I had gone out for a walk early in the morning after my lady-in-waiting insisted it would do me well. I've fallen into a monotonous routine, and it's evident that I've grown unhappy from it. After being dressed and sat for breakfast, she accompanied me on a walk in the garden.

Unknowing to me, my chambers consisted of trunks being filled. Petticoats and chemises laid across my bed. Hats and gloves on my desk. My stockings are hanging on my desk chair near my shoes.

Father followed me to my chambers and watched as I stopped in the open doorway, turning back to him for some sort of clarification. I wasn't aware of any form of traveling, so the sudden packing in my chambers has caused some confusion on my end.

"Laurance and I have decided to send you to O'Khasis," he says, peeking his head into my chambers before walking in. The servants stop to acknowledge him before continuing on with work.

"I've never been to O'Khasis," I remind him, shaking my head. "Especially alone."

"You won't be alone. I'm sending your lady-in-waiting alongside you."

Adeline looks up at me for a brief moment, keeping my garters together by wrapping them in fabric. She gives me a curt nod before laying my stockings beside my garters and shutting off the trunk.

"When the work here is done, they'll ready the horses while they dress you in your traveling suit," father continues. He looks quite proud of himself at this moment. "Laurance and I will see you out."

"I leave today?"

"I thought you'd enjoy this surprise. You'll officially be introduced to the kingdom your fiancé is from."

My lips curve up into a dull smile, head slowly lowering in respect. "The surprise is wonderful, father. I'm in shock, is all."

He looks at me in approval before commenting that the work must increase in speed for as much daylight as possible. Adeline rushes to my side, beginning to undo my bodice while someone else slips my shoes off my feet.

"I thought you'd be pleased by this," Adeline says, loosening my skirts. "You mention quite often that you have only seen the man you'll marry. Never once have you met him."

"I've seen him through portraits!" I exclaim, eyes growing wide. Several servants leave after laying my traveling suit on my bed. Adeline is forced to follow me when I begin to walk towards my desk, reaching inside for the small portrait I have. I'm scolded for wandering around half-dressed, but it's only the two of us in this room. "Portraits lie. The one father sent in return most certainly did."

The small frame is taken from my grasp and placed on the wood. Her hands rest on her hips before I'm told to stand still, so my stockings can glide their way up my calves and be tied in place by my garters.

Despite my protests, her work is quick and to the point. I'm left with putting on my own gloves and holding onto my fan when she leaves the room. I drop the small portrait and fan into my handbag before sulking to the door. I've never left home alone before, and the idea terrifies me to great ends. 

"Allow me to escort Her Royal Highness to her carriage."

My eyes cast up to Laurance's sly smile. He holds his arm out to me to grab onto, but my distaste for him at this moment causes me to snub him. With my head held high, I cascade down the stairs with little thought of where my brother is. "May I ask why now?"

"Your birthday is near. Wouldn't you wish to know who you're marrying beforehand?"

"I would've wished to know of my traveling before the day of."

He sighs, "Control your attitude in O'Khasis. The queen is excited to see you"

I curtly nod before faking a smile for my father. Adeline is standing near the carriage door, waiting for me to enter. Father presses a kiss against my forehead and walks me to the carriage, wishing for the best of travels and a letter to announce my arrival. I reassure him he'll get his letter and many more before the door is shut, and the ride becomes long and endless.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Beneath my gloves, my knuckles are a floury white color. I've held onto this frame for so long that they have changed in color. Adeline places her hand on my arm to stop my actions, and it goes into my handbag once again.

The two of us look out of the window to feast our eyes on O'Khasis. "Is the correct word for our arrival exciting, beautiful, or depressing?" I joke, glancing over to Adeline. She doesn't laugh, but she tries her hardest to hide the smile that is trying to push its way to her lips.

"Around me: depressing. To the royal family: beautiful and exciting," She reaches out to straighten the fabric of her dress out. "Is there an ounce of your being remotely excited about this visit?"

"There's the part of me that feels like a child hiding in her crinoline, trying to play a big girl and failing. Then, there's the other part that is anxious. So much more than a face is being put together to a name. A voice. Touch. It's exhilarating, but I'm terrified of making the wrong move. Laurance has already reminded me of maintaining my place."

"Fifteen years is long overdue," Adeline teases, looking back out the window. She draws me closer to the view, having two faces close to each other in the small window. "Oh, would you look at that? They're waiting in a nice line for your arrival."

"That makes it even worse!" I laugh. "What if I tumble?"

She stares at me for a moment, sighing before shaking her head. There's a warm smile on her face, but I can't identify if it's more for my reassurance or her own.

We sit in a comfortable silence for mere moments before the carriage comes to a halt, and I'm helped down from my place. I try my hardest not to stare at my feet and instead smile brightly. The queen's smile is soft and kind, but the king looks rather stern and regal.

I stop before them with a low curtsy before the queen reaches for my hand, holding it within her own. I'm slowly introduced to everyone before the king's eyebrows furrow together. "Zianna, where's Vylad?"

She looks down the line of people before she portrays a look of confusion of her own about her missing son. "Kandilyn, where's your brother?"

"His valet told my lady that he had left early this morning but hadn't returned yet."

There's an uneasy feeling that settles in the pit of my stomach. Part of me fears that he knowingly left this morning because of my arrival. Or, he was as clueless as I had been and did his own duties.

The king tries to reassure me with kind words while servants walk past us to retrieve my trunk and bags. I watch them with uncertainty when I'm introduced to the large palace.

The hallways look endless, and I'm left standing there, flabbergasted. He watches me for a moment before letting a deep chuckle rise from his throat. "We get this expression quite often," he says. "I suppose Meteli isn't nearly this size?"

I shake my head. "Oh, no, it isn't. I fear I'll get lost in these hallways by just looking for the next resting chamber."

He nods curtly before looking beside him. "While this is a lovely conversation, I'm going to have my eldest show you around. Duty never ends for a king."

I'm met face to face with a younger version of the king. I toy the strings of my handbag around my fingertips to keep this anxious feeling within me and away from the public eye. Adeline has already left with the final wave of servants to my temporary chambers.

"At the end of our tour, I'll show you to your chambers. I know a long journey like that can be tiring," he says. "I'm Garroth."

"Alex," I add. "Are you always referred to as the eldest?"

This appears to be humorous when he flashes a grin my way. "From my father, yes. He takes great pride in me being heir. My mother doesn't single us out with our birth order like he does. . . What about your family?"

"Father shows nothing but pure happiness regarding myself or my siblings," I admit. "Laurance is Laurance, my son, the prince. He's not often labeled as the heir by my father. Cadenza and I are simply separated with 'youngest' or 'oldest.'"

This seems to take a weight off his shoulders. Neither one of us have spoken to each other ever before, nor have we written. Conversation doesn't feel forced and is rather lively. This only continues with our walk. Smiles become genuine and laughter common. This conversation doesn't feel forced.

"You don't say?" I giggle, covering my lips with my gloved hand. "Why, that sounds–Oh my goodness, my apologies."

I've stumbled into a man not too many years older than me. Garroth shakes his head at the sight of him, disappointed.

"No, no, it was my fault." He looks up at Garroth, his eyes gleaming with something I can't place my finger on. "Your Highness, if you don't mind, I'd like to take over by showing Her Royal Highness to her chambers. His Majesty has requested your presence in his study."

Garroth's eyebrows furrow. "What are you. . ."

The man bows his head to me. "I'm Anthony, the valet of the youngest prince," he tells me. "It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."