A/N: So Reign, best show on right now, am I right? Love the show, love the clothes. This story starts before Mary arrives...but she will arrive soon!

Disclaimer: I own nothing that CW already has claim to.

Chapter 1

"Do you remember the plan daughter?" Duke Bertram de Bargas asked her.

Adelia looked from the window to her father. "What plan?" She had already heard it hundred times.

Not picking up on her sarcasm her father sighed. "You are going to the French court for a reason. It is not to hang out and make friends. We have a plan."

Adelia laughed. "Yes, I am there to win Prince Francis's heart before Mary shows up. Got it." She shook her head and went back to looking out the window.

Bertram looked to his wife, Sabrina, next to him. "What are we going to do with her?"

"We are going to make her a princess." Sabrina smiled at her only daughter.

It wasn't long after they arrived at the castle of the King and Queen of France. Adelia had grown up in castles but this one was bigger than any she had seen before. She tried to keep her awe in check so the servants helping her out of the carriage wouldn't see.

They were not greeted out front but they were supposed to present themselves that night. Adelia was going to stay at the French court for some time under the guise of learning French customs to bring back to the Spanish court. Her father had other plans.

She could have fit two of her room back home into the room she got at this castle. Her serving maids drew her a bath and laid out her clothes for the evening on the bed. Adelia sank gladly into the steaming hot tub, soaking her bronzed skin and black hair before scrubbing both with the soap provided. A serving girl helped her out of the tub and into a robe. She sat in front of a mirror as the girl worked with her hair.

Adelia gazed back at herself from the looking glass. She had the look of typical Spanish nobility; black hair and tanned skin with sharp, beautiful features. Her only oddity was her eyes. Not only where they green but in the sun you could make out flecks of gold hidden within them. They were her favorite, most interesting feature.

After her long hair was twisted half up and half down and adorned with golden feathers, two more maids came in to help her get into her dress. The corset top was blue with golden embroidering, worn over a sheer blue top that covered her neck and arms. The skirt was long from her waist to the floor and crinkled when she moved. It had a sheen over it so when she moved a certain way in the light you could see a gold sheen over the blue. Her father had it specially made for this evening.

She was sent down the hallway toward the reception room. She was told her parents would be there waiting. The hallway was large, open, and quiet. The clicks of her heels were the only sound, echoing up and down the hallway. She stopped to look out a window. The rolling green grass and sparkling lake had caught her eye. She longed to be on her horse, riding out among the fields. She had no stomach for the royal political games her parents wanted her to play.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A male voice said from her left.

Adelia jumped at his unexpected appearance, looking over to find a tall boy, no man, standing next to her. He looked to be her age, maybe a bit older. He had brown hair that almost fell into his eyes and the lightest green eyes she had ever seen. He was smiling in a friendly way and she found herself smiling back. He had a handsome face.

"It is, it reminds me of home." Adelia replied, looking back out the window.

"And where is that?" he asked.

"Spain. A castle I'm sure you've never heard of in the middle of the country."

"Ah. So you are one of new nobility come to court. I was on my way to your introduction ceremony."

She looked at him again. "So you are nobility as well then?"

He looked down at his shoes. "Not exactly. But you will see me around at court. I do live within the castle."

She looked at him more carefully. He was in brown leather from head to toe but his tunic had gold embroidery that made it impossible for her to believe he was a servant. He held himself with grace that told her he was used to being served and getting his way. How could he not be a noble?

He continued to speak. "I hope you will have a good time here. Is there anything particular you like to do?" He offered his arm to escort her the rest of the way down the hall.

She took his arm gently, enjoying the soft leather of his tunic on her skin. She allowed him to lead her down the hall. "My favorite thing to do is go riding. My horse, Calisto, has come with me. I hope to go riding every chance I get."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Most noble girls don't pick riding as their first favorite thing to do."

She grinned up at him. "I am not most girls" she teased.

They reached the door to the reception room too soon. Adelia was enjoying her conversation with this gentleman way too much. He dropped her arm when they reached the huge double doors.

"I'll see you inside. I shouldn't be escorting you into the room. It might send the wrong message." He told her.

She nodded. "I look forward to seeing you again."

"Maybe we can go riding sometime," he smiled, stepping back away from her as the guards pushed open the doors.

She was just realizing she didn't know his name when she was overwhelmed by what was in the reception room. The room was enormous, the ceiling more than two stories up, vaulted, and lit by two dozen dazzling chandeliers. There was a pathway down the center, from the door to the dual thrones on a stepped up platform. Either side of door was filled with people in brightly colored clothes, shining and sparkling with jewels and heavily embroidered clothes. They all turned to stare at her when she walked in. Adelia was frozen in place for a moment, scared with all the eyes on her. After her hesitation she started forward, walking down the cleared isle until she saw her parents. They were at the front of the crowd on her left, beaming at her as she made her way down.

Her mother took her hand and pulled her in close. Adelia was still trying to take it all in. The king was a large, well built man with a permanently scowling face. His crown was set perfectly on his head and he sat as though he didn't have time for what was about to happen. His wife was calmer, at least appearance wise. Her red hair was pulled up off her neck and her eyes scanned the crowds shrewdly. Adelia felt the queen's gaze fall on her and stay there a few minutes before moving on. She wondered what the woman was trying to assess.

