Ivana had barely taken a sip of her morning tea when her father burst into the sunlit dining room, his eyes gleaming with excitement. She raised an eyebrow, setting her teacup down with a curious smile.
"You look unusually cheerful this morning, Father. What mischief are you up to?" she asked, amused.
Arthur chuckled, taking a seat beside her. "Mischief? Hardly! I have news—an official proposal from King Leopold's court."
Ivana's heart skipped. "And who's the suitor this time?"
Arthur leaned in, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. "King Leopold's second son, Prince Alfred. He's arriving with his entourage this afternoon for a formal proposal." He winked. "From what I've heard, he's quite the... unique personality."
"Unique?" Ivana's eyebrows shot up, a smirk forming on her lips. She could only imagine what "unique" meant in her father's terms. "This should be interesting."
---
By the afternoon, the entire palace was abuzz with anticipation. Alfred's arrival was nothing short of a spectacle: dozens of guards, elaborate carriages adorned with family crests, and a band playing some overly-dramatic marching tune as Alfred stepped out, grinning like he'd already won.
Ivana watched from the palace balcony, stifling a laugh. The prince, dressed in an ornate, feathered hat and an embroidered green cloak that nearly glowed, waved with great flair, his movements grand and theatrical.
As Alfred entered the throne room, he bowed—deeply, dramatically, and perhaps a bit too long—before finally rising, his feathered hat nearly toppling off. Ivana bit her lip, glancing at her father, who had an impressive poker face.
"Your Majesty!" Alfred declared in a loud, boisterous voice. "I come bearing a proposal of unity between our kingdoms… and, of course, my hand to your daughter." He shot a confident smile at Ivana, who returned it politely, though amusement sparkled in her eyes.
Arthur nodded graciously. "Prince Alfred, welcome. We are honored to consider such an alliance."
Prince Alfred turned to Ivana, his tone suddenly grandiose. "Princess Ivana, I must say, tales of your beauty do you no justice. My heart is already set aflame!" He clutched his chest theatrically, swaying for effect.
Ivana struggled not to laugh, giving him her best princess-like nod. "You are very kind, Prince Alfred."
"Oh, but kindness is not the only quality I possess!" He puffed up proudly. "I am also an accomplished juggler and, if I may say, an expert harp player!" Without warning, he reached into his cloak and produced three apples, tossing them into the air and juggling them with a flourish.
Ivana blinked, glancing sideways at her father, who was clearly trying to stifle his laughter.
"A remarkable talent, indeed," Arthur said, clapping politely.
"Ah, but there's more!" Alfred insisted. He stopped juggling, held the apples up as if they were priceless jewels, and tossed them to Ivana with a wink. She caught them gracefully, impressed despite herself, and decided to join the performance.
"Quite the skills you have, Prince Alfred," she said, lifting an apple and taking a playful bite. "But tell me, are you as skilled in the art of diplomacy?"
Alfred seemed taken aback, pausing as he thought over the question
Ivana had barely taken a sip of her morning tea when her father burst into the sunlit dining room, his eyes gleaming with excitement. She raised an eyebrow, setting her teacup down with a curious smile.
"You look unusually cheerful this morning, Father. What mischief are you up to?" she asked, amused.
Arthur chuckled, taking a seat beside her. "Mischief? Hardly! I have news—an official proposal from King Leopold's court."
Ivana's heart skipped. "And who's the suitor this time?"
Arthur leaned in, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. "King Leopold's second son, Prince Alfred. He's arriving with his entourage this afternoon for a formal proposal." He winked. "From what I've heard, he's quite the... unique personality."
"Unique?" Ivana's eyebrows shot up, a smirk forming on her lips. She could only imagine what "unique" meant in her father's terms. "This should be interesting."
---
By the afternoon, the entire palace was abuzz with anticipation. Alfred's arrival was nothing short of a spectacle: dozens of guards, elaborate carriages adorned with family crests, and a band playing some overly-dramatic marching tune as Alfred stepped out, grinning like he'd already won.
Ivana watched from the palace balcony, stifling a laugh. The prince, dressed in an ornate, feathered hat and an embroidered green cloak that nearly glowed, waved with great flair, his movements grand and theatrical.
