Chapter 13: make her smile..

Prince Henry, determined to make Sophia smile, launched into a series of antics. He began by doing a little jig, his feet tapping out a lively rhythm on the stone floor. He spun around, his cloak flying out behind him, and struck a pose, his arm extended dramatically.

Sophia's expression remained neutral, but Prince Henry was undeterred. He pulled out a small flute from his pocket and began to play a lively tune. He danced around the field, the flute trilling out a jaunty melody.

As Prince Henry danced, he started to get a bit carried away. He tripped over his own feet and stumbled, the flute flying out of his hands. Sophia's expression changed slightly, and she gave Prince Henry a small, polite smile.

Encouraged, Prince Henry scrambled to his feet and launched into a poem. He had written it himself, and he was determined to make it a masterpiece. The poem was a bit of a disaster, with rhymes that didn't quite work and a meter that was a bit off. But Prince Henry delivered it with such enthusiasm and sincerity that Sophia found herself smiling again.

As Prince Henry finished his poem, he bowed low, his face flushed with excitement. Sophia applauded politely, her smile still lingering on her lips. It wasn't a ringing endorsement, but Prince Henry was thrilled. He had made the princess smile, and that was all that mattered.

The tournament marshal called out the next prince, "Prince Julian, please come forward!" Prince Julian strode confidently onto the field, his piercing blue eyes locked on Sophia. He was known for his charming smile and his ability to think on his feet.

Prince Julian began by telling a witty joke, one that had the crowd chuckling. Sophia smiled politely, but Prince Julian could tell she wasn't entirely won over. Undeterred, he launched into a clever magic trick, producing a bouquet of flowers out of thin air.

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but laugh. Prince Julian grinned, feeling a sense of triumph. He had made the princess laugh, and that was a definite step in the right direction.

But just as Prince Julian was about to finish his trick, disaster struck. One of the flowers slipped from his hand and landed in a nearby mud pit, splattering mud everywhere. The crowd gasped in shock, and Sophia's laughter turned to giggles.

Prince Julian's face turned bright red as he scrambled to recover from the mishap. But to his surprise, Sophia's giggles turned to genuine laughter, and she applauded enthusiastically. Prince Julian grinned, feeling a sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, he had a chance with the princess after all.