Welcoming party

Nobles and well-respected people from all across Endoria and Baneria Kingdom crowded the massive ballroom. They were all wearing their finest ball gowns and suits, some of them were dancing, some were chatting, and some were stuffing their bellies.

In her romance tale, the prince was the epitome of love at first sight, and she had butterflies just by gazing at him.

When Eugene said, "You know you have been looking at him for a while," Zara choked on the wine she was sipping.

"Eugene...,"

She took a handkerchief out of her pocket to dab at the stain on the Zara dress and apologized, saying, "Sorry, lovely lady. I did not intend to shock you."

"No need...," Zara answered, knowing that the stain would not go away right away and not wanting Eugene to handle it like a serious situation. "I thought you were my mother," she whispered, wiping it with her palm as if the stain would go, which caused Eugene to laugh.

Eugene pointed to Queen Catherine and Queen Adela, who were standing there laughing at a joke that one of them had just made. "She been chatting to Queen Adela for a long," he said.

As her mother used to remark, "She presumably trying to build a relationship," to emphasize the importance of forming allies.

With a sigh, Eugene said, "I guess she just wants to study them and see if they will be good to you." Her smile widened as she noticed Prince Eric glancing at Zara; he quickly turned away when he noticed he had been caught.

Zara pondered, "I guess you are not the only one experiencing butterflies." How did Eugene know she was experiencing butterflies?, "I believe Prince Eric has something for you as well," Eugene said in a low voice while grinning broadly. "I noticed him looking at you,"

Zara countered, "There is a chance he was simply staring at something behind me and you thought it was me."

With a flattened lip, Eugene shrugged and said, "Then he probably has a bad eyesight," while Zara stared at her in disbelief.

...

Prince Eric could not help but notice Zara's stunning appearance in her peach-colored ball gown. "She is not prettier than Wendy," he tried to tell himself, he quickly turned his head away when the Zara maid caught him because he did not want to give the impression that he was falling for her. At that moment, he noticed his father approaching him while holding a cup of wine.

King Luther addressed his son, who was wearing a straight, unconcerned look, "Does she fit your interest yet?"

As the father turned to look at him, he retorted grumpily, "not yet, father."

With a suspicious glance at his son, King Luther asked, "I hope you know how vital this marriage is to both of the nations."

"I know father," he said, fed up with his father constantly reminding him,

"All well, then try to be pleasant. You can approach her and get to know her; your true love just broke up with you."

When he noticed that Eric was not moving, he added, "Now," maintaining a straight face.

In order to avoid his father's constant pestering, Eric approached the princess.

Eugene muttered to Zara in a squeaky voice, "I guess his coming over here," while squeezing her hand so tightly, Zara's heartbeat matched Prince Eric's gait.

"How will I respond if he approaches?"

The response from Eugene, "I do not know," made Zara wish her mother was by her side since she always knew what to do.

Eugene muttered, "Just be yourself," and walked out before Zara could stop her.

"Oh..hi I didn't see you coming,"

"I, Prince Eric of Endoria, would like to dance with you," he said, bowing his head low. Zara wondered if he truly meant it because of the deep frown on his face. "Perhaps that is just his natural expression," she thought to herself, then raised her right hands and said, "I, Princess Zara of Baneria, accept your dance offer."

Eric's violent yank to the dance floor startled Princess Zara, who has heard stories about violent men and is hoping Eric is not one since she can not handle it.

When the music stopped playing, Eric and Zara stopped. "We need to talk," Eric said, and Zara agreed before following him out of the hallway.

Catherine and Adela watched them both depart the Hall, and Catherine exclaimed to Adela, "Are not they just perfect together?" with a big, crazy smile.

In addition to being pleased about their love affair, Adela responded, "They sure is, look how cute they are, is sure is a love at first sight." She was even happier that her son had finally moved on from that bar singer.

Catherine said, "Why do not we follow them and hear what they are going to say to each other?" as Adela held her in amazement before she could move.

"Maybe we should just leave them, they are not little kids anymore, they can sort things out alone," she suggested, pulling her along to the crowd .

Wondering what Prince Eric might say to her, Zara leaned against the wall and asked, "So...,why did you bring me here?"

"I... wanted us to tell each other things clearly,"

"Things like what?"

After a period of silence, he said, "About our marriage," and then, "Why did you chose to get married?"

She responded quickly, anxious to find out where this discussion was going. "I did it for the Kingdom, if I do not accept it the guilt would go on the Banerians,"

"You know... Our marriage is not love; it is just an alliance. I already have someone else in my heart,"

Zara asked herself, with a troubled expression, "Looks like he is trying to inform me that he will be cheating on me."

"I am also doing this for my Kingdom," he replied, although he knew he was lying because he would not have accepted it if Wendy had not abandoned him. "Do not worry, though; you will be well taken care of in Endoria."

"Why you cheat," Zara argued, glaring at Eric with wide-open eyes and tight fists. "I will be well taken care of while you go off cheating with your mistress?" She continued with a chuckle.

"You will understand how hurt I am being coerced into a marriage if you have someone you love,"

Zara reprimanded him, saying, "You are not the only one forced into this marriage, I too was pushed into the marriage, and if I knew that I am getting married to an idiot, I would have thought twice before consenting. She walked off leaving Eric alone.