Chosen by the Princess E-Book

Sadie Waters

• Herausgeber: Sadie Waters
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Why choose just one if she can have them all?
Princess Katrinetta is about to embark on her Choosing, a time when every province in Yewforia will select one man to send to Castle Wrenbrook where he will have the opportunity to show his value to the beautiful, intelligent woman who will someday rule the realm. Katrinetta is tasked with the duty of choosing just one man to spend the rest of her life with.
In the realm of Yewforia, a man’s highest honor is to please a noblewoman. When that woman happens to be the princess, being a part of the Choosing means everything.
As Katrinetta becomes more acquainted with the Representatives, it becomes clear she can never choose just one of them! Cassius is powerful and knows how to make her laugh. Jate is gentle and shy. Reeve is mysterious... and that’s just three of the men who have pledged their hearts to the beautiful princess!
Despite her feelings for the new men she’s grown to adore, Katrinetta is also in love with the one man her mother, Queen Rona, would never allow her to be with. When Eliason is blocked from the Choosing, Kit is desperate to find another way to keep him in her life, even if it means defying her mother and the realm.
Realm of the Chosen follows Princess Katrinetta as she embraces the love of her men and establishes herself as a benevolent ruler, one who will vow to protect her people and do what’s best for them, no matter the cost.
Full of steamy bedroom scenes, romance, love, and intrigue, Realm of the Chosen is a reverse harem romance for mature readers.

Leseprobe

Chosen by the Princess: A Reverse Harem Romance

Realm of the Chosen Book 1

Sadie Waters

Copyright © 2019 by Sadie Waters

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Created with Vellum

For all the ladies out there who were ever told they weren’t special. Those jerks were wrong. You are!

Contents

I. The Exploration

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

II. The Choosing

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

A Message from Sadie

Part I

The Exploration

Chapter One

The west garden in the spring was Princess Katrinetta’s absolute favorite place to occupy her free time. Between her lessons and the hours she spent at court, those precious moments were few and far between. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she had found a few moments to scurry away. It had been difficult, particularly since her mother and the rest of the council members found it suitable to constantly school her on the upcoming ceremony. She couldn’t even bear to think of the name. Every time she did, a fluttering would stir inside of her stomach, like the beating of a thousand butterflies’ wings. It didn’t matter that her cousins and the other women who had already gone through similar proceedings assured her that ripple didn’t originate in her stomach but slightly lower in her abdomen. They said it wasn’t fear that made her insides stir; it was longing, but Princess Katrinetta knew her own anxiety when it reared its ugly head. The closer the day drew, the more she wished she could skip it entirely.

Sitting on her favorite marble bench between two perfectly manicured forest-green shrubs, she took in a rainbow of flowers. The tulips had always been her favorite, particularly the violet and blush ones, although today it was the rich crimson of the roses that caught her attention. The flower garden was the one place where she could rest assured her mother, Queen Rona (who bore the ridiculous title Empress of All the Lands East of the Galacial Mountains and Queen of the Provinces South of the Compazional Sea) would never seek her out. That wasn’t to say that she wouldn’t send someone else to find her wayward daughter out among the insects and other winged creatures. Knowing she’d have some time to compose herself, to secret away the smile and careless posture she wore whenever she visited here, before having the duty and expectations thrust upon her again, always made Kit head off to this place first whenever she had a moment or two.

Today, she watched a beautiful azure butterfly flutter about, its majestic wings grazing the tips of the flower petals as it darted between the tulips. She imagined what it might be like to have wings, to be free from the burdens of queendom and courtship. Would she dance among the flowers as the insect did now, or would she be carried away by a windstorm?

Her answer came quickly when a magpie swept down from the sky, catching the unassuming colorful creature in its sharp beak and downing it in one gulp. Kit watched in horror, her hand flying to cover her mouth as the beautiful bug was no more. If she had been in the butterfly’s place as she was imagining, she would be fluttering about in that magpie’s stomach now. She supposed the bird must be experiencing a similar sensation to the fierce flapping inside of her own gut. Kit felt as if she’d consumed a thousand creatures like the frail insect she’d just seen meet its demise.

“You’re such a gentle soul.”

The voice behind her was a familiar one. She didn’t even turn to look at him. Even if he hadn’t spoken, it wouldn’t have taken her long to realize he was standing there. Something about his scent, the mix of leather, a woodsy note like cedar, and his personal musk, always announced Eli’s presence and instantly brought a soothing smile to her face. This time, she had failed to notice his approach. Perhaps it was the slaughter of the hapless creature in front of her that caused her to miss him stepping between the bushes behind her. She took a deep breath now, hoping he didn’t realize it was his scent she was purposely filling her lungs with, as he sat down beside her, facing the other direction.

