Fang's dark eyes lit up with a sort of lust. "Hey now, don't get hostile with me. I didn't put you in a dress." I reached out to smack him but a sudden grasp on my arm jerked me back.
"I know you didn't, I did." Nudge replied to Fang and released me, holding up a pair of pale pink flats. "These. Feet. Quickly. You can't be late."
I groaned, snatching up the shoes and slipping them on my gross feet. "Anyone going to tell me what's so important?" Nudge slipped back into the room and hung her head while fang pulled at the collar of his suit. "That's just fantastic, thanks." I crossed my arms, pouting reasonably. "Well, let's go then."
I stormed past Fang, making sure to bump into his shoulder. Over my shoulder I saw Nudge mouth sorry, but he just shrugged it off and hurried to catch up. He offered me his arm, which got him a good smack in the head.
"I can't believe you're not giving me a heads up on what I'm walking into! You're supposed to be my knight in shining armour, right?" I used my best peppy princess voice which made him chuckle again.
"Actually, that'd be me." A voice sounded from behind me, nearly giving me a heart attack. I whirled around to be caugh in an embrace.
It was the long, strawberry-blonde hair that made me realize who was attacking me. "Hey, Ig! It's been forever!"
Iggy was the son of a previous lord who had died in battle for the Queen, my mother. Afterwards, despite being my age, he was knighted and sent off to fight. Now every once in awhile he comes back to visit and give a debriefing to Queen Valencia.
"How's my little princess doing? You still prancing around in tiaras?" That was a mistake. He earned a nice elbow to the stomach for that one. "Kidding! Hey, Fangster, hows my main man?"
I watched as they embraced and Fang punched Iggy's shoulder. "Still following Max around, so same as four months ago." I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"Congrats on your big day, Princess." Fang hit his shoulder, saving me the trouble.
Iggy rubbed his arm, looking at me. I grumbled, crossing my arms. "No ones told me what today IS!"
"Oh..." Iggy rubbed the back of his neck before slinking away slowly. "I'll catch up with you two later!" He turned quickly, just narrowly avoiding a woman carrying a laundry basket.
"That kids as blind as a bat, yet his navigational skills," I was cut off, earning Fang a glare.
"Excel all of ours combined? I agree." He took my arm and led me towards the meeting hall.
His grasp was slightly harsh, and I tore my arm away in response. "What the hells your problem now?" I was rubbing my arm, that had visible red marks going horizontal where he pulled me.
Fang looked embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry Max, I don't know why I'm so eager to get you in and out of there." That comment made me nervous. I was about to open my mouth to ask once more what the hell I was going to, when he continued on. "Please, don't ask. It's nothing to stress about, and I'll be there the entire time."
Maybe I don't want you there, you traitor. I wanted to say it, but I know he would've told me if it didn't cost his job. So I shrugged and walked in the two large, ceiling to floor doors, seeing him reach out to me out of the corner of my eye.
I should've felt bad for Fang, he'd help if he could. But then again, there's that feeling of walking into iminent death that can change a person's mind in two seconds flat.
As I walked in, my mother rushed me with a big smile and a short embrace. "Princess Maximum, you have made it on time for your dear old mother. A princess, or queen, should never be late if they're the host.
Valencia went to go kiss my forehead, but I narrowly avoided. "What am I supposed to do here? I never get invited to these boring meetings."
Her mother cringed at her daughters' rudeness, but smiled nonetheless. Usually she would've eaten my head off for acting like this, why wasn't she...
That's when I realized the two people on the far side of the large table. One was short and plump, much like the dummy's I shoot for archery practice. The other was tall and skinny, or at least had a nice and healthy looking build for his size.
Valencia caught my eye and smiled brightly, and I quickly turned as I heard a loud creak behind me. It was just Fang, closing the door behind him as he entered.
"Servant, you are not needed in here for now. You are dismissed for the rest of the day." Mom waved her hand and pulled me back to reality to look at her. "He's quite a looker, isn't he? Of all the princesses, he chose you."
I was vaguely aware of what she said as I heard the creak of the doors opening and closing as Fang left, but I heard enough to make sense of it.
That didn't make any sense. "You mean Fang? What do you mean of all the princesses?" Wait, she said Fang picked me. Fang liked me, loved me even? My heart quickly accelerated, Fang...
Why was she scowling at me? My face, which I'm pretty sure I smiled right at that moment too, had fallen back into confusion.
"Not Fang, that inferior servant. Princess Maximum, there's someone who you need to be formally acquainted with." Mom jerked my arm and pulled me off towards the two strangers.
The short, plump one bowed in my presence, or was it to Valencia? "FInally, your highness. It's a great honor to meet you at last."
When I forgot to bow, my mother elbowed my side gently and unnoticeably. I stuttered, pulling my eyes away from the intense staredown I had been in. "The pleasures all mine," I mumbled as I curtsied.
"Princess Maximum, allow me to introduce me and my son. I am King Gunther Hagen." I nodded and smiled a toothless smile, clearly showing my distaste. I'd get hell for this later, seeing as I wasn't even looking at the King dude. My eyes were on his son. And his sons eyes were on me.
I could clearly see the smiled and pleasedness my mother and the King showed. It wasn't a very subtle message, even with me not paying attention.
He cleared his throat, forcing me to peel my eyes away from the boy. "My son can introduce himself, I hope, at this age."
His son rolled his eyes at his father, making me chuckle slightly. I covered my mouth, my mothers' cheeks reddening. That was "inappropriate," I know. It made the boy smile at least. HIs smile was dazzling.
"Princess," he said in a smooth voice, as he kneeled down and took my hand. "My name is Prince Dylan."
And with that he kissed my hand, giving me butterflies for the very first time ever.
