"Wham!"

Her long legs slapped across his cheeks hard, whipping his whole face to one side. The woman's lips were set in a thin line, her eyes hard and narrowed at the man she had just Kicked. The man didn't say a word, his long dark hair covering the side of his face.

"Be careful next time," She warned Sternly, "You won't just get away with one kick on the face."

With that, she turned around and walked away. Once she was out of sight, the man's lips twitched as his Jaws stretched into a devious smile, "Now now, what do we have here?" He quipped, his deep voice rumbling down his throat.

.

.

.

The carriage ride here had been frustrating with the maids all over her face trying to dress her up and putting on make-up. As soon as they had arrived here at the grand castle, she had jumped down and scurried away from them all.

Just as Ms. Ophelia had been repeating to her over and over again, today was a big day for a woman like her, and she can't afford to mess up but with everyone asking her questions and disturbing her, she had just turned her back and escaped into the castle, striding around till some idiot decided to come out of nowhere and tap her butt.

"My Princess!!" A girl dressed as a maid stepped out from a corner, her eyes zooming in on the woman, "I found her, she's here." She yelled at the rest.

Princess Raziah Sighed indignantly as four of her maids rushed over to where she stood and quickly pulled her with them. She didn't bother struggling this time because she knew there was no way out of this - after all, she had to get married whether she liked it or not, and tonight just happened to be that day for her.

They got to the room that had been reserved for her, and there Ms. Ophelia who had been pacing back and forth Jumped all over her the second she walked in with the maids, "Where have you been?!"

Raziah ignored the woman, and propped herself on the table, staring at her bland face in the mirror, "It's a masquerade ball, right?"

"Heavens, child!" Ms. Ophelia palmed her face with worry, "It's a good thing you took your bath already." Then, she turned to the maids with Stern eyes, "Get her ready. If she puts up a fight, hold her down! We can't afford to mess up more than we already have."

With that, she left the room with a huff. As the guardian of Princess Raziah, Ms. Ophelia had always looked after the forgotten Princess.

Raziah had always been the obedient one who hardly caused problems for herself and others - in fact, she was that kind of princess who didn't even care about herself at all.

She didn't care if she was locked up in the small castle for months, or even years. Raziah Octavius was very much different from other princesses in many ways - for example, she never let her hair get so long, and she always carried a small dagger with her hidden somewhere in her clothes.

But not tonight.

Tonight, she would finally get whisked again by one of the fifteen princes that had come to ask for her hand in marriage. Raziah wasn't the only Princess that was to be courted tonight, everyone knows the main reason so many princes had gathered tonight was mostly for Princess Diane Keaton of Zeba.

Her beauty was spellbinding as they say, and everything about her spoke nothing less of royalty and grace.

The grand castle was mostly for these kinds of things. Everyone leaves his kingdom when the news spreads, and they all gather here for marriage.

Raziah's hair was being made by one of the maids, while the others were helping her with the make-up. When Raziah stared at her reflection, she noticed once again how pale and beautiful her skin was. Her mother always said she was like snow-white, but unlike snow-White and other princesses who craved freedom, Raziah would want nothing more than to be locked up forever.

"Is there food?" She asked the maid making her hair through the mirror.

"Of course, there's food..." The maid paused, her eyes widening, "But my Princess, you can't eat. It's your wedding day!"

"I see."

"We have to hurry," The other maid said to the others, "It's already started. I'm sure Princess Diane has already been introduced to the crowd."

Hurriedly, they finally finished everything in the next twenty minutes. Princess Raziah looked as elegant as she could be. Her short golden brown hair had been tied up into a beautiful bun pinned up, with roses lining the front of her hair. Her face had minimal make-up on, but the lipstick looked a bit too much for her.

