Judith Hopps was only one year younger than the oldest of the Hopps Royal family. Although that didn't change the fact that even then, her younger siblings, had already settled down and wed. Some days, a spark of jealousy ignited in her bright amethyst eyes as she watched how happy it made her other brothers and sisters, but it quickly extinguished when she realised that in fact, it wasn't what she really wanted.

Skip forward one more year, and that mentality of hers never faltered. She was still happily content at being single and 'free', as she liked to see it. Although, that of course, could change.

Judith was in her quarters when she heard the trumpets fill the outside air with as much noise as they could accumulate. Perking her ears, she gazed down to the courtyard below, from her window that overlooked the front of the castle. She spotted the carriage coming through the gates, and further noticed her parents and her only older sister.
'What is going on?' she wondered curiously. Very few things happened in the Burrows that were exciting, so anytime anything did..

She loved it.

She was an ambitious soul. She was. But what stepped out of the carriage was NOT what she was expecting in the slightest. Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched the red bushy tail stride up to her sister, kneel down in front of her, and take her paw in his, lightly kissing it. Judith's eyes were like saucers, as she couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
Making sure she looked somewhat decent in her casual gown, she bolted out of her room, and downstairs toward the front gates.

"Mother?" she exclaimed, upon arriving, slightly panting as she regained her composure.

"Not now Judith" she whispered, as she continued to smile at their guest with her sister.

Her sister.. with a fox?

"Mother what in the world is going on?" Her mother turned her head to shoot daggers at the princess, signalling her to keep quiet.

"Judith this is important. Please not now" she snapped.

Her ears drooped. They never drooped. Never in her 24 years had her mother scolded her. Worried, sure, especially with what had happened when she was much younger, but never angry.

"Oh okay.. Excuse my intrusion mother" she mumbled. Before she could turn to leave, she caught the glance of the fox. Looking back at her, he let a small smile form on his muzzle, causing Judith to blush in response, before running back inside.

They were getting married.

Word had gotten around the kingdom that her sister were to be wed to the fox in the coming week, as to ensure a civil partnership between their clan and that of the Fox Imperials. She couldn't believe it. Interspecies relationships where unheard of.. a fox and a bunny? Even more so.

"Father?" she said softly, pacing next to the King. He turned toward her and gave her his humblest smile.

"Ah Judith, my dear! Have you heard the news?" he exclaimed, giving his favourite daughter an embrace.

"Yes actually about that.." she muttered. "Why is Lilith going through with this? Didn't she.. what happened to Danial ?"

Danial had been Lilith's.. lover. She had been sure at least, so coming to the conclusion that her sister left him, aggravated her slightly.

"Judith.." he sighed sadly, "You know as well as I do, a princess' duty is to come first. Your sister.. Lilith agreed to go through with this. No matter how difficult it has been for her, she's made this family very proud"

She pulled away slightly to look him in the eye. " But father do you really believe that she's happy marrying a mammal that isn't even her own species, let alone someone she does not love?" she insisted. She searched his brown eyes for a reaction. And found one.. This was her mother's doing. Her father didn't like this either.

"I'm sorry .. I'm just worried about Lily.. " she murmured, looking down, and feeling a warm paw settle on her cheek.

"Don't be Jude. Your sister's a strong bun. This is just to ensure peace, and you and I both know that's all we've ever wanted, including Lilith" he ensured. " Now come. We have the engagement dinner in an hour. Hurry along and get ready!" he smiled, a genuine smile for the first time since this whole ordeal began.

"Me? But father-"

" I would love for you to be there with us Jude, and I'm quite certain Lilith would appreciate your support too." Strong grey arms pulled the King into a tight embrace, squeezing the air out of his lungs.

"Oh thank you father!" she exclaimed happily, before letting go and running off to prepare herself, missing her father's smile falter slightly.

Later that evening, the four royals strode into the Grand Hall, the younger of the four, falling slightly behind. Although it may have been seen as a sign of respect for King and Queen of the Burrows, the reality was that Lilith appeared slightly agitated, and Judith saw right through her poor attempt at an emotional mask.

"Hey.. are you feeling okay Lily?" she asked her sister, her paw resting on Lilith's arm, only to have it moved away almost instantly.

"As good as you can be after finding out you're marrying your natural enemy. " she replied nonchalantly.

" Lily!" she hissed taken aback. Judith frowned as her sister proceeded to quicken her pace, having Judy fall behind even more.

"Announcing, King Stu and Queen Bonnie of the Burrows!" the announcer introduced. " Accompanying them this evening, Princess Judith Laverne Hopps" Judy winced at the mention of her middle name. She curtsied as her parents nodded respectfully.

"And welcoming the guest of honours for this evening, Princess Lilith Hopps and Prince Nicholas Wilde." He finished, as her sister stepped up onto the throne, along with the fox. Judith had to admit for a fox.. he was..

Handsome.

So much so, that she found she couldn't stop herself staring at his emerald eyes, as he greeted the guests below him in a respectful manner. She averted her eyes flustered though, when he met her gaze, and smirked, albeit looking slightly uncomfortable. He turned his stare back toward the hoard of guests, mostly bunnies, until him and her sister retreated back down to everyone's level, and toward the King and Queen. Feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught staring inappropriately, she hesitantly joined her family.

