I placed my hand in the outstretched hand and stepped down from the carriage, lifting my skirt out to the side with my free hand. Sweeping my eyes around I saw that the servants and townspeople close by had all respectfully dipped into a curtsey or bow.
Resisting the urge to breathe out a heavy sigh I instead masked my face with a calm smile and swept forward my hands lifting my dress just a centimeter off the ground as I walked forward to meet the well dressed man, with combed greying hair standing just in front of me. I knew who he was of course.
It was part of my Princess training to memorize all the people, King Balor and my trainers, believed were important in the castle.
In front of me was King Balor's favorite advisor Duke Redmond. Stopping just in front of him He studied me momentarily before smiling and bowing slightly "welcome Princess Allura." I dipped my head respectfully, "thank you Duke Redmond."
"Yes thank you for the welcome." The High Chancellor said behind me and I could hear in his voice that he was a bit miffed about not being introduced first.
"Well this is just the beginning of the welcome" Duke Redmond admitted before holding his arm out to me "my lady."
I rested my hand on his arm and let him lead me into the castle.
On first glance the castle looked understated with decorations but as we passed through the halls, I realized that unlike King Balor's castle that was filled with just things, upon things, in the Southern Kingdom's castle things were minimal but tasteful.
If anything this showed off more of their wealth than King Balor. The Southern Kingdom clearly had more money than what was just lying around me, which demonstrated the ability to save their money for more important things was admirable.
It was a swift walk through the castle to the throne room, where soldiers stood guarding it. They stood at attention as we approached Duke Redmon raised his hand to wave them aside when the High Chancellor suddenly appeared in my field of vision.
"I would like to present her as she is my Princess" The High Chancellor said his voice tight. I swept my eyes to Duke Redmond as he cleared his throat, "Of course."
I lifted my hand off his arm and instead clasped my hands forward as the High Chancellor was now the one to beckon the door open. The doors swung outward and I was faced with a throne room of great magnitude. There were couturiers lining the sides of the room with guards stationed throughout, and at the end of everyone on his throne was the King of the Southern Kingdoms and just behind his right shoulder was a young man who looked remarkably like him, the prince.
Somehow the nerves that I had been trained to push back were still there and I found myself resisting the urge to wipe my sweaty palms on my dress. Instead I picked up the hem just barely and walked into the room behind the High Chancellor.
As we passed the couturiers, they dipped into a respectful bow before rising back up to continue to watch my pression towards the King, who continued to look on us with a cool calm.
"King Jorgensen" The High Chancellor said dipping into a overly deep bow before rising up and sweeping his hands towards me, "may I present our Princess Allura." I stepped forward and the High Chancellor reluctantly stepped aside as I gave a sweeping curtsy, as one might to the kingdom that defeated us.
However, instead of rising right away, I froze in an effort to show the sincerity in my next words
"King Jergensen I come to you on behalf of my father, King Balor as not only a sign of continual peace and prosperity, but also as an apology. We were wrong to attack you and pray for your continual acts of mercy upon our people."
At the end of my speech I continued to remain still as if I dared not to look up, but even though my eyes remained trained on the ground my ears were trained on the people around me. The guard fighting the urge not to shuffle, the High Chancellor holding his breath, and a man close King Jorgensen murmuring softly to the King. Tense seconds passed by before the King grunted and I heard, soft, heavy footsteps coming closer to me. I fought the natural urge I had in me to tense up and defend myself, forcing myself to continue to remain still, when a hand appeared in front of my face.
Glancing up I saw the man who had stood behind the King when I entered the room, in front of me. Intrigue filled me and my eyes momentarily traced his well-defined face before coming to rest on the silver circlet hiding out in lightly browned hair, the Prince.
Rather than unleashing the wicked grin building up inside me, I allowed a tentative smile to touch my lips before placing my hand in the Prince's and allowing him to assist me in standing up straight. As soon as I did so I couldn't help but get lost in the Prince's golden brown eyes, a stark contrast to the circlet in his hair.
"My dear girl." Startled out of my revelry, I pivoted away from the Prince slightly to see King Jorgensen had stood from his throne and was coming towards me. I resisted the urge to run away, and instead allow my reflexive training to kick in. King Jorgensen stopped a mere two feet in front of me and smiled "your father's decisions were his own. I'm only sorry that you have to pay the price of his foolish mistakes."
"It is my duty."
"As is it mine to arrange for the future of this kingdom." He held out both hands to me so I slipped my hand, from the Prince's comfortable grip, and placed both of my hands in his. He squeezed my hands gently as he looked into my eyes. "You be good to him." Then he squeezed my hands one last time before leading me to face the Prince once more, "Allura this is my son, Blake. He is the one you will seal the treaty with."
I dip in a small respectful curtsy once more, "it's an honor your highness."
"The honor is mine" Blake responded returning the curtsy with an even lower bow. There was a hint of mischief in his voice and maybe in another life I would have liked to get to know this man but for now I had a mission to complete.