Arrival

Days have passed since Prince Eric and Wendy last spoke. Eric was heartbroken to hear that Wendy had been a mistress and had taken from the Richard guy as well. She was not at home or at the bar when he tried to reach her to hear her side of the tale. Eric eventually consented to marry the Banerian princess after being pressured by his father and the things Wendy had done to him.

"Have heard a lot of nice things about the Banerian princess, they claim she has a goddess like beauty that stands out among other girls in Baneria," Adela started to describe the Baneria princess's beauty, but she stopped when she saw Eric's face.

"What is wrong, sweetheart?"

"Nothing," Eric falsely claimed, feigning a smile to please his mother.

Leaving his clothing in the box, she urged him, "You know you can tell me anything," and brought a chair so she could sit close to him and observe what kept them warm and the fire dancing around the fireplace.

Staring down at his hands, Eric started to cry as he spoke, "It is just that..., I believed Wendy loved me the same way I loved her, I still do not want to think.. that our love was all a game."

"You know one thing about life is that it offers you a lesson you never expect, but instead of crying and becoming upset all day, you simply need to learn from it," Adela said, stroking his shoulder.

"What if this princess is not good enough? What if I never fall in love with her? I have no idea how she appears,"

She attempted to persuade her son, "I wish I knew this princess well, but we can not judge until we see and study her, as for love, it will come later," before embracing him.

***

'CLIk'

'CLIk'

"Do not let the enemies see your fear; it will be used against you," Charles combat couch advised, thrusting his wooden sword in a rapid pace that made it difficult for Charles to keep up with. The trainer eventually smacked him in the arm, forcing the swords to fly away.

"You too slow, faster...," He demanded, as the enraged Charles quickly picked up his sword and pushed forward at him. He tried his hardest to contact his teacher with his sword, but after several minutes of effort, his master slapped him in the hand, and his weapon plummeted to the ground once more.

"That was weak and awful of you; I expect more from you in our next session," he yelled at Charles as he exited the training site.

"Do not listen to what he is saying, I feel you performed well." Zara, who had been observing them from the corner, suddenly spoke up; she had always wanted to join the training, but her father insisted that it was not appropriate for a princess.

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up, I know what I did sis," he muttered, angryly placing the swords back to their place, suddenly Zara run towards the swords he had placed and dispersed them.

"What is wrong with you...?

"I challenge you to a duel, Charles," she said, pulling a wooden sword from its sheath and waving it at him. "What are you afraid of?" she continued.

"I am warning you now, I will not treat you like a sister," Charles boasted with a sneaky grin, removing his light wooden sword from its sheath and pointed it at Zara as well.

"Let us see about that mighty warrior Charles," she dared, smiling knowingly.

"Clik'

'CLIK'

"Surrender or suffer the consequences," Zara shouted, getting onto the cart full of Hay to confront him because he was moving too fast.

"Never," he said, leaping on top of the second carriage full of Hay to continue. He finally knocked Zara down, tossing her sword out of her grasp as he rapidly leveled his own at her before she could react.

"yeah, yeah, I know, I sure...ren...der," Zara sighed, refusing his hand of assistance and rising on her own.

"I told you I was the greatest," he smirked, returning his blade to its sheath.

"No, I told you so," Zara said, slapping him on the shoulder, as Charles' smile became wilder.

"Thank heavens I discovered you both, you should be ready the Endorias will come soon, and you are not yet dressed, for God sake you are a princess,"

"blah, blah," Zara imitated her mother's response, as she and her brother laughed.

"I'm sorry," Zara said after seeing the way her mother was frowning at her.

"That is more like it; now hurry up and get ready; the Endoria Royals will be here soon."

"Come here, Charles, you too must prepare," she urged, catching Charles by his collar before he could flee.

But I do not wish to... Charles' whining did not deter his mother, who hauled him out her.

"I will have the maid bring your dress to you; make sure you are not late," she told Zara as she dragged Charles off.

***

A gaggle of servants and Eugene assisted her in putting on a peach ball gown that flowed elegantly on the ground.

"Do I really need to put on those things?" Zara questioned, staring at the quantity of beauty items they were taking from their bag and placing on top of the table.

"The king advised us to beautify his daughter to the best of our abilities," one of the maids informed her as they set her down and began applying cosmetics. She was a little concerned when they applied her eyes, but she was overjoyed when they were done.

"How do I look?" Zara questioned Eugene, whirling around to view everywhere.

"You look so graceful, my lady, and the dress suits you just great," she said, approaching Zara to arrange the hand of her dress.

"I hope I am not too overdressed, I do not want the Endorias prince to think that it is because of him," she said, wrinkling her face in disgust, which made Eugene laugh, she went to the mirror to take a look at herself, her face widen with shock after she saw how different she looked, her golden brown hair and eye fitted her dress perfectly, her nose was dainty, and she had angel white gap teeth that she did not like revealing to others but since she loves smiling, people will still smile.

"no, I think you'll be the most beautiful princess they'll ever see tonight," Eugene praised causing Zara to smile more

"Thanks," Zara told her while admiring herself in the mirror, the click on the door interrupted her as she turn to see her mother,

"There is my beauty, my morning sunshine, oh... Thank heavens for blessing me with such a beauty," Catherine praised her daughter, patting her by the head but avoiding her makeup or jewelry's.