“Are you sure you have everything?”

“Yes mom.”

“Shopping list? Cell phone?”

“Yes mom.”

“Okay, I’m just so worried.”

               And she had every right to be. This was Charlotte’s first drive to town on her own. Her mother had fallen ill and wasn’t able to go like she usually did. So, trusting her daughter, she let her go. It was just a simple grocery run. The list consisted of bread, sugar, medicine, and cheese. But still, it was troubling. After kissing her mother goodbye, she left.

               It was a bit of drive, half an hour in all; but that wasn’t the worst part. When Charlotte arrived at the edge of town, she was stopped by a crowd. She pulled over and got out to investigate. An old woman was the first to answer her.

“Why, my dear girl, it’s the choosing of the bride.”

“The what?”

“You know, when the king picks one lucky girl from all of the noble men’s daughters to wed one of his sons of her choice.”

“Oh…”

               Charlotte lived out in the middle of nowhere, so she was unaware of most events such as this. It didn’t matter anyway. If some snobby rich girls wanted to doll up for some spoiled rich boy, more power to them. Right now, she had to get bread. As she weaved through, she could see some of the girls. They were dressed in fancy dresses and pearls with small diamonds glinting in the light…In the middle of summer.

               Of course, her snide mental note did not go unpunished and Charlotte tripped. She fell right in the middle of the ceremony. All eyes were on her as she stood up quickly.

“Sir,” she curtsied to the man who was obviously the king, then the queen, “Madam.”

               And, with that, she strode proudly in the direction of the bakery. A few seconds later, applause erupted from the crowd. Some girl had just been chosen to become a rich, do nothing wife. Then a man rushed into the bakery. He was dressed in a swallowtail suit and wore the king’s crest.

“You, girl!” he cried.

“Me, Charlotte,” she replied coolly, scanning the bread.

“For whatever reason, the king has chosen you as the next royal bride.”

“No thanks.”

               He did a double take. Smiling in satisfaction, she picked up the perfect loaf and brought it to the counter.

“This isn’t a request; you are the next bride.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not.”

“Are too!”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“I win!”

               The man gawked, dumbfound at how childish this girl was. Never had he met someone so stubborn! Smirking, Charlotte walked out with her purchase. Next on her list was sugar, which was available at the general store along with her mother’s medicine. He followed her persistently. It was bothersome, but ignorable.

               After she got the sugar and medicine, she had to get cheese from Mrs. Pascal. She was the wife of a dairy farmer and the only one her mother trusted for quality cheese. Charlotte had lost the king’s messenger in a crowd by this point. The woman greeted her warmly.

“Good morning, lassie. How are you?”

“Quite well. It’s my first day out alone. My mom said she placed an order two days ago.”

“Ah, so your mother has finally let get out and spread your wings! That deserves something special as well. Here, have some fresh caramel on the house.”

“Aww, thank you Margret! Have a nice day.”

               Just as she turned to leave, the man barged in. He looked bedraggled and furious.

“Miss Charlotte! I finally found you.”

“Charley, who is this kook?”

“A stalker. He has been following me all day!”

“Do you want me to call the police? Or Oliver?”

               Oliver was her husband, a towering tank of a man that was not afraid to fight. He worked as both a dairy farmer and a blacksmith, with his two shops parallel to each other.

“Ma’am, she is being unreasonable. I am Fredrick Wright, the distinguished butler and messenger of King Ashter.”

“You don’t look very distinguished,” Charlotte teased, earning a glare from the butler.

“Okay, I believe you. But why are you following Charley around?”

“The king has chosen her to be the bride of one of his six sons. As for you, young lady, I could say the same.”

“Wait, Charley? Her?”

               Margret was right to be skeptical. At that moment, the aforementioned girl was wearing overalls with a flannel shirt and old sneakers. Her long black hair was in a messy ponytail beneath a baseball cap.

“Yes. Heaven knows why, but he chose her. And I was instructed not to come back until I have her.”

