Caught Between Two Princes

2018, December 2nd

Zoey hailed from the small town Rosa.

As anyone from Rosa would tell you, the only thing more mundane than Rosa itself was its people. Quaint, little suburbs. One book store. One coffee shop. One everything, ensuring that everyone knew each other. Rosa was what the set of a suburban utopia might look like.

That's what Zoey liked about the place though. Everything flowed like clockwork. Nothing ever changed. Bookish, nerdy Zoey liked her predictable life just fine.

How could she have known that the simple act of opening the mailbox would change all that?

Everything was different after Zoey was handed her mail that day. The world seemed turned on its head. Broken as though in the pieces that the earth came together during the time of creation. And yet, somehow even as it spun on, it spun differently.

With her pretty face and messy curls often hidden behind a book, Zoey grew up a mere commoner. No different to most women in Terres, Somnia. Having always considered herself average in every way, it surprised her to find that she was not.

That she was the granddaughter of an earl who lived abroad was not news to Zoey. Save for the cheque that came in the mail every month, however, that connection was a distant one. Zoey never felt the weight of it.

So when the news of Duke Arden being her father reached her, the young woman had many questions.

"You've spent 23 years avoiding this conversation, mom. Well, not today," Zoey said, handing her mother the letter.

She stood towering over her mom with her hands on her hips. Natalie sat at the kitchen table, sorting through bills. A glance at the letter was enough to educate Natalie.

"Out with it," Zoey insisted through pursed lips.

"Okay," Natalie conceded, gesturing for her daughter to take a seat, which Zoey did.

"When I was about your age, I got involved with the son of a duke. Word got out and the whole thing blew up. Turns out, he was engaged. It turned into a huge scandal. He ended it, but by then I was already pregnant with you. Disgusted with my shameful dalliance, the great Earl Michael Ranger shipped me off to Rosa. A small town where no one would ever know of my connection to the house of Ranger. I had no choice but to accept, as with the move came a monthly allowance which I used to raise you."

The constant fighting between Natalie and Grandpa Michael finally made sense. Zoey just sat there, taking it all in.

"I never imagined he would cut us off," Natalie sighed, picking up a bunch of bills only to throw them back down onto the table in frustration.

As she took a close look at the letter, a glint appeared in Natalie's eye. In it, Duke Arden had promised a handsome sum for a meeting with Zoey.

Zoey, at a loss for what else to say, was about to respond with sympathetic words when Natalie spoke again. The mood went from sombre to sour in seconds.

"You have to do it," Natalie said, jumping at the opportunity.

Zoey could not see herself entertaining the idea even for a moment.

"You were raised as a noblewoman. Where's your pride?" Zoey spat out.

"I gave it up the day I had you," said Natalie with a soft smile. "We need the money, Zo."

Zoey couldn't stand the idea of needing anything from him. She turned on her heel, walked to her room and slammed the door behind her.

Half an hour later, Zoey was lying on her bed with a book. Having read the same page five times now, she sighed. Who was she to talk about pride? Deep down, Zoey longed to see him. Only to tell him off, of course. With any luck, he had a belly and a pretentious moustache. Besides, maybe some time away from her mom and her complicated relationship with Grandpa Michael was exactly what she needed.

When her half-brother Bart came for her a few days later, Zoey found herself at a loss for words. Fortunately for her, Bart talked little. The drive up to Caines happened in an old yellow mustang in mint condition.

The scenery turned from houses to skyscrapers to empty stretches of road. Zoey stared out the window, trying to sort through what was happening.

By the end of the 16-hour drive, she had concluded only two things. One was that they needed money. The second was that this perfect stranger whom she had only known about for a day, would give it to her. The questions in her mind went away, but for two. Could she give him what he wanted in exchange for said money? Was Zoey ready to meet the father who abandoned her and her mother?

It was dark when they got to the huge, imposing mansion. Regardless, it was impossible to miss the armed men stationed at every corner as Bart showed Zoey to a room. Bart told her to be up by five, after which he closed the door on her. The room was as big as the entire upstairs combined of the two-story house Zoey had lived in all her life.

Much like what little of the rest of the house she could make out, the furnishings were loud and arrogant. The way the room came together made Zoey feel, for the first time in her life, the depth of her loneliness.

There were no friends to call, no mom to comfort her and no way to know that she even existed in the world. Zoey threw herself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling until the darkest hour of the night. Too numb to cry, wondering how she'd allowed herself to become so alone.

At exactly 5 AM the next day, a string of women streamed into the room. All talking over each other, all but carrying Zoey to the dressing table like a doll. That morning was a cold day which was bound to bring snow.

Zoey let the words pass right by her as the women gossiped. Now and then they'd say something about The King's Fancy. Stylists and hairdressers and Zoey knew not what else started bustling around her. Pulling at her hair and sticking brushes in her face.

She meant to tell them to stop, but no words came out of her mouth. Still feeling drained from all the surprises of yesterday, Zoey gave up and let her mind wander.

She missed being in a lecture hall, filled with perfect strangers. They expected nothing from her but silence so that they could all attend their lecture. She missed her boring, predictable life. Already she felt so far from it. Like this was always her life and that had been the dream. But that was absurd, of course.

She was only here to pick up a check, tell the duke off and hope never to see him again. As the denial began to give way, Zoey stared at the mirror before her. She was disappearing, bit by bit, right before her eyes.

Don’t think of it. She could barely believe herself to be sitting upright in this chair. Do not think about it. Do not wonder how he looks. Stop thinking altogether. She knew it was him the moment he entered her room.

