Alonso, Prince of Cordoba waited. He was lying down with his hands cradling his head in a grassy knoll near the new bridge that connected his kingdom to the kingdom of Avalor. He was meeting Carla Delgado, a woman he had been in contact with for months now, yet he had never actually met her.

"Prince Alonso I presume?" Said an adorable childlike voice approaching Alonso. Alonso looked up and grinned. Carla's voice may have had a sweet innocence to it but she was most definitely a woman who carried herself with confidence. She was much better looking than he had ever imagined. Being a superficial sort of man, he was pleased. He nodded, came to his feet and looked at her with his most charming eyes.

"Carla Delgado?" He asked in return, taking her hand in his and kissing it gently. She rolled her eyes and nodded her own confirmation.

"There is no need to attempt any of your charm on me" She told him bluntly. "You've already won me over simply by being Prince of this fine kingdom"

"Well that's good to know" Alonso told her, taking her arm in his as they casually strolled the countryside. "How did everything work out with your father in Cariza?"

"Wonderfully! He sent word to us a few days ago that King Joaquin is dead. He is set to marry Queen Teresa this week and he will officially be King Victor Delgado of Cariza. Shuriki was very pleased as I'm sure she will be once we have everything settled here" Carla explained.

"Of course, of course" Alonso said, preparing to make final negotiations. "So we marry? We kill my father? We rule Cordoba?"

"That's the plan!" Carla said cheerfully.

"So why do I need you or Shuriki?" Alonso asked.

"Well we could do things like we've discussed" Carla started, smiling sweetly "Or... Shuriki could invade Cordoba, kill your father, kill you and destroy most of, if not all of your kingdom."

Alonso stared at her with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. He was intrigued by her. He'd never heard such evil spoken in such a pleasant way. He liked it.

"Shuriki's goal is to take over the ever realm." Carla continued to explain "The more kingdoms she can preserve and ally with, the better. She doesn't want to destroy the world, she wants to rule it. You can either stand in her way and be killed, or you can join her, keep your kingdom, and live a comfortable life sitting on your pretty throne"

"Ya know... I think I'm actually going to enjoy having you as my queen" Alonso said, confirming that he was on board with Shuriki's plan to ally Avalor with Alonso's Cordoba. He stopped, wrapped his arms around her waist and forcibly pulled her in for a kiss.

"hm. Not bad" Carla said with a grin, fully turned on by Alonso's wicked ways. "I could get used to that. Now let's get to work" She pushed him away and headed for the royal carriage that awaited them.

"I want you to have this" King Juan Ramon told Carla as he handed her a Golden ring set with a large flawless Ruby.

"Oh no, I can't take this from you your majesty. It's too much!" Carla argued out of politeness.

"No. I insist. Nothing is too much for the woman who has finally convinced my son to settle down and take his role in Cordoba more seriously" Juan Ramon said proudly. "It belonged to my wife and has been worn by women of the royal family for centuries. It is very special to us. It would be an honor for you to wear it as an engagement ring"

"Thank you" Carla told him and then allowed Alonso to slip it on her finger. "OO! It's a perfect fit" She squealed.

"Just like the two of you" Juan Ramon declared as he wrapped one arm around his son and another around his soon to be daughter in law.

Carla and Alonso caught a glimpse of one another and shared a mischievous look. They had done a perfect job in convincing the King of their love and devotion to one another and to Cordoba. It was important that he approve of their marriage. They needed his support in order to gain the support of the people. The Cordobans never really cared for Alonso, although most kept it to themselves or whispered their true feelings to only their closest friends. They all saw him for what he really was. A spoiled, lazy, self centered man who cared nothing about his duties as a Prince and nothing for his people. But, the people of Cordoba loved their king and if King Juan Ramon loved and supported his son and new bride, then they would as well.

After their engagement was announced Carla set to work winning over the Cordobans. She went to the cities and villages and made her presence known. She helped the sick, fed the hungry, and gave what she could to the poor. She befriended people who she and Alonso had deemed beneath them. She laughed with them and delighted them and made them love her so much that she nearly couldn't stand her own alter ego. Her smiles and charms worked though. She was the Princess that they had all dreamed of having and they were convinced that Carla was good for Alonso. Alonso had finally matured.

Behind closed doors, Carla and Alonso mocked them all for their stupidity. They praised themselves for their devilish intellect and games. They truly were the perfect pair.

About a month after their engagement, Carla and Alonso were married. The wedding was a huge spectacle, most of Cordoba was invited to attend. No matter what their class ranking was. They needed to display how happy they were together and how happy King Juan Ramon was for them. If anyone ever suspected what they were about to do, their plan would be foiled.

As they were getting ready to leave the wedding reception, Carla approached King Juan Ramon along with Alonso. She gave him a hug and thanked him for all that he had done for them. Alonso followed her lead and when he did so, Juan Ramon was so touched by his son's new affections and attitude that he stood up in front of everyone to give a final speech.

perfect , Carla thought as he did. Everyone's attention would be on the King. It always was when he spoke. Even more perfect was that he walked around the dinner table that he'd been sitting at and stood directly in front it, blocking the crowd's view of Carla altogether. Still, she needed to be sly with what she was doing. Luckily, her father was an expert at sleight of hand tricks and had taught her everything that he knew. She slipped a vile of poison in her hand and discreetly poured it into the King's drink and then hid the bottle up her sleeve once more. She was calm and casual and gave nobody any reason to be suspicious of her.

The guests all applauded and then Alonso went and stood by his new wife. She gave him a wink letting him know the deed was done and then the two thanked everyone and waved goodbye, heading up to their room to celebrate.