               Charlotte rolled her eyes, taking her goods and leaving. She didn’t want to be a spoiled rich girl that sat inside all day like a doll doing nothing. Her favorite past-time was wrestling with the boys around where she lived. It would be absolutely maddening to have to sit around all day drinking tea or whatever princesses do.

               She got to her car with ease and quickly realized she had a passenger. Fredrick was sitting in the passenger seat looking cross.

“You know, I could have you arrested for stalking.”

“I need you to come with me. Even if it means kidnapping you.”

“Well, let me get these groceries to my mother first. She’s sick and needs to take her medicine.”

               He nodded stiffly as she started the car. They drove back in complete silence, tension buzzing in the air. It seemed like eternity before they reached her house. Fredrick followed her inside, explaining the situation to her mother. Charlotte’s mom smiled thoughtfully at her daughter.

“I think you should go with him.”

“Seriously? Why?”

“You have a chance to be something great, a chance I wish I had when I was your age. Go on, at least give it a try.”

“But, mom, you’re sick…”

“It’s just a little cold. Nothing deadly.”

“If it would put you at ease, we could have the kingdom’s best physician take a look,” Fredrick commented hopefully.

“See? I’ll be just fine. Now go put on something nicer and give the poor guy a break.”

“Yes mom.”

               Pouting in defeat, Charlotte trudged to her room. Her nicest clothes were a pair of faded jeans and a plain white blouse; it’s what she wore to family gatherings. She brushed her hair so that it was a bit more presentable and washed the dirt from her face. The look of shock on the butler’s face was worth it.

“I guess she’s much more presentable than I thought. Good, that’ll make things easier. Did you pack what you need?”

               She nodded slowly, hugging her mother tight. A horn beeped outside and they both looked at Fredrick.

“I called for the limo. You only have one vehicle, I noticed, so I arranged our own transportation.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“It is my duty.”

               Charlotte nodded a gain, said goodbye to her mother, and exited her home. When she entered the limousine, she was surprised to find King Ashter waiting for her in the back. He was a tall, tan man with piercing black eyes and neatly kempt black hair. His entire disposition demanded respect. Yet, despite his intimidating appearance, a warm smile covered his face.

“Hello, Charlotte. I can assume you already know who I am, correct?”

“Yes, you’re majesty.”

“Very good. You’re a hard person to catch, you know that? Though, I have to say, I got a good laugh out of watching you and Fredrick.”

               ‘Of course he saw’, she thought, ‘He has eyes everywhere.’

“Not many girls would turn down the chance to be princess like you did.”

“I’m not like most girls.”

“No, no you are not. That is why I chose you. It would be my honor if you chose one of my sons to be your husband.”

“I don’t follow.”

“When you literally fell into the ceremony, you didn’t make a big show nor did you freeze in awe.  You showed respect and left quietly. That humbleness is a quality in which none of those other girls I saw had. Also, the way you were and are dressed is very modest, another desirable quality.”

“Well, thank you. But I still do not believe I am suited to be a princess. I am too outdoorsy and boyish.”

“That’s not a problem at all. Maybe you could even teach some of my boys a thing or two,” he winked.

               They had been in such a deep discussion that she didn’t notice the limo moving. The king had a certain magnitude that demanded full attention. It was not unpleasant, surprisingly, just different. As they drove, the scenery became much different; less farmland and more forest. Soon a castle came into view. A tall, vast structure that seemed to be made of white stone. Charlotte stood, poking her head through the top to get a better look.

“That is my castle. It shall be your new home,” Ashter smiled kindly.

               Charlotte simply stared in wonder, hoping her mother was right.

2: Charlotte, part 2

               When the limo finally came to a halt, Fredrick hopped out of the front seat. Charlotte smiled and waved at him childishly.

“Hello again.”

               He ignored her, opening the door so she could exit. She chose to climb out through the small window and slide down the back. The butler gawked while the king chuckled in amusement.

