The next afternoon found Regina forced into a small sitting room with her soon-to-be husband. Cora was lurking nearby for propriety's sake, although Regina had a sneaking suspicion that her proximity had more to do with making sure Regina didn't embarrass her in any way.

In the flickering, smoking light of the candles, Regina got her first proper look at the Prince. She had to admit he was attractive, in a stuck-up, arrogant kind of way. She knew that she was better off than most people in the kingdom, but his high-collared coat and fitted pants made her feel shabby. It was not a feeling she appreciated. Everything about him was just...insufferable. Even his dark blonde hair was annoying, pulled back with a leather strip – a style that was usually reserved for peasants who couldn't afford to have their hair properly taken care of.

"My Lady." The Prince bowed, smiling at her. Really, it was more of a smirk, Regina thought.

Cora coughed subtly and Regina remembered herself, somehow finding a smile and a proper curtsy. "Your Majesty. We're going to get married and I don't even know your name."

"Emmett. My name is Emmett. And you don't have to worry about that 'your majesty' stuff. Like you said, we're going to be married."

Regina blinked, surprised.

"Well then, Emmett. Why don't you tell me about yourself. What do you like to do?" Not that she cared, but she knew her mother was listening. Besides, who knew? Maybe they would have something in common to make this sham of a marriage more liveable.

Emmett waved his hand dismissively. "Mostly I help my father with the day-to-day ruling-the-kingdom stuff. He wants to make sure I'm prepared or something. Otherwise, the usual stuff; swordplay, hunting, riding."

"Oh, I love to ride! Galloping across open fields, jumping...it makes me feel so free." She placed a hand softly on his arm, happy to have found some common ground. She thought she saw something flicker in his eyes before he gently took her took her hand, leading her away from Cora and lowering his voice so they couldn't be overheard.

"Don't worry, I know you don't want to be married to me, and I don't want to be married to you, so I'll just keep out of your way unless we have to be seen together. You can visit friends, ride, whatever. I'll make sure you have everything you need. It won't be that bad, being a princess. I promise." He smiled at her, clearly thinking he was being reassuring and giving her what she wanted. For Regina, it was the last straw. Everyone seemed to think they knew what she wanted, what was right for her. Her parents, the King, and now Emmett. Well she may not be able to avoid any of this, but she'd be damned if she was going to take it lying down. She swiftly moved into the prince's personal space, deliberately pressing her chest into his as she raised her mouth to his ear.

"You have no idea what I need."

Regina stalked out of the room, leaving her mother to make excuses to the stunned prince.

XxXx

Regina was given a week to prepare herself for the long journey to her new home, the royal castle. In truth, that was almost too little time for all she needed to do, and she rarely saw Emmett other than in passing. She could barely even get away for a ride as it was, with her mother hovering over her shoulder every moment of every day. Cora couldn't seem to decide how she should relate to her daughter now that all of her dreams for Regina's life had been realized, so she had settled into a holding pattern around Regina's room, alternately showering Regina with affection and advice and directing the servants who were packing Regina's things. Regina would have given anything for this torture to be over, but when the end of the week finally came it was much too soon. There were tears in her eyes as she said goodbye to her father.

"I don't know if I can do this, Daddy."

Henry wrapped Regina in a hug.

"Don't worry, love, I know you'll be fine. Now that you'll be a princess nothing can keep me from visit you. I'll just threaten to set the prince on them."

Regina laughed, resting her head on her father's shoulder for a moment.

"Thank you. "

"I love you. Now get out of here." Henry smiled, determined not to cry as he watched Regina climb into the carriage that would take her to her new home. It didn't matter how old she was, to him she would always be his little girl.

XxXx

Everything seemed so surreal as Regina was ushered into a set of rooms by a scowling maid who seemed as efficient at herding people as organizing the unloading of Regina's luggage.

"You'll be staying here until your marriage, My Lady, and then of course you'll be moved into the Prince's wing. Now, I'm sure you'll want to freshen up for the ball tonight, so I'll just get your things sorted for you and lay out your dress. Did you have anything specific in mind? No? Well, we'll find something suitable. Lovely girl like you, it won't matter what you're wearing really. Is there anything else you would like?"

