Yay! I'm so happy to get 6 reviews! (I sound pathetic, I know) Just to clear something up... when you imagine their dress, notice I usually refer to their clothings as "robes".. It's a tad bit along the Greek or Roman style, but not exactly, as it's suppose to take place among the 13th century. (I changed it) But as long as you don't think of high-bosom, tight waist French or British styles, with CORSETS, for god's sake...

dreamingdaemon: how do you know that the flashback is the very ending of the story? harharharh... :evil cackle: Yes, you'll notice that I like dramatic. paperbagprincezz: real life tendancies for the girl to fall for the bad boy? Hmm... .:not saying a word:.
CareBearErin: Yep. Creepy is one of Ethel's many middle names.
EvenSong: At this certain point of the story, Ethel is a true jerk, and girls are like rags to him. .:grumbles.. stupid boys:.
fireworksinmybackpocket: Very funny!.. hmm.. I might decide to drawa scene of the story in realism, though..thank you for the nice compliment!

Alright.. I'll stop with the long-winded author's note.. here's chapter 5!

Chapter 5 – Sir Leo

Solita was not unaware of her beauty. No, she had the envying, hateful stares of the noblewomen to remind her, and the lustful gazes of the noblemen, which she coldly shook off. The idea of men did not interest her, as did the sight of the Rossade Mountains, which guarded kingdom, its peaks dipped in misty shades of feathery white clouds. As she gazed into the distance, for a single moment she could ignore the fact that she was alone in the world, just a quiet, lonely orphan girl who happened to be born into royalty.

She looked into the eyes of Queen Napea, seated across from her. What is it she wants most in this world? Her stepmother was thirty-three years old now, yet looking still unchanged from five years ago. Power. Wealth… and eternal beauty. Solita smiled thinly. She cannot get all that she wants, Solita thought.

It had been a few days after Ethel's infamous love affair with the cook's assistant. They had tried to keep the drama from being exposed to the entire kingdom, and had somewhat succeeded. Every now and then Solita overheard a whisper, a ridiculously stretched rumor of what had happened.

But that was not why Queen Napea called Solita before her today. Solita knew perfectly well what the queen wished to discuss, and did not anticipate any part of it.

A servant set before them two cups of herbaltea, in crystal glasses and lathered with sugar. Queen Napea watched Solita take a small sip while she stiffly stirred her glass.

"My dear," she crooned. "You are… sixteen years of – "

"Fifteen." Solita interrupted quietly.

" – years of age," said Queen Napea with a radiating glow.

"I have no doubt that it is a ripe time to begin the subject of suitors." She raised an almost questioning eyebrow. Solita did not reply, only nodded politely and sipped some herbal tea.

"There may be princes coming from faraway kingdoms to seek your hand, and you must be tactful and aware of that, my dear. You must choose someone with both class and wealth. After all, you inherit the throne in two years. Surely you would not want to disappoint the kingdom with a rash marriage."

"Your Highness…" Solita set down her glass. "I do realize that if I marry a crown prince from another kingdom, it may very well be that I shall be the queen of his kingdom, not the other way around."

A quick flash of annoyance appeared on the queen's face. "Of course. That is natural."

"And yet, if he is neither crown prince nor royalty, he shall ascend to the throne of Nivalis with you." Solita thought she heard a hint of bitterness in the queen's words, but it quickly disappeared.

"If it is not too forward to speak, your highness… I do not believe I am at all ready for marriage. I have little interest whatsoever in suitors seeking my hand."

A curious look appeared on the queen's face, and leaned forward to speak. "If you do not intend to marry, my dear… how, then.. will you manage to rule the kingdom?"

Solita paused, and said softly, "The same way you do."

Queen Napea leaned back on her seat, brows furrowed, and cleared her throat. "Sir Leo will be your first suitor. He shall be arriving tonight. He is a legendary knight from Avienal, second hand man with the king."

"Your brother," said Solita.

The queen smiled thinly. "Yes. My brother is indeed the king. Now, we shall have a small ball held tonight in honor of his arrival. You are expected to be present, dressed according to the occasion. You are now dismissed."

Solita bowed her head, and was accompanied by servants back to her chambers.

"Chandi," Solita said softly. "Do you think the queen has any… strange intentions for me marrying?"

The personal chambermaid smiled and said, "It is not my place to speak of this, my lady." She continued to brush out Solita's silken black hair, which trailed down her back.

"Do you?"

Chandi had been a slave captured from Sieliban, she was only a year older than Princess Solita herself, and the two of them became close companions.

"No… I do not. At least… I hope not." She left a comfortable silence in the air as Solita pondered thoughtfully and she continued to ornament her hair. I do, Solita thought.

"There. My lady, you are ready."

She gracefully stood up in gold slippers and started for the ballroom.

Solita could hear a distant thumping sound. She frowned, realizing it was her own heartbeat. What am I nervous about? I shall go in there and meet my suitor with dignity. And then I shall bid him goodbye with my dignity. And chastity.

"And now, presenting her royal highness, Princess Solita."

The wooden doors slid open, and Solita took a step forward.

Ethel was seated on a gold-rimmed chair, beside Alaric and diagonal from the queen. He casually echoed the flirtatious glances of the nearby women, who thought he looked especially dashing in his midnight blue robes and silver circlet. Queen Napea was smiling widely, and chatting very animatedly with Sir Leo. I wonder how much she paid him…Ethel smirked at the thought, and turned suddenly at the voice of his stepsister's arrival. All chatter seized. Ethel assumed a bored look, greatly anticipating the ball to be over with.

"And now, presenting her royal highness, Princess Solita."

In the background, soft, enchanting melodies of the lyre was echoing through the grand ballroom, but no one knew where it came from. Perhaps it was a part of their imagination, as they watched the princess enter in a dream-like trance.

She wore amethyst-colored robes of silk, hanging softly from one shoulder, and flowing down to the marble floor in shadowy, exotic way. The dress was simple – no gems or beads stitched through the delicate silk material, yet it was magnificently elegant. Instead, a dark purple necklace, strung with glistening beads and circling her neck like rays of sunlight was the mesmeric attraction. She wore no circlet, as it was her choice. Strings of purple beads entwined with her hair, adorned with tiny white flowers.

Ethel's emerald eyes were unwillingly captivated, as all eyes were. The princess had dark shadowed eyelids that accented her own grey storm-cloud eyes, which were expressionless, like always. Her full lips were a shade of natural plum, contrasting with her pale olive skin.

Solita dipped her head as she bowed to Queen Napea, and she slowly moved to acknowledge Sir Leo.

"Princess of Nivalis greets you, Sir Leo of Avienal."

She lowered her eyes, not meeting his gaze. Solita saw clearly what flowed in his ocean blue irises, and she did not like it one bit.

Well, there's less.. drama.. in this chapter, I think. I'll try to have the next chapter up tomorrow.. since it's summer and I'm fully equipped to kill Time!
Thank you to my reviewers - you guys rock!