“That is quite the way to leave a car,” he commented cheerfully.

               Charlotte smiled back at him. King Ashter wasn’t as scary once you got to know him. Taking her hand, he escorted inside the castle. There were five boys waiting for them in the foyer. Each wore a different style of clothing. They all seemed surprised to see her.

“Charlotte, these are my sons. Boys, this is the girl who will choose one of you to be her husband and the next king.”

“Next king?” she questioned softly.

“Did I not tell you? The man you choose will be the first wed and the next in line for the throne.”

               She nodded in understanding and a prince approached her. He was tall, with striking blue eyes and jet black hair. He wore a dark red suit jacket over a ruffled white shirt, his black trousers creased. His overall appearance was definitely that of a prince.

“Hello, my name is Dante. I am the oldest of all of us,” he outstretched his hand politely.

               She shook it firmly, causing his eyes to widen. He seemed surprised by her proper handshake. Charlotte could tell by the way he carried himself that he was extremely refined and well mannered. The next to step forward was a slightly shorter, red headed male with sparkling green eyes. He was dressed much more casual in a white button-up and black slacks. His mouth was upturned in a confident smile.

“Hey, the name’s Warren. I’m the second oldest, but totally number one.”

“Yet you act like you’re the youngest.”

“Stuff it Dante.”

               Charlotte smiled at him brightly. He seemed much friendlier and casual than the others. They would probably end up being good friends. A taller blonde with blue eyes appeared beside her. He wore a pale blue jacket over a maestro-style shirt and dark blue trousers. His build towered menacingly over her.

“I-I’m Noah, the third son.”

               Despite his intimidating frame, Noah seemed timid. His face has flushed dark red and he was shaking nervously. Charlotte smiled at him comfortingly.

“It’s okay, I won’t bite. How are you?”

“G-good, thank you.”

               The blonde quickly fled and another boy took his place. He looked just like his father, with black hair and obsidian eyes. His clothes were more Gothic, with a long coat covered in small chains and a ruffled white shirt. Even his trousers had a chain running down the side.

“Pleased to make the acquaintance of such a delectable young woman,” he purred, kissing her hand, “I’m Judas.”

               Charlotte had an odd feeling about him.  As if he was hiding something beneath that frightening exterior. She curtsied to him politely. He blushed lightly and joined his brothers once again. Before she could ask who was next, a blur of curls tackled her. It wasn’t hard enough to knock her to the ground, but she did emit a sound of surprise as she was picked up off the ground.

               The person of interest was the tallest so far, with curly blonde hair and dark eyes. A deep chuckle surrounded her in a way that she could help but join in. When they were done, he set her down. He was dressed in blue jeans and a plain black t-shirt. A huge smile covered his face.

“Sorry for the hug, I couldn’t help myself. My name is Michael. I’m the baby of the family.”

               His voice had a slightly noticeable drawl to it.

“It’s okay, I love hugs. But I do have a question.”

“Ask away,” he looked like a puppy that was eager to please.

“Where’s the second youngest? I only counted five of you and you father mentioned six.”

“You noticed? Our other brother, Lucas, isn’t here actually. He is very sickly and spends most of his time in his room. You may see him through a window one day though.”

               Charlotte nodded in comprehension and imagined what he must look like. The princes had now gathered around her, asking questions.

“Did you figure out you’ll pick?”

“How is life outside of the castle?”

“Are you going to live here?”

“Why did my father choose you? You don’t look like royalty, or nobility.”

               She looked down in embarrassment at that last question. Why did he choose her? He gave a vague explanation, but that didn’t really clarify anything. As she was about to answer, the king stepped in.

“I chose her because I believe you boys are getting too big for your britches. I see something you don’t. Her inner beauty shines stronger than her outer beauty.”

“Doesn’t answer the other part,” Dante sighed.

“No, she isn’t royal or noble. She was simply a peasant girl that accidentally fell into the briding ceremony.”

“So, she’s just some random girl?”