He waited for her to tilt her head toward him before he said anything else. Kit leaned in his direction, not even sure what she could say. He was right—she was a gentle soul, so much so that her mother often questioned how she could possibly be her own child. But her aunts and the other council members confirmed it time and again—they had been there at her Birthing Ceremony, after all. And they would be there at the other ceremony, just the day after tomorrow, as well. At the thought, Kit tasted bile rising up in the back of her throat, wondering how she could possibly get through it. It didn’t matter how many of her family members had already lived through the experience; thoughts of the royal physician, Mikali, touching her in such a personal way, his crooked fingers probing before he entered her, made her feel light headed and queasy.

The commander of her guard missed nothing. His emerald eyes narrowed slightly with concern as he studied her face. Even if he hadn’t known her since she was a toddler, he was insightful to say the least. He would say it was his duty to know everything, to notice every nuance, but Kit had had other commanders and knew Eli’s gift was special. It was but one of many talents the handsome man seated next to her had been blessed with. She always felt safer, less troubled whenever he was nearby. They had been friends for as long as she could remember, and she often let her mind wander to what might be if only the laws of the realm were not so complex and completely in opposition to what she would’ve decided for herself if she was ever given the choice.

“Kit, you’re troubled,” he said, the softness of his voice not matching the imperviousness of his royal uniform. He wasn’t wearing the chainmail that often accompanied the rest of the official outfit—gray trousers with a purple streak down the side, a matching gray tunic and jerkin, heavy boots, and his sword always in its scabbard within easy reach—but he still looked just as official. The patch at his shoulder proclaimed he had ultimate responsibility for keeping the princess safe, and she couldn’t think of another man more capable of doing so. Nor could she pull her eyes away from his lips as he spoke. He hadn’t shaved recently, and the light brown stubble that graced his chin and his upper lip made him even more attractive than usual. A different sort of stirring began inside of her, more in line with what her family members proclaimed she should be feeling in anticipation of her upcoming ceremony. She could certainly differentiate between the two.

Kit brushed her long, dark brown hair over her shoulder. She’d worn it down today, despite her mother’s insistence that it always be up; she’d have to remedy that shortly, before she headed to the throne room to meet with the matriarch. Her thoughts caught in her mind for a moment as she stared into Eli’s eyes, trying to come up with the correct words to voice her concerns without sounding like a small child. Everyone knew that in the Realm of Yewforia all noblewomen must go through the Proem Ceremony before beginning their three-year-long Exploration. Admitting aloud that she was fearful would make her seem foolish, or in her mother’s assessment, weak. Even though Eli knew her better than anyone else, there was no reason to put her faults on display.

It was evident as he took her in that he could see right through her. “Kit, I can only imagine how you must feel. You have to be anxious thinking about what is to come. But before the ceremony, you still have your ball tomorrow night. It’ll be a splendid affair. All of your friends and family will be there to celebrate with you. Surely, you can find a way to focus on that, can’t you?”

Kit fought to find the correct words to express herself but was only capable of producing a nod. The thin pearl tiara she wore shifted slightly, and she reached with an unsteady hand to keep it in place. Finally, she managed to mutter, “I can. I think.” She smoothed the skirt of her flowing pink gown and resituated herself.

His smile was easy and made her feel comforted even with one foot in the fire. Her life had been fairly uneventful to this point, despite her mother’s overbearing nature. She’d never faced a true hardship of any sort--yet. In the moments when she had become distraught over something now so unimportant she couldn’t even remember what might have caused her distress, Eli had been there for her, to comfort and guide her. Other than a three year stint in the nearby province of Eastbury, followed in quick succession by another two years spent in far off Ironton, Eliason Goedwig had served the court in some capacity or another, coming to his current position when Kit turned fifteen and was allowed to choose her own commander. She hadn’t hesitated to promote him. After all, he’d already risen to the rank of captain in the queen’s army and had spent all of that time away from Castle Wrenbrook serving the realm. Her mother hadn’t opposed the choice, which had been a surprise at the time, but there were constant reminders that Queen Rona could always pull him back into her own service should she wish to do so.

In fact, Kit was shocked Eli was still sitting here beside her and that Queen Rona in all her power and wisdom hadn’t seen fit to send him away to some distant land to fight an unnamed foe.

It was obvious by the rules and proceedings of the Choosing Eli served no true threat to Her Majesty, however, and sometimes Kit thought he was allowed to stay only to torment her because her mother knew he was always just out of reach.

“You can find a way to focus on the ball,” Eli assured her, bringing Kit back to the present. His smile was more confident than she would’ve been able to muster, should she even try. “I am certain you can. Don’t worry about the Proem. It will only be a moment, and then, it will all be over, and you’re free to enjoy your Exploration as you see fit.”

A smile did creep in then as she thought about the Exploration. Kit couldn’t help herself, and she imagined her blue eyes were sparkling, though she couldn’t see them reflected in the deep pools of green that looked back at her. So far, her mother must not have considered that during the Exploration she was free to be with whatever man she chose. If Rona had, then Eli would’ve likely been sent away long ago, along with several other more fetching members of Kit’s guard, the ones her mother often chastised her about. “Try not to stare,” she’d say in her harsh voice. None of the others mattered as much as this one, though, and Kit was fairly certain her mother had deduced that fact.

