Chapter 3

"Roan, you need to understand that we have to make this work. Our kingdom is incredibly small compared to the other four. A marriage alliance with Britannica would put us-you in a position in which you could protect our kingdom."

"And its economic interest." I finished for my Mother.

I rubbed my temples and then stood "You don't need to remind me. Janson covered it quite clearly."

"So you'll have no problem escorting him this afternoon?"

I smiled and curtseyed "Not one bit."

I left as promptly as I could. I had to prove to my mother that I was mature enough to handle this. I hated the concept but I would not prove her right. I was not an impertinent and capricious child.

The halls were crowded with courtesans and delegates, walking through them would be a battle with the layers and layers of silk that weighed me down. Agnes had dressed me as best as she could after Mother intimidated her this morning. She said that we had to impress the Brittons. I was too tired to fight her; I had spent the whole night reading.

Sluggishly, I moved through the room. I heard my name being whispered right and left but it was nothing new.

I spotted Thomas talking to a servant girl. He was my best chance at making it through tonight's festivities without any fatalities.

The servant curtsied and scurried off but not before sending me a glare.

"Why do I get the feeling that I won't be missed when I leave?" I watched the servant girl timidly waltz through the crowd and disappear behind silk and gold buttons.

"If you didn't get in their way they wouldn't mind you."

"I can't help that downstairs is more engaging than up here."

"It's a good thing I'm going to Brittannica with you."

"Why? You don't think I can handle that load of ninnies?"

"I genuinely think you'll need all the help you can get."

"Pray tell what are you doing tonight?"

Thomas narrowed his eyebrows at the subject swap.

"Why?"

"Just wondering."

His eyes turned in to slits of judgment. "I was planning on babysitting you."

"Wonderful. So you won't have any issue if you-know-who tags along?"

"What?"

I shuffled my feet and looked around the crowded room. "Mother wants us to escort Prince Terror tonight."

"Prince Terror? Newt is not as bad as you make him out to be. He is a great person. I don't think you're being fair."

"Life's not fair and until I deem him worthy I'll refer to him as Prince Terror."

I took a deep breath and pinched myself. It was simple, how hard could it be to approach someone?

Prince Terror stood next to an amused Thomas. They held golden cups and watched the entertainers throw flaming torches. I wanted to spectate but I was too busy trying not to throw up. It was not like this before. I did not mind him half as much as I did now. I took another breath and started to slowly inch closer.

What was I going to say?

They bowed and I curtseyed. I had to say something. It had to be witty but not sarcastic. Polite but not prudish-

"Princess Roan it's lovely to see you."

My eye wanted to twitch. What had I done?! What was I thinking? I cannot talk to him.

I cleared my throat to buy myself sometime.

"Pleasure's mine." Did that sound odd? "Have you guys tried the cream puffs? I heard they're great."

Who talks about cream puffs?!

"I actually did. I liked them they were uh-very… cream puff… like."

Thomas sniggered and Prince Terror shot daggers at him.

Awkwardness ensued. Prince Terror drank more from his cup and I rubbed the back of my neck.

Think, think,think, think, think…Ah Ha!

"There-"

"I hear-"

Oh no. He was going to say something, I should've just waited.

"Pardon my manners, please continue."

"No that's all right. You can start."

"It wouldn't be proper for me to go before a lady."

"I don't mind."

Thomas grew irritated and interrupted us.

"How about I go first? I was told there was a play later on. Why don't we do that?"

Thomas hated plays but he was a very smart boy. Talking during a performance was rude-the possibilities of me saying something insulting diminished.

"What play is it?" Newt turned to Thomas.

"Oh just a reenactment of Taribiluos and Adrihula."

Of course, how could I have been so naïve?

Taribiluos and Adrihula was the ancient tale of a man and a woman stuck in the maze. Their village locked them in there after they refused to mate and continue the line of immune children. Their logic was that they would succumb to their primary instincts and produce an immune child. Which they did, after fighting off the maze giants and bathing in non-existent waterfalls.

"That story is historically incorrect." I stated, leaning back on my corset.

"Don't be such a shuck face. It will be fun."

I didn't miss the menacing twinkle in his eyes.

"But we don't have to if you feel like you can't handle it." Thomas shrugged his shoulders and looked away as if he had lost interest.