“Kind of. But it was her actions. Charlotte stood up and quietly bowed to your mother and I before leaving. All of those other girls snickered at her. But I couldn’t help but stare in awe.”

“You really are crazy old man. All she did was fall.”

“Sometimes that’s all it takes,” Ashter smiled, looking at the queen.

               She had come to see what the commotion was about and was standing in the doorway. The queen was a petite woman with blonde hair that was swept up in a French braid. Her wise blue eyes sparkled in amusement. Ashter held a hand out and she strode forward, her blue dress flowing around her with the movement.

“Hello, I am Grace,” the queen smiled serenely.

“My name is Charlotte, your majesty.”

               Grace gave a slight nod, giggling as Charlotte curtsied.

“My dear, you have no need for that anymore. You are going to be a princess.”

“I still must bow, no offense my queen. But I am a peasant that is to be married into the family, not a royal by blood. Therefore, I must curtsy.”

               In an instant, the queen had curtsied as well.

“Very well, if you will not stand up to my level, then I will crouch to yours. That way, we will be equals.”

               The king’s eyes flashed with amusement and inspiration. He bowed so he was at their height.

“You guys are w- knock it off!” Dante watched his family with increasing frustration.

               Michael and Warren had joined in. As Charlotte stood up, the others straightened up as well. They all were laughing in a carefree manner. Dante shook his head in irritation. Ashter announced that she would need to be taken to her room, causing a fight to occur between the boys. Before he decided to take her himself, a quiet voice spoke from the doorway.

“I-I’ll take her…”

               Every head turned to see who had spoken. It was Noah. He was blushing, gripping the door for balance. Smiling, Charlotte skipped to him and took his arm. The other princes were dumbfounded as they walked away.

“Why does he get to take her? He’s terrified!” Judas hissed.

“He’s not terrified, he’s in love.”

3: Noah

               Charlotte could feel Noah’s arm quivering beneath her fingers the entire walk up the stairs. He looked absolutely petrified.

“Hey, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know,” he sighed softly, “It’s just that, I’ve never been this close to a girl. And it doesn’t help that you’re pretty.”

               His blush was darker than before at that last part. It was cute. She smiled softly up at him. Once he started speaking, his intimidating exterior was completely useless. They halted at a white door with an ornate dove on it.

“Th-this is your room.”

“Thank you, Noah. I enjoyed your company.”

“Really?” his face lit up like a light bulb.

“Yeah! We have to go for a walk again sometime.”

               Eyes widening, Noah took off like a bullet down the hall. Charlotte shrugged it off and entered her room. A queen sized bed took up one space against a wall, a desk was pushed up against another, and a wardrobe was beside the bed. There was a door that took up part of another wall. Upon further investigation, she found that it led to her own private bathroom.

               The wardrobe held many dresses and outfits for every occasion. She nearly cried. Where were her things? The only time she had ever worn a dress was to her father’s funeral. Charlotte stared in horror for so long that she didn’t notice Noah appearing in her doorway.

“A-Are you okay? You look upset.”

“I don’t want to sound spoiled, but, there’s nothing but dresses in here. I hate dresses.”

“That is a dilemma.”

“I’m just gonna wear them and shut up.”

“You don’t have to, I-I can help.”

“It’s alright Noah, I need to get used to wearing these anyway if I’m to be a good queen.”

“Okay, just don’t force yourself. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and Charlotte?”

“Yes?”

“I think you would look nice in green.”

               He ran away again before she could thank him. Scanning the wardrobe for something to wear, she discovered an emerald kimono-style dress. Gold dragon and red flames adorned the sides and it reached just below knee length. She decided to shower before getting dressed. There were fresh towels in a cabinet and bath necessities lined the large tub.

               The near scalding hot water washed away her worries along with the dirt. An aroma of fresh cut lilac surrounded her as she washed her hair. By the time she was finished, Charlotte had relaxed completely. A woman was waiting outside the bathroom door when she finished.

