It was near the beginning of my Voyage when I heard the news. I had just turned sixteen, and as I was preparing for the journey, Grandmother invited me to speak with her privately. I knew something was happening by the look she gave me. My heart fluttered nervously like a frightened bird.

As I sat with her, Grandmother gave me a sympathetic look. "Do you know why I've called you here today?" she asked. I shook my head, and she sighed. "You may have heard talk about an alliance with the Yuriana Empire. The other queens and I have been deliberating on a possible marriage candidate for one of their princes."

My fluttering heart fell, this time like a dead bird from the sky. "Have you found one?"

"We have."

Resentment reared up inside me.

"We have chosen you," she said.

"I haven't even begun my Voyage," I said quickly.

"I know. And I'm sorry. This was not something I wanted you to have on your mind while you were away."

I clenched my fists and tried to control my emotions. Talk of marriage did not occur until after Voyages. It was considered premature to do so because those involved were still on the cusp of adulthood. I didn't understand why this was happening now. I was the second child of the second princess, which put me in a position to choose my partner and avoid arranged marriage. Arranged marriages were for direct heirs.

"Why?" I asked.

Guilt marred my grandmother's elegant features. "Queens Daronnei and Emeotede refused to spare one of their princesses. They are suspicious of this alliance. All of Queen Lusca's princesses are engaged."

I did not believe that. I knew for a fact that there were at least two princesses of Queen Lusca's who were yet to be engaged. She had either quickly found them fiancés, or she was lying.

"I was chosen because I'm a throwaway," I said bitterly.

Grandmother's eyes widened. "Zemerri! Don't say such a thing! I would never have agreed to this if I thought it might harm you."

"Then why me?"

"Because you are the best match for this young man."

"I want to choose my husband."

"And you may do that. Only meet him and see."

I could not blame the other queens. Even I didn't like this alliance. What good reason would we have to ally ourselves with a foreign empire, and a dangerous one, at that? What benefit was there? We have never closely allied ourselves with anyone.

"What do my parents think?" I asked.

"They are uneasy. Your father is the least willing, and you know why."

Why would the other queens approve of this arrangement when they knew about my father? When everyone knew about him? I found this hard to fathom.

Grandmother offered me an envelope with a wax seal. "This is for you. It will tell you about this prince you might marry. The emperor himself wrote it. I find him to be a very sincere and upright person."

I took the letter and turned it over in my hand to see the man's elegant handwriting. Over the last few years, I had heard some about the Yuriana imperial family, about how unusual they were, but also how their empire prospered under their leadership. It would be a lie to say I wasn't a little bit interested in them.

After that, I tried to distract myself with my Voyage. I thought that once I returned home, the plan would have changed, and I would no longer be the chosen candidate. I figured my absence from negotiations would complicate things, and my father would argue fiercely against me becoming the bride of a foreign prince. At one point he sent me a message, encouraging me to extend my Voyage for as long as possible. Thus, my Voyage was unusually long.

But I was wrong. Once I set foot back in Isteris, I discovered my grandmother had set a date to sail for the Yuriana Empire and meet their third prince. My long journey had changed me, both inwardly and outwardly. However, my outward appearance was the utmost concern to everyone. I was immediately groomed back into a proper princess. But there were a few things that would take time to return to normal. I had developed a tan, and my hands were calloused from working as commoners do. My willowy figure had thinned from a brief period of poverty. The maids began to stuff food in me to fill out my hollows and give me curves.

Before I knew it, I was sitting with Grandmother in a palace in the Yuriana Empire. The experience bewildered me. I had never spent time with royalty during my Voyage, nor any nobles, only commoners and some merchants. It was my first time among foreign royalty. When the servants placed a tray of confections in front of us, I pulled away and made a face. Grandmother admonished me and said I had forgotten my manners, but she did not eat the food, either.

The doors opened and the third prince was announced. He froze when he saw us. Perhaps he expected the emperor to be there already. His gaze went from Grandmother to me, and he stared at me a long time, so long that I grew uncomfortable. I was not unaccustomed to men's stares, but I never appreciated them. Even as he stepped toward the couch opposite us, his eyes never left me.

When he introduced himself, I hardly heard him because his appearance had struck me suddenly. His glossy hair was brighter than spun gold and bore the light of the sun, unlike anything I had seen before. His eyes reflected a shade of green akin to lush grass in the springtime. He carried himself with pride and he had a trim figure. He moved with grace, but I sensed a lively energy lurking under the surface.

The room fell silent, and the two of us locked gazes. His first impression didn't tell me much about his character. I had little to go off since he had stopped speaking, but the letter sent to me by his father had said that his son was earnest, loving, and courageous. He was expressive and comfortable showing his emotions. He loved and valued his family. Most of all, he was fiercely protective of those he cared about.

He seemed to sink into the couch, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead. I didn't understand why he didn't simply look away if it was uncomfortable. Perhaps this was the "courage" his father had spoken of? In the presence of women, some men lose their nerve. Others are just too stupid to know what to do. To me he appeared terrified, but he held my gaze in spite of it all.

