My Light in the Night

Chapter 3

I sat on the throne beside my brother as everyone stood before me. I nodded to each and they bowed as they were introduced to me. I knew well, the thought itself making me tired, that I would later have to dance with all of them in turn a that night. I smiled slightly wider as we came towards the end and I was finally introduced to the suitors I’d actually met in the ball room.

Sebastian was introducing all of the young man before me. “Prince Mateo Kia Havana of Asithist, second born son of King Kia Ace Havana and Queen Kayla Jade Havana of Asithist.”

Prince Mateo was a good-looking young man with strong features and broad shoulders. It could have been because I was getting bored with all this sitting but somehow he stood out of the crowd of suitors I’d met.

“Prince Valor Everand Colluard of Linwood, only born son of King Estiban Flynn Colluard and Queen Mercy Rochelle Colluard of Linwood.” Sebastian announced as the young man stepped up.

Prince Valor was handsome is the exact opposite way of Mateo. Valor had soft features and a slighter build to him. His piercing green eyes gave off a shout of recognition for me and his hair stuck up, appearing untamable, in every direction.

Sebastian introduced the last of my suitors. “Sir Jacob Oliver Percival of the Orion District, third born son of Lord Kenelm Caspian Percival of the Orion District and Temperance Grace Percival of the Orion District.”

Sir Jacob gave off a certain vibe that I couldn’t shake. It wasn’t unlike that of my slightly younger brother. My brother, Prince Alexander III, was all too ready to take over if our dad didn’t make it long enough. There was no way I was ready to take the whole of the kingdom onto my shoulders at the age of seventeen but I couldn’t let my brother, the power-hungry sixteen year old, take leadership over my already fearful country. We didn’t need another war right now.

“This concludes our public meeting for today. Dinner shall be served at precisely six o’ clock.” Sebastian bowed to the reporters and their cameras before silently asking for my hand.

I took his hand, curtsied to the crowd with a diplomatic smile, and allowed Alexander to take my free arm. They escorted me from the throne room, the doors being closed behind us, before Alexander angrily and I leaned over to stretch my back out.

“I can’t believe you,” Alexander crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “I can’t believe you would try to find a suitor before dad even dies. You’re only seventeen. You don’t even get to call yourself queen until March.”

I stared, slightly awestruck at the audacity of my little brother. I clenched my fists. “Alexander, I know well that you want the throne and so does Dad. That’s probably why he set up this little ball.” I took Sebastian’s arm again by habit. “Trust me. I want this ball even less than you do.”

Sebastian led me to my room where my chambermaid, Mary, waited with another dress, this one for dinning. Sebastian waited on the other side of the changing screen as every part of me was pushed and squished into the tight fitting dress. “Whom would you like sitting beside you at dinner tonight?”

I thought for a second as I handed my tiara to Mary. “Let’s put Prince Mateo to my left and Prince Valor to my right. I want Sir Jacob as far away from my little brother as possible. They’re too much alike. I don’t trust him.” I would have given a better reason after that if my air flow hadn’t been cut off by the tight collar of the dress. “M-Mary!” I gasped for air. “Too tight!”

She quickly undid the collar of the dress and loosened the waistline. “Sorry Miss.” She set my tiara back upon my head.

I didn’t know how Mary could alter a dress in seconds like that but she had done it many times for me. “It is okay, Mary.” I stepped into a set of heels. “Here we go.” I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the screen. “Is it time?”

“Yes, my lady.” Sebastian took my hand and led me down a hall to the ball room. “Now remember: sit tall, sit straight, watch your grammar, and always keep your tongue under control. It can be quite sharp.”

“Yes, I know. I must be a perfect little princess.” I sighed as we stood beside the doors.

“No, dear.” Sebastian set his hands on my shoulders. “Chest out. Shoulders up. Smile.” He took my left hand again. “Be a good queen.”

“You’re right Sebastian.” I sighed and straitened myself, plastering on a diplomatic smile. “I can’t just be a princess any longer.” I took a deep breathe, holding myself in a royal way, as the door was thrown wide open.

“Now presenting Lady Jerica Emily Sofia Alexandra Ryder, First Princess of Eshistan; heir to the Eshistanian throne; first borne to King Alexander Samuel Elijah Rider II of Eshistan; Older sister of Prince Alexander Samuel Elijah Rider III of Eshistan.” The man ushered us into the dining hall.

Sebastian led me, feeling sorry for the man who had to list all of that off, down to near the center of the table surrounded by young men and the women they brought with them) and seated me between Mateo and Valor. Across the table was Alexander and some girl gossiping and fussing over the handsome boy. Lord Jacob was seated at the far end of the table, as far from Alexander – who was distracted anyway – as possible, but he was still eyeing me as though I was the only frosting rose on the cake.

First we were served salads – something I never ate much of – then the first course, of which I only eat a few bites of each thing to appease Sebastian. The first course consisted of quartered deer, stuffed chicken, veil, multiple pies, a gosling, a lot of roasted pigeon, roasted chicken, and rabbit.

I motioned for Sebastian at the end of first course.

“Yes, my lady?” Sebastian leaned closer to hear my request.

“When each course is cleared, I would like it divided into normal serving sizes and placed in warming boxes. I would like them labeled so I know what is in which box and I would like the boxes placed in the warming room by morning to be passed out to my citizens.”

“Yes, my highness.” Sebastian stepped back, a slight smile – that I knew was actually him trying to hide his anger about me not eating – on his face.

