1 Their arrival

"hahaha, no one can defeat the mighty warrior Charles," my brother said pulling out his light wooden sword from the sheath to point it at me.

"let's see about that mighty warrior Charles," I drew out my sword too, as we began to duel each other.

"surrender or face the consequences," I commanded, climbing my bed to fight him since he was moving too fast.

"Never," he declined, climbing on top of my bed to continue, he finally knock me down, throwing my sword out of my hand as he quickly pointed his own at me before I could do anything.

"ok, ok, I know, I sure...ren...der," I groaned, refusing his hand of help and got up myself.

"told you I'm the greatest," he smirked, putting his sword back into his sheath.

"No one is dragging the title with you," I was annoyed that he always win our duel game even when he is my younger brother, my mother came into my room looking around with disgust.

"oh my god, how did you manage to turn your room into a trash zone, for God sake Zara, you are a princess,"

"blah, blah," I imitated the way my mother said the princess, as I and my brother began to laugh.

"I'm sorry," I said after seeing the way she was frowning at me.

"that's more like it, now hurry up and get dressed, the Royals from Baneria are coming soon," she told me as I and my brother began to groan.

"come here Charles, you also need to prepare," she said, moving towards my brother who tried to run away from her.

"but I don't want to...," my brother whining didn't stop my mother, who dragged him out with her.

"I'll have the maid bring your dress to you, make sure you aren't late," she informed me before shutting my door.

Some group of maids and Yvonne, whom I considered more as a friend but was still a maid came in with a blue ball gown I'll have to wear for the party and a bag filled with makeup.

"do I really need to put on those things," I inquired, looking at the numbers of makeup they were removing from their bag to place on top of the table.

"the king instructed us to adorn all his daughters to their best," one of the maids told me, unzipping the dress I was wearing to put me in the blue dress before sitting me down so they could wear me my makeup.

"how do I look," I asked Yvonne, after the other maids were done, turning round for her to see everywhere.

She has been working in our courtyard since when she was twelve, she is just a year older than me and she treats me like her younger sister, sometime she would sneak me out so I can see what the village looks like, she is my favorite maid and friend and I love having her around.

"you look so graceful my lady and the dress suit you just fine," she commented, coming toward me to arrange the hand of my dress.

"I hope am not too overdressed," I asked looking at myself in the mirror one more time with concern, I had golden brown hair with blue eyes that fitted my dress perfectly, my nose was dainty and angel white gap teeth that I didn't like revealing to others but since I love smiling, people will still see it anyway,

"no, I think you'll be the most beautiful princess there,"

"Thanks," I told her before walking out of the room, going outside of the palace to stand near my siblings and father, King Alfred Egbert of Endoria, my name is Princess Zara Egbert and I am fifteen years old and I am the sixteenth child and the tenth daughter of my father, my mother Helena jones is the sixth and the last of my father's concubine, she had only two children which were me and my younger brother Charles Egbert who was ten years old.

My mother always told me that she had no choice but to be a concubine, so she and the rest of her family will have what to eat and survive, I always feel pity for her especially when the other concubines and the queen bullies her, especially in public.

Although my father gives my mother what she wants, and treated her the same way he treats his other concubines, he always acts oblivious when the matter about how they are bullying my mother is brought up, is either he claims to be too busy with kingdom matters or he claims it to be a fight between women who don't know how to solve matters, so my mom just suffers in silence with the mindset that nobody is coming to her aid and she can't do anything about it as a low-ranking concubine.

my mom like the rest of the concubines was standing among the Duke and other people of higher status, they weren't permitted to stand with us since they weren't legally married, we were waiting for the Royal families of Baneria to arrive.

For three years now, our Kingdom and Baneria have been sworn enemies until the beginning of this year when they both agreed during their peacemaking moment to have their heir marry one of my dad's daughters, I heard that my dad was also the one who suggested the idea, as our kingdom wouldn't be able to win if it goes to war with Baneria, since it was more powerful than ours.

I wasn't interested in being chosen by the prince, I dressed this much because my father ordered the maids to do so, Normally I'm not the type that cares about how I look.

Their carriage finally arrived and the trumpeters began to blow their trumpets.

"We welcome the Royal Majesty, King Edward Vance of Baneria, and Queen Anne Vance of Baneria," the herald announced as some group of male servants hurriedly roll the long red rug onto the floor for them to step on, as everyone began to applaud when they walked forward.

King Edward has sharp masculine features, followed by a protruding icy blue pair of eyes that could stop anyone from looking at him twice, his wife was shorter and had a sculpted feature that was twine-thin and a burnished complexion that shows she was well taken care of, her ebony hair plunged over her shoulders, with her enticing sea green eyes and her cute button nose.

Another carriage was seen after the other one that carried the highness had left.

"We welcome the royal Prince Eric Vance of Baneria," the herald announced as the trumpeter lift their trumpet to blow again, he had ebony black hair that flowed down to his shoulder, and he was slim but still had visible muscular features, I almost laughed when I saw how lanky and bony his leg was, but he still manages to walk gracefully, he seems to have his father body features and his mother's hair and eyes, they stopped a distance away from us before showing their respect as we did the same, except my father and king Edward who were just staring at each other with a weird smile on their faces.

"Now put on your best smile princess, so Prince Eric will start now to see how worthy you are," Queen Nora, my father's legal wife whispered to her daughter Beatrice, who started fluttering her eyelashes, sending a coy smile towards the prince who seems to be looking at her with confusion, I almost laughed when I saw how the prince was ignoring her, my sisters were so obsessed with being the prince of Baneria bride.

"it a pleasure to grace our kingdom with your presence today, King Edward," my father said acting unconcerned.

"the pleasure is all mine, King Charles," King Edward replied behaving oblivious too.

"James," my dad called the senior male servant.

"Yes, your highness," he responded, bowing his head low.

"Please have some servant escort and attend to them, in case they need to do anything before the party," the King ordered, as the servants bowed directing the Royals of Baneria to the royal guest Chamber.