Once upon a time there lived a lonely, bitter, little prince. His name was Eridan Ampora, and he was very unhappy with his current situation. The Princess who he had come to have loved was too be married to another and he was to be left alone in his bitterness. The last week he had kept himself locked inside of his library, distracting his broken heart with texts of military conquests and tales of past times.
On the twelfth day of his personal confinement, he father came in with an announcement. "Son, I dear say this melancholy is too much. You no longer need despair, for I have found you a lovely lass, sure to fit your fancy."
"I will never love another. My heart belongs to Lady Peixes and it belongs to her alone."
"But unmanly grief has befallen you my son. A man's heart can hold the affection of many ladies. I dare say my boy, at your age I had several ladies at my beck and call; one for every day of the week." He gave a hardy laugh and gave Eridan a hard slap on the back.
"Just leave me alone." Eridan muttered and he flinched away from his father. But Sir Ampora would have nothing of the sort. He wrapped an arm around his son and gave him a wide smile.
"I'm tellin you son, this one is a real looker, and her mother isn't bad either. I am telling you when you are goin for a gal, look at her mother. If your gonna marry her, now what you're gettin into before you commit."
Eridan moved away from his father in a huff and continued to look over his book. He grunted when his father pulled him back.
"Look son, I am tired of seeing you locked up in this blasted room all day. You are an Ampora! You have a lady killer reputation to keep up. Now I am not saying you need to marry the girl but at least give her the time of day. Get your face out of those books and out into the world." He gave his son another slap on the back, and Eridan yelped this time.
"Alright, I will see the girl, but may I please finishing reading this now?" he asked while giving his father and exasperated look.
"Fine but tomorrow I better see you in some decent robes. Lady Serket will be here around high noon, and I don't need you bein late."
Eridan waved his father away as he went back to his book.
Waking up the next morning was positively dreadful in Eridan's opinion. He was forced to rise early and prepare for the Lady Serket, who was scheduled to arrive in several hours' time. Several servants were assigned to dress him.
"Why must I be woken up so early? I would easily be able to ready myself with time to spare to finish up some records I was reviewing last night, even I woke up in two more hours."
"Well, milord, your father wishes that you look your finest when meeting, uh, lady serket." said the boy who was pulling the tunic over eridan's head.
"Pish posh, my father cares not if I look well, he is just upset that I am not living up to the Ampora reputation."
"Well that might be true, but we were ordered to do this, tho huthh up." Another boy pulled the strings on his boots tightly. A bit too tight for Eridan's liking.
"Nobody was askin' you Sol. And by God, will you loosen these things up. My feet are going numb." He gave the boy a light kick in the ribs and ran his hand through his own hair. He was in store for a rather terrible day already; he didn't need Sollux to make it worse.
"Geez, grouchy aren't we ED?" a comment that earned Sollux another jab in the ribs. Sollux chuckled but loosened the laces of the boots.
"I doubt I will even like her. She isn't even of royal decent. She is the daughter or a rather poor lord." Eridan shuddered at the thought.
"Maybe she will have a winning personality." offered the other boy.
"Who cares? No one shall be as charming and witty as my darlin' Feferi."
"Are you thtill dwelling on her? It has been almost a fortnight thince the propothal of her marriage. Get over it already."
"She was the love of my life sol. Not that you would understand."
Sollux scuffed him off and instead worked on finishing dressing the prince.
After an hour or so more of grooming he was on his way to the dining hall to grab some breakfast before he snuck off to the safety of the library. At least until he was to entertain the unwanted guest. Unfortunately the young prince was captured by his father, and was forced to eat breakfast with him.
"Now, don't you look handsome? You most defiantly inherited my dashing good looks. Good luck this afternoon, you're going to have her crawling all over you." A hardy chuckled was met with a disgruntled glare.
Breakfast on Eridan's end was mostly silent except for the few grunts and dismissive replies. His father rambled on, re-telling stories of times before he met you mother and all the kingdom's ladies were draping themselves over him. Eridan had heard these stories many times, and tuned out most of what his father was saying.
Before long, Eridan was allowed to leave the table and retire to his library for the remainder of the morning. Eridan found himself swimming in tales of mighty sea battles between his grandfather and the kingdom's enemies. All too soon for him though, Sollux came and fetched him, telling him he had better get his lazy butt up and go welcome his guest. Begrudgingly Eridan followed Sollux to the sun room where he was to greet the girl.