“Do you think…?” Kit stopped herself, still too unsure to even prompt the question. How could she ask him, her friend since childhood, if he thought it would ruin their friendship if she sought him out during her Exploration?

“What I think is… you should get through your Proem, and then you should look at the world around you in a new light.”

She was certain he understood exactly what she was about to ask, and his answer was not one that left her with a beam of hope. By law, he would not be able to refuse her if she was to proposition him during her Exploration. She was a noblewoman, a member of the court, and outranked all other females in the realm save her mother. Yet, she would never pressure him. In the back of her mind, she’d been holding on to the slim chance that he might somehow be the one, that her Choosing ceremony might be manipulated, or that fate might intervene somehow on their behalf, but she knew the likelihood of that happening, of the noblewomen in a province selecting a former stable boy who had spent little time amongst his people and happened to be the son of a disgraced noblewoman, was almost as impossible as the chances she would somehow escape the spindly fingers of Physician Mikali.

Look at the world in a new light, he’d said. “You’re right, of course.” Her smile was forced, and the one she got in return was sympathetic. It riled her up a bit on the inside to know that he was pitying her, though she wasn’t certain if it was the ceremony that had caused such an expression to slip into place on his handsome face or if it was the fact that he was aware of her feelings for him--and they were unrequited.

“Kit,” Eli said, tipping his head to the side, causing her cheeks to pink as she imagined he would say something to further disconcert her. “Just remember, the ceremony is to prevent someone from being your first. It’s not as if Mikali’s actions will have any sort of bearing on anything else that happens to you. The ceremony doesn’t define you. It only prevents you from giving undue affection to someone who has not earned it. It’s completely medical in nature and nothing more.”

It wasn’t what she had been expecting to hear, so it took her a moment to formulate a response. She brushed her hair back again, even though it hadn’t moved since the last time. “Do you honestly think it isn’t something I should be so concerned about?”

“Not at all,” he said, and even though she could hear that tone in his voice, the one she knew presented itself whenever he was trying to make light of a situation despite his true feelings, in this instance, she decided perhaps it would behoove her to buy into it. “It’s nothing really. It will be over in a few moments. And even though the court will be there, the sheets will prevent anyone from actually seeing anything.”

She knew all of this. Her older cousins, Avinia and Isla, had both been through the ceremony before. Now, since they served as her ladies-in-waiting, they had given her every detail of what to expect, which might be part of the reason why she was dreading it so. Avinia, who was eight years her senior, had already been through her Choosing. Her ceremony had not been nearly as elaborate as Kit’s would be, seeing as though Avinia was only a duchess and not a princess, Kit was still grateful to have someone so close to her already transitioned and married. Isla, who would turn twenty-one in the spring, had just ended her Exploration, and was in the weeks of Respite necessary before her own Choosing would commence during the summertime. Kit vowed to pay better attention this time so that she could learn firsthand what the process was like. Isla would choose only from ten men selected by the royal court, not a Representative from all forty-two provinces as Kit would, but it would still be similar to Kit’s own Choosing. It all seemed so overwhelming to her now. She stood on a precipice with her future spread out before her in all the vibrant shades of a rolling landscape with hills and valleys and dark chasms below, and nothing was clearly in focus--but one wrong move would result in a long fall.

Eli’s comments reminded her that Avinia had said her Proem had hurt quite a bit, that the stretching and ripping had caused some bleeding at the time and discomfort for days. That made Kit’s stomach tighten again, despite his hopefulness. Isla, on the other hand, had said it hadn’t hurt at all, that she’d hardly noticed anything, and that it hadn’t been until her Exploration, when she’d taken to the son of a visiting nobleman, just a few days past her Clearing, the week that followed the Proem, that the true pain had struck. Avinia opined that perhaps this was because Mikali was growing old and was no longer able to fulfill the requirements of the procedure as he had been for everyone else he’d serviced, dating back to when her grandmother was a girl of eighteen, but Kit feared it would be her luck that the physician would find some sort of second wind and that she’d be struck with the same pain and agitation as her oldest cousin, Avinia. Despite the fact that she was reminded time and again the Proem was more of a medical procedure than any sort of pleasuring, the entire ceremony was a weight on her worried mind.

Another question lingered on the tip of her tongue, one she had longed to ask Eli even before the approaching Exploration came into focus a few months ago, but she stopped herself, not sure if it was her business to ask. She readjusted, smoothing her gown down over her legs again. It wasn’t that she didn’t know if it was appropriate or not. She was quite certain it wasn’t, and yet, when she turned back to look at him, the question was there nonetheless. “You’ve… that is to say… a gentleman of your stature and good looks, I’m sure you’ve been called upon to pleasure a woman from time to time, haven’t you?”

