Chapter 1

It has been nearly almost two years since Derek and Genevieve got married, Ashlyn, Blair, Delia had all gotten married. Ashlyn and her husband have two children a girl named Emily and a boy named Adam and of course the girl is the oldest. Blair is currently pregnant with her first child, in two months she will become a mother. Then there's Delia, they don't have children yet, but there trying to have one let's hope she gets her wish. Of course, they each live with husband in their kingdom, while Genevieve, Derek, Courtney, Edline, Fallon, Hadley, and Isla, along with the triplets live in the palace with their father.

Since Genevieve's father named her and Derek the future kings they are to stay there till the king retires, and in the meantime Derek gets his future king lessons. One afternoon Genevieve was with her father playing chess but not just with any board it was her favorite, the special thing about it was that her mother Queen Isabella had given her the chess board for her tenth birthday. Since her mother saw that she loves the game very much and was very good at it she got her daughter one, to this day she still uses it. It's was also the last gift she got from her mother when she passed away a few weeks after her eleventh birthday. "Perfect" said Genevieve as she moved her elbow across the board, "check."

Her father dramatically moaned, she giggled her father has always been like that and acted huffy when she did well in chess, even when she's a grown woman with a husband. "I certainly didn't see that coming!" exclaimed the king. Genevieve watched her father stare at the board, his blond hair already had some with inside it and his blue eyes most that resemble of herself. Her father's eyebrows knitted together for a second, but his face lit up and he moved one of the ivory pieces. Genevieve smiled to herself and planned her next move, her husband Derek and she have been chosen by her father to take over the kingdom of Glidonia, when her father could no longer rule.

Derek was currently taking his political lessons, as a princess Genevieve was never trained to rule since she thought she'd just married off to some king. Derek's training was supposed to last for six years and then the king would hand his country over, Genevieve and Derek had only been wed for three years so it would only be in a short amount of time before he would be king. The match continued, and in the end, she won again as always. "Your mother use to beat me every time we played," said her father, staring fondly at the board. "You certainly are her daughter; I don't know where she got her brains but I know you got them from her." "Mother was a scholar," Genevieve reminded him with a little smile, "she was intelligent because she read."

"Derek is doing quite well in his studies," said king Randolph jovially. "I'd thought you'd be happy to hear it, put a crown on his head and no one would have ever guessed he was never born a prince. He will be a wonderful ruler, as well as a wonderful husband, in fact he already is." Genevieve smiled back, her fathers had always concerned himself mainly on her happiness. The older she got the more she realized her happiness was placed even before the kingdom's needs, the only time he'd put other before the princesses was when he called upon the help of his cousin Duchess Rowena, that decision had almost killed him, back then Genevieve had been so naive. She didn't expect the Duchess until it was very clear she meant her father harm, the older she got the crueler she learned the world was.

"Papa, I know you always expected me to marry royalty," Genevieve said shifting uncomfortably in her seat, as she smoothed her long pink dress with her white hands. "I always wanted you to be happy and I got it," said her father. "Papa if you allowed me to marry the man I love, then why are you making Courtney marry the prince of Thraas? She doesn't love him, why not let her marry someone who makes her happy." The king thought for a moment and frowned, Genevieve could tell immediately her father never expected the conversation to head this way. "Your sisters are happy in the marriages I have arranged for them," he said "Yes papa, I know" she began.

"And your mother and I were in an arranged marriage of course your mother was against it from the very beginning, but I was in love the moment I set eyes on her. Who's to say I won't be the same for your sister or for the rest of them as well." "But prince Levi isn't anything like Courtney," Genevieve said "How do you know? Courtney has never expressed love for a man, and she's ready for marriage, besides king Laurent is a dear friend of mine. We've wanted to join our houses for a while, and now that there's an opportunity why turn my back now. I can assure you prince Levi will make Courtney happy, if I wasn't sure of it I wouldn't be arranging the marriage." Genevieve bit her lip, her father had been correct so far with some of her sister's marriages, but there was something about this arrangement that made her feel so uneasy.

