Bloodbound courtship

"Rise and shine Ms Amaia", a cheery voice was heard from the room. Amaia woke up in confusion as to what was going on. "Mabel", Amaia said in a half sleepy, half stunned voice. *And what brings you here this fine morning* Amaia says as she proceeds to sit upright, letting out a long yawn. It was certainly utter perplexity for her. Mabel opening the curtains let out a giggle. "Don't be silly, silly. It is your royal courtship. Today, eligible men from different backgrounds will come to the royal house hoping to win your heart and become your husband". Upon hearing this, Amaia's face showed uninterest and agitatenes.

*It's quite a grand affair.....but I'm not doing it*. Slipping her head back into her blanket. Mabel froze in drawing the curtains. "Certainly not! You will stand your lady bum up, and you will look ravishing for those suitors today", Mabel said pulling Amaia out of the bed. With Mabel around, there was simply no way that Amaia could carry out any of her daring decisions even if she wanted to. "Your Father will be up in a few. So you should get on with dressing up", she said while looking throught a bunch of royal dresses the maids had brought a few hours ago.

*THIS ONE*

Mabel pulls out a huge baby blue royal gown. It had emerelds on the side of it that shimmered. "No way", Amaia said dumbfoundingly as she gazed at the dress. "Yes way. These days, it's always about cinched waists, hooped up skirts, rubbles and elaborate underpinnings. To give the skirt a certain billowing shape", she said placing it carefully on the bed.

*Anyways, you should take a quick bath and give the bell a ring as soon as you're done*. Mabel walks out of the room.

"Just great", she thought to herself as she looked at the huge royal gown that looked like it weighed more than a hundred pounds. "I guess I'm doing this then. If they want to marry me off that badly then I fancy they marry me off to a vampire", she said in a supposed to be sarcastic way. It didn't take all too long before she was ready. All the maidens helped deck her up. She looked magnificenct. "Marvelous ", one of the maidens said as i stood in front of the body mirror in astonishment." I bet any young man could fall in love with you after this".

All this banter wanted to make Amaia throw up. The dress was quite heavy yes...but she had to admit that she did look quite ravishing.

*Door opens*, "May I enter", A man's voice is heard from behind the door. It was Cleo. Mabel had mentioned that he would be coming up here in a few. "Pa. I look hidious", Amaia said in disappointment. Cleo turned to look at the wonder that Amaia called hidiousness. His eyes officially widened. He had never seen his princess all decked up like that in a long time. It was amazing. "Simply not princess. You look stunning today", Cleo said as he held her hand and led her out of the room. This was it. Amaia's big day. Today she would find an eligible man with whom she may spend her whole life with forever. She didn't know if she was nervous or excited. But she was definitely uninterested. Everything went by in a blur as they walked down the stairs. The roon went silent till the point where only her heels were heard. She stood next to her Dad with their arms intertwined the whole time.

*GASPS*

Everyone faced towards them. The whole royal palace went silent in astonishment. They all looked at her gown, witnessing her choice of dressing for the special occasion, as they gave nothing but joyous comments about the Georgiou family. It was amazing that their only daughter was doing such a good job.

"You're doing well princess", Cleo whispered to Amaia as they finally reached the bottom of the stair case. She was led to the ball room where all the suitors were. There were quite a lot of suitors. From different empires, royal families and palaces. Each one of them dressed in a very eligible and according way.

Within 2 hours, all the suitors were introduced to Amaia. They all looked dashing and handsome, but the problem was that none of them caught her attention. Amaia walked up to Cleo. "Pa! I talked to each one of the suitors, danced with them in the ball room and even went as far as sharing my hobbies with them ...and that's very personal. But none of them seem to catch my eye", she said with a face that read : *I already knew it*. "Not their personalities, their values, or their compatibility caught up to me". Cleo looked at her in awe.

"My princess. Not just yet. There's one more suitor", Cleo said pointing to the entrance of the ballroom.

*GASPS AGAIN*

Everyone looked in astonishment towards the late royal family that entered the palace. ( It is the Dark wood family. All the way from the Roman empire). Whispers were being heard from every corner of the ballroom. They were definitely a respectable family from the Roman empire. But why would they come all the way to the Greek empire just to be a suitor for some princess who was not even interested in the courtship. That was what Amaia thought of. The family walked into the the ball room with confidence. Their Aura really gave of *Royal family*. Amaia had never seen something like that before.

Behing them, a young looking man came forward. He was the Prince of the Roman family and the gemstone of his parents. He had Dark, black hair that complimented his gray eyes. He also had a very calm and hypnotic demeanor. Amaia couldn't stop staring at him in bewilderment and he, too stared at her with a calculating and lazy look. She didn't notice that her eyes were widened too. "My! I've never seen someone like that before. How dare he. He looks so lazy as though he doesn't even care about this courtship. I simply won't have it", Amaia said in a nagging way as she folded her arms and tilted her head to face up. "You're just as uninterested as he is Princess. Give it a chance", Cleo said persuasively.

"I suppose he isn't that bad looking after all then. Okay then, I'll give it a try", she replied as a pink blush started to form on her face.

Amaia had no other choice but to give it a try. She only ever listened to Cleo and Mabel. Nobody else.

"And now..for the princess and suitor to take their dance", the microphone of the night sounded. Then, the charming and hearthrob Sebastian Dark wood walked towards Amaia and held out his hand with a bow. "May I have this dance My lady", his dark and hypnotic voice piercing through her ears. She felt a shiver run down her spine. Something about this suitor was different. He wasn't even trying to be a good suitor, yet something drew Amaia towards him. Something the other suitors simply failed to do.