The heat rose in her cheeks and was matched by the crimson she noted slowly climbing his neck. Perhaps she had overstepped, but then, he of all people would be used to that from her. “Kit,” he said, shaking his head slightly and running a hand through his hair. “Are you certain you want to ask that question?”

“I’m afraid I already have,” she admitted and a nervous giggle passed between the pair of them. “I don’t suppose that means you must answer it, however.”

“It’s not that I necessarily mind answering it,” he began, brushing the toe of his boot into the carpet of green velvet beneath them. “It’s only, I’m not sure I see the purpose in the asking. Or the answering.”

“No, I suppose there isn’t one,” she said, with a shrug, as if it had been an impulsive question and not one she’d actually contemplated asking him aloud. “It’s just… my other friends, my ladies, my cousins, they’ve all shared their stories with me, and I realized I’d never asked you. Perhaps you’d have some further insight.” She hoped she’d at least managed to save a little face with her explanation, even if she had just thought of it.

He raised his eyebrows as he studied her for a moment, and Kit felt the blush in her cheeks again and had to look away. “I’m sure you know enough, then, to understand it would be quite different from my perspective.”

“I suppose the act itself must be,” she said quickly. “But not the intimacy involved. I have heard many elders say through the years that there are no emotions connected to pleasuring someone you hardly know, that it’s all about the moment, the act itself, but I wonder if that’s true. I was thinking… surely there has to be more to it than that, doesn’t there?”

“You’re asking a man if sex has an emotional component?” he asked, still shocked at her inquisition. “Wouldn’t your mother say a man is incapable of feeling anything other than lust? Passion perhaps, but not love, not at least until a relationship has been cultivated for many years.”

“My mother might say all sorts of things about love that aren’t true,” Kit said before she realized she was speaking ill of the queen. She looked around. A few members of her guard stood off in the distance, near the only gate that served as both entrance and exit to the garden. If they had heard, they made no move to accuse her of insubordination.

“Princess,” Eli began, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. Through the thin fabric of her dress, she felt the heat generated there and controlled a shiver so that it went undetected--she hoped. “I have been with a few women, but I think each experience is different for every person. That’s the purpose of the Exploration, so that you can become familiar with what you seek in a partner, so that when it does come time for your Choosing, you will know which Representatives best suit your needs. If it’s love you seek, perhaps you’ll be one of the lucky few to find it.”

She soaked in his every word, knowing he was correct, until the very end of his statement, and then she shook her head. “My mother would never allow me to choose a mate only for the sake of love, you know that as well as anyone. She’s already given me careful instructions. I am to choose a man who can pleasure me completely so that I may focus all of my intellectual ability on what is best for the realm, a silent partner who will put my needs and the needs of Yewforia above all else.”

“You may as well marry a well-hung tree branch then,” Eli muttered, turning away from her, and Kit couldn’t combat the laughter that spilled out of her. The absurdity of both of their statements was overwhelming as her giggles morphed into something else. Hot tears slipped out of her eyes, and Eli pulled her to him so that her head was resting on his shoulder. “Kit, sweetheart, it will be all right. I know better than anyone that you don’t always see the logic in the ways of your ancestors, but you must trust the process.”

The fear and sorrow mingled together to produce quiet sobs, but Kit held onto her emotions the best she could so as not to draw unwanted attention from the guards or anyone else. She knew he was right; she’d have to proceed down the same path as all of the queens that had come before her, since the day her ten-times great-grandmother had claimed the throne, overpowering the weak and small minded King Jelespie over two hundred years ago. That first queen had set the Choosing in place for her own daughters so that the court would stay strong, and the realm would be ruled by powerful, intelligent women, never again influenced by the weaker-minded sex. But in the back of her mind, Kit had always questioned why it was men were seen as completely inferior, particularly when she considered the merits of the man whose arms were around her now, and of her own father, Remont, whose title was only duke despite the fact that he was married to a queen. He should’ve been king.

Kit’s thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the gate. Eli released her, and she sat up straighter, wiping at her eyes. The voice that called out her name was expected. “Princess Katrinetta?” Avinia said in her confident alto. “There you are. Your mother is expecting you in an hour’s time. You must return to your chambers and prepare yourself. You know you cannot go to her like this.”

With a deep breath, Kit turned to look at her cousin whose hand was reaching out for the princess’s disheveled dark locks. She knew it would take most of that time for her ladies to make her hair presentable. “Yes, Avinia, thank you,” she said, hoping to keep her voice light. She managed a smile and watched as her cousin took a few steps backward, her blonde hair, almost white, catching a sunbeam that illuminated the crown of her head so that she looked like an angel of the goddesses.

Placing her hand on Eli’s lower arm, Kit said, “Thank you—for everything,” in a quiet voice. He smiled and nodded at her before once more reassuring her everything would be all right. She wanted to believe all the words he’d said to her, but in the pit of her stomach, the winged creatures still fought, and as she made her way through the garden gate, she was just as troubled as she’d been when the magpie had swallowed down the delicate azure butterfly.

