"Relax, relax, relax, relax." Andromeda chanted to herself as she stood in front of the double doors of the grand ballroom. She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, putting her chin up and relaxing her shoulders.
"Princess Andromeda of Aethiopia!" Boomed through the doors and they opened to the sound of loud applause. Andromeda's face spread into a regal smile as she floated down the walkway. She nodded to different people in the royal court, waving graciously. She stopped short of the throne and looked to her parents who were beaming down at her.
"My beautiful daughter," King Cepheus bellowed, his voice bouncing around the hall, "We are gathered here to celebrate your return to Aethiopia!" At the sound of this the royal court roared.
"To commemorate your return to your kingdom, we have made you a brand new tiara!" Queen Cassiopeia announced, nodding to the servants with a smile.
Andromeda looked around in surprise as a horn was played and Cosima, who was now dressed in a beige gown, walked to the queen holding a pillow with a crown on it. The princess' eyes widened as she caught of glimpse of the tiara. It was in a half moon shape, the center of the tiara being the apex. There were gold branches overlapping each other on the band, while little diamonds littered the whole crown. The tiara shined under the light of the hall.
Queen Cassiopeia lifted the crown with careful hands, smiling at her daughter as Cosima back away. "Approach us, dear daughter."
The princess obeyed and bowed her head, feeling her mother place the tiara on her head. She stood straight once more and turned towards the royal court, beaming with joy.
"Our princess has returned to us!" King Cepheus boomed, placing a large hand on his daughter's shoulder. It seemed as if all of Aethiopia cheered in unison, a heavy voice echoing throughout the kingdom. Andromeda couldn't help the large smile that stretched across her face as she was welcomed home. "Everyone please enjoy the festivities!" A band started to play music and the royal court began to enjoy themselves, drinking and dancing.
Andromeda greeted aristocrats and dignitaries, smiling graciously. When she spotted a certain tall, dark, and handsome servant she excused herself from her line of guests. She hurried towards Ares, tapping him on the shoulder. The tall man whipped around, smiling when he saw it Andromeda. "Why did you not tell me that you and Cosima got married?!" She exclaimed with a pout.
Ares laughed, his white teeth standing out against his skin. "I did not think you would be interested."
"Interested?" Andromeda shook her head incredulously, "I am the whole reason the two of you are together!"
The dark-skinned man furrowed his brows, "Oh? And how is that, Princess?"
"You two would not have gotten together if it were not for my shenanigans." The beauty answered matter-of-factly, a smug look on her pretty face.
"You mean the ridiculous stunts you used to pull?" Ares inquired, crossing his arms. "Like locking us in the maid quarters? Or running away from us in the fields? Or how about the time you pretended that Cosima had been mauled by a cheetah?"
Andromeda waved her hand, "All a part of my master plan." She insisted, smiling teasingly.
"Well congratulations," Ares clapped his hands in jest, "Your plan was a success."
"Now I just have to wait for the two of you to have children…" Andromeda muttered, making the older man sputter.
"What?!"
"Oh Ares I do hope you name me the godmother!" The princess teased, causing the servant to shake his head and leave her. She laughed loudly, feeling a tap on her shoulder. Andromeda turned around and gasped, her face lighting up.
"Princess Andromeda." Her old friend Iola greeted with a smile. She was holding an infant and standing next to her was a tall man with dark hair and eyes.
"Iola!" Andromeda exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the woman and her child loosely. She took a step back and Iola grinned.
"I want to introduce you to my husband Nikola," She motioned to the man beside her, "And our child Andres."
"It is an honor to meet you, Princess." Nikola bowed in respect and Andromeda shook her head.
"There is no need for that Sir Nikola," The princess informed him with a smile, "Iola is like my sister, so you are my brother by spirit," Andromeda pinched the baby's cheek, "And your child my nephew." She cooed at the swaddled baby, "May I?"
"Of course!" Iola exclaimed handing her the infant.
Andromeda cradled the baby in her arms and cooed. "Oh Iola he is beautiful." She whispered, looking into the baby's brown eyes. "I can not believe I missed your wedding!"
"Oh do not feel bad, Andromeda." Iola shook her head, "It was very small. When the plagues happened we could not have the ceremony we wanted."
Nikola nodded in agreeance, "We just went to the King and he wed us in a little ceremony with our parents in attendance. Then after a few months little Andres came."
"What a blessing." Andromeda chimed, smiling down at Andres. She looked up at the couple, "I am so happy for the both of you."
"Thank you, Andromeda." Iola beamed proudly, Nikola putting an arm around her.
The friends stood there and chatted with each other for a few moments more before Queen Cassiopeia hurried over to them.
"Andromeda, I need your attention." The Queen said, rudely ignoring the couple in front of her.
Andromeda furrowed her brows at her mother's antics but nodded nonetheless, casting an apologetic glance to her friends. She handed Iola back her child and followed after her mother. "Mother that was very rude." She whispered, "Iola and Nikola are my friends and I do not appre-!" Andromeda's words were cut off as she was placed in front of an unfamiliar man.