After the meeting, I was skeptical. Grandmother urged me to give him a chance. But my doubts grew the following night when we all had dinner together. Earlier he couldn't take his eyes off me, but that night he refused to acknowledge my existence in the banquet hall. He didn't so much as look at me. His father threw him many irritable glances. Grandmother was supremely unimpressed. I could understand the prince's discomfort because of the circumstances, but we had both been thrown into this arrangement together. Couldn't he see that we had a common struggle?

Toward the end of the evening, as we were about to retire to our rooms, I noticed his eyes on me. It had been brief, and as he quickly turned his head away, I thought I saw color on his cheeks. Was he embarrassed that I caught him staring?

A few days later, I prepared myself for a ball, a tiresome task. I wasn't excited about it; being forced to wear a strange gown did not help. When the dress was presented to me by my servants, while Grandmother stood present, I looked at her in confusion and annoyance.

"I don't want to wear this," I said.

"Please, Zemerri," said Grandmother. She sounded very apologetic. "I believe it would make you a little more approachable to the nobles here."

Approachable? Was I not approachable as I was? ...Well, I had been told before that I could have a grim countenance.

Grandmother was suggesting that I blend in with the people here, to be like one of them. I had adopted that mindset while on my Voyage, but I couldn't hide who I truly was no matter what I wore. Everyone knew I was Isterisian. Why could I not display my pride by dressing as my people do? Do the nobles here find such pride distasteful or threatening?

My spirits sank as I donned the dress. This was my first social gathering for high society outside of Isteris, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was the foreigner in this country. Some might be suspicious of me, wondering why the emperor agreed to have me as a candidate for his son's bride. Others might look at me like an exotic animal. Men would vie for a chance to dance with me so they could boast that they danced with an Isterisian princess. The thought of it made me want to spit.

My expectations fell short, very short. People steered clear of me, and I stood alone. I felt searing glares and heard apprehensive whispers. The empire's third prince was nowhere to be found. Grandmother stood across the room with the emperor, both displeased at what was happening.

As I considered leaving in frustration, someone touched my shoulder. It was a young man with shining blond hair, but he was not the third prince. His long hair, tied in a queue, was draped over his shoulder. He smiled at me pleasantly, his purple eyes the color of late sunset.

"It should be a crime to have you standing here alone," he said. When I didn't respond, he continued. "I am Alexander, the second prince of the empire."

Confused now, I looked again at Grandmother. Her eyebrows had gone up, but the emperor's face had darkened with sharp disapproval. I knew why.

"May I have this dance?" the second prince said. He bowed and held out his hand for me.

I hesitated to take it. He would feel the callouses on my hands, and I was not very good at the dances from this land. But his gentle smile put me at ease. He did not seem to mind my crude footwork, nor the coarse skin on my palms. He said nothing of either. He guided me fluidly across the ballroom floor, ignoring the gawking nobles around us. A few times I saw Grandmother watching us while the emperor crossed his arms.

"I have been interested in meeting you, princess," said the second prince. "This is an unprecedented time for our two countries."

"Yes." I grew uneasy. He radiated warmth, and the fragrance he wore drifted around me. The third prince was supposed to be the one courting me, and yet he was absent, so being swept into a dance by his older brother made me feel strange.

As if he had read my mind, he said, "I'm sorry about my brother. Something very urgent came up and he's running late."

Was that really true? "I see."

He chuckled as he skillfully twirled me around and brought me back to him. "It was sudden. He promises to be here tonight."

I said nothing. I wasn't sure I should believe that. So far, this arranged marriage did not look promising.

Our dance came to an end. We bowed to each other and he glanced up. "Oh," he said. An eager curiosity entered his eyes. "I see you're wearing a Starry Stone."

I touched the Stone dangling from my necklace. The Stone was small, so most would assume it was a diamond at first glance.

"May I see it up close?" he asked.

My heart skipped and I shook my head. When his expression fell, I felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps I shouldn't have worn the Stone that night. The second prince was known as a skilled healer and magic researcher who had made many breakthroughs and discoveries. It reasoned that he would be interested in the Starry Stones. But it is our mission in Isteris to guard them. No one except us should be allowed to handle them.

His disappointment faded and his languid smile returned. "Ah, I apologize. I shouldn't have asked about that." He directed his gaze beyond me, and I saw the emperor standing with his arms crossed, his piercing glare burning with anger. The second prince's composure never wavered.

"It looks like I've run out of time," he said. "I thank you, princess, for giving me the honor of this dance." He kissed my hand, and heat flooded my face. I knew kissing a woman's hand was a custom in this land. I had seen some of the noblemen in the ballroom do it with their partners. But it seemed too intimate for two strangers. We did not do that in Isteris.

He seemed about to say something else when he stopped. He turned to a person behind him. "Oh, I didn't think you'd be back so soon. I was just keeping her company since—"

"Yeah, yeah. You're done. Step aside."

The force of the third prince's words made me flinch. His lip curled in a snarl. I was still very confused about everything that was happening, and I wanted to hide behind the curtains at the windows.

"Of course," said the second prince. He left us and headed in the opposite direction of the emperor and my grandmother, probably to avoid his father's wrath.

