Apples

"Dear?"

"Hmm…?"

'Ah, my little nugget' The Duke sighed to himself, something he found himself doing more often the past three days.

Duchess Ophelia pulled herself out of her husband's embrace and stared at the doorway. Before either of them could bid the person enter, the door burst open and a dark haired girl rushed in dressed as a common kitchen hand; bounding into the room with a giant smile on her face and clutching her gathered skirts high to her waist.

The soft blush of her cheeks and her full peach colored lips added to her innocent appeal. Her dark eyes twinkled like the brightest star in the darkest night. Her lips were slightly parted as she took in rapid breaths, but quickly closed into a line as she waited in anticipation for the stunned man and woman to acknowledge her sudden arrival.

"Miss, miss do not rush so!" A panicked voice called from a distance outside the room.

"Mamma!" The girl squealed in excitement unable to contain herself. "Look at all the apples!!"

In that instance she released the fabric of her skirts cascading a few dozen apples onto the floor. The apples scattered across the intricate carpets, rolling under chairs, couches, the piano, and some even bouncing off the central fireplace.

"Miss!" Butler Hammond grimaced having finally caught up to her in time to witness the decorating of the parlor floor.

"Never mind the apples, Ria, come eat the morning meal with me," Duchess Ophelia ignored the indignation of the butler and lead the girl out the opposite door with her head held high, golden curls threateningly bouncing with each purposeful step.

Ria blinked, "Oh, okay".

`Hah, so docile,` Duchess Ophelia internally smirked. `She will be the belle of the ball. That obnoxious Countess Portia and her equally obnoxious spawn Petia are in for a surprise of a lifetime!`

Duke Erric could only sigh, again, and the departure of his cherub wife and Ria through the second set of parlor doors leading to the breakfast room.

"Hammond, pick up the apples."

"Yes, my lord," the butler bowed and began collecting the apples. He was usually methodological and meticulous about keeping the manor spotless, but over the past week his inhuman ability to keep the place spotless was aggressively challenged by the young miss. She wasn't a messy person, per se, but she seemed to leave a trail wherever she went.

`How can a person connected with my lord and lady be so...so…` before Butler Hammond could finish his thought there was another knock on the doorframe. This time, by a much heavier hand.

"Butler Hammond, we need your assistance sir. Th- t-the room assign-m-ments," a young man's panicked stuttering voice came through the door.

The man in question held in his exasperation as he continued to collect the apples.

`If only Miss Ria wasn't so wild.`

And he wasn't about to yell back through the door with his lord still present.

`Those village boys. I'll have to correct Jay again on manor etiquette.`

In two weeks time would be the Wintercrest ball and the guests were already due to begin arriving. The first of all, and perhaps worst of all, the Emerald Knighthood under the command of Second Prince Ewan. Every scheming mother and their eligible daughter would be at the ball vying for the prince's attention. Grace willing, it would be enough to distract the man from becoming too interested in their little nugget.

Though it is traditional that a garrison is housed at each of the great country houses of the Kingdom of Vannoir, it was highly unusual that a member of the royal family would be in attendance.

Duke Erric chose to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind and the knock on the door. Ria was innocent and plain enough now to catch the attention of the young men of the village nearby. He prayed her innocent nature would be enough.

`Royal princelings usually go for the glamorous and flashy ladies, right?` Duke Erric mumbled under his breath making his way towards the breakfast room.

Stopping suddenly at the door, Duke Erric mumbled again, "She looks taller..."

"Did you say something, my lord?" Butler Hammond paused his apple picking up the last apple in sight and looked up at his lord. He was expecting to see his lord Duke Erric as stoic as ever, but was surprised to see a glow on the man's rough face. Duke Erric's slightly sinister smile sent a chill down Butler Hammond's spine.

He hoped it was the smile of a doting father scheeming for the best for his daughter.