Engaged to the Prince

The Royal Family

“Thank you for attending the courtship dance, my lords and ladies,” the priest smiled warmly at the gathered crowd. “With the blessing of the gods upon the prince and princess’ engagement, they’ve both considered each others’ kingdom as their responsibility. Now, with your generous donations, Princess Katie believed that it will go where it is truly needed: as an aid to the Kingdom of Anatolia.”

The nobles clapped with approval and they all nodded politely at King Alaster. The King greeted back, unable to mask the surprise and gratefulness in his expression. Alexander turned to Katie, his expression identical to his father’s. Katie grinned from ear to ear and nodded shyly.

After more felicitations from the nobles, they finally went home. The monarchs watched from their seats as Katie and Alexander displayed a playful fight, probably to shake off their nervousness from the performance. Alexander beamed at the sight of Katie dancing in such a goofy way, and his hips swayed slightly side to side as if being taken by the princess’ energy.

“They’ve grown closer since a week ago,” Queen Victoria muttered, laughing at Katie’s antics. “To be honest, I thought it would take longer, given Katie’s personality.”

“And Alexander’s intent on keeping to himself,” the King nodded.

“I hope Katie’s actions today gave you a new opinion about her. She does work hard.”

“Why are you so faithful in her abilities? You have a daughter who was anointed before Princess Katie,” the King wondered, his eyes never leaving Alexander and Katie. “I do believe you’re still aware of how people still doubt Katie’s claim to the throne.”

“Alaster, if anything, Katie’s claim to the throne is the strongest…” the Queen’s expression turned blank, “It’s just up to her to choose.”

“What proof could you possibly have? Why haven’t you used it?”

The Queen only smiled at the King. She called for Alexander and Katie and they rode home. When they stepped into the palace foyer, the King stepped awkwardly toward Katie, hesitating to say something.

“Might I have a word with you, Princess Katie?” King Alaster muttered, clasping his hands behind his back.

Katie glanced at her aunt before nodding. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

They walked out of earshot, the King looking up at the unfamiliar hallway in the foyer. “Where does this lead?”

Katie stared at the hallway. “It leads to the gallery, Your Majesty.”

“I wonder why your aunt never took me here,” King Alaster walked toward the gallery. “Shall we?”

Katie glanced at the hallway to the gallery, then to the King, then back to the hallway. With a hesitant nod, she took a step toward the brightly lit gallery.

“Princess Katie, I have to apologize for what I said before,” the King finally spoke, his eyes on the portraits. “I believe I was wrong about my opinion of you.”

“Today is a momentous day for everyone, King Alaster,” Katie said, running her hand on each portrait’s frame. “I’m glad I managed to change your mind.”

She paused in front of a portrait and turned to the King. When King Alaster looked up, his eyes widened, seeing a male spitting image of Katie on the painting behind her. He stepped back and glanced at the princess, her eyes flickering a shade of red.

“The proof you need is right here,” Katie muttered, a smirk on her face.

After a blink of an eye, the confident gaze in the princess’ eyes disappeared. She frowned when she saw the King staring at her. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty! I don’t think I’ve been listening.”

“I actually think you were listening quite well,” King Alaster forced a smile. “Shall we leave?”

Still with a puzzled expression, Katie walked beside the King as they headed to the gallery’s exit. After a brief moment of silence, the King spoke again.

“Princess Katie, I’m sorry about what I said to you on my first day here,” King Alaster muttered. “I may still think you’re inexperienced as a ruler, I do think you have what is important. You have the character of one.”

The princess’ expression beamed when she heard the King’s compliment. “Th-thank you, Your Majesty! I’m glad I managed to change your mind.”

The princess exited the gallery with more spring in her step. The King, still somewhat shaken from what he thought just happened in the gallery, didn’t notice when the Queen approached. The Queen noticed the King’s expression and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

“Might I have a moment of your time, Katie?” Alexander muttered.

“Of course,” Katie curtseyed to the King and her aunt. “Your Majesty. Aunt.” Alaster was barely able to respond as Alexander dragged her aside. “What is happening? Why so energetic?”

Alexander shrugged and started giggling. “I would say it’s the adrenaline.”

“Ah, if that’s the case, you’ll crash later.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know… It’s just something Arden told me,” her smile faded. “I wonder why he didn’t show up today.”

“Anyway!” Alexander gave her a forceful pat on the back. He slipped his arm around her neck and pulled her in, leaning conspiratorially. “I actually found a secret passageway in my room. I wanted to explore it.”

“Are you asking me to explore it with you? There could be traps in there.”

Alexander grinned. “Are you scared?”

“Yes, but that’s beside the point,” Katie thought for a moment. “We throw a book there. If it triggers any traps, you’re going first.”

The prince straightened his posture and nodded to the marble stairs. “Then let’s go.”

They carefully walked up the stairs then dashed into the carpeted hallway once they were sure they were out of their guardians’ view. Alexander paused just outside his room, his hand gripping the doorknob for a second before nodding to himself.

“It may be a little, uh…” he scratched the back of his head. “I haven’t been the most organized recently.”

“Consider me warned,” Katie chuckled.

Alexander opened the door to his room and peeked, exhaling in relief as he saw that the books he borrowed from the library were organized by the foot of his nightstand. When he entered, Katie followed behind him, muttering a faint “excuse me” as she did so. Alexander quickly led her to a bookshelf and pulled one of the books. Almost immediately, a faint scraping sound of stone against stone was heard, and the bookshelf popped open.

“As promised,” Alexander opened the bookshelf and tossed a book inside. They leaned closer, straining their ears for even the faintest of sounds. “Nope.”

Katie pushed open the bookshelf. The darkness beyond proved to be a little intimidating for them so they grabbed their phone and turned on their flashlights.

“Frankly, I was expecting torches,” Katie muttered, standing by the threshold, waiting for Alexander to go first. “Do you think we’ll find anything?”

“Unless it’s been previously opened, I think we will find something, at least.”

Alexander passed through a threshold and the princess followed a few steps after. It was a long and narrow passage, with stairs spiraling upward. They followed the stone passage until they heard muffled conversations behind a wooden panel.

“Sounds like this passes through aunt’s study,” Katie whispered, “Are we supposed to be listening in?”

“Aren’t you curious of what they could possibly be discussing?” Alexander replied, already pressing his ear against the cold wood.

“Again, yes, but that’s besides the point,” Katie stared at Alexander for a moment before pressing her ear against the wooden panel. “Dammit, peer pressure.”

Alexander smiled, amused. “I’ve never done this, either.”

She looked exactly like the man in the painting! Is this the proof you were talking about? Who was he? That man wasn’t King Henry.

The man in the painting was the first King of Aelysia. His name is unknown since it was written in a language unknown to us now.

“What painting are they talking about?” Katie muttered.

“I assume it’s the painting at the rear end of the gallery?” Alexander whispered. “The man with the really intimidating aura. Now that they mentioned it, you do look like him! Like… the female version of him.”

Katie’s confused expression didn’t fade. “What painting are you talking about?”

“You’ve been to the gallery and you never saw it?”

Katie probably doesn’t even know about that painting.

“I… always get lapses in my memory whenever I go to the gallery, okay?” Katie leaned against the stone wall opposite the wooden panel, clasping her hands together. “But if it’s the first king of Aelysia,” she pouted and tapped her chin with her index finger, “I’m not sure about genetics but… I think it’s a little weird that I look exactly like him; assuming that I really do.”

Alexander pushed himself off from the wood, all of his attention on the princess now. “Why is that?”

“Because the first king of Aelysia never had any children.”