I’m not complaining; I know this is the nature of parents, to not know their children. It’s never bothered me, not really, until I saw her. When she looked at me, right before I wanted to kiss her, I felt like she knew more of me than anyone else. With one look, she stole my secrets. That’s why I showed her the sparrow, the secret I guard closest to my heart. I wanted to put her right next to the bird and keep them both. All for me.

I’ve never felt this way. Ever.

“Braizen. Son, are you ready?” My father’s voice loomed from outside my door. It’s unusual that he’s here; the maidens usually fetch me. But I suppose the next few days will be a lot different than what I’m used to.

She’s changing everything.

“You look like a crow. Why are your eyes darkened so? Did you not rest last night?” His words assault me as soon as I emerge.

I shrug a bit, then straighten. “I slept decently enough.”

He squints down at me, then inhales roughly.

“No matter; let’s go.”

We walk to the great dining hall where my mother stands at the entrance. She’s wearing a gods’ awful green dress; the skirts take up half the hallway. Gaudy pearls line the front bodice, and a large peacock feather sticks out of her pulled-up hair. She looks ridiculous.

Her neck snaps towards us, and she groans frantically and flicks her wrists. “Why does the boy look like this? He looks like one of those pesky rodents that eat the cook’s kitchen scraps! Did he not sleep last night?”

“Because, Eveline, he is a boy. He was likely up all night, nervous for today.”

Father is halfway right, I think. My mother wafts a hand towards him and turns to face the door, her nose pointing entirely into the air.

“He is a Prince, Vaskis. If he cannot even rest because his nerves are too high, how can we expect him to lead, hmm?”

My father joins her, his face more than annoyed. “Do not worry yourself with petty issues such as these,” he says. “The Verdanians aren’t the sort who can judge what is handsome. Even if the boy hadn’t rested for a week, he’d still far surpass the Princess in looks.”

Mother tsks. “It is a great shame that our bloodline will merge with theirs. Likely, our features will show dominance in the heirs. Lady and Guard will it.”

I step in front of them and grimace at the thought of having children of my own. Perhaps I can get Idalia to agree not to have any. A kiss would be nice, but I’m not sure beyond that.

The doors open, and two heralds blow the familiar fanfare before loudly announcing us. We walk slowly, too slowly, to the long wooden table, which is teeming with food. It stretches across the entire dais, and the Thrope and Hyland royals stand to greet us.

I catch her eye, and she blushes, making my cheeks red hot. Lachlan stands with his hands behind his back, looking straight ahead and remaining inhumanly still. I know this is because his father, who stands next to him, will hurt him if he makes any movement. Theodore, however, doesn’t seem to care about her father’s strictness and shuffles back and forth. Her hair is pulled back, two curls fall in front of each ear, and a large Aeradian flower, the Salva, rests in her hair. This four-petaled flower burns a rich red and is only found in the Deep Kingdom. The Aeradians guard it fiercely. No one knows why. It’s pretty, but I’ve never seen a need to make such a big fuss. It’s not that pretty.