The Crown Prince waste no time at all. As soon as he reaches the dais, he pulls King Louis into a tight hug.

"Louis!" he booms, thumping the king on the back. "It has been so long, old friend."

"Indeed it has," the king agrees, nodding and smiling. "How is the king?"

"Ah, the old man is getting more frail by the day," he shakes his head, casting his gaze to the queen and Their Highnesses.

His emerald eyes fall on to his Agrevannian younger counterpart, Theodor. "And this must be the dashing young lad my father has mentioned before," he says, his voice echoing around the rather quiet hall. "I dare say the portrait your father sent did you no justice at all."

Theodor forces a smile. A portrait? Dear Lord, he hopes it was a decent one. He will need to have a talk with his father about this secret portrait painting.

"It's good to meet you," Theodor replies, extending a handshake. His smile unwavering, especially since another two sets of emeralds were staring at him from behind the Crown Prince. "I hope your journey had been nothing but pleasant."

"It was made even better by the warm welcome we received at the docks," Henrik beams. "You Agrevannians are a very warm bunch. I'm not worried at all that my daughter is going to marry one."

He gestures at the princess, who daintily steps up to stand next to her father. "It's my pleasure to finally meet you, Your Royal Highness," she says, her voice demure. Her curtsey is simply impeccable.

Theodor could feel his heartbeat increase. "The pleasure is all mine, princess," he manages to say without any hesitation. Unfortunately, he accidentally smacks himself as he reaches to kiss the Princess' gloved hand, causing the crowd to chuckle.

Both fathers beam proudly at the exchange, though King Louis shakes his head at his son's flushing face.

"And this is my eldest and heir, Albert," Henrik gestures to the young prince who skulk behind him. "I trust you have met?" he inquires Theodor, whose face burns like there is no tomorrow.

The older crown prince laughs heartily, his laughter so contagious that the rest of the nobility and courtiers laughs along.

"Yes, I daresay we have," Theodor says, extending a handshake to Albert. "It's good to be properly introduced," he remarks, shaking Albert's hand.

The latter stares deep into Theodor's soul, his grip a bit too hard but the former does nothing to show his discomfort. Or any signs of weakness.

"And this is my daughter, Louisa," King Louis says, oblivious to the tension surrounding the two princes.

Louisa curtseys to the Deschamps' royalty. Compared to Elena, Louisa is dressed in a much simpler and plain gold day dress. If she were to be seen taking a stroll in the villages of Beck, north of Arion, she would never have been taken for as a princess.

Nevertheless, a much more elaborate tiara inlaid with diamond nestle in her dark hair, which she had left tumbling down her back in curls.

"Now that we have introduced everyone, shall we retire for luncheon?" King Louis proposes, holding his arm out for his queen.

"That would be lovely," Henrik beams jovially.

"And we are having a ball in your honor tonight," the king adds as he, his queen and Henrik made their way to the banquet hall next door.

"That is so thoughtful of you, Louis," Henrik says, his green eyes shining with excitement. "I do love a good ball. The food, the music, the ladies."

The king chuckles drily. "Well, I'll have to sit the last one out. I dare say my queen wouldn't want me courting other ladies."

The queen squeezes his arm, a warm smile on her lips at her husband's words.

Their children trail behind them, making small talk with each other; Elena on Theodor's arm and Louisa on Albert's.

And at that moment, a hint of wonder crosses the Prince's mind.

That maybe, just maybe he could marry Elena and be happy, despite having never courted each other properly.

Little did he know, he would regret such thoughts in the near future.