Chapter Two

The informal throne room near her mother’s chambers was not nearly as imposing as the one used for formal occasions. In the grander room, the queen would greet visiting dignitaries and noblewomen or meet with commoners who had managed to gain an audience with her. A few times each year, Queen Rona would hold court there and decide whether or not prisoners should continue to stay in the dungeons--catacombs and labyrinths of cells beneath the castle--or actually be released. Most of them would have already spent more time in the unsanitary, disease ridden prison than anyone cared to measure by the time the queen saw them.

Kit preferred to meet with her mother in the smaller chamber because it usually meant a more select audience. Though she was certain members of the Royal Council would be present, she didn’t know for sure if it would be all of them or just those closest to the queen by blood or loyalty.

She still wore the same pink gown she’d had on earlier, but Avinia and Isla had worked her hair up on top of her head so that it was more presentable. The pearl tiara graced her crown, and she knew her mother would appreciate it because the diminutive size made it even more clear who was in charge, just as Queen Rona preferred.

Kit proceeded to the throne room accompanied by two members of her guard. One was the second in command, a tall fellow by the name of Galter, with broad shoulders and dark blond hair. The other was a man she’d seen before whose name was unknown to her, but he had kind brown eyes above a rather bulbous nose. His muscles were large and strained against his gray uniform, and while Kit was intrigued by his physique, she couldn’t imagine getting around such an intrusive facial feature. It occurred to her that everyone was a prospect now that her Exploration was about to begin.

The distance from her own chambers to the queen’s was vast. In the wrong shoes, Kit often felt the same way she used to when she would go on long hikes through the forest near the castle. The scenery in the gray marble hallways wasn’t similar but it seemed to take just as long to make the journey to her mother’s rooms as it had for her to find her way through dense woods. Castle Wrenbrook was massive, probably the largest structure ever built in all the world, and the halls meandered for miles with expansive staircases leading up and down to turrets and catacombs such that Kit realized she’d likely never know the full footprint of the structure. What she did know was, if she intended to be punctual when visiting her mother, she needed to leave her chambers with at least a quarter of an hour to spare. Today, she’d left with a few extra minutes, so she didn’t walk quite as quickly, and when she met others in the hallway, be they noble persons who shared the castle with the royal family and council members, or servants, she spoke to them for a few moments, a habit that drove her mother mad and endeared the princess to her sweet father who did the same. Everyone she stopped to speak to also appreciated Kit’s kindness.

Two armed members of the Queen’s Guard stood on either side of her mother’s large golden, intricately carved doors which soared above Kit’s head. They were dressed in similar uniforms to the Princess’s Guard, though the stripes down the side were more of a deep maroon than purple, and the patches on their shoulders identified them as members of the Queen’s Guard. Knowing the princess was expected, one soldier on each side pulled open the heavy doors, and Kit smiled in thanks, though they only scowled in return. She turned to look at Galter one more time. He nodded his assurance that he would wait for her in the hallway, as her guards did every time she was delivered to her mother.

Inside, Kit’s pink satin slippers treaded lightly on a red and gold embroidered carpet that stretched across the white marble floor the same width as the double doors. Her mother was seated on her throne. This one, though slightly smaller and less elaborate than the one in the formal throne room, was made of solid gold with red velvet cushions and jewels across the top of the backrest larger than the ones that adorned Kit’s most regal crown. Her mother sat there now, on the edge of her seat, a golden crown with spikes that reminded Kit of splintered wood atop her dark hair, her face unsmiling, her fingers wrapped around the ends of the armrests.

Kit curtseyed low before her mother, as she and everyone else who came into the queen’s presence was required to do. She recited the same obligatory greeting as well. “Hail Rona, Empress of All the Lands East of the Galacial Mountains and Queen of the Provinces South of the Compazional Sea, my sovereign” adding only, “my mother,” to the end as was her personal requirement.

“You may rise, Princess Katrinetta.” The queen’s voice was deeper, more forceful than her daughter’s, but Kit had grown accustomed to Rona’s direct way of speaking many years ago. Still, she remembered being a small child who visited her mother infrequently and being frightened of the way her speech reverberated off the marble floors and stone walls. Today, she wasn’t afraid of her mother, but she was apprehensive about what the ruler had to say.

Kit glanced over at the lesser thrones to the right of her mother. Smaller, less adorned, and with no armrests, they seated a few members of the Royal Council. Kit bowed her head to her relations. Zora, her mother’s aunt, whose white hair testified to her infinite wisdom, smiled in return. Nill, who was both Queen Rona’s sister and Avinia’s mother, looked nothing like the queen. Her light hair was the same color as Avinia’s, though she was shorter and slightly plump. Two other council members were present as well, both duchesses, like her aunts, both of royal blood, and of some distant relation to Kit which she didn’t quite understand. Their faces reflected kindness and sympathy for what Kit was about to endure while her mother’s expression was nothing but business as usual.

