few things she was actually allowed to do that she liked.

The guests formed a circle around them, now the audience to their dance performance.

“I’ve never seen you dance at the balls before. This is your fourth year correct?” the prince asked.

“Yes. I was first invited here when I was sixteen. And I have danced before, just not in the ballroom.”

Last year Anabelle and Trent had danced in the empty halls around the ballroom. There they could move freely without scrutiny. Trent was an excellent dancer, better than Caspian. Caspian was stiff, he obviously did not really like dancing, only did it as a formality.

“Was it with Lord Trent?”

Anabelle was a bit surprised by the question but answered.

“Yes.”

“Are you two lovers?”

Anabelle was even more surprised by this question.

“N-No. He is in love with Lady Clarice and plans to ask her to marry him.”

“Good. Then will you marry me?”

Anabelle tripped and stopped dancing. This gained some murmuring from the audience. They could not hear what the Prince had said, but if they had they would probably scream.

“I am sorry, I must have misheard you. I did not mean…”

“No, you heard correctly. I asked you to marry me,” Caspian stepped closer, so their chests were almost touching.

“What about Lady Antoinette?”

“Rumors. Nothing more. I have been watching you these past four years, you’re hard to miss in your green dresses.”

Anabelle blushed at this. Out of embarrassment, not because she was flattered. With blond hair and fair skin, she blended in with most of the ladies appearance-wise, but she was the only one who ever wore green. As a show of flattery, everyone else wore the colors of the royal family – red and gold, sometimes black.

“You’re intelligent, the other ladies think you are outspoken, but you’re just pragmatic. You can be delicate and feminine if you need to, but you can also be strong.”

“You don’t know that. You don’t know me at all, we’ve only just spoken for the first time.”

“I do know. A year ago, you got a new maid, Sara, right?”

“Yes…”

“She was sent by me. I had new maids placed with all the ladies I saw as potential matches. Some of them turned out to be horrible people behind closed doors. Most of them were average ladies with average personalities who just float along, content to go wherever life pushes them. But you…”

He grabbed her hands, excitement filling his eyes.

“You push back. I’m not a romantic person, I do not need a piece of fluff who is going to follow me around and just be something to look at, I need someone who will support me when I become Emperor.”

Now Anabelle understood. He was excited not because he really liked her, but because she was a challenge. He did not want a pet; he wanted a sparring partner.

“I accept,” Anabelle blurted before she could even think rationally about it. But she could not help but be excited as well, the thought of being Empress of the most powerful kingdom was the bait that she could not resist, and she was not ashamed to admit it.

Caspian turned to address the guests.

“Honored guests, I have a wonderful announcement to make. Princess Anabelle has accepted my hand in marriage.”

Some people clapped, some people gasped, some people began to cry. Anabelle suddenly felt extremely exposed and uncomfortable, like a target had just been placed on her back. She searched for one face among the crowd. She found Trent standing back by the stairs. She gave him a pleading look, but all he did in return was smile and shrug.