Mr. Watterson was sitting in his favorite armchair, enjoying a quiet evening at home, when he heard a knock at the door. He got up to answer it, expecting it to be one of his neighbors or perhaps a delivery person. But to his surprise, it was his friend, Mr. Johnson, standing on his porch with a curious expression on his face.
"Ah, Mr. Johnson! What brings you here tonight?" Mr. Watterson asked, inviting his friend in.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Mr. Johnson said, taking a seat in the living room. "I actually came to talk to you about something. You see, my son, Alex, has been interested in your daughter, Sapphire, for some time now."
Mr. Watterson's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? I hadn't noticed anything."
Mr. Johnson chuckled. "Well, Alex can be a bit shy when it comes to these things. But he's really taken a liking to Sapphire, and I think they could make a great couple. He's a good kid, Mr. Watterson. He's got a bright future ahead of him, and I think he could make Sapphire very happy."
Mr. Watterson nodded thoughtfully, considering Mr. Johnson's words. He had always thought of Sapphire as his little girl, and the idea of her getting married was still a bit hard to wrap his head around. But he knew that Sapphire was growing up, and he wanted her to be happy.
"I appreciate you coming to talk to me about this, Mr. Johnson," Mr. Watterson said. "But I think I should have a conversation with Sapphire before we discuss this any further. Would you mind waiting for just a moment?"
Mr. Johnson nodded, and Mr. Watterson got up to find Sapphire. She was in her room, studying for an upcoming exam. Mr. Watterson knocked on the door and poked his head in.
"Sapphire, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked.
Sapphire looked up from her book, curious. "What's up, Dad?"
Mr. Watterson took a deep breath. "Mr. Johnson is here, and he wants to talk to us about something. Apparently, his son Alex is interested in marrying you."
Sapphire's eyes widened in surprise. "Marrying me? But I don't even know him!"
Mr. Watterson nodded. "I know, sweetie. And I think that's a very valid concern. What do you think about the idea of meeting Alex and getting to know him better?"
Sapphire thought for a moment before responding. "I think that's a good idea, Dad. But I don't want to rush into anything. I want to get to know him as a person, not just as someone who wants to marry me. Can we arrange for me to meet him and hang out with him a few times before we discuss anything serious?"
Mr. Watterson smiled, proud of his daughter's level head. "That sounds like a perfect plan, Sapphire. I'll go talk to Mr. Johnson and arrange for you to meet Alex."
A few days later, Sapphire met Alex for the first time. She was expecting a charming and courteous young man, but what she got was a nonchalant and slightly arrogant person who seemed to forget that she was a princess and her father was a king.
As they spent more time together, Sapphire found herself growing increasingly frustrated with Alex's behavior. She tried to brush it off, thinking that maybe he was just nervous or didn't know how to behave around royalty. But as the days went by, she realized that Alex's behavior was not just a one-time thing, but a consistent pattern.
One day, Sapphire couldn't take it anymore and decided to confide in one of her closest maids, Stephanie.
"Stephanie, I don't know what to do," Sapphire said, exasperated. "Alex is just so... infuriating! He's always forgetting that I'm a princess and treating me like some kind of ordinary person. I feel like he's not taking me seriously at all."
Stephanie listened attentively, nodding her head. "I think I know what you mean, Your Highness," she said. "Alex does seem like a bit of an oddball. But maybe he's just not used to being around royalty? Maybe he doesn't know how to behave?"
Sapphire sighed. "I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, Stephanie. But it's not just that. He's also really arrogant and self-centered. I feel like he's only interested in me because of my title and my family's wealth."
Stephanie's expression turned serious. "That's not good, Your Highness. You deserve someone who loves and respects you for who you are, not just for your title or your family's wealth."
Sapphire nodded, feeling a sense of relief that someone finally understood her concerns. "I know.
Stephanie's expression turned stern as she advised Sapphire, "Your Highness, I think it's time for you to politely distance yourself from Alex. His behavior is unacceptable, and it's clear that he doesn't know how to treat royalty with respect. We can't let him continue to disrespect you like this."
Sapphire nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "You're right, Stephanie. I don't want to waste any more of my time on someone who doesn't appreciate me."
Stephanie smiled and patted Sapphire's hand. "Don't worry, Your Highness. We'll continue with our other plan, and it may take some time, but it will be worth it in the end. You deserve someone who will treat you like the queen you are."
Sapphire's eyes narrowed as she thought about Alex's behavior. "Stephanie, are men always this rude, or is it just because he's from an elite family?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration.
Stephanie's expression turned thoughtful. "I don't think it's just because he's from an elite family, Your Highness. Some men can be quite arrogant and self-centered, regardless of their background. But it's also possible that Alex's upbringing and social status have contributed to his behavior. Sometimes, people from wealthy or influential families can be raised with a sense of entitlement, which can lead them to treat others with disrespect."
Sapphire's eyes widened in understanding. "I see. Well, I'm glad we're not going to pursue anything with him. I deserve better than someone who doesn't know how to treat me with respect and kindness."
Stephanie smiled and nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, Your Highness. You deserve someone who will love and cherish you for who you are, and we'll find that person for you, no matter how long it takes."