Kit waited for the queen to gesture for her to be seated on a bench at the foot of the dais which raised the throne several inches off the floor. Kit took her place on the seat, brushing her skirts out around her legs and trying not to fidget as she waited for the queen to gather her thoughts. Sometimes, she knew this process was only to make her, or whomever Rona was about to address, nervous--not because the queen didn’t know what to say. Today, Kit expected that was the case, so she began to count, a way to pass the time without letting her anxiety override her.

At thirteen, her mother cleared her voice. “As you know, your Proem Ceremony is to be held the day after tomorrow, the day after your eighteenth birthday.”

“Yes, Mother, my Queen,” Kit replied, swallowing down the fear that threatened to climb up her throat.

“I regret to inform you there has been an issue with the royal physician, Mikali, and the council members and myself have been meeting in order to come up with a fitting solution. Never in all of our years has such an occurrence taken place. It is unprecedented, and we have searched royal decrees to find an answer but fallen short.”

Kit stared at her mother, her mouth agape, for almost as long as it had taken Rona to speak in the first place. It wasn’t until Zora cleared her throat that Kit was able to look away. Trying to determine what sort of problem it might be, and what sort of remedy they might provide, made her even nervous. She’d already been anxious at the idea that the elderly physician would be performing her Proem in less than two days. Now, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Zora’s tone was more empathetic. “It seems the physician’s age prevents him from performing the ceremony, child.” She tipped her head to the side and gave Kit a moment to ponder how that could be. “As you may remember, he had difficulties at the last Proem Ceremony, that of your cousin, Isla.”

Of course, Isla had told her how she’d felt next to nothing during the ceremony and how it had been during her Exploration that the true discomfort she’d been expecting had come to pass. Kit nodded her head.

“We have discussed the possibilities of having the physician perform the ceremony using something else, some other device, but the law clearly states that the Proem must be completed by a male’s member. It cannot be a substitute device.” Rona seemed exasperated.

Not wanting to let her naïveté embarrass her, Kit pondered exactly what her mother was saying, though she wasn’t exactly clear. She kept her lips closed and her ears wide open.

“We thought perhaps another man could be chosen to perform it, some sort of a lottery,” Zora continued.

“But I know my daughter well enough to understand that solution would not be a wise decision. You would become fascinated with that man, and that is not what the Proem is about. Remember, this is a medical procedure. It is a ceremonial removing of the barrier inside a woman’s body, that which separates her childhood from adulthood, and symbolizes a passing into a phase when she deserves to be completely pleasured in whatever ways she desires.”

That much Kit understood in its entirety. She nodded again.

“We have thought of a possible solution, but it is an involved process, and it may not be wholly lawful.” It was the first time Nill had spoken, and her gentle voice was a comfort to Kit in her overwhelmed state.

“We propose that it be a member of your guard, chosen in secret such that no one will know precisely who he is. He shall perform the Proem Ceremony under the direction of Mikali, and then you shall never be aware of who served you in such a capacity, thus preventing you from developing any unnecessary emotional attachment to him.” Her mother presented her with the solution as if she were stating a medical diagnosis, and Kit raised both eyebrows, trying to determine exactly how what she described might be done.

Zora spread her long white gown around her knees and took a deep breath. “We would ask any members of your guard who may be interested to present themselves to the physician to ensure they are disease free and clear of any ailments that might prevent them from performing the ceremony.”

“Since they are all inspected regularly, Mikali would know if any were of questionable health,” Nill continued.

“Then, the physician would randomly choose twenty of those who volunteered, assuming there maybe more than that. Those twenty would all be blindfolded and covered so that no one may know who they are, not even the physician. He would then arbitrarily select one of them to perform the ceremony while the rest wait within an area where it would be impossible to tell who had been selected. Once the procedure was over, the only person who would know who performed the Proem would be the man himself. We will ensure that he understands, should he speak a word to anyone, he will lose his head.” The queen seemed satisfied with her explanation, but Kit still had several questions.

She reflected on what the council members and her mother had stated for a moment before drawing in a deep breath and asking, “May I make inquiry?”

“Of course,” Zora said at the same time her mother said, “That’s not necessary.”

“Rona, dear, allow the child to speak,” Zora pressed, gently. “She is frightened, can’t you see?”

“There’s simply nothing to be frightened of,” the queen protested. “It’s easy enough. You shall lie there while he enters you, and then the ceremony is over. Once your Clearing is complete, you may lay with whomever you choose for the next three years before your Choosing begins. What is there to fear?”

“Forgive me, Mother,” Kit replied, clearing her throat and running her hands down the length of her skirt again. “I was only going to ask how Mikali would assist. Would the guard be blindfolded during the ceremony? Wouldn’t he need to see?”

