A/N: Hello hello hello! Thank you all so much for choosing to read my first fanfic story! The characters belong to Jane Austen but for this story, they are very different from P&P. So if that's not for your liking, sorry and I hope you find what you're looking for! Please remember this is my first time not being the reader so I'll try my best to entertain you all. I'm excited to begin this journey with all of you and can't wait to see where it takes us!

Also bonus points to readers who know what this story title is a reference to!

Don't forget to review!

Chapter One

The best things in life are the things you never expect, such as a chance encounter that will change the course of your life or an act of kindness from a stranger. One of these enjoyable surprises is not, however, what woke Prince Darcy from his slumber. Rather it was a large rock in the road that shook the carriage and threw its sleeping passengers around.

Looking to his cousin, Darcy saw that his dear cousin was more fortunate than he and remained asleep. Richard was more of a brother than a cousin to Darcy, and thus it was predictable when Darcy moved the curtain away from the window and let the bright sunlight ruin the colonel's sleep.

"Agh," hissed Richard when he awoke. As he adjusted himself into a more proper sitting position Richard gave Darcy an accusatory look. "You did that on purpose." Darcy shrugged with smile.

"Perhaps I just wanted to observe the passing scenery. It's quite beautiful out here away from the palace." He said. Richard's glare never left his face.

"What kind of man wakes another man up from his sleep? His glorious, wonderful, much deserved sleep!" He yelled, only causing Darcy to laugh. Richard was right, both men had earned their rest from traveling abroad for the past season. Their journey went well, however their mission was less successful. The task of finding a future queen and wife for the prince had turned out to be more complicated than expected, what with Darcy looking for love instead of more wealth.

"Wake me once we actually reach the palace and not a moment sooner!" Richard yelled and then faces the other side of the carriage. Darcy rolled his eyes at his cousin's remarks and then stared off into the rolling hills of his beloved kingdom of Derbyshire to reflect on the impending trials. It's not that Darcy wanted to find love immediately, but in order for him to be crowned as the rightful King, he must have a queen at his side. He sighed as he remembered the hundreds of princesses and ladies paraded around him during the journey, who looked at Darcy and saw a wealthy prince instead of a man. He just wanted a woman who loved him for him, which was apparently no one in all of Britain!

Trying to distract himself from his failures, Darcy focused on the surroundings. The carriage had finally approach the outskirts of the palace and currently made its way through the marketplace. As he observed the ordinary people, he felt the creeping feeling of envy. Envious of their freedom. Envious of their lack of rules and regulation. Envious of their love for one another. Envious of-

Dacry's mental rant was interrupted by the carriage coming to a sudden halt, rattling both passengers once again. Richard, impressively, remained asleep. Another thing for Darcy to envy, peace. Normal citizens had a least a bit of peace in their lives while Darcy never had a break after the death of his parents when the throne and its responsibilities were thrusted upon him. Some days he would try to recall his life before it and the joy of freedom he felt, but the thought always evaded him.

A loud, feminine laugh stopped Darcy's internal monologue. But not just any laugh, one full of happiness and bliss. Darcy quickly searched the marketplace for its owner and saw her standing near a fruit stand. She was with another girl who would have been considered more of a classical beauty, but the blonde woman was ignored entirely as Darcy became mesmerized by the laughing woman. Her chocolate brown hair was tied with a simple ribbon, an elegant way to showcase her face full of joy. Oh, how he wished to see her up close. He thought that maybe someone who lets the world know her feelings would be able to help with his mess of emotions. As if she could hear his wishes, the girl turned towards the carriage and Darcy squirted to see her eyes, those expressive eyes he longed to see. One look could be enough if he could just be a little closer to-

The carriage shook as it began to move again and the girl was lost from Darcy's sight. He didn't know if he would ever have the pleasure of seeing her again, but he knew with certainty that her laugh would never leave him.

A/N: And I bet you all know who that mystery woman is! Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for the next chapter!