Micheal sat in the carriage staring aimlessly through space. He couldn't get that fiery creature out of his head. She had the most beautiful blond hair that matched her wild green eyes. He had never been so close to anyone before, or at least never had those feelings. After his mother died he drifted into another world where he felt unalone. His father was always away and before she died his mother had been his only source of inspiration towards life. She comforted him when he was sad and she smiled when he was happy. He loved it when she smiled..but now she was gone and Micheal learned to shut everyone out. That is until today when he looked upon the one that shall touch his heart and shatter his walls.

"Micheal?micheal?! Micheal!!" Tess snapped her fingers awakening him form his reverie.

"Yes dear sister?"he asked annoyed. Tess was nothing like her mother..their mother. She mostly resembled their father. She'd appear to be sweet and innocent on the outside, but inside she is hard and cold as steel. If you look deep enough into her blue eyes you'd see the coldness that lies within.

"Well excuse me! What is wrong with you Micheal?" Tess asked in a worried/annoyed tone.

Micheal shook his head"Nothing...now what were you saying?"

"I was asking you how the meeting went with the Queen and her daughter....what's her name? Mary-Marie?"

"It's Maria!" Micheal jumped to Maria defence. Tess looked at him quizzically.

"Micheal.....has Maria taken your fancy by any chance?"

"What?!no! absolutely not!" he replied angrily.'Why can't she leave me alone?' he thought with frustration.

"Well good because it wouldn't be good to have us both married to the same family" Tess laid back and smiled dreamily.

"Married? are you already planning your wedding with a prince you just met?"

"Well he loves me. I know it"

"How can you be so sure? he might have just been polite about you throwing yourself at him!" Micheal retorted.

Tess gasped and then glared at her brother " If you weren't my brother i would've snapped your neck right now"

" Well then now i feel sorry for him....Max is it?....." he said turning his head around signaling the end of the conversation. ' Hang on Max, you're in for a bumpy ride'.
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Liz simply stood in the middle of Maria's room and stared. It was very big with silverware, silk sheets and beautiful dresses decorating her open closet.

"This is your room?" she asked in amazement.

"Yep! I designed it myself!" Maria declared proudly with a wide smile on her lips. Maria looked towards Liz and saw the waver of hesitation flicker across her face for a moment.

" But please don't let it affect you......now i must dress you in a suitable dress, this is filthy" she pointed out and began rummaging through stacks of gowns. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

" Maria ? Darling?" Diane asked through the door.

Liz froze in horror and panick set in. That must be the Queen, since she called her Maria....'the Queen!!!!!! Oh dear me!'.

"Quick take this and go out that door, their's a storage room down the hall, go get dressed there and stay there, i'll come get you" Maria hissed as she threw Liz a dress and saw her scramble hurriedly through the door.

" Ah yes mother come in" Maria called out and Diane walked in smiling.

" I hope you had a good time in the city"

"oh i did mother it was wonderful"

"Well i just came to tell you that we will be having a dinner party tonight with Micheal and Tess, so i'm just telling you now so you'll have time to prepare yourself to look presentable........."

"To prince Micheal?" Maria finished her sentence.

"Oh dear.....i guess i am not as sneaky as i used to be" Diane laughed lightly.

Maria shook her head and laughed aswell, then she remebered something or rather someone.

"Oh and mother......i do hope it is alright but i met a friend in the city and i would like to invite her to the party" Maria requested hopefully.

Diane simply smiled " Really? is she a Lady or courtier? anybody we know?what's her name?" she asked.

"Umm....umm.......her name is Elizabeth" Maria answered avoiding the previous questions on who she is. 'What am i going to tell her?'.
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