The State Dinner

Inga found her brother exactly where he was supposed to be, outside the doors to the dinner, waiting impatiently.

"You smell fine," she said as she stepped up next to him, "but let's see your fingers."

"Yes, I cleaned up!" he said, holding out his hands. His sister could see some dirt under his nails, but not a lot, and she knew that it would not be worth sending him back at this point.

"So, what were you doing out there?"

"Just climbing in the loft over the stables. That's it. When you found us, anyway…"

She glared at him, realizing that, yes, he was as tall as she was now. They were eye to eye. Across the room, she noticed the young man she had spoken with earlier… Lars was his name, she remembered. She waved to catch his attention. He came over.

"Good evening, Your Highness," he said, glancing over at the cluster of older men on the other side of the room.

"Oh, yes, hi, Mr. Nilsen," she said, realizing that he would, of course, need to be formal, just in case. "I don't believe you've met my brother, Frederick. Frederick, this is Lars Nilsen, from Corona."

Frederick looked over, realizing that his sister was talking about him. "Me? Oh, hey," he said, extending his hand a second or two later when he remembered that was expected if they weren't bowing.

"I've heard of you, of course," said Lars, shaking his hand. The young prince was nearly his height, and he had never thought of himself as short, "you two look much more alike than you do in the portrait," he said.

"That's not something I'm used to hearing," laughed Inga, "but maybe Freddie needs a haircut."

"I got it cut last month," he protested. "Anyhow, Mr. Nilsen, are you the one with the horse? Father said he was going to introduce me to someone with a horse…"

"I… have a horse," Lars said, "but I don't believe I've been introduced to your father, yet. I think I met the castle steward when I was in the stables, though."

"You probably did meet him, then," laughed Frederick, "but here he is, now, so we can make sure you do."

Lars turned around, recognizing the man from the portrait.

"Oh, good," said Kristoff as he approached, "you two have already met!"

"Papa," said Inga, "have you met Mr. Nilsen?"

"Your Highness," said Lars, feeling a twist in his stomach and hoping this was, in fact, their introduction.

"Yes, we've met," he laughed.

"We… have?" Lars stammered.

"Oh, Papa, you really shouldn't play games with people," said Inga.

"It was my mistake entirely, I forgot to introduce myself."

"I'm terribly sorry, I should have asked. I didn't realize that I would be meeting anyone so soon…"

"Well, here we are," said Frederick, "and you've met us now, and they're letting us in to eat, and I'm starving!"

Kai then signaled for attention. Inga had to poke Frederick back to attention after their father had been called in, and then it was her turn to enter the dining hall. As she sat down, she noted which countries had sent actual princes, and which ambassadors were in attendance. Despite her father's assurances that there were no plans of any negotiations involving herself, she did try to pay attention for any foreign princes who didn't look too old, or too short, just in case it would benefit anyone.

After all the ambassadors had entered, she saw the young man they had been talking to, and made eye contact, remembering to smile. She generally didn't bother. She had heard the maids saying how it was important to smile if a young lady wanted to be attractive, but she already knew it didn't really matter for herself.

Once she had eaten the first few courses, she was able to relax a bit. Perhaps she wasn't as hungry as Fred, but she hadn't exactly had a big lunch, either. Her mother was right, too, at least this was only a dinner. She always got praised by their dancing instructors, and she had enjoyed dancing when she was younger, but in the last few years, she started realizing that, as far as she was concerned, all her dancing partners, aside from her father and brothers, were sizing her up, hoping to gain her maiden hand for some grand duke or other, back in their home country.

She kept up with whatever conversation was expected of her with the men next to her and across from her at the table. This time, none of them had brought wives or daughters. Sometimes when they did, it was a relief, but sometimes all they wanted to discuss was hinting at which brother or uncle of theirs was being pushed at her, or worse, hinting that they were looking at her brother as a potential match.

She didn't need to talk about serious subjects all the time, and she would be more than happy to discuss the pony they liked to ride or the lovely fabric they found for their new dress. But it always came down to the young men they had either recently married, or were soon to marry, or were actively being courted by. And she was 16 now, and they would tell her all about the other princesses who were engaged by that time.

During a break in the conversation, Inga noticed her brother walking to the balcony. She excused herself to follow him. She would not be stuck inside if he was allowed to leave. She saw him making his way to the roof.

"I caught you!"

"Fine, then join me," he said, "you know I'm not trying to get away from you, and it's nice sunset."

"Not in this dress, I won't. We can see the sunset from here. Besides, they won't bother coming this way, the ones I was talking to didn't have any princes or dukes to introduce me to this time. And I didn't see any young ladies, so you're perfectly safe."

He slid back down.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're joking, right?" She asked incredulously.

Frederick stared blankly at her.

"They're all looking to marry you. It's rather simple."

He wrinkled his nose.

"I wouldn't worry, they won't make you do anything right away, they just want to secure you before you agree to anyone else."

"Now you're the one who's joking."

"Well, that's what all those people in there are thinking. Except Papa. And I'm pretty sure Mama thinks the same as him. So you don't need to worry."

"Well, thank goodness," he said moving closer to her, "And I'd miss you if you left. Marry someone here instead."

She gave him a half hug, as much as her skirt would allow without going flying up toward the room behind them.