The dress was a combination of the color of her hair and eyes. The dress had a Grecian Neckline, and the bodice was golden brown designed with embroidery and a row flowers of satin embedded in it. The waistline was sowed with a band, while the silhouette came in steps, each end lined with a brown beautiful lace that made her look like a swan. The hemline just below had a similar net on it just like the Grecian Neckline, complementing the Hazel shoes she was putting on.

Her ears were flung with a necklace, and there was a blue wrist band around her left arm which she never took for any reason. Her sleeves were made with satin brown material that gripped her starting from just below her shoulders, and dived flawlessly and freely down to her lower arm.

Just then, Ms. Ophelia walked back into the room. As soon as she saw the transformation that had utterly changed Raziah, a small smile settled on her face.

"You all may leave." She instructed the maids.

Alone with the Princess, she walked up behind her, "What are you thinking about?"

Raziah only shrugged. She just wanted to get the night over with.

"You look beautiful, you should know that."

Raziah only nodded.

"I hope you remember all my teachings. You'll be snatched away from one of those princes tonight, and your wedding will commence immediately as soon as you choose one of them. Your new home is still unknown to you, but no matter what I want you to be good. Can you promise me that?"

Raziah nodded again. She wasn't one for talking too much except if she had to. Unconsciously, she reached over and gently rubbed her wristband.

She was actually going to get married at twenty-two when most Princess would have been married latest twenty years old.

"Where is Malcolm?" Raziah asked.

"He's just outside the door." Ms. Ophelia replied.

The both of them walked out to meet the guard who had accompanied her. Raziah and Malcolm have known each other for More than ten years, and he had been there for her through thick and thin. Malcolm, who was dressed in armor and had a hard look on his face dropped his jaw the second she walked out.

"Your highness..." He almost swallowed.

Who would have thought the princess actually look this good in a beautiful dress, unlike those other plain dresses she always wore about back at Naria.

"Sir Malcolm," She stumbled out, "Thank you for everything."

"Your highness, Don't mention it. I'm always to be by your side..." Then he smiled softly, "And I'm happy you're getting married."

"I'm glad," She responded, before she gave them both a once over. Wondering why they weren't putting on their masks, she shrugged at herself before she was accompanied by the both of them down where she would be introduced to the crowd of royals on the first floor.

But, something went wrong.

Raziah got lost in the Grand castle on her way to the ground floor.

.

.

.

"Remind me again why you accompanied me here..." Prince Edward groaned at the annoying man who was sitting beside him.

Aragon Odysseus Smirked back at the man which a smug look on his face. They were by the corner of the ground floor, sitting behind a curtain that covered them from the party going on inside. Princess Diane was already dancing with someone, waltzing in harmony with a satisfied look on her face.

"Why, you ask?" Aragon stood up from his seat, waving his hand over Edward's face with a wicked smile on his face, "Because I came to see you get married, Eddie."

"I highly doubt that," Edward rolled his eyes.

"I'm Being serious here," Aragon continued.

Felix stood behind him, his arm steadily gripping the edge of his sword with a grin lurking on the guard's face.

"I've never believed you. And I can't believe you'll leave your kingdom just to come here, for what?" Eddie retorted, thinking about the possibilities of why a man like Aragon would even think about..." Wait a minute," Edward's eyes narrowed at Aragon, who still had that look in his eyes, "You came here for Princess Diane?"

Felix wasn't doing a good job holding back his smile, but no one had noticed yet.

"No. I told you, I just came over to see you get married." Aragon replied nonchalantly.

Edward Shook his head in dismay - this man would never tell him why he suddenly showed up here unannounced, and he wasn't even giving him a believable lie. Edward's big eyes moved to Aragon's left cheek, and he asked, "Your Majesty, you have something on your cheek," Edward leaned in a bit, "Is that dust?"

Upon hearing the boy's words, His Majesty's eyes twinkled with mirth.

"It was a gift, you see."

At that moment, the trumpet was blown for the second time that night. Everyone's attention was captured, and even the ones currently dancing had paused because it seems the second Princess was about to make her entrance through the door.