“Good evening, ma’am. My name is Beverly. King Ashter has assigned me as your personal servant.”

“Hello. Please, call me Charley.”

“I feel uncomfortable with that for it is a bit inappropriate. I will just refer to you as Milady.”

“Oh, okay.”

               Taking a deep breath, she began putting on the dress. Her face was passive to hide her utter disdain. The servant zipped it up for her gently. Next, they took care of her hair. Beverly clucked her tongue in disapproval at the messy state of it. With swift, ginger hands, she brushed it smooth.

“I was thinking of a nice braid. It would keep your hair out of your face.”

“True, but, how about a tight bun and chopsticks instead?”

“That would complement the dress nicely. Good idea, Milady.”

               The older woman worked quickly, retrieving a pair of decorative chopsticks from a drawer. A smile of pride quirked at her lips as she examined her work. There was a soft tap at the door and Bev answered it. It was Noah. He had now changed into a nice pale blue button-up and black slacks. His wild hair was now slicked back in a more refined fashion.

               Silent, he held out his right arm. Charlotte accepted it politely and let him lead her down the stairs to the dining room. His face was emotionless the entire way. It wasn’t until she smiled up at him that Noah seemed to notice her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, you look stunning. That just makes it so much harder for me to refrain from running again.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, you make me want to be brave.”

               She blushed at his words. They had just met and already she was having some influence on him. It was a new experience for them both. You see, Noah hated women, due to a traumatic experience when he was much younger. His hatred resided deep within his heart. It projected itself as fear, though, and soon he had grown afraid of everyone. Charlotte was the only person not to trigger that fear and that scared him the most. But, if he wanted her to like him, he would have to overcome it.

               They entered the dining hall to find the other princes gathered around the table already. Both Dante and Fredrick’s jaws just about hit the ground. A serene smile graced her lips as Charlotte found a place to sit. It was right between Noah and Warren, right across from Michael. The others glared in envy at their brothers.

               A platter of cooked duck was brought out soon after. Salad, bread, wine, and potatoes followed soon after. She piled her plate up like normal and ate quickly. It wasn’t until half-way through that she notice most of the others staring. The only ones who didn’t were the three she had been surrounded by.

“That is not very proper for anybody,” Dante smirked.

“Well, back in the country-“

“You are in the royal palace, not the grubby boondocks. I suggest you act like it.”

“But-“

“It’s funny how you look the part, but don’t act it. Pity for such a beautiful dress to be worn by such a beast.”

               That hit a nerve. Hard. Tears welled up in her eyes and she stood. Without another word, Charlotte ran out. She ran and ran until she reached a fountain in the courtyard. It was unclear how she got there, but it didn’t matter. The tears overflowed and she curled up against the fountain.

“Why are they so mean, Mama? I wanna go home. Why can’t I go home?”

               There was an odd presence as somebody joined her. She didn’t look up, let them see her cry. Maybe they’ll help her. The person sat beside her, pulling her close with one arm. It was long and skinny, yet a feeling of safety washed over her. The clean smell of fabric enveloped her. Charlotte cried against their side like a child for a long time.

               Suddenly, right as she was about to look up, they stood and ran away. Noah sat beside her now.

“Hey,” his voice was rough.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that.”

“Yeah, somebody came out here to comfort me. I’m not sure who though.”

“Do you know what they looked liked like?”

“No. Just that they must have been thin, because I could feel their arms.”

               Noah hesitated for a moment before standing up. He looked up at a window facing the courtyard, then at Charlotte. His eyes widened in surprise and slight amusement.

“What? Is something wrong?”

“No, in fact, everything is fine.”

               Deciding not to question him any further, she stood up. Her dress was a bit dusty, but otherwise perfect. He held out his hand cautiously.

“Please forgive Dante, he’s a snob. Please don’t leave because of him.”