The man was tall, but not overbearingly so, Andromeda's eyes came to his neck, and his skin was sun-kissed, though it was lighter than most of the citizens of Aethiopia; meaning that the man was foreign. He was dressed in a formal warrior's suit, an outfit mirroring a Greeks. His hair was a dark brown and it was curly and long, coming to his neck. His brows were dark and strong and lead down to a strong and straight nose. His lips were thinner than Andromeda's but they still were plump and pink. The man also had a shadow of facial hair above his lip and a shadow of a line leading down to his shadow covered chin.
He was beautiful.
Andromeda looked into the stranger's hazel eyes as her own fluttered, her hard resolve dissolving.
"Andromeda," Her mother's voice seemed far away, "This is the warrior that saved our kingdom, Perseus. Perseus this is my daughter, Andromeda."
"Hello." Andromeda all but whispered, tensing as Perseus took her hand in his and brushed his soft lips against her knuckles.
"It is a pleasure." The tanned man chimed, bowing to her with his eyes still on hers.
Queen Cassiopeia looked between the two with a smirk before walking away.
Perseus stood straight and looked down at the flushed-faced princess, smiling gently. "You are very beautiful, Princess."
"T-thank you." Andromeda stuttered, with a furrowed brow wondering why she was acting this way. "Not just for the compliment, but also for saving my kingdom."
Perseus smiled handsomely, his hazel eyes scanning the princess' face. "It was no trouble."
"Hm?" The princess hummed, raising a dainty brow, "I would not say slaying a beast was not any trouble." She turned toward the dance floor of the ballroom, feeling more like herself as she remarked spitefully, "Seems a bit boastful."
"If I had not known the kingdom housed a princess so beautiful it might have been more difficult." The warrior retorted, staring straight ahead with his hands folded behind his back.
Andromeda rolled her eyes and looked off to the side, "Are you stating that would not have saved my kingdom had it not been for me?"
"I am stating," Perseus emphasized his words, "That I may not have done it so hastily."
"So what are you hoping to accomplish by staying here?" The princess started, unimpressed, "Are you going to ask my parent's for my hand? Or are you going to charm me into falling in love with you? Or-!"
Perseus interrupted her, turning towards her with a surprisingly amused face. "I will not do either one of those things, Princess." He stated before leaning down until he was face to face with her, "I will do both." He muttered, one of his hazel eyes dropping down in a wink. The warrior leaned back and turned on his heel, throwing a smile over his shoulder at her as he walked away.
Andromeda watched him walk away with a glare and a slack jaw. She snapped out of her trance after a moment and composed herself, clearing her throat and smoothing down her dress. As she began to walk off her mother walked over to her with a wide grin.
"Well?" Queen Cassiopeia pondered, her face alight with joy.
"Well what?" The princess retorted, grabbing a glass from one of the serving trays and taking a sip. She grimaced at the taste; Aethiopian ale was not as delicious as Asgardian ale.
The queen snatched the glass from her daughter's hand and placed it on a passing server's tray. "Don't drink Andromeda, your stomach will bloat." She chided with a scowl before smiling once more. "What did you think of Perseus?"
"Arrogant." Andromeda hastily replied with a roll of her eyes, "Mother you should have told me that one of the pigs had started walking on its hind legs."
Her mother clicked her tongue at the insult, following after Andromeda as the princess tried to walk away. "Andromeda please be serious! He would make a great husband and not to mention a wonderful king!"
"Then let's not mention it." The princess quipped, trying to get away from her mother. She hurried toward the balcony doors and onto the terrace, only for her mother to grab her arm.
"Stop walking away from me, girl!" Queen Cassiopeia snapped, throwing her arm down. "What is the matter with you? The man was kind! He is a much better choice for you then your uncle or Prince Loki, hell even Prince Thor!"
"Mother I just got back from Asgard," Andromeda stared tiredly, the scene being too familiar, "Why must we already speak of marriage? Can I have a moment to breathe?"
Queen Cassiopeia was quiet for a moment before sighing and walking over to her daughter. She laid a dainty hand on her daughter's shoulder, coming to stand next to her. "Andromeda," She breathed, "I am sorry. You are absolutely right. I was so happy to have you back I seemed to have forgotten that you were gone for so long. Tell me child," She started, turning Andromeda to face her, "Did you fall in love?"
The Aethiopian heir looked away from her mother's eyes, only for the older woman to place a delicate hand on her cheek and turn her face back. Andromeda breathed out a shaky breath, "I have never been in love before, I have only read about it in books and witnessed it around me." She started, biting her lip when she felt tears well up in her eyes, "But I know that I loved him mother, more than I will probably love anyone in my life."
The queen searched her daughter's pretty face that mirrored hers, a frown settling on her features. She began to groom the young girl, caressing her face and settling the curls in her bun. "I will give you a year and a half," Cassiopeia finally spoke, "Tentatively. If something happens to your father or me than it will be sooner. If you fall in love once more, I will allow you to marry that man."
A smile grew on Andromeda's face and she surged forward, wrapping her arms around her mother. "Oh thank you mother!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, yes." Queen Cassiopeia chuckled, patting her daughter on the back, before pulling away. "A year and a half, Andromeda. That is eighteen months and not a minute more!"
"Of course mama!" Andromeda chimed informally, practically bouncing in delight. "Thank you!"
Queen Cassiopeia rolled her eyes and opened the door to the ballroom once more, "Now go back in there and socialize! You are casting a bad impression on the court!"
"Yes ma'am!" The princess said, hurrying into the room, hearing her mother callout behind her, "No drinking!"