The Last Night

Somehow, the day had gone by too fast, and Maria was not ready for it to end knowing what tomorrow brought.

Even though she had only eaten a few crumbs at breakfast, by the time dinner rolled around, she still wasn't hungry.

Nevertheless, she knew she had to join everyone in the dining room once the sun set.

Maria waited until it was too dark to continue drawing, and she reentered her room and placed her drawing materials upon her table before she made her way over to join everyone.

For the first time this week, she was not the last one to join for dinner.

She entered the dining hall and saw that just her father and Jason were present, so she took advantage of the opportunity since she had been wanting to talk to her father after his big announcement at breakfast.

She stormed right over to him and asked, "Why would you do that to me with no warning? You couldn't give me the chance to talk to Arthur first, myself?"

The King stared at his daughter sternly before he sighed and asked her, "And would you have spoken to him about marrying him? Or would you instead have challenged me and tried to convince me to let you go without a husband after Henri left? Hmm?"

Maria stiffened, knowing that her father was right, before he continued, "My child, I know you think you don't like Arthur, but trust me. I am your father, and a wise King, and I can see things that you might not be able to see yet for what they truly are".

"It's not that she doesn't like him," Jason interjected from behind their father.

Maria shot him a warning glare, but it was too late because now their father was intrigued.

"So you do have feelings for the boy? I knew it!" he shouted with a strong laugh, "You see, child, it all worked out in the end. I'm even more confident in my choice of Arthur after spending time with him discussing our countries after breakfast. Between your kind nature and his authority, you both will be great rulers. Now enough of this, let's enjoy your last night with us, shall we?"

Before Maria could say anything in return, her mother entered, giggling, with one French prince on each side of her.

She held each of their arms and both men were smiling as if they had all just heard the world's best joke.

"Be careful now, boys, she's taken," the King laughed as he held a hand out for his wife to join him.

She smiled at each of the princes before she dropped their arms and walked over to give her husband a kiss on the cheek; she had never been one to shy away from affectionate moments with her husband in public, even though they were the King and Queen and had an image to uphold.

They were the perfect representation of true love, and Maria felt her heart ache knowing that she could have had that had she not been so stupid and rash.

Her logical brain really had gotten in the way of her happy future.

When the kitchen staff entered with their dinner, everyone went to take a seat at the table.

Julien sat next to the Queen and continued whatever conversation they had been having before they joined everyone, and Arthur sat down next to Maria.

Maria felt the magnetic pull yank her heart towards him, but she still felt shame and couldn't bring herself to look at Arthur.

"I'm sorry that I made you upset earlier," he softly said as he leaned in towards her so that his words could remain private to them.

There wasn't even a fleck of sarcasm in his voice.

Maria felt her stomach tighten in a bundle of nerves, but she found the strength to turn to look at him so that she could tell him, "I deserved it after everything I've put you through. I meant it when I said I was sorry for everything, truly".

Arthur's face softened slightly and Maria noticed that this was the first time he had been more himself while among everyone.

He was not wearing his typical passive expression, and he was letting his true emotions be seen by her.

He reached for her hand under the table, and held it gently for just a moment before he turned forward and let her hand go without a word.

Maybe her mother was right and he could learn to forgive her and love her again.

She would wait for Arthur for as long as it would take; after all, they would have a lifetime together as husband and wife.

Feeling slightly more at ease than before, Maria was able to eat some of the food in front of her.

"You must be excited to return to your home tomorrow," Maria said, feeling the need to talk to him.

He was right next to her, but she missed him; their dynamic had changed since the other night, there was no denying it.

What she wouldn't give to go back to how it was before, teasing and all.

"I am excited to go back. It'll be nice to sleep in my own bed again. You'll like it there," he replied with a courteous glance her way.

"In your bed?!" Maria asked with clear shock in her voice as she froze.

Arthur chuckled deeply and fully turned to face her, a smirk pulling at his lips, as he said, "I meant France, but I'm sure that you'd like my bed too".

Maria coughed to hide the gasp that her body involuntarily let escape, which only made Arthur chuckle more.

Maybe she could go without the teasing after all.

"Are you alright?" Jason asked from the other side of her.

"Of course," she replied.

Thankfully her brother didn't turn to look at her, or he would have seen just how red she had turned at Arthur's words.

"Don't worry, princess, you'll have your own room," Arthur said flatly.

"Oh."

Maria was slightly let down to find that out; 'Who am I?' she thought to herself upon the realization.

"Is that disappointment I heard in your voice?" He teased her.

Before she could answer, the entire palace staff entered and stole everyone's attention with the mass amount of desserts they carried in.

As if that display was not enough, behind them followed musicians playing beautiful upbeat, Greek music.