“I can tell. And, I won’t. As long as there are a few good men, I will stay.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A figure watched from the shadows as Noah entered the courtyard. As he sat down, the person climbed up the jutting stone of the castle. He entered in through an open window and sat on the large bed in the room. In his hands was a chopstick he had obtained from the girl without her noticing.

“He was right, she is pretty,” he sighed, collapsing against the bed, “Too pretty.”

               And, closing his eyes, the boy fell into a deep sleep within the darkness of his lonely room.

4: Warren

Charlotte woke up the next morning to obnoxious knocking on her bedroom door. Before she could answer, Warren let himself in.

“Rise and shine, sleepy butt!”

“What time is it?”

“Two ’o’ clock exactly!” he chirped way too happily.

“Where’s your snooze button? Go away.”

“I need to show you something awesome.”

Sighing, she sat up in bed. He gaped as the blanket fell from her torso and exposed her lacy pink bra. His face turned bright red, but he stayed frozen to his spot. Charlotte pulled a large t-shirt from the bag on her nightstand and put it on. This seemed to thaw him quickly. Warren pulled out his phone and pressed play.

The video showed all of the princes watching as she ran out. Dante smirked and continued eating. Michael looked at him with disgust and Warren clenched his fist. The camera turned around momentarily to show Judas’ glare. The eldest didn’t seem to notice at all. A flying a plate hit him square in the face and the camera turned. Noah was standing, face darkened with anger, and his plate was missing.

Dante stared in shock at this.

“You are an asshole,” Noah growled through his teeth.

               Before Dante could speak, he held up a finger.

“Where do you get off treating others like that? You aren’t any better than her, yet you treat her like dirt! We’re all human beings for god’s sake!”

               Eyes narrowing in rage, Noah stormed over and grabbed his brother by the neck. Pinning him against the wall, the blonde stared eye to eye with him.

“I’ve put up with your bullshit for far too long. I’m sick of the way you treat people just because you’re a prince. You will apologize to her or I will make you. Got it?”

“Y-yes.”

“What was that?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

               Letting him drop to the floor, Noah stormed out. The video ended there.

               Charlotte’s eyes were wide with amazement. She didn’t know Noah was capable of being so scary. He was almost animalistic in a way. That must’ve been why his voice so scratchy. Warren smirked in amusement at her expression. In his opinion, her shock was adorable. Wordlessly, he stood and walked over to her wardrobe. His hands were swift as they paged through the many silk dresses it contained. One caught his eye and he plucked it from the rack.

               The dress was beautiful to say the least. It was a blood red piece with a silver design going up the side. The length reached about mid-thigh and one side was slit. Warren held it up for her to see and grinned.

“No, no, no.”

               Before he could convince her to wear it, there was another knock at the door. Nobody was there when she answered, but there was a large duffel bag in front of the door. It was full of t-shirts and jeans.

“It must’ve been Noah,” she smiled.

“How do you know?”

“I told him I hate dresses, but I didn’t want to seem ungrateful.”

“Oh…”

               Warren inspected the contents of the bag with feigned scrutiny. After a little while, he had chosen a plain red v-neck and a pair of skinny jeans. He grinned devilishly at Charlotte.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about challenging you to a game of your choice.”

“Sounds like fun. Hm, do you know where I can find a large field and two pennants?”

“Well, we have a field out past the courtyard and I think we have some old pieces of cloth lying around. Why?”

“Because I want to play capture the flag.”

“Oh, in that case, we can use Dante and Jude’s underwear.”

               They laughed together and then set to work gathering supplies. Warren summoned his brothers to the field while Charlotte collected the ‘flags’. She found a pair of monogrammed boxers in Dante’s room and a pair of black briefs hanging on the door of Judas’. Beverly pointed the way to the field, offering to call her a car, but she didn’t need it.

               Dante refused to look her in the eye when she arrived. Charlotte smiled softly and danced over to Noah.

“Thank you so much. I know it was you who left the bag.”

“Y-you’re welcome. I remembered you saying you don’t like dresses and asked a friend to get some normal clothes.”