"Oh Nicholas, we're so glad you could make it earlier than expected! It was such a wonderful surprise" her mother said joyfully. Yep. Definitely her mother's idea. She could just imagine how against the idea her father would have been.

"Oh it's no trouble at all your Majesty. I'm just happy to finally be meeting my future wife in person." He said coolly, glancing down at the bunny beside him, causing her to look down and frown uncomfortably. Slowly looking up from her, he noticed the other princess was standing next to her father, a slight blush on her cheeks. His weight shifted onto one foot and the fox cleared his throat.

"Ah, and you must be ?" he enquired, holding out his paw curtly.

"Judith. Second eldest." She stammered awkwardly, curtsying and ignoring his out struck paw. He lowered it slowly and raised an eyebrow at her response.

Out of all the things she should have been thinking at that moment, strangely handsome should NOT have been at the top of that list. He was a fox. A fox soon to be married to her sister for carrots sake! Shaking the thought out of her head, she looked back up at him, and he nodded in response to her gesture. A small smile appeared on his muzzle before her parents, mother, swung back into conversation with the Prince and their daughter, averting his gaze back toward them.

Judith could not stop staring, and every so often, Nicholas would glance her way and smirk ever so slightly, acknowledging that he knew she was looking, which led to her looking away again flustered.

The night ended fairly quickly, the guests returning to their homes, and royalty retiring back to their quarters. Judy strolled into her room, a somber look upon her pretty face, and shuffled her way onto her balcony for fresh air. She let out an exasperated sigh.

" Oh what in the world is wrong with me.. " she groaned aloud, " What the heck am I thinking?"

"My my, that is no language for a princess now is it?" a voice teased from above her. Her ears shot up, and she frantically looked around to find the owner of the voice that startled her.

"Calm down princess. If you're looking for me, I'm afraid you can't see me.. I'm above your room it seems" he chuckled. Although she indeed couldn't see him, she felt she recognized his voice.

"Prince Wilde?" she stammered. Oh if it had been him, she would have no idea how to explain herself.

"Oh no, no, I'm simply one of the guests staying at the palace for the night" he explained, a playful tone in his voice. She breathed another sigh, this time of relief.

" I must say though, I feel quite honoured you'd think I was the Prince"

"Har har," she joked, giggling. "Excuse my assumption, but you sounded an awful lot like him."

"Oh it's not a problem at all my Princess. Don't fret yourself" he assured.

The two chatted for almost a whole other hour, both enjoying one another's company. Judy talking about what she been doing in her studies, albeit keeping to herself the real reason she was studying, and him chatting about a funny event that had happened to him in his younger years.

"I'm sorry, this is rather rude of me" she started, recovering from a joke that he jested. "But I didn't quite get your name?"

"Oh my, that is quite rude of you." He teased. "My name's Nick."

"Nick?" she questioned curiously. Surely he isn't..

"Oh don't be alarmed Princess. I assure you that it's merely a coincidence. Yes, quite amusing." He barked, chuckling.

"Ah yes.. quite"

Silence ensued, and for a second, Judith was almost certain the stranger had gone back inside. " May I ask what's troubling you?" he inquired.

"Excuse me?" she replied stunned, relatively thankful that he was still there.

"Forgive my assumption, but I do recall you sounding glum" he teased. Her ears immediately lowered, burning red as she failed to conceal her embarrassment. She thanked the heavens nobody could actually see her in that moment.
'What is wrong with me today?'

"Oh that.." she managed, "It was nothing.. just a long day, rest assured."

"Oh but surely you mentioned you had something on your mind Princess?" he smiled, unbeknownst to the bunny.

"Why frankly, I don't believe that has anything to do with you" she stated, quite uncomfortable with being asked such a question from a stranger. "Excuse me anyway, I must retire for the evening." She informed, looking up at nothing but stone.

"Ah of course, my Princess. It is indeed getting late.. I should probably turn in too" he replied, stifling a yawn.

"Thank you."

His ears stood, but slowly relaxed as a smile found its way on his muzzle.
"What for?" he asked.

"For keeping me company.. I realise it is such a late hour.. But I appreciate it very much" she admitted sheepishly. "It gets quite lonely.." It was meant to be just a whisper, but it was loud enough for his ears to just catch it.

"Lonely? Princess, isn't your family the one with 275 sons and daughters?" he jested, "Or am I thinking of another Royal bunny family?"

"Hah" she chortled. "Yes well being 24 years old, the oldest behind me is 19 years of age, so they aren't very easy to relate to.."

"Ah such a shame. Being the second eldest must be difficult" he remembered.

"How did you know that?" He froze. Did he just blow his facade?

"Know what, my Princess?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"That I'm the second eldest. I'm almost certain I did not mention that to you" she replied suspiciously. Her face turned bright red only now coming to realise who she might have been speaking to.

"Oh just a guess Judith. I must be off now, it's a big day tomorrow!"

Her face yet again turned bright red upon hearing he also knew her name. She of course, could have been any number of the Hopps Princess', and she certainly didn't recall giving out her name.

"O..okay. Sleep well" she squeaked. He was the Prince, she was sure. Or rather, she was almost sure..

"Sweet dreams Princess"