Regina managed a bewildered 'no' while trying to figure out how the woman had been able to say all that without taking a breath.

The older woman dropped a well-practiced curtsy and bustled away, barking orders to scurrying underlings.

Regina, freshly bathed and primped, found an unfamiliar dress spread across her bed with a note pinned to the breast:

For my beautiful daughter;

I know you will make me proud.

Your loving mother

Regina sighed. At least the dress itself was pretty. The fabric shimmered in the light and it was trimmed with delicate gold embroidery. The fitted bodice showed off Regina's figure, and if the neckline dipped a touch too low for perfect modesty, the lace collar would keep her from turning too many heads. It was, Regina reflected, the perfect dress for her introduction to the royal court.

Breathing deeply, Regina was suddenly and inexplicably grateful to her mother for all of the etiquette lessons that had been drilled into her as a child. Otherwise, she thought she might just have run screaming into the night instead of waiting to be shown off like a prize mare. If anyone asked to see her teeth, she was going to slap them.

A hand on her shoulder startled her and she nearly acted out her thoughts of slapping.

"Ready, My Lady?" It was Prince Emmett.

"As I'll ever be, I suppose."

"Oh, don't think of it like that. You're the most exciting thing to happen in this castle since my sister was born. Do you know how hard it is to gossip about the same thing for eight years?"

Regina laughed, shocking herself almost as much as the prince, but the sudden clash of trumpets drowned out anything she might have said.

"That's our cue, I'm afraid. No rest for the wicked."

Regina was momentarily blinded as Emmett took her arm, escorting her into the ballroom. Chandeliers cradled hundreds of brilliant candles, their light reflected infinitely off the jewels and precious metals adorning the select noblemen and women who had been invited to the official announcement of her engagement.

She soon understood what Emmett had meant about the court needing something to gossip about. Faces were a blur as she met noble after noble, with no possibility of ever remembering all of them. Thankfully, Emmett stayed at her side as much as he could, occasionally making her laugh with color commentary on this or that person.

Too soon, the prince was pulled away by a visiting dignitary and Regina was left alone, surrounded by eager faces hanging on her every word. If she were honest, it was vaguely terrifying. She'd led a relatively sheltered life on the outskirts of the kingdom and had never really had the chance to become comfortable with the intrigues and gossip that seemed to be the norm here.

With a superhuman effort, Regina managed to separate herself from the pack of wolves without rending her clothes or stepping on anyone's feet. As she slipped through a side door and onto a patio, her heart fell as she realized she wasn't alone in the moonlight, but she quickly regained her composure.

"We're going to have a problem if that's the best you can do to protect me from wild beasts."

Emmett grinned. "Well, it's the way they teach children to swim."

"No wonder your father wanted a better influence on Snow, with you for a brother."

There was an unreadable look in the prince's eyes as he leaded against the stone parapet and Regina immediately knew she had said the wrong thing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

"It's fine. You're right, actually. Snow's a very lonely little girl. It's hard to find a real friend when you don't know who's interested in you for yourself or just because you're the King's child. I haven't been as good of a brother as I should have been, either. It'll be good for Snow to have you here."

Regina moved to stand next to him, a light, cool breeze playing across her face and twining in her hair.

"I'm sure you did the best you could."

He was silent for a moment, lost in thought, and when he next spoke it was clear that the subject was closed for the moment.

"You're cold." It was a statement, not a question.

Regina looked down. Goosebumps marred her skin, but she hadn't really noticed until now. Emmett took off his coat and placed it over her shoulders, and Regina was touched by the simple gesture. The soft fabric smelled slightly sweet and spicy, a surprisingly light scent for a man.

"Won't they miss us? The ball is in honor of our engagement, after all."

"Do we really have to go back?" Emmett whined, and Regina chuckled lightly.

"Well, you could have them all kicked out. You are the Prince, after all."

He looked tempted for a moment, but eventually sighed in resignation, offering his arm to Regina.

"Together, then?"

She nodded, and Emmett made a show of squaring his shoulders and adjusting his ceremonial sword.

"Once more into the breach, My Lady."