The wait is over! Here is... the next chapter!

Kim

...beautiful. It was white, obviously, but... it was... me. It had lovely bell sleeves that looked so free and wild, and the bodice was simple: chains of pearls dangled along it. There was a light lilac belt, and below it was a puffed skirt of lavender swirls on the same white cloth. The white heels were low and comfortable-looking, with just a bow at the toes. And the veil was long but not too long, a little past the waist of my gorgeous wedding dress.

"It's gorgeous!" Kelsey squeals.

"You won't wear it until the day of your wedding," Julie commands firmly. I roll my eyes.

"Wouldn't dream of wearing it anytime soon," I reply insensitively. Julie gasps, hurt.

"Kim!" Kelsey gasps. My eyes widen.

"No! I love the dress. Honestly," I add, looking Julie straight in the eyes. "But I don't love Prince Jack. I hardly know the man! So I'm not sure if Father really made a good match. He's nothing like me," I frown.

Kelsey tilts her head, her expression one of thinking. "It is a dilemma we can't run away from, I'm afraid," Kelsey sighs.

"I know... Well, I'd better go. I must meet with Milton," Julie excuses, getting off my bed. She breezes through the door, humming a beautiful melody.

"And we'd better pack, if you want to get there and at least wear that gorgeous wedding dress. Trust me, Kim," Kelsey adds as she pulls me off my bed.

Jack

I'm in love with Kim. Sure, I didn't know her that well, but what I do know is... extremely attractive. Her honey-blond hair that flows so smoothly over her thin shoulders, her beautiful brown eyes, her long lashes, her smooth, and natural-looking lips...

And that's not all. Her spunky personality, her boldness and stubbornness, her temper, her hatred of her status. I guess I knew all that when my little sisters, Brianna, Lianna, and Alexa, keeping in touch Donna, Kim's almost sister-in-law.

"What are you doing, brother? Daydreaming about your fiancee?" Brianna's polite yet annoying voice chimes in, punctuated by a measure of high-pitched giggles.

"Mind your own business, Brianna," I snap playfully, walking over to her and picking four-year-old Alexa up onto my shoulders. She giggled, her high voice ringing in my ears.

"Hi, Jack," Lianna smiles smoothly. At the age of eight, she was amazingly calm, serious, and tomboyish. She spent her days horseback riding, doing archery, and reading. She was always using words bigger than she should be using, and was sometimes irritatingly smart.

"Hello, Lianna. How was horseback riding?" I ask curiously. Lianna always rode one horse, a Clydesdale named Bella. Brianna rolls her eyes.

"Lianna was as spectacular as ever. However, I have to put Alexa for a nap. I believe you have a 'meeting' with your fellow... guards," Brianna says teasingly yet tiredly. Brianna knew that I was close to my guards, and always accented the term, knowing they were like my brothers.

"And YOU have a meeting with your studies. Goodbye, Brianna," I retort, grinning and shaking my head.

Plucking a sleepy Alexa off my shoulders and into Brianna's capable arms, I ponder our lifestyle. It was different from the typical Birari royals. Alexa is taken care of by Brianna, Lianna is being taught a typical boy's education, and Alexa... is no different from the little girls in Eaglemure, our Capitol.

"Jackson? Save your dreaming for night time," Brianna interrupts my train of thought impatiently, shaking her hand in front of my face. I blink a few times, and Brianna, Lianna, and Alexa are gone.

Shaking my head, I head to the courtyard.

Kim

"This dress is nice and comfortable, isn't it, Kim?" Kelsey chirps. I groan.

"We've been doing this forever! Why can't I take a break and write to Jack?" I complain. Kelsey raises an eyebrow.

"You want to write to Jack? But I thought you dislike him?" She asks suspiciously.

"I just want to get to know him. Compromise, I guess," I shrug. After a moment of silence, Kelsey nods. I rush to my desk, glad to not be trying on my WHOLE wardrobe to figure out which dresses would be packed.

Dearest Jack...

Jack

"Hello!" I call as I find my friends and personal guards. The tall one with short-cropped black hair and a thin but strong frame stops sparring with the darker-skinned, shorter guard.

"Jack!" He replies heartily, walking over to give me a bone-crushing hug.

"Nice to see you too, Jerry," I choke out.

"Stop suffocating Jack, and let me see him!" The other guard interrupts gruffly but warmly.

"Eddie," I grin as he high-fives me. "How are you doing?" I ask.

Jerry and Eddie shrug. "We've been training all day. What do you expect?" Jerry retorts. "Ready to spar?" Eddie interrupts eagerly. I nod.

A few hours later...

"Phew!" Eddie's on the floor, panting, and Jerry's leaning over, trying to catch his breath. "You really know how to beat us in twelve seconds," Eddie continues, gasping in between each word.

I just stare at them, not even sweating. "You guys are tired? You guys need to work harder!" I tease, helping Eddie up. Eddie clings to my arm, unsteady.

"You're just so fit!" Eddie exclaims. He's a little stout, yes, but he's still got muscle.

"Not really," I shrug.

"Nice going!" I hear. I look up. Lianna's on Bella, trotting into the courtyard, Brianna on another horse behind her. "You're doing great, guards!" Brianna adds, grinning playfully.

"Don't goad him," Lianna murmurs, frowning.

"And that's why Lianna's my favorite," I point out. Lianna beams, while Brianna huffs.

"Hmph! Although, I would see why you would pick her," Brianna crosses her arms, pretending to be deeply offended. She turns her horse to return it to the stables.

"Mother wants you," Lianna calls as they gallop away.

"Take a shower before you go. You stink," Brianna throws over her shoulder, already far away.

"IT'S NOT ME!" I shout after her. All I hear in response is Lianna and Brianna's laughter.

"Well, you better go, Jack," Eddie says as he and Jerry head to the baths.

"Goodbye, then!" I call, already heading in the opposite direction.

What do you think of the wedding dress? And... you got a sneak peek into Jack's life! Comfy and cozy, right? Well... (to give you a hint,) that's why Jack isn't used to war, and is a fairytale prince. Don't make the connection? No worries. I do. Read and Review!