Prince Valor looked at my still very full plate as his very empty plate was cleared. “Princess, would I be overstepping to ask why you aren’t eating?”

I smiled. “No, Prince Valor, it would not. I spend my time reviewing many things with my father and brother including all current and future issues of my country as well as ways to fix them. I have found one problem in some parts of my country for many, including some here in the capital city, is the inability to get food for large families. Many of the Ladies and Lords that have been put in charge of areas are unable to provide year round employment or food for their charges. It is a rather challenging problem to correct but a good queen knows her people fed before she sits to eat.”

“I’m sorry my lady, but if I may but in,” Prince Mateo said. “You must eat in order to make sure your people can eat. You can’t feed your subjects if you starve, Princess.”

“I thank you for your concern, Prince Mateo, but I eat more than enough to survive.” I smiled at him. “Prince Mateo? Prince Valor? Would you be willing to accompany me to serve my people in the morning?”

“I would be delighted,” responded both princes.

The next course was nearly untouched by me and the two princes whom had officially gained my favor. Of course, even I could resist some of the sweet treats of the next two courses. The root beer float Sebastian had set before me was gone in a flash and the sugary sweets of the fourth and final course was more than enough to give me the sugar high I would need.

It wasn’t long before I was in need of yet another costume change, as were most others in the dining room.

Sebastian escorted me to my private room where Mary awaited me with a golden dancing dress. I sighed as I stepped behind the changing screen.

“Have you made any choices yet, Princess?” Sebastian asked, holding my mother’s blue tiara in his hands.

I stepped out of the dinning dress and on to the dressing stool for Mary. “I’ll need more time to make a final decision but I have my eye on two certain princes. Could you remind me of the politics Prince Mateo’s and Prince Valor’s countries have with Eshistan?” I stood straight as Mary clasped the collapsible rings of my dancing dress around my waist and the rings fell down.

“Of course my lady,” Sebastian said. “Prince Valor is from Linwood, the second largest country in the world. We are trade partners with them; exporting metals of all kinds and importing minerals and lumber. We are in good standing with this country and they are considered allies.

“Prince Mateo is from Asithist. It is a much smaller country with only about half the land mass of Eshistan but still the third largest in the world. We also trade with them; importing diamonds and exporting all the types of metals we produce. They are a great ally with a well-trained military force and strong naval ship building.”

“Thank you Sebastian.” I took a deep breath. “Please prepare civilian clothes, school uniforms if you can, for Prince Mateo, Prince Valor, and myself. We’ll be going out at ten tomorrow. We would go earlier but I think you’ll have some issues waking those two princes in the morning.” I helped Mary pull the loose tent of golden fabric that was my dress over my head so it could be draped over the metal cage set around my legs.

“Right away my lady.” Sebastian left the room.

“Oh Mary…” I sighed deeply. “Am I ready for this?”

Mary smiled as she draped the cloth around me but didn’t look up at my face. “Princess, over the seven years I’ve been working I have worked for four families. I dressed twin Princesses in Katdonia for four years, a prince in Bowmain, and a young douches in Asithist. Then I came with my brother to work for you. You’re the first to learn my name, let alone ask my opinion on anything, so I think,” Mary looked up at me as she finished, “if anyone is ready to rule, it is you.”

“Thank you, Mary.” I smiled at her. “You always know what to say.”

She started in on my buttons. “You’ve always been here for me, Miss.” She finished the buttons. "Remember to be careful dancing in those heels. We don’t want you to break.” She looked up at me as she smoothed down my dress. “You’re growing up so fast.”

I giggled lightly. “Not as much on the up part as it would seem since I’m standing on a stool.”

She giggled lightly and put her hands on my hips to help me down. “I suppose that is true.” She lifted my hoops lightly and helped me down. She moved the stool so my dress could fall to the ground. “But all the same. Once your father got cancer you started to grow up so fast.”

I hugged her. “Thank you, Mary. Thank you for everything.”

She hugged me back before grabbing her makeup kit. “Now let’s fix your face.”

As Mary finished with my makeup the door closed again and Sebastian’s voice filled the room. “It is time to go, my lady.”

“Yes, Sebastian.” I stepped up into the matching heels. “I’ll see you again soon, Mary.”

“I’ll see you then, Princess.” Mary kissed my forehead.

I stepped out from behind the screen. “Did you get everything I requested done?” I took his hand.

He led me down the hall towards the ball room with a smile. “Of course, Princess Jerica. We have seven hundred and three complete warm meals prepared, labeled, and awaiting to be delivered tomorrow. By morning there will be plain high school uniforms in each of the Princes’ rooms and one of yours.”

“Where are the dresses I’ve worn tonight?”

“In your closet as usual, my lady. Was there something you wanted done with them?”

“Yes. I want all of them taken apart and sewn into either shirts or dresses to be passed out later on.”

“Yes, Princess.” He stopped me in front of the ballroom doors. “Princess.”

“Yes, Sebastian?” I turned and looked up at him.

He showed me the tiara still in his other hand. “I know it still feels odd but you should be wearing one at all times.” He set it on my head, placing it in my hair so it wouldn’t fall.

“Of course.” I smiled. “I’ll try my hardest…” I turned back to the doors and took a deep breath as I prepared myself. “Be a good queen,” I told myself.

“No.” Sebastian took my hand again. “I think,” Sebastian said as he gave me a smile that so few people ever got from him, “you can be yourself for this.”

I smiled widely. "Thank you, Sebastian.” I sighed and stood tall. The door was thrown wide and I was ushered into the room.