Disclaimer: I only own Charming, Catherine, Harriet, Alex, and Lauren
Charming woke up that morning to his mother's gentle shaking. "Charming... Wake up..." She said, softly.
He stirred in his sleep, and tried to slip back into dreamland, but his mother's voice was persistent. "Charming, wake up, you only have an hour before court business begins." She said.
He woke with a start. "An hour!" He asked.
She laughed a bit. "More like two, but that wakes you up faster." She said, smiling.
He laughed a bit too, and went to his closet to get proper court attire. He's been up late the night before with Lord Fredrick, learning all about how to act all day at court. He decided on a green velvet shirt and black pants. He put them on and went downstairs for breakfast.
When he arrived at breakfast, Alex led him to the head chair where their father usually sat. He stood beside him. "Prince Eric Charming will be leading our country today." Alex began. "If you have matters that must be brought to the king himself, please write them down and as soon as the king is well he will answer them. Thank you." Alex said.
The lords and ladies that lived in the castle all clapped. Alex sat down. Charming was shocked. His first name was Eric? He'd always grown up as Charming. "Mom." He whispered, she was sitting at his side.
"Yes, Charming." She replied.
"My name is Eric?" He asked.
She looked at him, puzzled. "Why of course. Would you rather be called that?" She asked.
He nodded. She smiled. "Alright... Eric." She said.
He smiled. He had always disliked his name. It sounded like he charmed everyone every time they saw him. He wondered if that was why the name came to be people enjoyed being called charming.
He had finished his meal, so he left with the rest of the court, to the reception room.
There was a messenger there already. "Greetings from King Elm the fifth in your neighboring country, Reglin. He requests your presence at the marriage of himself and his bride-to-be, Hattie. The wedding is to take place in three days." He said.
Ella nearly fainted. Her stepsisters and stepmother had moved to Reglin after she married Char, and hadn't been heard from since. She knew it was her stepsister because of the unusual name. Most Reglinians were named after trees.
Eric saw his mother almost faint, and signaled for the nearest guard to steady her. When she could stand again, she nodded, and the guard returned to his position. Eric franticly thought of the response to such a summons. "We will be most pleased to come." He finally said.
What was wrong with his mother? Did she know this Hattie from her past?...