My heart skipped a beat as soon as I made eye contact with the French Princess, Catherine.

Catherine was dressed casually with not much care. She wore a shift under top of a blue waistcoat and a similar blue petticoat covering her bottom. Although it was not as pronounced as her father's, yet the confidence in her was more than enough for her appearance.

"Meet my daughter Catherine," the French King gestured towards her. "Please don't mind her late arrival. She is often times carefree about any ocassion."

"Ah King Louis! We understand!" father patted his shoulder. "It's nice meeting your lively daughter."

"Thank you, your honour," Catherine bowed. "I must say, the things I've heard about you are indeed true."

"And what could they be?" father wondered.

"Words say you're a just ruler, dressed in elegance and emanate valour."

"That's quite a lot of appreciation!" father laughed. "Have you never heard anything repulsive?"

"Oh yes indeed! It's right that they say you're quite stout."

For a moment, none spoke a word. After which father burst out with laughter, rubbing his oversized belly.

"I don't know about anything else you said but that sure is true!" father said joyously.

I was astounded at how natural Catherine was. Fearlessly, she had spoken out her thoughts about my father, without upsetting him. This made her character much more attractive to me.

Catherine turned towards me and smiled. Before I could have known, she stepped forward and took me in an embrace. My heart raced in my chest as I was unable to comprehend her sudden move.

Before we parted, I sure felt her trace her fingers on the back of my neck. Trust me, it was not my imagination!

"Congratulations for your wedding Jane," Catherine congratulated while holding my palm in a handshake. "You certainly are as beautiful as I've heard. Can't begin to imagine how glamourous you might appear at your wedding day!"

I gulped. Was she appreciating or flirting with me? I had no idea. All I could do was reflect a smile back.

"I beleive our girls might make good friends," father said proudly.

"I think the same King Evans!" King Louis exclaimed.

Taking my hand in his, father said, "Come Jane, let's get inside." And so we did.

The dining hall had a grand decor. The numerous of guests with their unique dressing styles added glamour to its beauty. A small podium stood farther away upon which were placed five chairs. A throne for my father, a chair for me while the rest for the Netherlands royal family.

As soon as we had entered, the attention of about hundred guests turned towards us, especially me. Their eyes bore into me as we made our way towards the podium. The other maids dissipted to do other tasks, however, Mabel stayed behind me.

The soldiers moved apart as we stepped on the podium and turned to face the guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my hearty welcome to all," father greeted all. "I am thankful to each one of you for your presence on this eventful night. On this auspicious occasion, two royal families finally bind with one another. It is with great pleasure that I annonce that my daughter Jane is to be wed with the Prince of Netherlands, Henry!"

Everyone applauded joyously as the doors to the dining hall opened and in entered the Netherlands's royal family. I sustained my curiousity by not glancing towards them and waiting for them to reach up to the podium so that I could have a good look at my to be husband and to be mother-in-law.

Once they reached, I lifted my head to look at them.

The queen of Netherlands was stoic, she possessed a gaze as sharp as dagger, her piercing eyes and her features were sculpted with a subtle grace, yet there was an unmistakable aura of calculated charm. A sly smile played at the corners of her lips as she looked at me, narrowing her gaze. Dressed impeccably in attire that exuded sophistication, every detail of her appearance was carefully curated to convey power and allure. Her son was yet another piece of work.

The prince exuded a youthful charm, his blond hair appeared in curls which complimented his perfectly symmetrical face. Although he was someone for whom anyone could easily fall for yet his posture and gaze was rather questionable. He did not appear normal.

"Welcome King Frederick!" father spread his arms as the King embraced him with glee. He turned towards Henry and his mother and beemed.

"It's such a pleasure to have you here Queen Rosa," father bowed to which the Queen replied, "The honour is ours. Such a beautiful palace you have."

Father turned towards Henry and smiled. "And there's my son!" He patted the shoulder of Henry to which he smiled back awkwardly by gaping open his mouth.

"Ah-ah ye-yes," he stuttered. My brows creased and my reaction was caught by the Queen.

"He's little nervous," she patted Henry's back. "Aren't you my Prince?"

Henry nodded back shaking his head up and down violently. What was the matter with him? Was he even normal?

"So without further ado, shall we begin?" father asked King Frederick to which he replied with a subtle nod.

Tables were set and we sat at our respective seats, my father on my right and Henry to my left. I kept glancing at the weird Prince and hoped he had some brains to understand my situation.

During the dinner, the family ate it peacefully with a few jokes being cracked from time to time. I kept glancing around the hall and a couple of times caught Catherine staring back at me, but each time I moved my gaze away. But the third time, she caught my attention.

She pointed at Henry with her index finger, her eyes enlarging as she brought the finger next to her temple and made clockwise circles. What? Why was she gesturing him as mad?

"Jane," father brought me to focus on him. "Would you like to spend some time with Henry?"

I was overjoyed. This was the moment I had been anticipating! Yes, now was my chance to talk about my feelings with Henry.

"Yes father I would-"

"Is that necessary?" Queen Rosa intercepted. "I don't think there's any requirement-"

"Rosa," King Frederick said, "I think it's better if they have some conversation together."

I watched the King Frederick glare at Queen Rosa as if trying to convey something. Nevertheless, my intentions would get communicated. Maybe this nightmare could finally come to an end.

------------------

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" I asked Henry.

We were in my garden where several fireflies flew in the peaceful ambience of the night. The birds were nowhere to be seen while insects buzzed from all across the garden. To my surprise, Prince Henry began pursuing a firefly as it moved around with the Prince in its toes like a toddler.

I rubbed my eyes. Was this for real?

"Prince Henry?" I called out to him as he ran everywhere behind the firefly, but to no avail. He clapped his hands in joy as he tried catching the firefly.

Steve had been watching the same from a distance and when I turned to look at him, his face displayed the expression of utter dismay. What was I supposed to do now? This Prince had nothing more than a nut in his skull. How could I marry this person?

Tears rolled down my cheek as I began contemplating about my future. Would my father pay heed to the truth about Henry? Or what if...what if he already knew about it?

A sudden pat on my shoulder startled me as I turned to face none other than Catherine. She looked at me with sympathy and wiped my tears by her palm.

"This is what I was warning you about," she spoke, pointing towards the childish Prince who was now seated on the ground and had piqued a sudden interest in a caterpillar.

"What should I do now?" I cried. "I cannot marry someone brainless!"

Catherine wondered. "Why not speak of it to your father?"

"How thoughtful!" a voice exclaimed.

We turned to see Queen Rosa walk up to us with an angry stare. She turned towards Catherine and said, "You dare not speak anything about our family matter. It does not concern you, Princess."

"Oh sure it does," Catherine backfired. "Since I'm Jane's friend, hence it does concern me."

Rosa stepped closer to Catherine and pointed her index finger at her. "You have no idea whom you're-"

"Oh, sure I do!" Catherine snapped her fingers and pushed the Queen's finger aside. "You're nothing but a cunning and wicked Queen who wants an innocent daughter-in-law for your mad son!"

"Please, can the two of you stop?" I yelled. "I never asked either of your opinions, did I?" Turning to Catherine I said, "Thank you for taking my side, but I can handle the situation." Next, I faced the Queen, "And for your information, I have no interest in marrying your son. Not just your son, but any other son of any other mother. I'm only interested in their daughters."

Word Count: 1542 Words