An Unlikely Match

Chapter 2

Corine pt of view

    The butterflies in my stomach were going wild waiting to see Brayden. I had left breakfast this morning and raced to my room to prepare for the ceremony. I was going to relax today, take a nap, maybe read in the library. Instead, I called my handmaid and had her run my bath early. As she was filling the tub, I went to my closet and chose a green silk gown. I climbed in the bath and sunk down, relaxing earlier than planned, but relaxing none the less. I thought back to when I was young and Brayden and I would play in the rose garden outside the castle or walk the creek past the horse paddock. I remembered climbing trees and skipping rocks with him and how much he used to make me laugh. I also remembered the day when he told me he would be leaving. I bawled and begged him not to go, but he said he had to leave so he could come back and be a knight like his father. That was his biggest dream and this was how he would get there. Nothing I said could change his mind and a few weeks later, he hugged me and promised he would be back. The first few months after he left were so lonely, I didn't have many friends being the King and Queen's daughter because I didn't go to school. I had the best tutors and I got to go visit other kingdoms with my parents so I met other royals kids, but at home I was alone. 

    I got out of the bath, dried off and dressed in my gown. I sat down at the vanity and my handmaid fixed my striking red hair in a beautiful plaited braid that fell to my waist. As I placed my silver slippers on my feet, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to my father who had a small box in his hands. 

    "You look beautiful, sweetheart!" my father exclaimed.

    "Thank you", I stated, giving him a small smile. He handed me the box. "This is for your birthday. We were going to wait, but I believe you should wear it to the ceremony today."

    I opened the box and gasped. The gold tiara inside was spectacular and I couldn't wait to put it on! I took it out of the box and saw the emeralds spaced throughout.  I teared up as my father placed the tiara on my head. "Now you look like a princess," he announced as he turned me toward the mirror. I couldn't help but smile at the way the emeralds shone in my hair. 

    "I love it father! Thank you so much!" I turned, hugged him and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

    "You are very welcome, my dear. Now, can I escort you to the throne room? The knighting ceremony is about to start and we don't want to be late."

    "They can't very well start without you, now can they?" I questioned as I let out a small giggle

    "No they can't" he replied as we made our way out of the room.

    The throne room was full of people when my father and I were announced. My mother was already standing by her throne and my father walked me to the stage. Once my father was in front of his throne, both my parents sat down and the room hushed. My place was on the right side of my father and I stood quietly as King Marcus invited Brayden into the room. Brayden walked in and down the aisle in the middle of the room. He kept his head down so I was unable to see his face well, but he had definitely matured. The boy I had known was the man in front of me and suddenly I was nervous. What if he had no interest in speaking with me again? What if he was married, or betrothed and she didn't like me? Finally Brayden had made his way to the front of the room and he knelt down in front of the stage. 

    "Brayden Scott, do you vow to protect the citizens of Martinsdale from all enemies?"

    "I do, your highness", Brayden replied.

    "Do you promise to uphold yourself to the highest moral compass?" King Marcus asked.

    "I do, your highness," Brayden agreed.

    "And do you vow to never question orders from your superiors, including your monarchs, and fulfill all of your duties to the realm?" King Marcus inquired.

    "I do, your highness," Brayden stated.

    King Marcus took a sword made specifically for Brayden out of it's sheath and held it outright. Touching Brayden's right shoulder, then left and then his head, the king stated, "Brayden Scott, I hear by dub you Sir Brayden Scott and induct you as a knight of the realm." The hushed crowd cheered loudly as Sir Brayden stood and finally looked at me. As our eyes met, I realized I had been holding my breath and I inhaled loudly. My previous worries disappeared! Sir Brayden was beautiful! He had short, wavy, golden hair and hazel eyes that shone in the sunlight flowing through the room. He had to have been over six foot tall and his clothing accentuated his thick, muscular build. I realized I was staring and looked down at the floor, but not before I saw a small grin cross Brayden's face. He knew I had been staring and I'm sure my face was as red as a beet!

Brayden's pt of view

    I had only returned a few hours ago and here I stood, outside the throne room where I used to play with Princess Corine as a child. I had hated to leave her years ago, but in order to fulfill my dreams, there was no other way. I could have been trained by my father, but both of us were stubborn and I knew I had to go somewhere else in order to improve to my full potential. I paced back in forth outside the door waiting to be called in but I was only nervous about one thing, seeing Corine. She was like a sister to me and I was so excited to be able to speak with her again. I had made a clean break when I left because I knew how much I must have hurt her. I hoped that she would find someone or something to take my place so she would not be lonely, but from the letters I received from father, I knew that had not happened. I also knew she turned 18 today and her debutante ball was tonight. I couldn't wait to see her again and maybe be able to reconnect with her again. 

    "Brayden Scott, please enter", King Marcus announced. I walked through the doorway and lowered my head as a sign of respect. The crowd was silent as I walked down the aisle. I did not expect so many people to attend, however knowing my father was the King's personal knight, it didn't surprise me that everyone would come out to see my knighting. When I arrived at the stage, I knelt before the king.

    "Brayden Scott, do you vow to protect the citizens of Martinsdale from all enemies?" King Marcus asked me.

    "I do, your highness," I replied.

    "Do you promise to uphold yourself to the highest moral compass?"

    "I do, your highness," I agreed.

    "And do you vow to never question orders from your superiors, including your monarchs, and fulfill all of your duties to the realm?" King Marcus asked the final question.

    "I do, your highness." I felt the cold steel touch my shoulders and my head as I heard the words.

    "Brayden Scott, I hear by dub you Sir Brayden Scott and induct you as a knight of the realm". The crowd began cheering and I was smiling from ear to ear. This had always been my dream and it had come true. Nothing had distracted me from this and I had never been so proud of myself! I looked up and there, to the left of the king was Corine. She was gorgeous! The same beautiful red hair and dark green eyes that I remembered, but she had definitely grown up! She was still tiny, maybe just over five foot, but she had an amazing figure! Just then, I realized she had been staring at me also. I grinned at her as she looked to the floor and I could see her face turn the same shade of red as her hair. 

    The citizens of Martinsdale began to surround me, congratulating me and I thanked them one at a time. After an hour or so, King Marcus requested the room be cleared in order to make it presentable for Princess Corine's ball this evening. I looked around the room, hoping to be able to speak with Corine, but she seemed to have vanished. I would have to wait for this evening to speak with her.

Corine's pt of view

    Once everyone surrounded Brayden, I was able to leave the throne room quickly. I didn't expect to have these feelings for him this quickly. I knew that I couldn't be with him, yet I felt I could stare into those eyes forever and never need to look away. I had to get away from him, I had to remember my duty to my kingdom. I had to be strong. No matter how I felt about Brayden, I had to shake this off. I could not be with him and that was how it had to be.