On the beach outside the Palace
Prince Jacob was staring out at the sea before looking back at his palace. Seeing that the young woman he rescued earlier was standing in front of the window to the guest room.
After the Prince notice Marina, she began waving to him with a bright smile on her face. Jacob had a small movement in his heart.
He then began heading back, to check on his new guest. Upon arriving in from of the door to the room Marina was in. He took a deep breath to steady himself, and entered. Marina turned to face him with a smile that could steal anyone's heart.
However due to the pain she was feeling in her feet she immediately started to fall. At which Jacob dashed to catch her, before saying. "Woah there.. Don't try to walk just yet, you appear to have been injured in a bad shipwreck."
The Prince had considered that she may have been on his ship when it sunk. But he would have remembered someone as beautiful as her.
She had looked up at him intending to introduce herself, but she had forgotten for a moment that she had given up her voice. What happened instead was that her mouth had moved a lot, but not a sound came out.
Jacob noticing this said, "So you can't speak, huh. It's okay, we can communicate through writing. I have plenty of paper and ink."
Upon hearing this she was a little nervous, as you can't write under the sea. So she never learned how to read or write. Jacob had gotten a servant to bring a desk, paper, ink and a feather pen to her room. He then gave them to Marina as a gift.
When Marina didn't do anything, Jacob said. "Oh. That was my mistake, I should have assumed you may not have had a formal education. Would you like me to teach you how to read and write?"
Excited Marina began dancing, this mesmerized Jacob even more. "Wow you are the best dancer I have ever seen." Marina began to blush from Jaco's flattery.
Everything seemed to be going well, the next few months Marina and Jacob were inseparable. After Jacob would finish his duties, he would go to Marina's room and teach her all he knew about reading and writing. The passion Jacob put into his teaching, helped Marina learn a lot faster.
Marina finally knew enough about reeding and writing to write a letter to the Prince, explaining how she had met him, her feelings for him, and the deal she had made to make all of this possible. She was going to give it to him after the dinner that night, hoping for a romantic atmosphere.
That afternoon the King stopped by for a visit.
King, "Jacob. What's this I hear about you fraternizing with the help."
Jacob coming to the front door said, "Good afternoon father. I haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing?"
King, "Fine. Now answer the question."
Jacob, "First of all, Marina is not the help, she is a guest. Secondly there is nothing between Marina and I. It is just that we are kindred spirits, we both survived bad shipwrecks after all. You should meet her father, she is very smart and kind."
King, "Humph. You sure don't talk about her as if nothing is going on between you two."
Jacob, "Again father there is truly nothing between us romantically. You know that I have fallen in love with the mysterious maiden who rescued me."
Marina upon hearing this jumped for joy inside. 'He must have noticed me! Now the letter will surely work.'
King, "I have been meaning to talk to you about that. You see I am not getting any younger, and I cannot leave this Kingdom to you until you are married and have an heir."
Jacob, "Yes father I am aware. Can you please at least give me enough time to find the woman who saved me."
King, "No need. I have arranged a marriage for you and the neighboring kingdom's Princess. She also happens to be the vary same Priestess that healed you at the temple."
Marina's heart sank upon hearing this, and would soon have her own worst fears realized.
King, "I have arranged a meeting for you two at dinner tonight. She will be here soon."
Jacob was starting to become excited as the woman he thinks saved his life, will more than likely become his wife.
Turning to face his servants Jacob said, "Well what are you waiting for, get the most romantic dinner prepared for tonight."
Many of the servants had grown accustomed to the Prince and Marina becoming close. Many now felt sorry for Marina, as they could tell she had feelings for the Prince.
Whispers were had between the staff.
"I feel sorry for Marina. They had something real going on."
"I know what you mean. She is so kind, and I've never seen his highness smile as much as he has, since her arrival."
"They were truly a match made in heaven."
"I for one wish this Princess was never found."
"Now that's going to far, after all this Princess did save his highness's life."
Marina had run off to her room, locking the door behind herself. As soon as she was in the room she hid her letter in the desk. What if Jacob thought, what was written in the letter was made up by her, and through her out. She could no longer bring herself to give him the letter.
Marina buried her head in a pillow and cried her eyes out, until dinner time came around.
At the dining hall the four of them were gathered for the meal.
The King who was happy that all was going well. Jacob was enamored with Mariah's stories about joining the temple for learning purposes. Mariah was happy to have found a kind Prince to marry, and Marina had a fake smile on the whole dinner.
At the end of the dinner Prince Jacob ended up asking the Princess if she was willing to marry him. The Princess was more than happy for this turn of events. As she knew that she didn't have much choice when it came to choosing who she would marry.
She was so happy to have the chance to marry a kind Prince like Jacob. That she insisted that they get married as soon as possible. The King was all for that idea. Jacob seemed hesitant as he had not known her for long, but decided to go along with it anyways.