Esme Adalacia Kinnaird

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, the way her shoulders set slightly back the way her hips swayed ever so slightly, captivating him and anyone who was bold enough to stare. “Theo, is everything alright?” Anja, his little sister asked, following his gaze to… her. Anja gasped. “Mother, what in the world is Esme doing here!?!?!” Anja cried as her mother barely batted an eye. The Queen, Kamryn, had planned this when she was trying to thwart Asher’s ambitions towards Reagan. It didn't matter now, she thought, the girl might as well find a husband from Ilsyra, it would solve the growing rift between the two nations. “I invited her mid last season to try and stop Asher from falling in love with Reagan Linford-Dover,” The Queen barely raised her delicate eyebrow when Anja gasped. “I heard Reagan’s name, what’s going on?” Asher, Anja, and Theodore’ older brother, strode in a wide smile plastered on his face, put there by his recent engagement to said Lady Reagan. “Mother’s gone and invited Princess Esme Adalicia of Caldonya to this year’s season!” Anja waved her hands around, earning a small tsk from her mother. “Why would you do that?” Asher turned to his mother, eyes wide open with shock. Esme and Asher were betrothed when they were six years younger. Their nations had been on the brink of war and Esme was sent to Ilsyra to learn their ways and hopefully join the two countries. All was going well, the two got along, Asher and Esme until Theodore fell for her and she for him. They kept it secret for nearly a year until Esme’s mother died. She went back to her nation and the countries were once again at each other's throats. “In the beginning to stop you from marrying Reagan,” Kamryn replied, turning towards her husband, King Kendrick smiling. “And what is this of Reagan?” Kendrick’s smile faded as he saw where Theodore stood, not moving since he had laid eyes on her. “Nothing, Dear, Let's Go now that we are all here,” Kamryn placed her delicate hand into the crook of Kendrick’s and walked into the large ballroom that was brimming with all the debutantes and inductees. The Royal Heralder announced the Royal Family by ranking. King Kendrick, Queen Kamryn, Crown Prince Asher, Prince Theodore, and Princess Anja. Theo’s palms were sweating profusely, he hadn’t seen Esme since she left from Caldonya, back to her mourning father, King Brodric. Theodore made his way to her, pushing past the sea of nobility, not wanting to dance with anyone else for the first dance, or any other. She was chatting with a few of last season’s debutantes, her kind laughs filling his ears. Esme was laughing, the light that she’d lost, had returned. The group turned when one of the girls saw Theodore, the Prince coming towards them. They all readied themselves except for her, she was still talking and froze when his shadow fell on her. She turned a smile still on her face and dropped a hasty curtsey. “Lady Esme, may I have this dance?” Theo’s voice held strong, not giving away the butterflies in his stomach that threatened to burst at any moment. Her hair was done up in the simple bun she preferred, a few loose curls hanging free. A string of pearls laid across her delicate collarbones, a matching set of earrings perfecting the look. Her eyes had wrinkles fanning out from the corners, making her more human, more alive. The last time they had seen each other, she had been quite frankly, a mess. Makeup streaming down her face, her eyes puffy and her hair, usually immaculate, had been a disheveled disaster. No, this was the face of a prim princess, someone who Theodore did not recognize as the girl he had fallen for so many years ago. The person in front of him was Crown Princess Esme Adalicia Kinnaird of Caldonya, not Esme, his friend. “That would be wonderful,” She replied, and Theo swore he saw her eyes sparkle. He led her to the dancefloor, lined up parallel to his brother and Reagan. The band struck up a slow pavane, both partners at a loss for what to say. Theodore cleared the air. “Esme, what are you doing here?” Theo’s whisper made her shudder internally. On the outside though, she displayed a perfect picture of grace. “I am here on my father’s and your mother’s wishes,” She replied, not noticing he never tore his gaze away from her eyes, her dress, or her hair. “I never thought you were much of a rule follower,” He leaned in towards her, making her jump. “Death changed me. First my mother and then my little brother not three years later. You don’t know me anymore Theo, I don’t know me anymore,” Esme replied sometime later when the music ended. She left him there wide mouthed and wide-eyed, still searching for an answer. The rest of the dancers crashed onto the dancefloor forcing Theo to move out of their way. When his eyes landed on Esme again his eyebrows knitted together in anger. There she was dancing and laughing with one of Illsyra’s most notorious bachelors, Dominik Faudree. Nearly knocking over poor Phillip Farrier, Theodore sped towards where Asher and Reagan we speaking, for once their smiles missing. “...and they are my family!” Reagan declared, taking her hand out of his. Theodore cleared his throat, not letting the silence continue on for long. “Yes, Theodore, I’ll dan-” Reagan nodded turning icy stare to a warm smile. They had grown closer, Reagan and He, over the winter. “Not this time Reagan, I’d actually like to speak with Asher,” Theodore interrupted, causing two pairs of eyebrows to raise. “What about?” Asher asked, standing up. “Can we speak in private?” Theo answered, motioning his head towards the secret balcony. Asher nodded ever so slightly, turning to Reagan. “I’ll go talk to Georgina and Vee,” Reagan excused herself, walking slowly to her brother. Theodore and Asher made their way to the balcony, making sure no one took notice. “Now what is so important that we needed to leave the ballroom?” Asher was leaning by the secret doorway, looking at his younger brother. Theodore was propped over the balcony edge, staring at the golden lit villages. “I’m still in love with her Asher and she acted as if we were total strangers,” His voiced threatened to crack. “Are you sure you still love her? I mean it has been si-” “Did you know the moment you fell in love with Reagan?” Theodore stood, cutting off Asher’s lecture. “I felt as if she were my everything,” Asher answered carefully, not wanting to anger Theodore again. The two, and their parents, shared a frightful hot-headedness. “You felt you would give everything up for her? Your entire life, your crown, your family?” Theodore took a step towards Asher, his voice growing louder. “Yes,” Asher replied, his face completely serious. “That is how I feel for Esme, how I’ve always felt. Even when you two were engaged I loved her, the way she didn’t care about rules, and how she laughed, oh God Asher it melted my heart. She could read the index of trees for all I care, I’d listen to the sound of her voice, forever,” Theodore relaxed, his shoulders slacked, his hands moved to his side. “Then what do you want me to do about it?” Asher too relaxed, placing a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. “Kick Dominik Fletcher out of this year’s season,” Theodore casually replied, making Asher’s eyebrows sky rocket. “Is my brother being a jealous debutante?” Asher was toying with Theo, making Theo’s eyes roll. “Please, try Asher, I don’t want him anywhere near her,” Theodore walked away, leaving Asher’s brows furrowed.