"I don't think my wife-to-be should be the first one to judge me."

At that moment, Catherine knew, she was doomed for life. She just got caught badmouthing the king of the kingdom, red-handed. Maybe she could get away with a few maids knowing but it was the king himself. Thousands of thoughts run through her mind trying to make justification for the action she made.

'I must've been crazy talking like that. Should I apologize?' She rambled on.

She stood up and slowly turn her head to where the voice came from. There, stood a well-built figure, towering her, with raven-colored hair and golden eyes that seemed to shimmer, he looked like an artist's masterpiece. His chiseled face with a pointed nose and thin lips that curved into a cocky smile was carved into perfection, blessed by the one above. Catherine stared at the king's face, she has never seen someone as beautiful as him. Behind the king was Sir Konnor who accompanied the king.

"Your Majesty. Sir Konnor." Maria curtsied followed by Josephine and Ria. Catherine straighten her posture and cleared her throat. She looked at the king directly in his golden eyes.

"It seems you have caught me in an awkward predicament. Allow me to introduce myself properly, Your Majesty." She lowered her head, took the edges of her dress as she gently pulls it. She gracefully put her right foot forward leaving her left foot behind and she slowly bends her knees making a dignified curtsy before the king. She returned to her original position and locked eyes with the king.

"Princess Catherine Bel Swan of the Bohr Kingdom." She presented and smiled sweetly.

"Good day to you as well, Sir Konnor." She looked at Sir Konnor who was beside the king.

The king reached for her right hand and softly placed a kiss on it, leaving warmth on Catherine's hand.  She felt her blood rushed to her cheeks as the man in from of her looked at her in the eyes. Again, she cleared her throat and looked away. 

'I can't get carried away with his lovely face. What lovely?! God, this is absurd!'

Catherine and the king sat dawn as Josephine and Ria stood behind the princess taking in what just happened, while Sir Konnor stayed beside the king. Ria looked at Josephine with knowing eyes, but Josephine dismissed her with one look. Sir Konnor looked at the two and smiled as if he knows exactly what was about to unfold. They continue to observe what will happen to the two. 

"What brings you here, Your Majesty?" Catherine started and signaled Maria to pour tea to her cup, as well as, to the king.

"Can I not go to the gardens in my own palace?" Before Maria could even pour the king's tea, he waved her hand indicating not to. Catherine raised one of her eyebrows in the king's response.

'The nerve of this man.'

"Right. Well then, please enjoy your time admiring the gardens but I'm afraid I cannot accompany you, Your Majesty, as I'm feeling tired so I shall retire to my chambers." She stood up and did another curtsy before the king. The king crossed his legs and tapped on the glass table.

"Alright, you may do so. Rest well, Princess." Catherine forced a smile and left with Josephine, Ria, and Maria. Sir Konnor did a simple bow to show respect. When the three women were out of sight, Sir Konnor sat in front of the king where the princess sat earlier.

"Did you see how beautiful they looked?" Sir Konnor exclaimed. "I still can't believe what I see every time I see them. Especially the princess, her hair is already captivating but her eyes are very alluring." Sir Konnor excitedly blurted. He just couldn't stop himself to praise the people from the Bohr Kingdom with such heavenly features.

"Are you done?" The king asked in annoyance. She indeed had unusual hair and truly a beauty but the king can't help but distrust her. She was from an unfamiliar kingdom with an unfamiliar culture. Who knows what she is capable of. 

"But why didn't you tell her the reason you weren't able to see her was that you were busy meeting with the council who opposes this marriage? The princess is involved, you know. You can't let her misunderstand you every time." Sir Konnor nagged at the king who wasn't even listening to him talk.

"I don't really care about what she thinks of me. This is a political marriage, but the garden really does look magnificent." The king stood up as he massages his temple and headed to his office. He was tired and just wanted to take some rest after a very intense two-day meeting with the council and the House of Churchill. Sir Konnor followed closely, still talking.

"Especially the House of Churchill, I know that they housed two generations of queens but meeting with you, alone, after the council agreed to the marriage. Tsk, tsk, tsk." They passed by the corridor where the princess' chambers are located and they heard some noises coming from the room.

"ARGH! I'M AN EMBARRASSMENT!!!" 

The king tilted his head and looked at his adviser. Sir Konnor shrugged and they continue their way to the king's office which is three rooms from the princess' chambers.

