'How could it get any worse?' was the official question on everyone's mind that night.

Outside the grand doors people could hear the beginning of muffled cries. Irenie's ears perked up and she stared expectantly at the entrance as everyone else gathered around it too. It was no secret the creatures that had been invited to the party, and despite the initial fear, all were very curious to see what a goblin even was.

The well-dressed congregation crept towards the entry as Irenie motioned for the doors to be opened. However, before the servants could even place their hands upon the twelve-foot tall door, the thing was pulled off its hinges.

Gasps of shock and then screams of horror leapt from the other guests, and Curdie had to place himself between Irenie and the gaping hole.

In a careless manner, the door, which was now fully detached from the frame, was dropped to the ground with a thundering crash. Another horrified gasp cut through the air as the Prince of the Goblins strode into the room with his own delegation behind him. He had his hair combed back and thick golden bracelets adorned his neck, wrists and ankles. Apparently, he had also forgotten Irenie's warning that shirts would be required.

Froglip swaggered in front of the door, a leer on his face as his bright yellow eyes swept across the frightened attendees. 

One of Irenie's servants leaned through the gaping hole in the wall and said in a high-strung voice: "Presenting his 'ighness, Prince Froglip... of the goblins."

The hoard he had brought with him cheered loudly as the goblin prince puffed out his chest proudly, a smug look on his flat face. The following gasp from the crowd didn't help either.

Irenie eyed him from afar, her heart still hammering as the princess suffered the traumatizing memories of her first encounters with the prince. However, it was her duty to greet all guests, and it would be rude of her not to do so with the ambassador to the goblins.

She moved past Curdie's arm and took several tentative steps towards the goblin. Froglip saw her immediately and stared at the princess through half crescents.

"Prin'theth'," the goblin said in his unique, gut-churning way and attempted a bow.

He snapped up and offered up a stone in his hands. It was a circular grey thing that didn't have much worth but it was apparently his gift to her.

Irenie took it with a very uneasy smile as all her courtiers watched with anticipation. "Thank you ambassador, you are welcome to my party." Irenie curtseyed and pawned the thing off to Curdie. "Although I'd like you to fix the door you just ripped off my wall." Irenie's wide eyes purposefully went from the prince to the gaping hole in her great hall.

Froglip looked over his shoulder and sneered at two goblins who quickly jumped to attention. Next they both picked up the door and slammed it into place although Irenie doubted she'd be able to use it.

It was lucky most of all the guests had already arrived.

She's was going to have to demand Prince Froglip fix it later but that would be a discussion for after the party. Right now it was important to ensure a seamless introduction between the people and the goblins.

"Please..." she said after a moment's pause to see if the door would fall over. "Come in and help yourself to the food." Irenie gestured to the table.

The goblins, who were more than eager to feast since it was all they had really talked since setting out on the journey, clambered over one another to get at the human food. The other guests looked on in disgust and contempt, but the frightened gazes were always cast to the prince, who had not made for the table like the others, but decided to hover over the princess instead.

Irenie blinked at Prince Froglip. "Are you not hungry, too?" she asked him politely.

"I thought while the underling'th occupied them'thelves, we nobility could di'thcuth more noble things," Froglip said as he pressed a hand to his chest, all the while giving Curdie a pointy side smirk.

It might have been the early brush with Ophelia, but Curdie had had enough of being looked down on that night, and the prince of the goblins had just spat on his very last nerve.

"You climbed up out of a hole in the dirt not ten minutes ago." Curdie crossed his arms and stared the prince dead in the face with a bored look. "You're as noble as a worm."

"Curdie-"

Froglip brushed his arm out, flexing the sinuous muscles of his long limbs with a wild grin on his lips. "At least we goblins know how to put mewling whelps in their pla'the."

 "You tell 'im, Prince Froglip!" The goblins cheered from across the hall, their mouths stuffed with food from the dining table.

"Ah! Oh Curdie, I would really appreciate if you brought me some appetizers from over there by the food table, if you wouldn't mind-" Irenie jumped in quickly. 

However, Prince Froglip leapt to attention, a wide, crooked smile upon his lips. "It would be my plea'thure Printh-"

Before he could spit his last syllable at her, Irenie waved him away holding a hand in front of her cheek to protect herself. "Oh would you, Prince Froglip? That would be. So. Kind," Irenie said as she did her best to shoo him off.

Prince Froglip glided toward the table, his strange knobby knees bending inward as he took his biggest steps. The goblin prince was immediately greeted with whoops of congratulations from his minions and he basked in their praise.

Irenie looked away, already tired.

"You're going to trust that insect eater to get you food?" Curdie asked.

"I did it to get him away from you before a fight broke out, you dolt!" Irenie hissed. She placed her forehead into her palm where no one would see the worry lines. "Could one thing not go wrong for a change?"