As Alfred entered the throne room, he bowed—deeply, dramatically, and perhaps a bit too long—before finally rising, his feathered hat nearly toppling off. Ivana bit her lip, glancing at her father, who had an impressive poker face.
"Your Majesty!" Alfred declared in a loud, boisterous voice. "I come bearing a proposal of unity between our kingdoms… and, of course, my hand to your daughter." He shot a confident smile at Ivana, who returned it politely, though amusement sparkled in her eyes.
Arthur nodded graciously. "Prince Alfred, welcome. We are honored to consider such an alliance."
Prince Alfred turned to Ivana, his tone suddenly grandiose. "Princess Ivana, I must say, tales of your beauty do you no justice. My heart is already set aflame!" He clutched his chest theatrically, swaying for effect.
Ivana struggled not to laugh, giving him her best princess-like nod. "You are very kind, Prince Alfred."
"Oh, but kindness is not the only quality I possess!" He puffed up proudly. "I am also an accomplished juggler and, if I may say, an expert harp player!" Without warning, he reached into his cloak and produced three apples, tossing them into the air and juggling them with a flourish.
Ivana blinked, glancing sideways at her father, who was clearly trying to stifle his laughter.
"A remarkable talent, indeed," Arthur said, clapping politely.
"Ah, but there's more!" Alfred insisted. He stopped juggling, held the apples up as if they were priceless jewels, and tossed them to Ivana with a wink. She caught them gracefully, impressed despite herself, and decided to join the performance.
"Quite the skills you have, Prince Alfred," she said, lifting an apple and taking a playful bite. "But tell me, are you as skilled in the art of diplomacy?"
Alfred seemed taken aback, pausing as he thought over the question
Alfred's eyes darted to her, and he quickly recovered, puffing his chest proudly. "Ah, yes! Diplomacy is, of course, a skill I have honed greatly. After all, one must charm many a noble court to—"
"Oh, I'm sure," Ivana cut in, her tone just polite enough to be teasing. "Though I do wonder if diplomacy and… juggling are equally useful in a royal marriage."
Alfred blinked, clearly not catching her jest. "Indeed, Princess! A well-rounded prince must master all arts!" He seemed quite pleased with himself, and Ivana could barely contain her laughter as she exchanged an amused glance with her father.
King Arthur cleared his throat, smiling warmly. "Well, Prince Alfred, it's clear you bring many… unconventional talents. But marriage is a union of understanding, is it not, Ivana?" He winked at her, and she couldn't help but grin.
"Absolutely," she agreed. "A good match should be based on… mutual interests." She paused, letting the moment hang. "Tell me, Prince Alfred, do you enjoy anything beyond royal duties and juggling?"
Prince Alfred looked momentarily stumped, scratching his head as if deep in thought. "Well, I am quite the dancer!" He waggled his eyebrows, shooting her a look meant to be charming. "I daresay I'd sweep you off your feet at the ball!"
This was too much for Ivana, who finally allowed a giggle to escape. Alfred, taking this as encouragement, began to strike an exaggerated dancing pose right there in the middle of the throne room.
Her father coughed, covering his own grin. "Perhaps we'll save the dance for the ball, Prince Alfred."
Alfred straightened up, grinning with confidence. "Of course, of course! Just you wait, Princess Ivana—I'll show you moves no one else in the kingdom has seen."
Ivana inclined her head graciously, managing to keep a straight face. "I'm looking forward to it, Prince Alfred," she replied, hiding the laughter in her voice.
As Alfred finally exited the room, leaving in a flurry of bows and flourishes, Ivana let out a soft laugh, turning to her father with an amused smile. "Father, I think you've outdone yourself this time."
Arthur chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If nothing else, he'll liven up the ball. And, my dear, no matter what happens, remember—this is your choice. Always."
Ivana smiled, touched by the warmth in his voice. "Thank you, Father."
And as they walked back toward the gardens, she found herself feeling lighter, even eager for the ball. Whatever might come, she was ready—and, if Prince Alfred's dancing lived up to his enthusiasm, she was certain it would be a night to remember.