The ladies considered the second question quietly before Rona shrugged her perfectly straight shoulders beneath her dark gown and said, “I suppose we could make it so that he could see if necessary, but his face would need to remain completely covered.”

“And you do not think I know the members of my guard well enough to recognize who he is?” Kit’s mind flickered through the familiar faces, the ones who accompanied her through the hall, watched over her while she was in the garden or the library. What would it be like to know that one of them had been inside of her, and he was the only one who knew? Would she constantly question who it might be? Would he slip up and give himself away?

“We will make sure he is unrecognizable.” The queen seemed confident in her resolve. “And Mikali would simply ensure the ceremony is performed properly.”

“Would the guard be exposed to the crowd? Or would he only reveal himself beneath the sheets?” Kit wondered

“What difference does it make?” Clearly the queen was growing exasperated with her daughter now.

“I should think a lesser number of guards would wish to take part if they were about to expose themselves to the entire Royal Court,” she argued. “Also, would Mikali exclude those who are already wed?” She knew there were at least a few members of her guard who had wives, and she couldn’t imagine having one of them perform the ceremony.

“Fine, he does not need to be exposed. That can happen beneath the sheets. And yes, of course, no married men will be involved.” Rona answered quickly.

That would leave forty or so gentlemen who may be eligible. Would even half of them step forward? She had no idea. Since it was her understanding that most men did not receive the same sort of pleasure from sexual relations as women did, she feared none of them would want the duty. Of course, this was not a sexual act, she reminded herself. It was simply a medical procedure….

“We are settled then,” Rona said, dismissively. “This is how it shall be done. I shall sign a decree. And then… we shall set about finding a healthier physician. After all, you do have younger cousins who will require the procedure someday. I hope that you will also have a daughter in the coming years. It shouldn’t do for her to also be afflicted with this unconventional method.”

The fact that her mother found their solution so distasteful made Kit wonder if this was the right answer or not, but there was nothing she could do to change it now. “Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me, Mother?”

“No, that is all,” Rona replied and gave her daughter a dismissive nod.

Kit rose, a few questions lingering in her mind that she dared not ask now that her mother had given her leave. The rest of the council, even those who had not spoken, gave her reassuring smiles as the princess curtsied to her mother and then backed to the door. The guards beyond opened it so that she could make her way through without turning her back to her mother.

In the hall, Galter and the other guard waited for her. She knew the doors were thick, but she thought perhaps they had some idea what was discussed as they would not look directly at her, and their cheeks were slightly pinked. She looked at each of them again and then redirected her eyes to the long marble hall in front of her. Could she in good conscious walk alongside her guards knowing that one of them knew her so intimately? She had no idea how she might do such a thing, but she would have to discover a way to put it out of her mind as she had little control over any of it, like most aspects of her life. Once her mother had made up her mind, there was no going back. Kit wondered what would be worse—the guard or the physician--and decided that either choice was horrid.

Chapter Three

The celebration for Katrinetta’s eighteenth birthday was the most elaborate affair she’d ever witnessed. Despite her mother’s inability to otherwise show any sort of fondness for her daughter, she had seen that every last detail of both the dinner and the ball that followed were of the utmost regality in both luxury and lavishness.

The dinner had consisted of sixteen courses, including Kit’s favorite, a roasted lamb chop that was the head chef’s specialty, though Kit could hardly take more than a few bites by the time the eighth course was served. Likewise, her favorite chocolate mousse had nearly gone untasted. By the time the dancing began, she was quite certain her elegant blue gown, adorned with thousands of sapphires in various sizes, would burst at the seams, and she was considering ducking away for a few moments so that one of her ladies could loosen her corset.

That wouldn’t do, however, so she tried to take more shallow breaths. The orchestra began playing the moment her slippers crossed the threshold into the opulent ballroom. Thousands of flowers in shades of light blue and gold, meant to match her gown, as well as a soft blush pink that she could only imagine matched the rosiness of her cheeks, stood in large golden vases around the perimeter of the dance floor while the tapestries that hung above them in matching shades might’ve stretched to the ocean, should they be laid end to end. Kit held her breath, which was easy to do now that her belly was full of food, and took everything in. It was certainly the loveliest room she’d ever been in.

“I take it the décor is to your liking?” her mother asked at her elbow.

“Yes, Mother,” Kit confirmed. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”

“Get used to it, darling. Once your Choosing begins, you will be attending dozens of balls, and each of them must be more elaborate than the last.” When her mother smiled, her lips pressed together in a thin line that bowed up at the end, and one eyebrow raised slightly. That was the only indication that she was pleased, and it was so rare, Kit couldn’t think of the last time she’d seen it.

“That sounds delightful, my Queen,” Kit replied. She wasn’t sure how her mother could outdo this particular event. Something told her she would find out in three years when her Choosing began.

