Ruby

II

I averted my gaze back to the singers and plastered on a polite smile. Standing up and giving the men a small applause. "Thank you very much, I appreciate the recognition." I said, wanting to be anywhere but here.

The man singing blushed, looking down. His friend on the gittern smiling widely at me, almost shining in pride. I glanced towards the man holding the fifes, and he looked just as bashful as the singer. They all seemed to be wearing similar clothing, shades of brown and a dark maroon hat. I smiled again, thanking them for the song that they had made for me. They scurried away quickly after that.

I sighed, slumping back in my chair. My hands gripped the armchairs made out of oak. Looking around the room, my eyes wandering to my brother as he sat on his own throne chair that was beside mine. He doesn't like me alone with these men, even if my guards are around. I didn't like this, I wanted to be anywhere but here. I hated moon's days. It was the day my father decided was when I was open to accept gifts from men who barley knew me. Men always came to me to give me gifts, words of admire, songs, and letters, everywhere and at any time. Marriage proposals were such a common thing that I had mastered the skill of refusing elegantly as Meredith has called it.

However, at some point, it had gotten out of hand. I was out taking a walk with my guards when one man stopped me to sing, then another, and another. They had crowded around me and there was so little a guard could do. That day was certainly one of my worst, and I had gotten so frightened that it took me weeks to go back outside. It was very overwhelming to me, I was just a child after all. Even during those crowds though, no one touched me, they simply would not dare. If they did, they knew that they would face the wrath of my brother or father. Whomever I chose to tell.

I had a reputation, one that I certainly did not want. It happened when I was around fourteen, and men started to notice me. Word got out, that the king had a daughter so beautiful that she, and I quote, "brought the prettiest sunsets to shame". I personally think, that this started because of a foolish man who over exaggerated. His exaggeration sparked mens curiosity and once word got out, more men tried to come to catch sight of me.

After that my reputation changed drastically, which is probably why my brother and father are extremely overprotective of me. I sighed, plastering on another fake smile as another poet entered the throne room.

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The sounds of horses neighing and hooves smacking the floor were the first thing I had heard that morning. I was thrilled about their arrival, I have not seen some of my friends for quite awhile. I stared back at the mirror, applying little bit of my cosmetic enchanters. The olive green dress that Alisa had bought from me has turned completely. The sleeves, chest area, and waist was tightened, specks of a golden color had been added to its ends. I stared back at myself smugly, she would be foolish to think that I would have worn her ugly dress. Two small braided strands were clipped to the back of my head, letting the rest of my hair fall to my mid back.

I left my room, immediately being greeted by two of my ladies. "Alisa is going to be irritated once she sees your dress." Adeline giggled. Bella, the grumpiest of the two shook her head, "It irks me how she reacts because of her jealousy towards you" she spoke. I paid them no mind, knowing that Alisa just wanted to find a husband. We kept walking through the stone hallways, eager to go greet the kings that have arrived for tomorrows feast.

Excitement cursed through me as I saw Clarissa, an old friend of mine. I rushed to her, surprising her with a giant hug. "I missed you so much" Clarissa laughed. I pulled away grinning, turning to her father and giving him a curtsey. "King Jon" I greeted. Usually, it would have been rude not greeting the king first. However, I was quite close with King Jon and his children. "Ruby!" He exclaimed, his grin contagious as ever, "You have grown up so much since I last saw you." I smiled, "You must come over more often—" I looked around then back at him, "Has Stephan not come?" And before King Jon was able to reply, his son came up to me engulfing me into a hug. "Speak of the devil and her shall appear" I laughed.

Looking at the three blondes in front of me, I couldn't be more happier of their arrival. I have always had a great fondness towards them, they were like a second family to me. My father appearing from behind me greeted King Jon and off they went with their kingdom talk. I grabbed Clarissa and Stephan by their wrists dragging them off with me. "That is certainly not a princess way of inviting her guests inside" Stephan teased. "Hey, where is your evil step mother today? She wasn't there to greet us." His twin commented, her face completely offended. It was indeed rude for a queen to not welcome a royal family into her castle. Not that it was her castle anyway. "Who knows, and who cares, I'm glad I don't have to endure her nasty personality. Now, where are those ladies of yours?" Steph was quick to change the conversation, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"I have given them direct orders to stay away from you."

"No you didn't"

"Yes I have."

"No you love me too much to do that"

I gave him a look.

"Why would you do that to me" He whined stopping in his tracks, "I came all the way here for what?" He looked at me doing a thrusting motion with his hips, "If you do not remove that order Im going back" He frowned. I looked at him in dumbfounded, he was like no other prince. His childish behavior was always there even in the most serious of moments. It is truly why I care for him so much if I am honest. He was always the one forcing me and Clarissa to have fun when we were younger. Even now, he was always the life of the party. His presence does truly make a difference. "No, you came for the memorial tomorrow and you had no choice in the matter. Father would have dragged you here wether you liked it or not." Clarissa remarked. Clarissa, unlike her twin, was almost always serious excluding the time me and her have when we are on our own. I rolled my eyes at the both of them, something that if my governess saw would scold me daily for a month. I continued dragging them towards our favorite spot at the garden, where I had already told the maids to prepare an afternoon meal.

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