               Giggling, she kissed him on the cheek. He looked as if he was going to explode. Judas, Michael, and Warren all hooted in approval. Dante approached her calmly.

“Hey, Charlotte, I wanted to give you my sincerest apologies for the way I acted. I’m sorry.”

“And?” Noah urged.

“I need to learn to treat you as my equal and not let my pride get in the way, no matter what your status is.”

“Its okay, Dante, I saw the video. You don’t need to apologize if you don’t want to, I understand.”

“What? But, Charlotte-”

“Its okay, Noah. I learned to act as the bigger person and not let stupid things get to me.”

“But, he made you cry! That isn’t not letting things get to you.”

“I had a moment, okay?”

               Deciding not to push it any further, Noah gave up arguing. When it was time to play, Charlotte held up both pairs of underwear and explained the rules. Judas and Dante gawked in absolute horror at this. On her team were Michael and Noah. Warren took the other two. The brief’s belonged to his team and the boxers to her’s. Each team hid their flags, and then blew a loud whistle when it was time to play.

               It was a heated game. Judas was fast, zipping through the field. Unfortunately, Michael was faster. The smaller man was tackled to the ground roughly. This gave Warren the chance to run past them. Charlotte was one step ahead of him, though, and he soon found the ‘flag’ suspiciously unguarded. She was sneaking through the woods around the border of the field.

               While Warren attempted to figure out what trap she had set, Charlotte was in a tree watching Dante. He was standing guard uninterestedly. She hopped down silently and snuck toward the ‘flag’. A twig snapped loudly, alerting the prince. His hand wrapped around her wrist tightly.

“Gotcha,” Charlotte smirked.

“It seems like I am the one who has got you.”

               Shaking her head, she pointed at the briefs. Noah was now holding them in his hands. She blew the whistle again and headed out to the middle of the field. Warren looked stunned.

“Wha- how?!”

“I had Noah follow me in case I got caught.”

“Then who was guarding your flag?”

“Nobody. I took a risk.”

               The redhead shook his head in disbelief, chuckling to himself. A smile graced his features perfectly. They shook hands and stayed behind to watch the sunset after the others had left. He stared at her in a different way than before.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“No, I was just thinking. You’ve put a spell on me, Charley.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, you make me want to try harder and prove that I’m worthy of being king.”

“That’s awesome!”

“Thank you.”

               They smiled at each other before turning to face the sunset again. It was a beautiful display of pinks and purples across the dusky sky. After night had fallen, they walked back to the palace together with not a care in the world. 

5: Dante

               Two days after their game of capture the flag, Charlotte found a note attached to her door. It was from Dante.

Miss Charlotte,

I realize how appalling my behavior must seem to you. But, due to circumstances, I have not been able to see through your peasant background. That is why I would like to invite you to my room for coffee so we can get to know each other better. Please consider my offer before turning it down. Thank you.

Sincerely, Dante

               She smiled softly at the letter. Maybe she would go, it seemed like a good way to kill time. Smirking, Charlotte wrote a note back.

Dante,

I’d love to have coffee with you! I thought you would never want to hang out with me. Anyhow, what time do you want to meet up?

Charley

               Beverly took it to his room dutifully. While she was gone, Charlotte tried to find something proper to wear. She decided on a white turtleneck and faded jeans. One of her contacts went missing, so she had to wear her stupid glasses. They made her look like a librarian for cripes sake! Bev had begged for her not to put her hair up in a ponytail, so she brushed it out and let it fall down her back.

               The maid returned with the prince’s reply soon after.

Miss Charlotte,

While your use of conjunctions and slang is appalling, I will ignore it. Coffee with be at noon. Thank you for joining me.

Dante

               It was now eleven-thirty, so she decided to put on a little bit of make-up. A little pink lip gloss and eyeliner did the trick perfectly. Screw Fredrick! She was a classy bitch. Beverly led her to Dante’s room right after. He answered before she could knock.