The duke did not have a round belly. He was a tall man, not as tall as Bart, but still a giant of a man with a dignified presence and a handsome face.

The years had been kind to him. He walked well. Zoey hated how he seemed to do everything well. She drew a breath and braced herself as everyone in the room bowed. The duke glanced disinterestedly at the hired help. Zoey heard his heavy footsteps as he came to stand behind her. He stopped, held her gaze in the mirror a second longer than she could bear and then marched off without a word.

Zoey exhaled, followed by everyone else. Her mind, wherever it had been when she met his gaze, was back in that room.

"Do not allow His Grace to alarm My Lady," said the woman sticking pins into Zoey's hair. "Been that way since the day I got here."

Zoey tried to turn, but the woman steered her forward again.

"Almost done, My Lady," she said in a soft tone.

"Yes, we'll make sure you are a vision for the prince," hummed one of the other women, as she painted Zoey's nails.

"Excuse me?" Zoey asked, confused.

The hairstylist gave the manicurist a look, who then snapped her mouth shut. Now Zoey was curious. Where exactly were they going? She received no information at all.

The King's Fancy was the most important day on the calendar in Caines. This brunch had become the event of the year.

On this day, business deals were made and people spread rumours that would turn into scandals. But this year, The King's Fancy was more than that. On this day, King Henry and his cousin, Duke George Arden had to meet. For this year, The King's Fancy would change the very nation.

"Come on then," said a subdued Bart.

Zoey looked to her right. Even more dashing than yesterday when he came to pick her up was Bart. Her brand new half-brother, all 6'6" of him, standing tall in his tux. He was arguably the tallest person Zoey had ever known. Not that she knew any young men. Those brilliant, dark blue eyes put you at ease and on alert all at once.

His athletic build combined with his stature could not but overwhelm her. And though she knew he was only 19, he hardly looked it. Hardly sounded it as he took call after call on the drive to Caines.

All she had to worry about at his age was getting into her hometown university, The University of Rosa. She could not believe that Bart, somewhat standoffish but ultimately well put together, was Duke Arden's son. Her thoughts turned to Rosa and her mother whom she had left behind. Her mother, who despite herself, loved Zoey. Present circumstances notwithstanding, Zoey thought how her mother's presence might have been comforting.

Bart gave her a half smile that made his stern eyes soften, but for a moment, as she took the hand he offered her.

"Stay with me at all times today," Bart ordered in an authoritative voice that did not suit his youth.

He was only 19 for goodness sake. Just the same, he had banished any thoughts Zoey had of asking where they were going.

"My Lord."

Zoey bowed awkwardly.

He sighed.

"And quit that. We are the Houseare House of Arden. We bow to no one."

Zoey knew little about polite society, but even nobles bowed to the king. Didn't they? She shook her head. Now was the time to ask, before something else overwhelmed her.

"Where are we going?" she asked, as Bart hurried them down the stairs and into the limousine where his parents awaited them.

That same eerie silence from the night before enveloped her. The luxury car was like a tomb. Speech seemed forbidden. Zoey's eyes landed on Duke Arden.

"Stop staring!" Duchess Arden snapped.

Zoey looked down immediately.

Duchess Arden gave Zoey a once over, then looked away with another snort. No one seemed particularly interested in anyone else. They might have been in a vehicle of comfort, but Zoey had had more pleasant experiences riding the bus.

All alone again with her thoughts. How could her mother have done this to her? Why could she not hold her tongue when Grandfather was concerned? All they ever did was fight about the same things anyway. He wanted her to work for him and she continuously refused him. Proud people they were, still holding onto something that happened twenty-three years ago.

Did she not know what this would do to Zoey's plans? If she was accepted as a PhD student at the University of Rosa, they would assign her an advisor for her book next month. Did she not know how the duke had no room for her?

Zoey scrubbed this last thought from her brain.

Silence was an old friend to Zoey. Unfortunately for her, it was all but quiet in her head. Duke Arden had asked for a meeting. She hoped that this would not take long.

Emotion clouded her judgement yesterday, but now something seemed amiss. If Duke Arden intended for them to talk, why bother having her dressed up like this? Better still, where were they going? What the hell was going on?

Get out! Her mind screamed. Danger! It told her, as her eyes darted back and forth between three pairs of frosty, disinterested ones.

Upon arrival at The King's Fancy, Zoey was astounded at the sheer volume of people, all dressed to the nines. Yes, this was definitely bigger than a picnic.

Tables topped with white tablecloths and delicious foods lined the riverbanks. The seating would offer a spectacular view of the shimmering blue river. Its surrounding trees and hills. It was truly a beautiful place. Zoey imagined it might be even more so when all the people had cleared out and it was quiet. The irony of her wishing for the same silence she could not stand moments ago was not lost on her.

They announced the royal family as the House of Arden made their way to the last empty table.

The Ardens received scowls and grimaces from everyone. Undeterred, the men of the house only hastened the women to their seats. They were eager to get past the pleasantries and move on to the business that they had come to The King's Fancy for.

The history between the cousins was a volatile one known to all. Duke Arden last attended The King's Fancy five years ago, after the king's coronation. He would have disappointed King Henry again today, but they had an urgent matter to settle.

King Henry came to power by the last-minute decree of an heirless King Maximus. King Henry had enjoyed a precarious reign. Owing to his being crowned king instead of his long-time rival, Duke George Arden.

Years of awaiting King Maximus' choice of heir left Terres Somnia divided. The Ardens were still hailed by many as the royal family that should have been.

Support for the Ardens was so fierce five years ago, that King Henry the threat of civil war still lingered. The business between King Henry and Duke Arden was a matter of urgency indeed.