"Barnaby, if at all possible, can you please get me out of the next event?" I pleaded at the breakfast table.

"Sir, the king and the princess require your presence. It would be rude not to attend", Barnaby responded gently before filling his move with some bread.

"Okay. If I have to go. Can you keep the all people who own slaves away from me then, I don't trust or like who has a slave or thinks it is okay"

"I completely agree, sir! It's barbaric, disgusting and downright wrong; I will do my best to keep them all away from you; the only way she would speak to you again is if she decides to come here to visit you, but that would be very unbecoming of a princess, especially during the season. It's not the done thing. The men must visit the women. Sir, Speaking of which. If any ladies have taken your interest and you would like to visit them, please let me know that is something I can arrange.

"I don't plan on visiting anyone and  thankfully I don't see anyone coming here"

BANG. BANG. BANG.

"I had to open my mouth didn't I"

"I'll get it" Sophia said, while skipping out of the kitchen and right past us. Sophia's head popped around the corner. "Barnaby a princess is here to see Ronnie"

"What, Charlotte is here?" I said. Barnaby left the table and returned a few seconds later. With a princess but it was Charlotte, fucking Harriet had turned up on my door. Barnaby fucking jinxed me by saying she wouldn't turn up.

"Sir Ronald heart," Barnaby said in his serious voice and standing with perfect posture, "I present Princess Harriet of Florian". I stood up quickly. Harriet had a blue dress on again, teal blue this time. A matching hot the same size and gigantic frisbee

"Hello," Harriet said joyfully. "You have a lovely home".

"Thank you, erm... can I ask?"

"What am I doing here?"

"Yes" before Harriet could open his mouth... Barnaby had ushered us and Harriet's attendant, whom I hadn't noticed until now into our sitting room. I barely come in here. It bores me. Barnaby likes it because he can come in and read in silence, and the kids like it because it's a great place to have a nap. It's a square room. Barnaby has decorated it with posh things like vases, paintings, books and ornaments. I do like the sofas, though, that can't be comfy to sit on, but if you lay down, get ready for a power nap. Red leather cushion with smooth wooden structure perfectly crafted to look expensive. I sat on one sofa and Harriet on the other opposite. Barnaby and Harriet's attendant were standing close to the door. Thank god Barnaby dresses nice at all times. Nice black suit and he slid on white gloves, slowly. The woman next to him wore a cheap-looking blue dress; I have a feeling that Harriet likes the colour blue.

"Ronald," Harriet said breaking the awkward. "Firstly I would like to apologise for dropping by without letting you know beforehand that is very unbecoming of me, but I wanted to see you again before you set out to make your visits"

"My visits? I wasn't planning on making any. My plans for today were to eat breakfast and go into the dungeon and maybe complete a guild quest".

"Is this your first season perhaps?" You do know that the men make visits to the homes or residences of women they are interested in". She turned her head and gave me a meaningful look and a wide grin. I think she looks like an owl at this moment in time.

"This is my first season. I don't know all of the norms, and I have been learning from my helpful friend over there", I nobbed to Barnaby. He smiled.

"You're friend?" Harriet whispered to herself and then shook her head. "Well since you are new, I'll let you off... Is there any lady that has peaked your interest". At that moment, Clare and Alfie came running into the sitting room, both of them in pyjamas,s, looking excited.

"Ronnie!" They yelled, and Clare gave me a big hug, and Alfie stood behind me.

"I heard there was a princess here?" Clare asked her eyes full of joy.

"There is," I said softly. I stood her up and pointed her in the direction of Harriet. "This here is Princess Harriet of Florian" I looked up at Harriet. Her face had turned into a scowl.

"You have children?" She said her tone dry and harsh.

"Oh. Ohhhh... They aren't biological my children"

"So you aren't their father?"

"No"

"That's better" Her whole appearance changed. "So they are your slav..."

"No" I cut her off before she could utter that word. "They are like family, everyone who lives in my house I consider family"

"You are different to most men I have met"

"You have no idea" I watched her rub her eyes, and then she accidentally rubbed off some of her makeup, and it reminded me of the fact she is the only woman I have noticed who has worn makeup in this world. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course" Harriet smiled at me.

"You are the only person I have noticed that wears makeup" her eyes narrowed. "Where did you get it from?"

"Why? I'm sure you don't need it" she winked at me.

"I'm curious"

"One of my attendants came up with the idea; she is a bit of an oddball", the woman next to Barnaby whispered loud enough for me to hear. "She is an embarrassment"

"Oddball, why is that?"

"Well, she came up with the since makeup stuff, I must say, one of her better ideas. She likes to come up with different hairstyles we aren't used to, and she sings songs we have never heard before. If I hear so much about wanting a latte again, I might kill her. I don't even know what one is." My heart is pounding, and my mind is screaming. It could be Mum or Audrey. They would be the only ones to know about all of that stuff, and they loved lattes!

"I would like to meet this woman; I'm somewhat of an inventor, and her mind could be useful,", I said as calmly as I could. I caught Barnaby's confused look and then the moment he caught on to what I wanted.

"Ah yes. Master heart is always coming with incredible inventions". Clare and Alfie didn't know what we were talking about but.

"He does it a lot," Clare said.

"All the time," Alfie said. They followed Barnaby's lead, and I have never been more proud of the two of them.

"Okay," Harriet said "but I would like something from you first"

"What would that be?"