“Hey, Dante.”

“Charlotte?” he looked confused.

“The one and only.”

               Charlotte squeezed past him gently. The prince simply gaped at her. Bev left, so they were alone. His butler served the coffee and cake silently. She started to drink it black, much to Dante’s surprise.

“Do you want cream or sugar?”

“No, that weakens the coffee.”

“Oh, okay.”

               He blushed, stirring his coffee mindlessly. After a little while, he spoke again.

“So, how was life in the country?”

“Pretty fun, really. I used to do nothing but read, then my daddy died and I had to help my mom keep the farm going. We have pigs and horses and even chickens! No cows though, they eat too much.”

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Heck yeah! I can even do jumps and tricks. But only with Merrick.”

“Merrick?”

“My horse. I raised him from a foal.”

               He nodded in understanding.

“I have a horse too. I call her Eva.”

“That’s a pretty name. We also grew a lot of food. Mostly corn and green beans, but our apples have won the town contest every year.”

“How do you manage that?”

“I have a special way of making sure it gets the perfect water to sun ratio.”

               Dante was amazed by this. Maybe she wasn’t the dumb hick he thought she was. By what he had observed, she was quite intelligent. And beautiful. He shook his head to cast away any dark thoughts. If this girl was the bride, she would have to be wooed. Not jumped on like a common tramp.

“So, tell me about castle life.”

               This made him forget the dirty things he wanted to do. He spoke avidly about how he visited different kingdoms and did diplomatic work for his father. How his brothers called him a suck up for it, but he didn’t care. Dante’s face lit up in a way that Charlotte never imagined was possible. Almost like a child talking about their favorite things.

               Soon the coffee was almost gone, the cake had been eaten, and they were chatting energetically like old friends. It lightened the tension that had been brewing between them. Now there was a new tension in place. At least, for Dante, there was. For some reason he could not stop scanning her body. Maybe it was the cute nerdy glasses, or the skin-tight turtle neck. Or maybe it was the combination of the two. Whatever it was, he was finding it harder and harder to maintain his composure.

               She crossed her legs and it became exponentially more difficult. Her jeans complimented her hips perfectly. They would be perfect for child-bearing and would probably fit right in the palms of his-

“I see you,” Charlotte smirked.

“What?”

“You’re checking me out, you dirty dog!”

“N-no I’m not!”

“I’ve had it happen enough to know when it’s happening. It’s alright, no need to be embarrassed.”

“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

“It’s okay! A boy is a boy, no matter where they come from.”

               He nodded once again, blushing deep scarlet. She smiled and patted his thigh. Dante relaxed a bit at this. Forgiveness was something that had been lacking from his life for a long time. Ever since he was young, Dante had to be perfect. Forgiveness for any mistakes was extremely difficult to achieve, no matter how small the problem. It was only proper for the first born son to represent the kingdom honorably. It had taken a toll on him both emotionally and physically. Not visible to others, he was an insomniac on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to all the stress that had built up since he was twelve. The prince was now twenty-four.

               Yet, with one touch, this girl had managed to ease him. It was a good kind of different. While he was lost in thought, Charlotte had stood up. Something on his shoulders had caught her eye. Next thing he knew, she was kneading his shoulders.  He made an attempt to move, but she held tight.

“Hey! Wait, what are you doing?”

“God your shoulders are stiff. I’m going to give you the massage I gave my dad when he would come in from plowing.”

               Sighing deeply, Dante let her. There was no use in fighting such a stubborn woman. Plus, it felt amazing. She worked her way down slowly, muttering about knots. It felt so good that he was asleep by the end. Charlotte smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He murmured almost inaudibly in his sleep.

“…make me see...point of view.”

               Shrugging it off, she put a blanket over him and exited. There was time left to explore before she had to go to her room. Much to her surprise, though, that didn't happen. A pale hand took hold of her’s and pulled her into a room.

“Hello, Charlotte.”