After taking a few deep breaths, Corina exited the carriage while holding Jeffery's hand within her own. Slowly, he escorted the princess to the spot where the Duke was standing.
The moment when she noticed the Duke bow to her, a light pink brush spread across both of her cheeks. It was obvious to her that the palm placed over his heart trembled as he bowed to her.
When she thought of Alexander, she did not picture him to be as youthful and apprehensive as she was. She felt more at peace when she realized that she was not going through a new adventure by herself; it was clear that he was also experiencing all of this for the first time.
In the beginning, she had the impression that he was much older than she was. When she realized that was not the case, she felt a wave of relief rush over her. It was the assumption that he had the same lack of experience with women as she did with men.
"Princess Corina," he began, his voice with a hint of uneasiness to its tone. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Jeffery released his hold on Corina's hand. Her blue eyes focused on the Duke as he greeted her.
With a dashing smile appearing on his lips, Duke Alexander took a step forward and gently extended his own hand to the woman before him. He had high hopes that she would be willing to accompany him inside the palace so they could briefly chat.
"Thank you, your grace," Corina responded, her voice full of confidence. "It's an honor to make your acquaintance."
As she approached him, Corina looked up at him, placing her hand in his. It had been thrilling for her to see a shade of pink begin to spread across his cheeks. When she concentrated her attention on him, her heart skipped a beat because he seemed so adorable to her. Essentially, he was both handsome and cute. She didn't know a person could be both at the same time.
"Thank you," he whispered with a sigh of relief.
Corina giggled as they began to walk to the palace doors. It caused him to smile again down at her, his brown hers captivated by her innocent beauty. He had heard from hus father, the king of Luminairea, that she was said to be beautiful, but those words were an understatement.
Corina smiled as they began to walk to the palace doors. It caused him to smile again down at her, his brown eyes captivated by her innocent beauty. He had heard from his father, the king of Luminairea, that she was said to be beautiful, but those words were an understatement.
When they made it inside, they stood hand-in-hand at the foyer entrance as the knights resumed their patrol inside the building.
Alexander was at a complete loss of words as he stood beside his bride-to-be. He nearly jumped when he felt her hand give him a gentle squeeze. "Are you nervous?" Corina inquired, her tone of voice was low and gentle.
"I'm okay," Alexander lied. "I just feel like this is a dream."
"Do you dream about me?" Corina teasingly asked.
"Um..." His face turned bright red. "Sometimes."
"Oh, that's nice," Corina smiled. "But how do you dream about me when you never met me?"
"The idea of you, I guess," he replied with a nervous laugh.
"The idea of me," Corina repeated. "So, what does the idea of me look like?"
"Pretty," Alexander answered.
"Oh," she giggled. "A pretty princess in your dreams."
"You're pretty in person, too," he admitted nervously.
"Am I?" Corina asked, her blue eyes wide.
"You're prettier than I remember from my dreams," Alexander whispered. "You're more beautiful than any dream could be."
Corina was shocked by his response. She placed her free hand over her mouth, trying to cover up a wide smile.
"And I like the real version of you better than the idea of you," he added.
Corina lowered her hand and looked into his eyes. She was at a complete loss of words. Her mouth hung agape and her mind was drawing a blank.
"I-I'm glad," she replied, her heart pounding hard in her chest.
"I hope your journey wasn't too difficult," Alexander said in an attempt to change the subject. "I realize the kingdom is quite far from your own."
"It wasn't bad," she smiled. "I didn't realize how warm Luminairea would be."
Alexander nodded. "Luminairea is the kingdom of light. We are positioned right above the sun. The only time the heat is blocked is when the twin moons pass over it."
"It's never dark?" She asked.
"We have night," Alexander chuckled in response. "But our days are much longer than the rest of the world."
"That makes sense."
"Crystalia is famous for the crystal mines, isn't it?" He asked. "I've always wanted to see the mines. I've heard they're gorgeous."
"We could visit them sometime," Corina suggested, smiling brightly. "My brothers want to meet you! I know my mother would not mind the company."
"I would love to see where you were born," he agreed. "Though visiting would have to wait until after the wedding, I'm afraid."
"I guess you'll meet them way before we visit," she frowned.
"Yes," Alexander said with a nod. "How many brothers do you have?"
"Nine!" Corina replied excitedly.
"Nine!?" Alexander gasped. "I only have one older brother. I couldn't imagine having nine."
Corina leand forward and placed the side of her band next to her lips to whisper to the Duke, "Papa and Mama did the sex dance a lot, I'm guessing."
Alexander was once again left speechless, this time by the words uttered so matter-of-factly by the princess.
"Mama told me married couples do that," she nodded. "It's supposed to make babies, right? They had a lot of children."
He positioned his hand so that it was covering his face. It was at that very moment that he came to the realization that the young, blonde princess was going to be his undoing. Due to the fact that her mother casually referred to the act as a dance, it was clear that she had not provided a proper explanation of the nature of the act between two married partners.
"That's what my brother said, but he was joking. But he wasn't wrong," Corina commented.
"What else did he say?"
"He told me about pregnancy and how painful childbirth is," Corina frowned. "I'm not looking forward to it."
"Well," Alexander cleared his throat. "I'll try to make it a pleasant experience, but you have no need to worry. All of that will be far in the future. I want to get to know you well first, princess."
"I'm glad," Corina nodded. "My mother did mention something about a lady-in-waiting who will explain the rest of womanhood to me. She says it's different from being a girl."
"Yes," Alexander agreed.
"Is there anything different from being a man?"
"I guess so," Alexander said. "Men and women are similar in a lot of ways, but different."
"Will I become a man after the wedding?"
"I, um," he rubbed the back of his neck. "No. That's not how it works. You're a woman now, while you were a girl before. You cannot change genders."
"Okay," she said with a nod, her eyes narrowed on him.
"Your Grace," the butler called, coming toward them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time for you to prepare for the dinner party."
"Yes," he nodded at the butler. "Corina, please allow Calvin to show you to your chambers."
"Okay," she said with a sigh, as she hoped to spend more time with him.
"Don't worry," he smiled. "We can spend more time together late."
He politely bowed then walked away.
Corina followed the elderly butler through the wide halls of the palace. Her blue eyes took in her surroundings as she followed behind the tall man.
Calvin bowed when they reached a delicately carved door. "Princess, this is your new bedchamber," he explained as he straightened his posture. "Your new lady-in-waiting will take you to the dinner party later."
Corina nodded and went inside. She couldn't wait to see the Duke again at the dinner party.