5 hours before Princess Kaprina's arrival. Prince of Shoubet's point of view.

                                                                     ****

Ridiculous. 

Beyond ridiculous.

Father and Mother were trying to encourage me to see that 'Princess Kaprina of Dewsdale.' 

It seems she is all everyone talks about these days. 

Her name is everywhere, I can't stop hearing about her. It's so annoying. 

I can't imagine what the Kingdom will be like when she actually gets here. 

They might all run mad like dogs. 

When father told me the news of my marriage to her I almost had a heart attack. He was always the one talking about how I should avoid distractions and focus on becoming King. Now he's the same one telling me I have to marry some random girl. 

Well, what could I have expected, when mother and father both had an arranged marriage with each other. 

It was bound to be my turn next. 

But this is just stupid. 

All I know about her is that most people find her beautiful and her Kingdom is falling apart right now. 

Oh.

Ah, so that's why she needs this marriage....

Well, that's rather sad. 

She must not want to marry me either. She must only be doing this for her people.

I almost felt bad for her. 

Almost.

Maybe I should really just take a look at her...

 Absolutely not. 

I'll just arrange for the meeting to be earlier so I can use the excuse of work. 

I don't even wanna see her face.

The fact that the Princesses' name is so utterly similar to hers.... why???

No matter. I will simply avoid her.

"Yes. And I heard she has beautiful brown hair as well! I hope I can at least catch a glimpse of her in person when she arrives, I'll be so lucky!"

A bunch of service maids squealed in excitement as they gossiped about the new object of my hate and disgust. 

"Well I'll actually be able to work with her today. I've been put on duty to help carry her luggage to her bed chambers, so I'll be able to see her up close. Don't worry I'll tell you if she really is as kind and beautiful as they say." 

So, now they're bragging about who gets to come in contact with her? 

The other maid held up her head pompously as she boasted about being able to come close to the Princess.

What nonsense. Did they not see me walking here angrily?

I tried to make my footsteps louder to bring attention to my presence. 

It worked. 

All four of them scrambled in panic and bowed to greet me. 

"Good morning Your Highness" they all said in union. 

Hm.

Were they scared? It seemed like a few of them were shaking. 

Well, I hadn't meant to scare them. 

I gave a small nod and continued walking to the meeting room.

Finally, I made my way to the hall and eagerly opened the door to start the meeting early. 

Of course, no one is here yet except...

"Luca." 

"What are you doing here?"

There, he sat with his elbow to the table, and hand on his chin, looking as if he were bored. 

But I knew he wasn't. Especially not with that smug smile on his face. 

I hate it when he does that. 

"Well, I knew you would come here to try and start the meeting early, so I just came to warn you." He said. 

"Warn me that ....what? That I should control myself so I won't drag you out of this room right now?"

Of course, his smirk grew bigger.

"No."

"Andres, you're already avoiding the Princess and she hasn't even arrived yet. Just come out to greet her okay? Stop this brooding nonsense and at least see her this once. She'll think you're rude if you don't."

"Besides, who knows if you'll actually end up.... liking her?"

...

Clearly, he could see the look on my face. 

I wasn't joking. 

"Ok, Andres... I don't want to be responsible for that scowl on your face." 

"I'll leave now, but if you ever change your mind, The Queen and King will be outside waiting." 

In defeat, Luca left the room quietly.

Even him too... what is wrong with everyone and their obsession with that girl?

2 HOURS LATER, MILITARY MEETING IS OVER. 

"Thank you for your time Your Highness."

The last of the officers bowed and left the room.

Damn, this wasn't how it's supposed to go!

I tried to extend the meeting longer but it still ended so soon.

I might still have to come in contact with the Princess...

Quietly slipping out from meeting room, I casually glided across the hallway looking for any sign of the girl.

No sign of her, but I spotted a set of servants carrying heavy luggage across the castle. 

They are heading towards that hallway? They must have given her the room in the East Wing...

Good. I'll be far away from her then. 

Relaxed now with no sign of the Princess, I decided to head to my bedchambers. 

Am I nervous? 

I've never tried to avoid a person this much...