I knew I was playing in to his game but I was not going to look like a sensitive 13- year old.

"I can bear it."

Thomas had a servant reserve us three seats in the second row. I took the middle seat for the sake of propriety. Drunk lords encased us and I was not having wine spilled all over me.

The crew had set up red curtains in front of a wall of windows and stage hands walked back and forth adding the finishing touches.

"Princess Roan if you feel uncomfortable at all. I would be more than willing to accompany you to a more amiable environment."

The Prince didn't look at me while he talked but I could sense his uneasiness.

He was too nice.

"I will inform you as soon as I do."

He nodded his head.

Prince Terror had obviously seen the play before; he would not be in his current state if he had not. Many people had, it was reenacted ever year. It was one of the first writings so everyone thought it was special, in reality it was just another bawdy tale.

When the room dimmed, I heard a gulp but I was not sure if it was the prince's or Thomas

A voluptuous man in a red coat sat on a large gold throne, he was chomping on a large turkey leg while a decimated and devious man lurked behind him.

That's as much attention as I paid. The rest of the play was innuendos and tense encounters. I twisted some twine I had found while everyone else howled with laughter or stared in awe.

Royals were so primitive.

Although, towards the end, it was harder to keep myself distracted. Adrihula was bathing underneath a waterfall and Taribolous-being the barbarian he was- watched her. Snickers and gasps spread across the room when the actress stepped out from behind the blue strands of ribbon that simulated water. She was what you could call- indisposed. I promptly closed my eyes when a naked Taribolous entered the scene. If only I could have covered my ears.

I heard the swoosh of the curtain after a prolonged session of inappropriate sounds and finally uncovered my eyes. When the actors came back out to take a bow, everyone else stood and clapped.

How horrid.

"I suggest we leave before there's a bottle neck." Prince Terror suggested.

I couldn't have stood any quicker.

"Wonderful Idea. Thomas are you coming?"

I turned to Thomas who promptly stood with a grim look on his face.

"Was this the uncensored version?" I asked as we walked to the door. "The first time I saw it, it ended at the water fall."

The prince let me go through the door first before following.

"When I saw it they included their return to the village." Thomas added, from behind me.

"In the original, the village leaders take the baby and leave them to die in maze." I quipped and turned around to face them.

The drags of people had diminished and I had spent a reasonable amount of time with them.

"Well that was horrid and I believe that it is time I retire."

P.T face's instantly relaxed. He tried to hide it by furrowing his eyebrows but the relief was quite evident. I would too feel like that soon, if I could get away.

"What? Nonsense the night is young!" Thomas said, scoffing and rolling his eyes.

"No its rather late and I would like-"

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you."

The voice came from behind me. I turned around to find a grinning man.

He was taller than me and broad shouldered. His hair was black and it peaked at the front end. His eyes were heavily lidded and brown. A deviant smirk rested on his lips.

"Minho. Its great to see you!" Thomas exclaimed from behind me and nearly shoved me out of the way.

They gripped each other's forearms the way nobles did and grinned widely.

"Its been so long." Thomas said "I thought they had assigned you to Maze duty."

They let go of each other and Minho sidestepped me to slap P.T in the back.

"This scrawny tramp pulled some strings and let them give me a break."

P.T rolled his eyes and shoved Minho away.

Thomas crossed his arms and smiled so big I thought his face would split. They all did.

Was I missing something?

"Oh! Minho, this is my cousin Roan, the princess."

I curtseyed and he bowed.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance." I quipped, allowing a small smile.

"The pleasure is mine." He answered, his smirk ever present. "How does it feel?"

I furrowed my brow. "How does what feel?"

"Knowing you're going to marry the most powerful man in the world?"

Oh, that. Brittanica was the largest of the five kingdoms, they had most profitable goods, and they could navigate the maze. Brittanica was the leading nation.

"Minho." P.T nudged the man's ribs and shook his head.

The glint in Minho's eye changed. The mischievous gleam switched to a darker, more analytical glare.

"What? I just want to know."

That's not what he wanted to know.

"It's an honor to be chosen as a contemporary to such a role."

I curtseyed and turned away. I walked at a clipped pace to the nearest door. I didn't want anyone to see me cry.