"We're almost there, Princess."
The fair-haired coachman looked back at the princess with a warm smile.
Luminairea was located far to the south of Crystalia, rendering the heat uncomfortable for Corina. She was already eliminated her cowl, but she was silently berating herself for donning a garment with long sleeves. It would have been helpful if someone had forewarned her about the significant variation in temperature between her home and where she was going.
There had been few breaks during the several days of travel. In the small towns she traveled through, she merely ate and used the restroom. Since she had only ever traveled with her parents before, this was a very nerve-wracking scenario. She had never been out on her own before.
Besides the coachman, one knight accompanied her. Jeffery, a middle-aged, brown-headed knight with almond shaped hazel eyes. He was muscular and strong. She was sure if dragons really did exist, he could slay one single-handedly.
He was bigger than an ox.
She looked over at him. He was seated across from her. He looked up and smiled. "Are you ready?"
She shook her head and furrowed her brow. "Not anymore."
"Why is that?" He raised a brow.
"Now I'm nervous," she admitted. "It sounded like an exciting adventure when Papa talked about it, but now I'm scared."
"What do you have to be scared of?" Jeffery inquired as he tapped on his knee with his fingertips.
"What if the Duke isn't kind?" She asked.
"I'm sure he's kind enough," he said with a sigh. "Even if he's not kind, he's rich. He would be able to gift you whatever you desire."
"I don't care about that!" Corina whined. "I want a kind husband! I want to climb trees and go on picnics with my husband!"
Jeffery chucked. Her innocence was endearing. He just hoped she would be able to deal with her new life as a duchess. He wondered if it was such a grand idea for King Gerald to marry away his only daughter when she had led such a sheltered life before the current moment.
"He probably will want to," Jeffery assured her.
"He better," the princess pouted.
Jeffery chuckled again. "Don't worry."
"How can I not?" She inquired, raising her arms and then letting them fall.
"Just take a deep breath," he said. "Relax and be yourself."
"Alright," she nodded.
"It will be fine."
"I hope so."
"I'm sure of it," he replied.
"Lots of royals are stuffy! I don't want a stuck-up, stuffy husband!"
"You might get lucky," he laughed. "Not all nobles are snobs."
"They're not?"
"No, in fact, some of them are quite kind and fun to be around," Jeffery explained. "Your father is fun to be around, isn't he? And your mother, correct?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "I suppose so."
"So, there you go. He replied, "There are nice, kind royals."
"Yes, but...they're my family."
"Okay, it's like that. You get to meet your in-laws. They will be your family, too."
"My in-laws?"
"Yes," Jeffery nodded. "Your in-laws are your spouse's parents."
"Papa told me the king of Luminairea is Alexander's father," Corina said with her eyes wide. "I can't greet a king!"
"Your father is a king," he laughed. "I don't think you should be worried."
"He's a different king!"
"Yeah, but a king is a king. Just bow your head and say, 'It is an honor to meet you,' or something like that."
"I don't know," she sighed.
Jeffery nodded and offered her a smile, his eyes comforting as he looked at her. It was enough to make Corina feel at ease over the occasion.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. Within two hours, they reached the Duke's palace.
Corina was too nervous to look out of the window completely, but she used her fingers to push the curtain back, peaking out to see a grand palace. It wasn't as big as her childhood home, but she didn't expect it to be as grand.
The carriage stopped.
The princess sat up straight with perfect posture. Her cheeks puffed out, and her eyes were wide open as she glanced at Jeffery.
He reached over and offered her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It will be fine. Do your best to relax. As a princess, you understand the expectations placed on you."
"Yes," she said with a subtle nod.
"Remember, I'll be here guarding you before the wedding," Jeffery informed her.
"You will?"
"Yes," he confirmed as he climbed out of the carriage. "Wait here while I notify the palace staff of your arrival."
Corina watched as he exited the carriage. She sighed with relief. She was glad at least one familiar face would be with her in her new home.
Curiosity got the better of Corina. She pulled back the curtain completely. Her eyes were focused on the double door at the entrance of the palace, which stood out among the white construction of the rest of the building.
Soon, several knights emerged from the door, forming a line along the lengthy walkway from the carriage to the entrance.
She saw Jeffery return with a silver-haired butler, who wore a monocle. The butler began to remove her belongings from the back of the carriage and took them inside.
Corina frowned. She wanted to get her own things. She didn't need a servant to retrieve them for her. She wasn't helpless, and she would have liked to ensure they wouldn't get lost.
She hoped the butler knew what he was doing. He looked old and feable. She hoped he remained sharp and didn't lose his senses.
After the butler went inside, the person she wanted to see most stepped out of the palace.
She was a tall, messy brunette, dressed in a regal royal uniform. Surprise hit her by how soft, round, and young his face was. He hadn't even grown in a beard yet. In fact, he looked not much older than she was.
His face was handsome. Extrodinarily handsome. It made her stomach flutter with an unfamiliar sensation.
She let go of the curtain and took a deep breath. Then another. Then a third. She twisted a lock of golden hair around her finger. "Is this what love feels like?" Corina mumbled to herself in reaction to her rapid heartbeat.
The sensation was as though it was about to explode from her chest, striking the coachman in the back of the head. She was grateful that her internal organs would not be able to do such a thing. If the carriage opened and the princess ended up heartless, it would be quite a sight.
The door to the carriage eventually opened. She took one last long breath and stepped onto the stone parvement beneath her feet.
Her new life was about to start.