✦Chapter 1✦

Delegates From The Northern Kingdom

“Miss, it’s almost time for tea with your father. Would you like help dressing?”

My maid Mary is timid but useful. She also seems quite nervous around me.

"No, thank you Mary. I'll wear this gown to tea."

My father couldn't care less about what dress I wore to tea so long as it was dress and we didn't have company.

Mary looks fearful. I would never harm a servant but my twin, Ellyn would.

"B-but miss, delegates from The Northern Kingdom are visiting and your father requested that you wear something midnight blue."

Delegates from The Northen Kingdom? What might they be doing here. I smile at Mary.

"Well then, might you help me select a gown for the occasion?"

She nods quickly, averting her gaze. It's times like these I wish I didn't share the same rich brown curls and violet eyes, a sign of noble blood, as my sister. Ellyn has a rather... physical way of expressing displeasure. I don't but our ressemblances remind me of her so they fear me.

Mary is holding a floor length dress in the deep blue my fathre asked for, ruffled and embroided to perfection.

"It's beautiful Mary. Thank you. Truly." I beam at her until she smiles back. A small smile but a real smile all the same.

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I sigh as I glance away from my window.

"Any news from father?' I ask Glenn, my advisor and good friend impatiently.

"Your Grace, it's only been three days, he'll have just arrived yesterday and won't talk buisness until later today, plus it will take at least two days for any postage to arrive."

I want to punch something. Two days?

"Don't use such formal language around me Glenn, it's uncomfortable. Why must I be the yungest. The only one of my brothers that has yet to wed."

Glenn opens his mouth but I interupt.

"Rowan doesn't count, he's in the same situation."

He only smiles ruefully and shrugs. I feel a bit bad for dumping all this onto him. At least until he grins and says

"Maybe because Jayden, Alden, Sayjet and Damien are all hotter than you?"

I roll my eyes but my lips twitch.

"Yeah, sure." The joke fades when I add "I just wish I had a choice in this."