Chapter 3

Princess Courtney

"I know it's been a long time, but I came here once as a boy," Levi told her.

"I remember seeing your mother dance here, and it was like I was put into a trance. She was so beautiful. I was merely seven, and your sister Ashlyn was the same age. I remember you all danced with your mother, and I knew you all would grow up to be just as beautiful of dancers." He said, then he grinned.

"Well…Genevieve could have used some work…" he said.

"She was three years old," Courtney said and found herself laughing. "Genevieve wasn't born with rhythm, but she worked at it and never gave up. She's the best dancer out of all of us now, and she dances like mother." She spoke.

"Well," he chuckled, and his eyes again sparkled, "Genevieve has her talent, as I'm sure you have yours." He added.

"I danced because it was a time I could enjoy the company of my sisters and mother," Courtney admitted. "I liked it because we all did it together…" she trailed off, recalling some of her better memories of the pavilion.

"Beautiful," breathed Levi. She stared at him, and he suddenly cleared his throat and blushed. She giggled; she liked seeing him like that; it was proof that he was a person underneath his title.

He got scared just like she did. Maybe this arranged marriage wasn't such a bad thing after all. She should have trusted her father from the very beginning.

"What is it you find yourself doing most often?" Courtney asked him, beaming.

"Well…shall I give you the true answer or the answer everyone expects me to give?" the prince asked.

"The truth, please," answered Courtney. "Honesty should always come first in a marriage." She added.

"If you insist, though, you'd better not laugh at me," he said and brushed his hair out of his face.

"I tell people my hobbies include fencing and battle plans, which, to be fair, I do spend a lot of time doing, but in reality…I don't particularly appreciate reading books about war. I enjoy reading books about life, romance, and how the earth works." He spoke.

"Oh," was all Courtney could say for a moment. "Levi… you're a reader?" she asked with enthusiasm.

"Every chance I get," he admitted. "My mother taught me to read; I've loved it since I was a girl," she said. Prince Levi leaned in closer to his face. She forced herself not to retreat, but she could better appreciate his flawless look up close.

Her sisters had all married wonderful men, but she knew that Levi was the most handsome by far. She'd seen his face many times on the paintings of angels in her books on religion.

"I'm beginning to believe our fathers arranged a perfect marriage, Princess Courtney; I want to spend more time with you as soon as possible." He said, and he kissed her cheek and gracefully walked away. Fallon couldn't be happier for her sisters. Honestly, that was the truth. Courtney deserved a prince more than anyone she knew.

Princess Fallon

"Prince Levi sure is handsome," Edaline said beside her. Fallon's eyes widened.

"You really think so?" Fallon said quickly.

"Yes, I do," Edaline said. "I thought you of all people would notice that." Even Edaline noticed the prince's good looks, and that was saying something.

Edaline had always been sportier than the other girls and hadn't really expressed any interest in marriage and men. Fallon's chest tightened. She was so ready for marriage. She already believed herself old or at least aged for not being married.

"I think he's very polite," Genevieve said. "It's too early to decide if he's her perfect match, but I could still see a delighted marriage between the two." Finished Genevieve.

"I don't believe in perfect matches," Fallon said stubbornly, folding her arms. "Anyone can fall in love and be considered perfect for one another if they just take the time to get to know each other." Said Fallon.

"It's two weeks until the wedding, isn't it, papa?" Edaline asked, turning to the King.

"Two weeks," he affirmed. "The wedding's preparations are already underway. I wish Ashlyn, Blair, and Delia could attend, but they can't. Still, I have sent a scroll announcing the union, and they promised to send their regards and visit as soon as they could." Said the King.

"Is Courtney going to wear her blue dress or a white one?" Kathleen, the middle triplet, asked.

Before anyone could answer, she said, "I think she should wear blue. It fits her best, and white gets messy too easily." Said Kathleen.

"Just because you can't keep a dress clean doesn't mean Courtney can't," Janessa teased. She was the oldest of the triplets and wore her favorite light blue dress.

"Blair had a red dress!" Kathleen reminded.

"Blair had red in her dress," Fallon said. "Her dress was mostly white, though." Finished Fallon.

"Oh, come on, now," Genevieve said, stepping in between them. "Courtney will wear whatever she looks best in and feels most comfortable in. We'll be there supporting her the whole way. That's our role, after all." Said Genevieve.

She was always the best at calming a scene, even though she was the seventh sister. Maybe that was why father was giving the throne to her.. err…to Derek. Fallon busied herself with studying the tiles on the floor while her sisters and father went on about the wedding. She did want to join in the conversation, but she was frightened her voice would betray her and reveal her feelings. After the talk was over, a miserable Fallon headed toward her bedroom.

As she walked, she overheard something and froze. Fallon watched as her sister walked from the pavilion to the castle, Ducking beneath the window. She was humming.

She's falling in love; prince Levi is perfect for her! Courtney was bound to tell them everything that happened when all sisters got together. There were no secrets amongst her sisters after all. Fallon glanced down the hallway that would lead to her bedroom and suddenly had the urge not to go there. Maybe she'd visit Genevieve.

She squashed the notion; that Genevieve had a husband. It wasn't like the old days when they could meet up. Now feeling exceptionally more miserable, Fallon slumped into her room. Wishing that she had the same luck as her oldest sister did, except for Genevieve, who was older than her by a year, still, her sister found her happiness.

She wondered if something was wrong with her; her sisters seemed to have all the luck with finding their husbands and living happily while she was still stuck at the palace.

She looked out the window and wondered where her husband was and why hasn't her time come yet?