Adelia saw a few chairs off to the side of the front thrones. There were three smaller chairs, lesser thrones, that were placed there. An older woman was dark hair sat in the one closest to the king. She looked bored with everything and didn't look around to meet anyone's eyes. The middle seat was empty and in the third seat sat a boy about her age with blond curls and a dashing smile. That had to be Francis.

It was only a moment later when a man in extravagant clothing stepped forward to begin the proceedings. Apparently there were three girls and one boy that were coming to the French court this day and all four were to be presented to the king and queen. As the man explained where each one came from she saw the man she had met in the hallway sneak in a back entrance. He quietly made his way to the small throne between Francis and the dark haired lady. When he sat he caught Adelia's eye and gave her a small smile and wave. Then he turned his attention back to the announcer.

The first person to be presented was a girl named Ashlyn from Italy. She was younger than Adelia by at least three years and not very attractive. She was very shy in her purple dress, staring at the ground as her father introduced her to the king and queen. Her blond hair fell only to her shoulders in curls that frizzed out from her head. When her father was done talking about her she gave a quick curtsey and rushed back to stand by her mother. The girl definitely needed the socialization that court life could give her.

The next to be introduced was the boy. He was from the Ottoman Empire and at court with similar purpose as Adelia herself. He was here to learn French court ways. The boy was only eleven or twelve, with skin darker than her own and short black hair. He was dressed in a peculiar style that wasn't in fashion in the European states. The king looked at the boy closely as though he had more interest in him than in any other person in the room. After his introduction the boy said a few words of gratitude before shuffling back to his spot near Adelia.

Her father was next. Bertram puffed up his chest, looking grand in his navy and gold outfit. He bowed low before the king and queen before he spoke. "You excellencies, I am Duke Bertram de Bargas of Spain, brother to the Queen of Spain. I am here to present my daughter, Lady Adelia de Bargas, favorite niece to the King of Spain. As he has no daughters of his own he does spoil her and treat her as if he would his own daughter. She is favored in the Spanish court. She has come to you to be educated in the ways of the French court so that she will be a better wife to any noble that is lucky enough to take her as a wife. I am entrusting the light of my life, the light of the Spanish monarchy's life, to your esteemed care."

That was Adelia's cue to step forward and curtsey and she did, meeting the king's eyes until her knee touched the ground. "Thank you, your excellencies, for sharing your home, your court, and your customs with me." She rose and met the king's eyes again. She did not want to be seen as a shy wallflower.

"King William and I have discussed this arrangement." The king's voice boomed into the room. It was the first time he spoke, startling everyone. "It is part of a peace negotiation. I am aware of your status and favor with the royal house." The king paused before finishing in a neutral tone. "You are welcome here."

Adelia couldn't help it. She sneaked a look off to the side, off where the three smaller thrones were. Where Francis sat, along with her friend from the hallway. Both boys were looking at her with interest. She caught the faintest smile from mister green eyes before she looked away. She was dismissed back to her spot at the front of the crowd.

The last girl presented was from Austria. Her name was Zoe, she was the same age as Adelia, and she came from a higher nobility house. Her blond hair was mostly up in braids and Adelia could see she was very pretty. The girl wore a dress spun in mostly gold and she shined under the chandeliers. She smiled at the king and queen and openly smiled at Francis as well. She was not presented by her parents but by an uncle familiar within the French court. The king did not deem it worthy to say anything to her.

And as suddenly as it started, it was over. The introductions were done and they were being dismissed to the dining hall for dinner. A din of chatter quickly rose, making it difficult for Adelia to hear what her father was trying to say to her. He took her hand and led her toward the hall, her mother close behind.

The dining hall was full by the time they reached it. The king and queen sat at a table high above the rest of the court. Francis was at the king's right side followed by her friend from the hallway and then the dark haired lady that had sat next to him. Next to the queen sat two little boys, one with dark hair and one with fair hair. The queen leaned away to talk to the boys. The king leaned away to talk to Francis. She could immediately tell that the marriage was not founded in love.

Her family's table was close to the king's table. "Father," she asked as they began eating. "Who is that next to the king?"

"Prince Francis sits at the right hand of the king." Her father said. Francis was cute in a boyish way but she was already caught up in young man sitting next to him. She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"What about the others?" She tried to ask casually.

Her father glanced up at the table before looking back at his food. "His bastard son, Sebastian. He is most favored by the king despite his heritage. Sebastian's mother sits beside him."

Adelia looked at her father in alarm. "Mistresses and bastard sons live and walk among the court?" She hadn't heard of that in Spain. She had been raised in a world that told her bastards were not to associate with nobility.

Her father looked embarrassed. "It happens. Even at Spanish court. It is just not always widely talked about."

Adelia looked back at Sebastian with new eyes. He did have his father's jaw line and long, straight nose. He seemed to be friends with Francis. She supposed if the prince had no ill will against him she shouldn't either. She was here, after all, to learn about French court. And to win Francis's heart.

As she looked up again at Francis and Sebastian she felt herself drawn to Sebastian's green eyes. He caught her stare and smiled at her, causing her to blush and look away. A new thought occurred to her: she had never imagined in all their planning that it might not be Francis's heart she would wish to win.

A/N: So what do you think? Continue? And who else thinks Bash's eyes are totally dreamy?