The third prince watched him go, his chin tilted up. When he returned his attention to me, he gave me a wide-eyed stare, a look of awe. His cheeks flushed red.

I was going to excuse myself but he held out his hand. Another dance? He said nothing as though he'd lost his voice. I sighed and accepted, determined to end my night as soon as the dance was over.

But as he led me into the first steps of the dance, something peculiar happened to me. His movements differed from the second prince's, even though the dance was the same. He held me more firmly, and his motions somehow had greater strength and energy. It startled me at first. I was afraid my clumsy feet would betray me, but then I settled into the rhythm, letting him lead me. All the while, his gaze held mine. My heart quickened, my body warmed, and the musk he wore made me a little dizzy. His hands were strong and slightly rough, contrasting with his brother's softer hands. In a daze I remembered that he was an expert swordsman.

Why was this happening now? He had ignored me a few nights ago, and I thought for sure he would ignore me tonight. I had even considered telling Grandmother that I did not approve of the match.

There was still plenty of time left to decide, and one dance was not going to convince me so quickly. It would be foolish to allow my emotions to lead my decisions. But the moment threatened to swallow me. What was wrong with me? Why did I feel like this?

The music ended and the dance stopped. A low murmur echoed in the room as the nobles stared at us. My body was still unbearably warm, and I was sure my face was as red as an apple. The prince held my hand in his. He looked like he wanted to say something, but a green-haired man appeared beside him and whispered something in his ear. The prince scowled.

"What? Again?" he said, and under his breath, "Persistent bastards." Suddenly remembering me, he scratched at the back of his head and laughed nervously. "Ahh, sorry, I gotta go. There's a little problem." He beamed at me with a bright smile. "Can we do this again?"

It took a few moments to process his words, and I nodded stupidly, still flustered from our dance. My heart didn't calm until after he had gone.

◃───────────▹

After that, I went outside to escape the thick atmosphere that had enveloped the room. My interactions with the second and third princes had caused a stir among the guests. I heard the emperor was very unhappy about it all. My grandmother found it amusing.

I entered the garden where there was a large fountain. I enjoyed the cool air and the water that tumbled into the pool. My feet hurt. I'd had to wear heeled shoes for the occasion, but I never liked them. I preferred sandals. I sat by the edge of the fountain and pulled my shoes off. The water looked so cool and inviting that I decided to dip my feet in.

I hiked up my dress so it wouldn't get wet. I stepped into the water up to my shins and put out a hand to feel the spray that fell from above. It was then that I heard something crashing through the bushes nearby. I was shocked to see a young man, not much younger than myself, come stumbling in my direction. He was running from something. When he saw me, he stopped and gaped at me, probably wondering why I stood in a fountain. Shouts came behind him from a distance. His clothes were that of a commoner, not a servant. Had a commoner somehow managed to get through the gates? Was security around here so lax?

The young man looked over his shoulder in terror. The voices drew closer as the guards tracked him through the garden. I pitied him. He didn't look like a thief or anyone trying to cause harm. Maybe he had simply been curious and wanted to have a peek at a high-class party?

"This way," I said hurriedly, motioning for him to come around to the other side of the fountain. He could hide there.

At first he was reluctant, but then he decided to trust me and came around to hide behind the fountain. When the guards arrived, they saw me in the water. One of them came forward.

"Princess, where is your guard? There are intruders about. You should be inside where it's safe," he said.

Intruders? Could that be why the third prince was late to the party and left early? The young man hiding just behind me didn't look like a dangerous intruder. I pointed to the general area of the garden. "I saw him. He went that way."

The guard turned to a comrade. "Escort the princess inside—"

"I don't need that," I said.

The guard stammered. "But Prince Eiji ordered us to make sure the perimeter around you was safe at all times."

He said that? No, he must've meant the perimeter around the palace. "I will take myself inside."

The men exchanged fearful glances, and I didn't understand why they were so agitated. "At least allow one of us to cover you from behind."

"No."

One of the men muttered something about "Isterisian women," and the lead guard quietly rebuked him before addressing me again. "Alright, princess. But please go in soon. His Highness will be livid if you are harmed."

Because it would reflect badly on his family? I shrugged in response.

After the guards left, I turned back to the young man and showed him the way to escape.

◃───────────▹

The events of that night occupied my thoughts for two days afterwards. I did not see the third prince after that. I didn't know where he had gone. I spent much of my time in my room or in the palace gardens, feeling very bored. Although I was curious about the city in the harbor, Grandmother forbade me from going there. This was part of the Yuriana Empire I had never been to. I was disappointed that I couldn't explore it.

In the evening there was a knock at my bedroom door, and my personal maid Kani answered. She spoke with a man and returned with something in her hands. "Your Highness, there is a gift for you."

"A gift?" I stood from where I sat near the window. Kani placed the gift on a table. I crinkled my brow. It was a small cake coated with firm chocolate frosting and decorated with flowers. It was very simple but elegant.

"From whom?" I asked.

"From the third prince, Your Highness." The corners of her lips turned up slightly.

My heart quivered. Why would he send me this when he had barely spoken to me this past week? All he did was dance with me, and he decided it was time to send me food?

"The servant