Choices

Aliana snapped herself out of Lucien's entrancing gaze and looked around the ballroom. She had a blush flood over her cheeks, everyone was staring at her and Lucien.

"Looks like we have an audience," Lucien chuckled deeply in her ear. Aliana detached herself from him and gave him a curtsy.

"I look forward to that sparring match, Lucien," Aliana purred. Lucien's eyes became hooded and looked at Aliana with desire roaring through him. He cleared his throat and bowed to the princess before walking away.

The rest of the ball passed without incident and once Aliana had danced with all 14 men, she was exhausted. Prince Elric found her talking to Sir Galien and Pryja.

"Your highness, would you like to choose three to five men out of the fourteen you were presented with tonight to get to know better this week?" Prince Elric asked after bowing to Aliana.

"I have to choose now?" Aliana asked with a small huff. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed after a nice long bath to soak her tired feet.

"It was what your father instructed as fourteen men would be strenuous to know in a week," Prince Elric explained.

Aliana sighed and nodded. Prince Elric held his hand out to her to guide her to the center of the ballroom.

"Chosen gentlemen please make your way forward in front of the princess," Prince Elric announced loudly.

The fourteen men made their way forward until they were in a neat row in front of Aliana.

"The princess shall choose a few men she feels are worth getting to know better for the week before she makes her choice," Prince Elric continued. "Your Highness? It's time."

Aliana sighed and she stepped forward. "I appreciate all of you for dancing with me tonight and I wish I could get to know you all better, alas I have made my choices," She announced. "I pick Lord Samuel, Lord Alaric, and Lord Lucien to get better acquainted with for the week. I give my condolences to the rest of you and wish you all well."

The three men chosen smiled at their princess, eager for the week ahead but they knew only one would be chosen.

~~~

"Princess Aliana, would you and your three suitors follow me?" Prince Elric asked. "There is a special dessert planned for the four of you."

Aliana looked surprised but followed Prince Elric to a small but lavish dining room set with four places on the table.

"Use this time to work out how you want to use the week, Your Highness," Prince Elric explained as he held out a chair for her. "Enjoy."

Aliana sat down and Lucien settled across from her as Alaric sat next to him and Samuel sat next to her. Once Prince Elric left the room Aliana felt all eyes on her.

"We are yours to command Princess," Lucien said smoothly with a smirk.

Aliana blushed, she could order soldiers with ease but romantic ventures left her flustered and blushing.

"For starters, you may all call me Aliana if it is just us, I hate formalities with people I am to be close with," Aliana said confidently. "I would like to spend a day with each of you and then go from there if that is okay with you all."

Samuel and Alaric looked shocked at the Princess' informality while Lucien simply smiled like a cat that had cream.

"Who is first then, Pr- Aliana," Alaric stuttered over her title, and Aliana giggled.

"I think Samuel shall be first," Aliana said with a smile.

Samuel looked at her pleased and nodded. A knock at the door revealed two maids that held two covered platters in their hands. They set them on the table and revealed delicious-looking cakes topped with cream and fruits. The maids also had four glasses and poured champagne into each of them. They curtsied and left the room quickly.

The foursome ate their delicacies and talked over plans for the next week. It was decided that it would go Samuel, Alaric, then Lucien. After that, it would be a meal with each for every remaining day with one outing each day. That way they all had the same amount of time with the Princess.

"I hate to leave the pleasant company of you gentlemen but if I don't get to bed I will collapse," Aliana said with a yawn. "I will see you tomorrow, Lord Samuel." She bid the men goodnight and left the room.

Sir Galien and Sir Arthurus were waiting for her outside. They escorted her back to her rooms where a hot bath was waiting for her. Edith and Janie helped her out of her dress and into the tub. Aliana groaned in relaxation as she settled into the steaming bath.

Her maids took out Aliana's braided updo and undid the braids as Aliana soaked it was extremely soothing to have two pairs of hands playing with her hair. By the time they were done Aliana had fallen asleep in the bath.

"Your Highness," Edith whispered loudly to Aliana to try to wake her up.

The Princess' eyes snapped open and she looked startled.

"I need to go to bed," Aliana mumbled slightly shaken. She had never fallen asleep in the bath before. She dunked her head into the now lukewarm water and the maids washed and rinsed her hair quickly.

Edith helped Aliana out of the bath and handed her a linen towel. She dried off quickly and Edith helped her into a white nightgown.

Aliana yawned repeatedly getting into her four-poster bed, she fell asleep almost instantly when her head hit the fluffy pillows.