Sorry for taking so long to update this. I am in my final semester of school as well as working and things got a tad bit crazy for a little bit. Hope you like this next chapter.
Robin followed his father down the path that would lead them to the manor. He wore his typical black leather pants and jacket over a v cut black cotton shirt. Around his neck was his usual feathers as well as his red scarf. He had tried to tame his curls but in the end had given up and used his trusty bowler hat to help contain them. Behind him he heard the other boys of the De Noir clan that was closer in age to his princess. Looking back at the other boys Robin yet again pushed down the anger at them coming along. Among them was his own band of friends Alex, Jacob, and Marcus, he didn't mind them coming along Maria considered them her friends and they considered her part of their pack and like him didn't want to lose that friendship they had gained with her. Robin grumbled again at his father's decision to bring them but he could do nothing and he continued to play the conversation he had had with his father when he had gotten back the De Noir castle.
Robin entered the castle to the yells and shouts of his friends.
"OIY ROBIN! WHERES THE PRINCESS?!"
Robin looked up at castle walls with a grin to see them hanging over the ramparts grinning like fools.
"She's getting ready for her birthday party you fools"
Shaking his head he continued walking knowing they would catch up with him soon enough. Sure enough he heard their boots pounding on the ground coming towards him as an arm wrapped around his neck in a playful chokehold. "So why did you keep Maria away from the castle this morning huh Robin?" Marcus said as he tightened his hold on Robin but not enough to actually cause any harm.
"Robin just wants to keep her to himself. Don't you Robin?" teased Alex as the rest of his friends laughed and Robin felt his face turn red.
"Shut it Alex and you too Marcus" with the ease of practice Robin flipped Marcus over his head onto the ground.
"Oh come on Robin we have to give you a hard time I mean what are friends for" Jacob eased up next to him smiling like a fool .
Robin shook his head again with a grin and knew it was true. "Shouldn't you guys be getting ready for her birthday anyways? Unless you want to feel the wrath of the Princess?
All of his friends laughed at that as they rubbed one of their shins. Ever since Maria had pretty much joined their group they had all been at the receiving end of one of her shin bruising kicks.
"Yea we were just waiting on you before we went..." Jacobs pause and the uncertainty in his voice had Robin turning to look at him.
"What's wrong ?" Robin looked at all his friends seeing them all looking hesitant.
"Welllll... Your father has called a meeting of all the De Noir boys around Maria's age and we don't know why. We were actually on our way to look for you when you got back"
Robin looked at all his friends feeling concerned as they all nodded and headed off to the Great Hall where his father would be waiting.
The chamber held the other two boys that was close to the same age as his Princess. Robin glared at one of the boys in dislike. Colin was the same age as Maria and had already gained a reputation when it came to the girls in the De Noir clan. He was rough and wasn't very good at taking no for an answer when he saw something he wanted. It was also rumored that he wanted to make Maria his next conquest so Robin and his friends had done everything in their power to keep Colin as far away from her as possible. Even though it was well known to girls in the De Noir clan of what he was like they seemed to still be drawn to his dirty blond hair and baby blue eyes. He had the typical look of any boy in the De Noir clan of dark clothes and a bit on the wild side but the girls seemed to be drawn to him.
Robin felt a low growl build in his throat as he saw Colin give them a cocky defiant look of superiority. Before he could decide if he was going to do anything about the look Couer De Noir walked into the great hall.
" ah good you're all here." Robin watched as his father went to stand in the middle of the hall feeling worried about what his father would want with them. Of course since they were on much better terms since Maria had saved the valley it had taken a few months before the original sting of both his children betraying him to see that it was better for the valley that they hadn't killed Maria. In fact he seemed to now approve of Maria slowly becoming an adopted member of the De Noir clan even going as far as teaching Maria the basics of falconry when she had shown an interest in the hunting birds that the clan kept.
" No doubt you want to know what is going on." Couer De Noir looked them over with a small nod "As most of you know today is the Moon Princess' birthday" Robin and his group nodded of course they knew that Maria had been an untamable ball of excitement when the whole last week about her birthday party. "As you also know it has been
a year since she saved the valley and our families became united by the marriage of Sir Benjamin and Loveday."
"Sir Benjamin and I have discussed the future of the valley and on multiple occasions and have come to a decision on how we hope to keep the peace between us permanent which is why I called you all here." Couer De Noir paused briefly as if to make sure he had all of their attention.
"Next year we want Maria to marry into the De Noir clan after she turns 15 so all of you will be attending her birthday party so she can begin to choose her future husband."
Robin and his friends stared at his father mouths open in shock. Maria marry one of them?