The trumpeters sounded at her mother’s signal, and the pair of them were announced to the crowd. Immediately, it seemed, a rush of young men were at her side, offering their hands. Some of them were familiar; others Kit was certain she’d never met before. She took the hand extended most closely to her own and began a waltz, thinking the others would just have to wait their turns, and soon the entire dance floor was full with courtiers swirling about, but it still seemed as if every eye was on her.

“You look radiant, my Princess.” The man whose arm was currently around her was tall with dark blond hair that swept up in the front of his head. He wasn’t unpleasant to look at, but Kit couldn’t place him at all and felt a bit foolish asking his name, so she only thanked him and minded her steps. She wasn’t particularly impressed with his physique either, and she decided fairly quickly that there was no reason to inquire further about him since he would certainly not do for her Exploration. Still, she continued with the dance, hoping not to be rude. But her eyes wandered.

She hadn’t seen Eli at dinner. She supposed he was elsewhere preparing for this elaborate event. As the Commander of the Princess’s Guard, there was much to attend to, Kit supposed, and much of what he was responsible for, she probably never even gave a thought to. Keeping her safe was his paramount duty, one she knew he took most seriously, and even though the ballroom was filled to the brim, she was certain none of these people could harm her even if they wanted to.

Glancing around, she saw several familiar gray and purple uniforms on the periphery, but her eyes could not find his familiar face, and she sighed, wishing she could locate him. Surely, he’d have time for just one dance.

“Is everything all right, my Princess?” her partner asked, his brown eyes narrowed slightly with concern.

“Oh, yes, thank you.” She managed to flash him a smile. “It’s just… there are a lot of people here, aren’t there?”

“Yes, indeed there are. My mother began donating to the queen’s charities months ago in hopes of receiving an invitation. We were lucky to have been chosen.”

Kit raised an eyebrow, and his face shifted, as if he realized he likely wasn’t supposed to give away such information. “How’s that?”

“Well, it’s just… so many noble families from across the realm wanted to come, and the ballroom only fits so many. That’s all.”

“I see.” Kit’s smile was still plastered to her face, but she wondered if her mother was taking bribes or if this was just this man’s mother’s way of ensuring her son would have an opportunity. “And what province are you from?”

“Metfirth, my Princess.” He gave a little bow with his head when he said the name, and she could tell he must be proud of his province.

“Please, you may call me Katrinetta.” She tired of the formalities so quickly. “And what is your name?” She decided she’d likely never met him before, so she may as well ask.

“Pierce de Lunge, at your service my… Katrinetta.” An impish smile broke out with his correction, and Kit couldn’t help but make her own smile more genuine. Perhaps he wasn’t so awful after all.

“What do you do in Metfirth? That’s quite some distance to travel for a ball.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. My mother is one of the town council members, and I am training to join the Royal Guard.”

Realizing his stature must be important in his home province, Kit said, “Congratulations. I hope that you’re able to do so. Are you my age then?” She imagined anyone older would’ve already been in the service, if he had a mind to be.

“Aye, just turned eighteen last month. I hope…” his voice faded as the musicians played the final refrains of the song, which happened to be one of Kit’s favorite tunes. “I hope to see you again, when it is time for your Choosing. I would very much love to represent my province.”

With the ending of the song, Pierce released her and gave a slight bow. Kit stared after him for a moment as he was swallowed up by the crowd, and at least a dozen hands were extended in her direction. She didn’t take one at first, however; his words still hung in the air. Were most of these gentlemen here because they hoped to be Representatives during her Choosing? The idea changed the way she looked at each of them. The Exploration was all about having fun, getting to know what pleased her and what did not, but the Choosing was something else altogether. She’d be looking for a mate, someone to share her life with. Regardless of her mother’s insistence that it was bodily pleasure that should come first and foremost, Kit had never ever accepted that notion, and now, as she looked at the faces around her, she chose more carefully.

The next hand she grasped belonged to a tall man with curly brown hair, and a lopsided grin. There was a sparkle in his green eyes that set her heart aflutter, and when he pulled her in closer and began to twirl her around the dance floor, Kit felt a stirring inside of her, something she’d only felt a few times before, but it was a sensation she welcomed, and she began to think perhaps this process wouldn’t be so terrible after all.

Kit seemed to be enjoying herself. Whether or not that made him happy, Eli wasn’t sure, but he supposed it was better than watching her spend the entire night standing in a corner, shaking like a leaf, or cowering from her mother. The queen, on the other hand, had a heavy eye, and too often it bore down on him, despite the fact that he hadn’t so much as approached the princess the entire duration of the dinner or the ball.

He had to admit, it was difficult for him to pull his eyes away from her, though. Part of it was because it was his duty to keep her safe, but mostly it was because she was so exquisite. Kit had always been lovely, delicate like a flower or the wings of a butterfly. Her porcelain skin was smooth as satin, and her dark hair and lashes shined in even the dimmest light. Her sparkling blue eyes had a way of making a person feel completely at ease, be it a friend or a stranger, and when they fell on him, he felt like the most important person in the world.