PRINCESS OCEAN

g through the throne room. "You witless girl! You'll marry Lord Thomas and secure our

ut he sat stone-faced, his expression unyielding. "F

Queen Eleanor spat. "You'll do as

ce in her chamber, expecting to find Michael waiting for her, but he was nowhere to be found. She colla

two daughters gathered outside her door, a veritable entourage. "Oce

med from crying. "What do you w

" Queen Eleanor declared. "She cla

ested. "I've never taken anyt

g with feigned tears. "I saw her, Mother! S

kened. "Search her room!

Ocean's closet. Queen Eleanor's face lit up with

. "How...how did that get the

You'll pay for your dece

hispers, some doubting Ocean's guilt. "Could sh

ughter, her eyes brimming with tears. "Ocean, I...I can't believe

ho'd gotten the cream, their faces alight with malicious gl

ss who can stoop so low as to steal is worthles

n, but she spoke up before he could. "I'll take my punish

smile spreading across her face. "Ver

be locked in the tower for a fortnight, with onl

protest, but Ocean's words stopped hi

en away, then. And let this be a lesson to you, Oc

e adorned with tapestries depicting battles won and lost, and the air was thick with the scent of wood polish and s

the marriage to Ocean," Lord Thomas

ning. "What of it, son? The arrangements are mad

an seems...unwilling. I don't want to fo

, Thomas. This is politics, not some romantic dalliance. You m

ed uncomfortable

you questioning my decisions. I'll send the royal emissaries to Azura to

antly, knowing better tha

, our kingdom comes first. We can't let sent

arriage that would bring only unhappiness. The grand palace, with its opulent decorations and bustli

g matters of state, when a guard burst in, a letter in han

al, and read its contents. A sly smile spread across her face. "

"Indeed, my dear. What is your opinion

"The day after tomorrow, my lord. It will

ee to it that the guard spreads the word. Invitations must be sent to all the kingdom

ashing with irritation. Why had the king called Ocean the "first" princess? Did he not know that she, Queen Eleanor, was the tru

ord," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness

behind his queen's words. "Indeed, my

beneath them. She looked like a shadow of her former self, her skin pale and clammy. The

eyes widened in confusion - why was her punishment being lifted? She sank into the wat

embroidered with silver thread, and the maids styled her hair in an elegant updo, with loose curls framing her face. They added a tou

ed the courage to ask, "Why...

sitated before answering, "You're to be

nd reeling. "Married? But...but I tho

e king and queen have decreed it, Princess

with fear and panic. Married? To a man s