----------------------------------------

Catherine was now alone in her chambers. She didn't want Josephine and Ria to see her face so she didn't even eat her lunch. She was so embarrassed, she needed a break. Catherine covered her face with the pillow sitting beside her and screamed at her heart's content. After a couple of minutes of letting her emotions run wild in the pillow, she breathes in and out, trying to calm herself, when a knock interrupted her. Maria emerged from the big doors and handed Catherine an envelope.

"Your Highness, you have a letter from the House of Churchill," Maria said and stood in front of the princess, waiting for her command. 

"Would please call Josephine and Ria?" Catherine asked and Maria went to their rooms.

Catherine knew about the main houses surrounding in the kingdom, thanks to Sir Konnor who gave her a quick lesson about the founding of the king while they wait for the princess's tutor that should arrive with the ladies-in-waiting, that the king will choose for her. The Kingdom of Uranbel has three main houses: the House of Churchill, which is the second most powerful after the Royal Family, and the closest one to the Royal Family as they housed two generations of queens. Their house also manages the merchants in the kingdom. The next one is the House of Maraboli, which is the third most powerful, holding the most positions in the council as they are the scholars in the kingdom, they provide advice to the king and council.  Lastly, the House of Lokos which is in par with the House of Maraboli in terms of power. This house is composed of knights that are responsible for the military and guarding of the kingdom. 

"You called for us, Your Highness?" Josephine called out as the princess looked too lost in her thoughts. 

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Ah." Catherine handed her the envelope she hasn't opened, yet she already knew what it was for. Since the Churchills housed two generations of queens, and she was from a different country that did not even exist before the engagement, Catherine knew what she would be facing. Adding one thing to another, it wasn't that hard. Josephine used a small knife to open the letter as she and Ria read what was in it.

"They want you to attend an afternoon tea with the noble ladies, today, Your Highness, and they will be sending a coach to escort you to their residence and back to the palace," Josephine stated. Upon hearing what Josephine said, she rang the bell beside the princess' bed and two servants came in. 

"We need to prepare right away if you do not want to be late, Your Highness." Maria was already rummaging through Catherine's closet, trying to find the right dress to wear. 

"What will you do, Your Highness?" Ria asked as she looked intently to Catherine.

"I have been invited, so I shall go," Catherine answered and Maria pulled out a purple white gradient color long dress with diamond dust glitter to match with the princess' purple eyes. To match the dress, Maria picked a silver butterfly long earrings paired with a butterfly bracelet. 

"Thank you, Maria and Ellie, this is lovely." Catherine complimented as they continue to finish her makeup. After the preparations are done, Josephine gestured for Maria and Ellie to leave the room.

"Now, bring me that silver container, please." Catherine pointed at the small silver round pot beside her table.

"I cannot go empty-handed can I?" Ria handed her the pot and Catherine summoned the earth elements in her fingertips and directed it to the pot. The pot became full with soil and flowers as white as the clouds bloomed with leaves as green as the jades. It was a flower called lilies only the royal family of the Bohr Kingdom can generate and it was also the favorite flower of Catherine.

"Your Highness, this flower does not grow in this kingdom." Josephine asserted. During their stay in the kingdom, the gardens were full of all kinds of beautiful flowers but not once did they see lilies. 

"All the more reason to gift this little one." Catherine runs her fingers to the petals of the flower admiring its beauty. Maria knocked twice and said that the coachmen have arrived from the residence of Churchill. Josephine took the pot of flowers from Catherine's hand and headed to the grand hall, where the coachmen were waiting. 

"Oh, right. Maria would you mind telling His Majesty that I would be going out for a bit." Catherine winked at Maria and got into the carriage. Half an hour past before they arrived at the Churchill Residence. They were greeted by numerous servants running around the place and giggles from the room near the entrance. Three servants bowed and escorted them to the room where they heard the giggles.

"My Lady, Her Highness the Princess has arrived." A servant announced and the room was filled with silence. A couple of noble ladies stood up and curtsy before Catherine and examined her.

"Welcome, Your Highness." A refine but confident voice greeted by a lady with wavy brown hair and green eyes, who was wearing a red ruffled long dress with a detailed lace design that suddenly appeared in the crowd making way for her.

"It is my pleasure." Catherine smiled as Ria handed her the pot with flowers. "Pardon my small token of appreciation for inviting me to your residence." Catherine handed the pot to the lady who accepted it.

"You shouldn't have. Oh, excuse my behavior. I am Clementine Churchill." Clementine curtsied and ushered the princess to sit. The rest of the noble ladies also sat in their respective seats as they silently observed the princess.

"You really have unusual hair, Your Highness." The lady with sleek pink hair and blue eyes commented.

