“My father wanted all of his heirs to be sons,” she says and rolls her eyes. She digs an elbow into her brother’s ribs. Lachlan, I think she called him. “So, when our mother popped me out, he didn’t think twice about what to call me. Theodore Thrope is the name, but you can call me Teddy.” She rests her fists on her hips and grins proudly.

I nod, as I’ve been taught to when introduced to other royalty. “Hello, Teddy. I’m Idalia. You may call me … Idalia.”

Teddy snickers then tucks her arm around me. “Well then, Idalia, since you’ve already met my dumb brother, allow me to introduce you to the owner of the place.” My feet drag as she pulls me towards the other boy, busy picking at the lock. “Meet Prince Braizen of Baelliles. It’s the two of you who bring us all together.” She releases her hold on me and smacks her lips. “That’s what my maiden told me! She says we’re all here because the two of you are supposed to kiss.”

I wrench back. “What?!”

The Prince doesn’t seem fazed by Teddy’s words; he keeps working away at the lock as if nothing was said.

A mischievous grin lights up Teddy’s face. “You must kiss! It’s what ladies and gentlemen do to make babies. That’s how heirs are born! Or at least, that’s what my maiden says. I’m not too sure. My mother died shortly after I was born, so I’ve had to ask around. What do you think, Lachlan? Don’t they have to kiss?”

Her brother examines my horrified expression, then shrugs. “I don’t think a princess has to do anything she doesn’t want to do,” he says.

I sigh in relief, but Teddy swats at him. “That’s not true at all, Lach! Haven’t you heard a word Father says? That’s precisely what a princess must do.” She turns to me with an intense look.

“What’s that?” I ask hesitantly, still eyeing the boy picking the lock. “What’s a princess to do?”

Teddy looks at me very seriously. “What she doesn’t want.”

I swallow the thick lump forming in the back of my throat. I can think of nothing more disgusting than a kiss. It’s the very last thing I want to do with a boy, let alone a stranger!

Click. “Got it!” Prince Braizen cries in victory. I glance over Teddy’s shoulder to see that the Prince has indeed triumphed over the lock.

Lachlan jumps up and down, clapping his hands. Teddy stomps her foot. “Well then, it’s time you show us all the things you promised!” she says.

The Prince proudly gestures for us to enter before him. Lachlan and his sister bound into the doorway, pushing against each other to be first.

Prince Braizen turns to face me for the first time, and my breath catches as I meet his eyes. They’re the cool blue of a frosted winter’s sky in Verdana. I’ve never seen anything like them. He stares at me as if he has seen a ghost. Or something far more shocking. I shift uncomfortably, and my cheeks flush; I obviously stared at him for too long.