Her elder sister Ashlyn now twenty-five years old, was the mother of two children the first one was a daughter of almost two years old and a son who'd been only born two months ago, She and her husband are very happy; he wasn't a king but a high ranking lord his name was Atticus Reed. Her next sister Blair had wed a prince whose father was still alive, though the moment he passed he'd taken the throne, her husband's name is Dante. The two hadn't had any children yet though Blair was pregnant with her first, she is due less than three months, again it's another happy marriage.

The next in line would have been Courtney, but when Edmund had arrived to take her hand, things changed drastically when instead he fell in love with Delia. Sensing the two's romantic involvement Courtney had begged her father to allow Edmund to wed Delia, the two had no children together but Genevieve knew they were trying. Then there was Genevieve who married the cobbler who assisted her in saving her father's kingdom from Rowena. At the time, she was overcome by love, but sometimes she wonders if she'd made the right choice, she loves him dearly and could never see herself with another man.

But the day her father named him heir the weight of reality made itself at home in her stomach always. "You are absolutely certain he will make her happy?" she asked. "Of course, I am my princess, I promise you that Courtney will be protected and loved by Laurent's son. You know someday I know you'll be an excellent mother, like the way you care for your sisters I know you'll care the same for your children." She found herself smiling as her head was looking down at the floor, but then she put her head up to reach her father's face. "Thanks papa, do you know when prince Levi arrives?" Genevieve asked. "This evening, at eight o'clock, did you want to know that so you could be late for the meeting." "Oh, ha-ha, funny papa," Genevieve said dryly "Where's Courtney? How's she preparing for this?" "She's been getting ready since this afternoon, she's been washed, given a new dress, her hair is currently being made up for his arrival. She's very nervous as you can imagine but I believe she's very excited, I'm excited for her too, I know she will have a wonderful wedding just like you and your sisters did."

"Yes, I'm sure." Genevieve smiled. Her father rose from his seat and told her that he had to prepare for the arrival of the prince, he excused himself and walked out of the room. Once he was gone Genevieve let out a low sigh and got to her feet as well, she wished her mother would have lived longer to teach her the ways of war. She didn't think she'd ever need to know about it, but ever since she knew I'd be her and her husband would be the ones to rule Glindonia she wanted to be prepared. She put away the check-board game and went to go see if Derek was finished with his lessons, arriving she waited by door for him to come out. "Genevieve!" he said as he exited the room where the lessons where held, he swept into her embrace and slightly kissed her on the lips. "How were the lessons?" asked Genevieve.

"Nearly perfect they would have been better if you were there." she couldn't help the grin that spread along her face, she knew very well that she was also blushing, Derek was always trying to say these things to her. How are your shoes? I've notice you've been on your feet quite a lot this past week and they are beginning to ware do you need new ones?" "No" she said immediately. "Derek you're not a cobbler anymore your about to be a king that life is behind you know." He sighed and his brown eyes sparkled, she loves him more than anything else in the world, except for his father a sister, the love she had for Derek was different something special she feels. "It's hard, all, right? He confessed. "I've lived my whole life as a shoe cobbler, I just want to make you happy and make you the most comfortable wife in the kingdom is all." Her gaze softened, and she kissed him gently on the lips, "As long as I'm with you I will always be happy" said Genevieve. "Come on we should get going, the prince of Thraas is arriving soon and as future rulers of Glidonia, we need to be there to make an impression." The two wrapped their hands to one another and headed for the entrance hall of the castle, as they walked Genevieve caught a glimpse of Courtney coming out of one of the rooms. Though Courtney looked stunning Genevieve could recognize a hint of panic in her face, please let her be okay, please let prince Levi be her one true love thought Genevieve. Genevieve and Derek took their places behind her father and suddenly, the grand horn was blown, announcing the arrival of prince Levi.