Clarissa's POV

I sucked in a breath as my maids laced my corset up, and looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a floor-length, emerald green gown, specifically chosen to compliment my eyes and hair. It was very beautiful and certainly a lot more elegant than my usual dresses but as my mother said, "First impressions are everything".

Today was the day I left for Idris, my new home. I was still anxious about meeting the prince and nothing my mother or my maids said could reassure me.

For almost my entire life I'd been engaged to Prince Jonathan, but for the same amount of time I'd dreamed about falling in love. I knew it was foolish, royals didn't get to marry for love, but I couldn't help it.

My maids, my closest friends, had told me that the prince and I would grow to love each other, but I wasn't sure. My mother and father loved each other to an extent, but it wasn't the kind of love I wanted.

My father, King Valentine, had been infatuated with Lady Jocelyn, a noble woman, ever since he was a teenager and eventually began courting her. They fell in love and quickly got married, raising Sebastian and I together.

But in recent years, things had been tense between them. My mother grew tired of my father's extravagant ideas and opinions and he suspected that her heart belonged to another - which he would be right to think.

When I was nine years old, I found my mother in the arms of another: Lucian, my parent's childhood friend. I was understandably distressed, as I had thought my parents blissfully happy, but my mother had come to me and begged me not to tell my father as he would surely have her executed. I agreed, as I loved and needed my mother, and it's a secret I still kept to this day.

"You look lovely, my dear girl," my mother said, walking in, and taking hold of my hands. She was probably just with Lucian, I thought sadly. "Thank you, mother," I said, pushing it to the back of my mind and smiling up at her.

"Prince Jonathan's a lucky man," she smiled widely, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear that had fallen out of the knot at the back of my head. "Yeah," I said sarcastically, walking over and sitting down on my bed.

She rolled her eyes at me. "And you're lucky too," she told me softly. "I'm not so sure," I whispered. "I am. I'm sure it'll be wonderful," she assured me, leaning over to place a kiss on my forehead. "You'll write to me, yes?" "Of course, mother," I smiled, hugging her tightly.

Some guards came up to collect my luggage and I hugged all my maids goodbye, gave my room a last once-over to check I hadn't left anything and swept out of the room.

My mother, father and brother were all waiting for me at the huge wooden doors. My mother gave me another hug and wished me luck, tears in her eyes, whilst my father shook my hand (he wasn't very affectionate) and told me to behave. I promised I would and turned to my brother.

Sebastian held out his arms for me and I gladly walked into them, wrapping my arms around his muscled torso. "You'll write to me, won't you?" I asked, looking up into his green eyes, exactly like my own. "All the time. I'll miss you," he said, pulling away. "And I you," I said, kissing him on the cheek.

I walked over to the now open doors and looked back to where they were all still waiting. "Goodbye. I love you all!" I told them, tears beginning to form in my eyes.

I walked out to the chorus of many goodbyes from the servants and guards before climbing into the carriage. I waved as we drove away, looking back at the huge castle, sunlight reflecting off the glass towers, that had always been my home. Until now.

Jonathan's POV

I heard a knock at my door and walked over to open it. "The princess is arriving, Your Highness," a small, blonde maid told me, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you. I'll be down in a moment. Are my parents on their way?" I asked her.

"Yes, Your Grace. They're waiting to greet her," she said in a squeaky, high-pitched voice before leaving.

I walked over to the mirror and looked at myself, straightening my clothes. I was about to meet a future queen, my future wife, and I had no idea what to expect.

I grabbed my cloak and pulled it on, leaving the room and closing my door behind me. As I walked down the hall, I passed the room she would be staying in, right next to mine. I'd been waiting for this day my entire life; the day I would get to meet the girl I would get to call my wife.

I'd had plenty of flings before but I'd never felt this kind of nervousness about meeting a woman before, possibly as I was betrothed to this Princess, Clarissa, and had never been able to have a serious relationship so no girl really mattered.

What if I hated her? What if we didn't get along? What if I wasn't attracted to her? What if she was terrible in bed? I couldn't live like that!

I shook my head to clear it. I hadn't even met the girl and I was already worrying about how good in bed she was. I told myself to lower my expectations: she was surely inexperienced - any woman marrying someone of royal blood had to be 'pure'. It was a stupid rule, if you asked me. Besides, Kings were often expected to have mistresses.

I reached the massive doors and walked out onto the great lawn where a crowd was gathering. I spotted a black carriage pulling up and jogged through the crowd towards my parents.

My mother shot me an irritated look, for being so late, and then turned back around to the front. I followed her gaze and sucked in a breath as the door opened and a beautiful red-headed angel stepped out.

She looked around at the castle, her mouth opening in amazement, before she turned her attention to my parents and I coming towards her.

"Your Majesties," she shot us a small smile, curtsying. "Princess Clarissa, it's lovely to have you here," my mother told her, kissing each of her cheeks.

"Welcome to Idris. I'm Stephen, this is my wife Céline, and my son Jonathan who I'm sure you'll become quite acquainted with." My father smirked at me and then stepped back a bit with my mother.

I walked over to the princess and looked into her beautiful green eyes, the same shade as her dress. "I'm Clarissa," she said smiling at me shyly. "Nope. Too long," I shook my head, stepping back slightly. "And Jonathan isn't?" Clarissa said incredulously. "I prefer Jace actually. You can be..." I thought for a moment before deciding, "Clary." "Only if you want," I added hastily. "Yeah Jace, that's fine. Clary it is," she smiled up at me.

Well that was one problem solved: I was definitely, definitely attracted to her.

Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews I got on the first chapter! I hope you all enjoyed this one just as much.

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