After Sollux brought him there he was about to leave but Eridan stopped him.
"Sol, I will give you soooo much gold if you can get me out of this. Tell my father the food at breakfast was bad and I have fallen ill." Eridan wasn't a man who begged much, but this was a matter of what seemed like life or death.
"Get a grip on yourthself. Thhe's just a girl, thhe ithn't gonna bite. When thith is all over, you can go back to wallowing in thelf-pity." Sollux, rolled his eyes and walked away from Eridan. Eridan pouted and slumped into his chair.
After what seemed like an eternity the doors to the sun room where opened and a boy walked in with a lady dressed in a gown of a rather vibrant blue.
"The Lady Serket, milord." the boy said before bowing and leaving the room.
The girl smirked but gave a proper curtsey before making her way over to the young prince.
prince was in awe, she was most certainly handsome, and had a rather dashing gown on despite her family's funds. It was rather full in the skirt but it accentuated her tiny figure, her family crest was embroidered on her left bosom.
"Good day milord, I am Lady Serket." Her voice held a slight edge which Eridan picked up rather quickly.
"No need to be proper here, I honestly could care less. I would much rather be spending my time in my increasing my knowledge of the realm." He really didn't care to admit how striking this women was. She sharp blue eyes were almost as stunning as Feferi's, and she almost matched her in beauty as well.
"Fine, whatever pleases your majesty." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm as she seated herself on a chair opposite Eridan's. Eridan, a bit taken back, gave her a well-deserved eye roll and sat up a little bit in his chair.
The girl crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. She idly played with her hair as Eridan contemplated what to say next to her.
After an extended silence Eridan dared to speak up. "So what's your first name?"
"Bit forward aren't we? My, my, my little prince wouldn't you like to know." She had a wicked grin on her face. Eridan felt a bit flustered at her unlady like behavior.
"That's why I was askin." He responded after a moment.
"Well, if you MUST know it is Vriska."
"Fine, VRISKA, why are you here today?"
"Why do you think? My mother sent me here to make good with the prince in hopes that he will sweep me off my feet and give my family more lands. Why else would I be here to visit the melodramatic prince of the realm?"
Eridan noticed that she spoke a lot with her hands and put a lot of emphasis on many of her words. He found it indescribably annoying.
"Afraid that isn't gonna happen Vris, I have been in your company less than an hour and I am already sick you." Eridan sighed and leaned back into his chair. By god did he wish this visit would end already.
"We share the same sentiments then. You aren't exactly making my time here enjoyable. Thought princes were supposed to be charming, not sniveling little boys who stay cooped up for weeks on end."
"I could have you arrested you know. Insultin the prince, by god do you lack any tack?" asked Eridan a bit flustered, no one spoke to him in such a distasteful manner. Not even the jerk with the lisp.
"But you won't. I'm far too interesting. "
"Confident aren't we?"
"Of course, I'm a Serket."
The two went back in forth for a while before a stuart came in with some tea and the two straightened up. They ushered the man away after he placed the tea on the table between the them. They talked and drank tea the rest of the afternoon. Without meaning too Eridan found himself thinking fondly of the girl. Much to his discontent he found himself admiring her brash and somewhat over dramatic behavior.
When the sun was beginning to lower in the sky, the two were interrupted by a young maid. She alerted the two of the time and told them that their respective families wished to dine with them. Both left the room, their conversation not ceasing. Their conversation was currently debating who was to win the upcoming joust. Their conversation lingered until entering the dining room, where at once they both fell silent.
Vriska's mother and Eridan's father were waiting for the two at the dinner table, eagerly waiting to hear what had conspired between the two. Vriska was able to carefully direct the conversation to other matters, while Eridan kept quiet and picked at his meal.
Eventually, much to Eridan's great relief dinner had finally come to a close and it was time to bid goodnight to the lady. With Eridan's father watching him from the doorway he properly kissed Vriska's hand and wished her a good night. She smiled but her eyes betrayed her, as they shown with knowing it was a show for his father. She said her good nights and went to her temporary chambers for the evening.
Eridan's father pestered him for details but he was brushed aside as Eridan made his way to his bedroom.