"Before that, Lady Quintin, please introduce yourselves first. Making a comment like that in your first meeting would make her Highness uncomfortable." Clementine lectured and smiled at Catherine.

"My, you're right, Lady Clementine. Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness. I am Aria Quintin Maraboli from House Maraboli. You may address me as Quintin" Quintin presented.

Next to her was a girl with distinct red hair and blue eyes. "Thalia Evelyn Maraboli, at your service, Your Highness."

The last girl to introduce herself, was with wavy light yellow hair and brown eyes, "Caitlin Elizabeth Lokos from House Lokos, Your Highness." 

"Please to be your acquaintance, Lady Clementine, Lady Quintin, Lady Thalia, and Lady Caitlin." Catherine looked at the ladies as she said their names. 

"I am Princess Cathrine Bel Swan from the Bohr Kingdom. This is Alexandria Nightingale and Josephine Chantey." Catherine pointed at the two ladies who were beside her.

"How is your stay in the kingdom, Your Highness?" Clementine wondered as she signaled for the servants to pour tea in the princess' cup. The strong aroma of the tea filled the room as they continue to talk.

"It is very good, Lady Clementine. There are a lot of things that I have not seen back in our kingdom." Catherine shared as she sipped into her teacup. The noble ladies continue to observe the two's conversation, not knowing when to join in.

"Oh, have you heard the news?" Caitlin beamed, "Apparently, our tyrant king has been busy selecting ladies-in-waiting for you, Your Highness!" She continued but the word "tyrant" made Catherine raise one of her eyebrows.

"What do you mean by a tyrant?" Catherine asked. This is the first time she's heard of this, ever since she came to the kingdom.

"Oh my, you did not know?" Quintin inquired with an alarmed look. "The current king killed both his parents to ascend the throne. I also heard that before he killed his parents, he made them suffer first, like cutting off their limbs and removing their nails. That is why he is known as the tyrant king. What he has now is only a bloody throne." Quintin continued. The look of surprise is evident in Catherine's face as well to Ria and Josephine. Clementine smirked at what she witnessed, this is exactly what she was hoping for.

"Quintin, I told you that kind of stories should be off-limit, right?" Clementine cleared her throat and sipped her tea.

"But the whole kingdom already knows this story, it's not like it's a nation's secret." Caitlin retorted. Thalia starts to feel like this is not some normal tea party that Clementine hosted, this was to put the king's betrothed off her guard and make her scared of the king. She was about to say something when Catherine interjected their conversation.

"Don't you think that it is rather impolite to talk about my husband-to-be in that manner? Aside from that, what you just said can be called treason that can have your head and your family's head too, Lady Quintin. I have two witnesses that can vouch for what you did." Quintin looked pale at what Catherine said. It is true that slandering the royal family can be an act of treason and even if she is one of the main houses, doesn't mean she can excuse herself from the consequences her actions bear.

"Your Highness, this is just some girls talking about gossips. Please don't take to heart what this kid has said and allow me to educate her." Clementine butted in, she did not expect that kind of response from the princess. She has to reevaluate her plans and she needs her little toys to execute them for her.

"Furthermore, Lady Clementine, inviting a noble to a tea party needs to be at least two or three days for preparations let alone a royal, but you invited me, a royal, to your tea party that was scheduled for today without any prior invitations, I must say you are very bold." The noble ladies sat in silence as they listen to the princess speak.

"Very well, it seems that I have taken too much of your lovely time. Please do invite me again, Lady Clementine. Till next time, ladies." Catherine stood up with Ria and Josephine and exited the room leaving the ladies in disbelief, but Thalia smiled at the princess' assertion. It seems the king found a good partner, she thought.

Catherine and her ladies went outside to see Sir Konnor waiting patiently for them.

"Sir Konnor what are you doing here?" Ria asked Sir Konnor opened the door in the carriage. They went in and sat comfortably. Catherine has never felt tired in her life like this before. Is this how girls fight in this kingdom, she mumbled. 

"I heard from Maria that you were invited to the Churchill Residence so I decided- I mean the king asked me to escort you back." Sir Konnor reckoned. "To be honest, the king had a hard time during the two days he had a meeting with the council and the Churchill family. It was a disaster. Everyone was opposed to your marriage with the king because of your unknown kingdom. They were questioning the legitimacy of your background." Sir Konnor explained.

"Humans," Catherine grumbled, soft enough for Sir Konnor not to hear.

"That is why the king had no time to visit you." He continued. The whole carriage ride to the palace was peaceful as a dove. None of them uttered a word after Sir Konnor explained what happened. 

'Finally, this day is over.'