Chapter 2:
A month of misery.

 

This was the part Valendria wasn't looking forward too. Four suitors, four weeks of engagements, both group and singular. Valendria's last choice was Tristan, followed by Darvion, Leontius and then Noctis. Her first week of dates would be with Tristan to get him out of the castle first.

The morning of their first date Valendria woke up to a letter that has been slipped under her door. She was wrapped in a cotton house coat as she sat down on a plush chesterfield. It was sealed in red wax with an Erdon seal. Upon opening the letter Valendria was met with Edron Collage stationary. Without looking at the signature at the bottom it was clear that the letter was Tristian.

 

'My Lady,

I, Tristian, request your presence within your Castle Library at you're earliest inconvenience.

I expect you to be dressed appropriately to that of a lady of your station. We will not be eating or drinking, for that would risk damaging the books. I do hope you will be amenable to this.

I also expect you not to keep me waiting, my lady.

Tristian.'

 

Valendria's eyebrows disappeared into her hair line as she read that letter. It was a waste of paper. Dress appropriately? What exactly did that mean? She wouldn't even think about the comment about food and drink; was he insulating that she was fat?

Maybe Tristian's stay will be cut short.

 

@)==

 

Valendria walked into the dim. quiet library. Most of the windows were covered in colourful tapestry to prevent the spines from fading. To the side, Valendria spotted the uniform of the Edron Collage, and the ashy colour of Tristian's hair.

Her dark hair was swept up onto her head, and braids were left to cascade down her back. The dress she wore was simple A-line cut in dark blue, and brushed the floor. The sleeves showed off her shoulders and ended around her elbows. Her waist was cinched in by a corset, giving her an elegant hour glass figure.

Valendria stepped up behind Tristian and took in his uniform, from the back. The jacket he wore was white with golden swirled embroidery and brushed about his ankles. His boots were a shiny black leather. Under the epaulettes on his shoulder suggested that a cape could be fastened there.

When Tristian did not turn around, Valendria cleared her throat to get his attention. It took him a moment, but he finally lifted his head and turned around. The jacket that Tristian wore ended up being double breasted, the buttons matching the embroidery and ended sharply at his hips. The 'skirt' part of the jacket left him open at the legs, showing off matching white pants, and showing the boots ended just below the knee. On his left breast was a large emblem, sporting the image of a mained lion.

On cue, they looked each other over. Valendria's face remained neutral, but the slightest of curls creased Tristian's upper lip.

'Did he really have nothing better to wear than his uniform?' Valendria asked herself, as she took in a deep breathe, before curtsying. "Welcome Lord Tristian to The Green Kingdom, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule."

"Yes, Quite." was Tristitan's reply. "I am glad to see that your uncouth body guard is absent. I forgot to add that to my letter. I was quite eager to inspect your library." He looked around, his face turning bored. "It is quite lacking. You do not even have any key important pieces that are vital to a Royal Library."

"I'm sure we have them," Valendria replied rising her voice by an octave, clasping her hands in front of her, she stepped forward and looked at the shelf and book that Tristian had been so focused on. "This is the public library. We permit those in the surrounding area to come and read. We have a private library elsewhere in the castle,"

"I see," Tristitan seemed impressed by the change in his tone. "I would like to see this private library."

"I'm afraid that won't happen," Valendria answered. "Private is private after all. Family only."

"Then how am I to judge if you are a good match?"

"I'm sure there are other ways."

Tristian's mouth formed a hard line, he dropped his chin and breathed in deeply. Valendria's lifted her chin, standing straighter, squaring her shoulders. They blinked and Tristian rattled off a number of books, demanding to know if Valendria had read them or not. Some she had, some she hadn't. Some she just didn't finish.

"I knew an uneducated, country bumpkin, like yourself would not be worth the effort." Tristian snapped, his face red. Valendria raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you even try and bother to look for a deeper meaning in any of those books you carelessly disregarded. Did not finish, pa! Your mind is as dull as your looks; I told you to dress appropriately!"

"Well, I felt this was rather appropriate." Valendria response was flat. "Given you think you could order me about, maybe you should've left instructions on what appropriate is to you."

"If you were a smart enough woman you should have figured it out by yourself. No, instead you dress in this. You think this flattering?"

Valendria breathed in deeply, once, twice, as she stepped into the middle of the library. She turned around to face Tristian, her chin dropping as she stared him dead in the eyes. She saw him try to keep his composer, but he did take a half step back. "Get. Out."

Valendria did not raise her voice, but yet somehow, her voice echoed within the quiet library. The colour drained from Tristian's face for a moment before it rushed back, turning him beet red.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," she seethed. "Get out. Leave. Now."

"I will not be dismissed like this!" Tristian shouted, taking a step towards Valendria. "You should know—,"

Tristian wouldn't be able to finish his sentence when Valendria cried at the top of her lungs 'John'. He stepped back, visibly frightened. Tristian looked between Valendria and the door, before he turned and ran from the library as fast as his legs would take him.

A moment later John lazily rounded the corner into the library. "You summoned?"

"See that Tristian is escorted off the premises,"

 

@)==

 

"Valendria what did you do?" Haldren ran his hand over his face, his salt and pepper standing on end. Valendria sat in a winged-back chair, arms crossed waiting for her father let her gave a word in edge-wise. When his daughter didn't answer, Haldren turned around to face her. "Well?"

Valendria looked up at her father and calmly responded. "He was an asshole, he was trying to dictate to me in a letter and basically called me stupid." She then handed him the letter than Tristian had left for her.

Haldren was silent as he read the letter over, his eyes darting to his daughter, before he crumbled the paper and tossed it into a near by fireplace. Both said nothing for a few heart beats before Haldren turned to his daughter his face soft and symptomatic.

"I'm sorry Pumpkin," He opened his arms to her. Valendria stood and walked into her fathers arms and he gave her a back cracking bear hug. She laced her fingers together, arms wrapped around his ribs. "I will inform Darvion that he will be meeting you this week instead of next."

"Make it the day after tomorrow?"

"Of course, I'll even excuse you from the feast tonight." Haldren cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "Hopefully the Sylvarae prince will act with better decorum than Tristian." Haldren pulled Valendria in for one more tight hug, the princess's face burred against her father's chest, tears drying in his vest.