"That's sweet of you, but I don't have any ideas, yet. I promise you I won't keep it a secret. I always hoped I might be lucky like Mama."

"That... didn't seem very lucky…" he said elbowing her gently.

"Oh… I was thinking of Mama and Papa… but, see, that's all the more reason for me to avoid any of them in there."

"Fine, then, we'll both avoid them this evening."

"Who are you two avoiding?" Lars asked, stepping outside. Inga and Fred both turned around with a start.

"Oh! It's just you!" Fred exclaimed.

"You can join us out here, if you like," said Inga more calmly, "but I hope you didn't hear too much of what we were saying."

"Well, just as a warning, I was sent out here by the ambassador to find you, and he's going to want to invite you to the coronation of the prince and princess of Corona."

"Oh, and he's the perfect age for me, isn't he?" Inga sighed, "but I know you're not supposed to say as much."

"Officially, you're being invited because your parents are unlikely to travel in the next few months."

"Couldn't they decide for themselves who to send as a substitute?" Fred interrupted.

Lars shrugged, "that's outside my authority, you know."

"I suppose I should go back in, then," Inga sighed.

The ambassador from Corona was standing in a corner of the room with two other ambassadors she vaguely remembered seeing before. She stood quietly a short distance away, wondering how long their conversation would continue. The names of people and locations could have been changed around, and everything they were saying would be equally meaningless.

One of the men noticed her standing near them, and all three abruptly cut off their conversation and turned to bow.

"Your Excellencies," she replied, "I understand that His Excellency from Corona wishes to speak to me?"

"Your Royal Highness," began Mr. Meyer, "if you would permit me, we wish to extend an invitation to the coronation of His Royal Highness, Prince of Corona, to be held in two months time."

"Your Excellency," Inga began, pausing to think of the best response, "I had understood that His Royal Highness has a twin sister? Will she not have a coronation, as well?"

"Oh, yes, but of course. It will be on the same day, in fact."

"Am I not to be invited to the coronation of Her Royal Highness?"

"Well, yes, you are, obviously, invited to both."

"Thank you, then why not say so? As it is, I don't believe I am old enough to be traveling unescorted. And, I believe, my parents should be asked first?"

"Ah, of course, Your Royal Highness, that is quite true."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, I will await their instructions."

Inga returned to the balcony as quickly as she could gracefully manage. Her brother and Lars were having an animated discussion, it would seem. The sun was making its slow summer journey toward the horizon, always looking like it would soon be dark, and never quite getting there.

"Oh, good, Inga, you're back," said Fred enthusiastically, "was it what you were afraid of?"

"I shouldn't say anything," she said, glancing at Lars.

"I'm sorry, if you'd rather I left," Lars began.

"Well, I suppose you don't have to tell anyone this, but your ambassador made it sound like your prince doesn't have a twin sister."

"Um, I'm sorry?" Lars asked in some confusion.

"I think she's saying that they want her to marry Prince… what's his name? And what about me? There is a princess, and she's not that much older than me, and I know I was saying I don't like it, but a trip would be fun…"

"Fred…"

The two glared at each other as Lars stood, unsure of what he should be doing.

"I'm sorry, we really shouldn't be speculating about this around you," Inga apologized.

"That's… that's quite all right. I knew there would be occasional marriage negotiations, but I really thought they would be at least a bit more…"

"Subtle?" Inga suggested.

"Romantic…" Fred blurted out. Inga gave him another look.

"You know that's what you're really thinking."

"At any rate, I told the ambassador I'm too young to travel alone and that he'll need to ask my parents first."

"And, if he had asked your parents first?" Lars asked.

"Well, he didn't. I have as much or as little decision making power as I want, when it suits me."

"To be honest," Lars said in almost a whisper, looking around the inside, "that was absolutely not what the ambassador was instructed to tell you."

"What do you mean?" Inga asked.

"Just before we left Corona to travel here, I accompanied him to his audience with the royal family. The princess, I mean the mother, of course, expressed regret that your mother would not be able to attend the coronation, and had hoped that she could finally meet some of her children. I'm quite certain she didn't mean it the way the ambassador told you."

"I didn't know that she knew them," said Fred.

"Everyone knows everyone at some point, I suppose," said Inga.

"Oh, well, she and her husband were here twenty-one years ago, and stayed for a few months. I guess they liked the place in spite of things."

"I had no idea," said Inga, "I hope this doesn't sound rude, but our mother has never mentioned that."

"Perhaps she was referring to your aunt, then?"

"I don't know…" Inga said as she tried to think.

"Well, quite a lot was going on then," Fred offered, "so maybe they were just too well-behaved to be remembered."

"Perhaps you're right. And, of course, they all send nothing but politely flattering messages to each other," he paused, "no offence to you two!"

"None taken," Inga said. Noticing the sun had finally set, she looked inside. "Should we see if they've served dessert?"

"Ow!" Fred shouted as his dash inside was stopped by his sister's grip on his wrist.

"I should probably check in with His Excellency," said Lars, "but, Frederick, I do hope to take you up on the offer to ride around the countryside."

"Have a good evening," said Inga.

"Now can we get dessert?" Fred asked when Lars was inside. His sister nodded and went on in.