No...I simply dislike her, that's all. 

Wait. Why is my door cracked open?

Huh? 

I rushed over to the entrance to see a hand touching her portrait on the wall. 

I didn't care who it was, nobody comes near that painting!

"Don't touch that." 

The intruder pulled away from the portrait and spun around to face me.

Oh.

Oh.

She's so beautiful... 

How could any human being be this beautiful? 

This girl, her brunette hair bounced in curls spread across her chest , her brown eyes, wide in shock, but so deep I could fall into them. The light olive of her skin shone like gold. Her pink lips, they looked so soft, but they were pursed in anxiousness .

She looked so...gentle. 

But then she spoke. 

"Excuse me?! What do you think you're doing here?!"

Any perceived gentleness or softness I had thought of her had completely shattered. 

Why is she screaming at me?!

Oh, but her voice...it sounds so ...No! 

"Do you realize whose room you're in?! I should be the screaming at you!" I said.

God, why am I blurting things out I don't even mean? I should be angry at her but I certainly don't feel that way.

Hopefully I look furious on the outside. 

For a second, the anger on her face vanished and was replaced by a look of shock.  She started to scan my room.

And then her face fell into embarrassment. 

"Oh." She whispered. 

Does she see that she is in the wrong room now? 

Where is she from anyway?     Who is she?

 Her dress is certainly one from our Kingdom, but it looks too expensive for her to just be a regular noble.

Now, her eyes were glued to the floor and her head hung low.

No, I still want to look at her...just a little longer...

I stepped forward to get closer but her body seemed to tense. 

Will she not even look at me?

As if answering my prayers, the girl looked up at me slowly until our eyes met.

A mesmerizing color of light pink began to spread across her cheeks.

God, she's beautiful. Her eyes were like a door to another world...!

But...why does she look scared?

It looks like she wants to say something, but what?

We were just barely touching now. So close...

"Your Highness."

That voice...Eloise.

What in the world is he doing here? Ugh.

I snapped my head towards the door.

He mumbled something but I couldn't quite hear what it was. 

I was too distracted by the human-like angel standing next to me.

Perhaps, Eloise led her here? 

He's getting older by the day and seems to be losing track of even the most basic of tasks. 

I told him to retire but of course he won't listen. 

"Eloise, are you the one who brought her here?!" I asked.

"N-no I"

Great. Now he's even stuttering. 

He's too old for this. He should just give up and go live his life to the fullest. Why does he insist on staying here?

"I don't wanna hear it. Just get her out of here."

Yes. She needs to leave. For all I know, this girl could be married, betrothed, or even belong to the church. 

Where is all the self control I had in me just a few minutes ago? 

Why am I losing all my senses for a girl whose name I don't even know?

I need to get a grip.

Quickly the girl swerved in front of me and jumped behind Eloise. 

Oh, but... 

Eloise bowed a last time and started to shut the door. 

All the anger I had tried my best to show just came crashing down. 

It feels as if I had known this girl my whole life, as if I have some connection with her.

That's ridiculous. I've known her for 5 minutes. 

And there's no way a girl like that would not have belonged to someone else by now.

I continued to stare at her beautiful eyes, eyes that held the universe, until the door shut. 

And now she's gone.

Forever maybe.

She might have been a visitor. Then she wouldn't stay here long at all. 

Of all the people I had ever come across in my life, never had I felt such a strong binding to someone in a mere instant. 

But, why was she attracted to Katrina's portrait...? Good thing she hadn't touched it too much.

...

Besides...

The way she looked at me.

It made me tremble. 

The details of her scent, voice and face had now been etched into my brain. 

Suddenly, anger rushed in me when I realised that I would soon be marrying that hopeless Princess.

Even though I don't want to, I still have to accept her as my partner in the future. 

That's what I should be thinking , but instead I was still thinking about her...

I sat to lay down on my bed and stared at the celling. 

Brushing my dark hair out of my face, I started thinking again.

Maybe she'll show up tomorrow somehow.

Maybe she'll even stay another day or two.

Or maybe I'll go look for her tomorrow...

Indeed.

Tomorrow...