1 CHAPTER ONE

"your Highness, please smack your lips." she smiled and obeyed. "perfect! Take a look." she turned to the mirror and beamed "wow, this is beautiful, you've really outdone yourself Ida." Ida curtsied "thank you my lady." she began to pack up "prince Ben won't be able to resist you. Once he sets his eyes on you now, all rational thoughts would leave his head and he'll immediately say 'I do'" Kim laughed "you're really funny Ida. Do you know where mother is?" just as Ida opened her mouth to speak, a lady back flipped in, she was in her early twenties, she had thick black hair that was pulled back firmly in a ponytail with beautiful golden pins her face was round and her heart shaped lips complemented her almond shaped eyes and flat nose. She had beautiful black eyes and her eyebrows were arched perfectly over her eyes, and she was of average height. Kim quickly pulled her dagger from where it was tied around her legs, swung around and pointed it at the intruder, she relaxed when she saw who it was. "Gosh, you would think I should have gotten used to that by now." princess Karen laughed as Kim put the dagger back under her dress. "sorry sis, I didn't mean to scare you." she turned to Ida who looked like she had seen a ghost "You too Ida, Sorry I scared you." Ida collected herself and curtsied. "can't you just walk in like a normal person?" Kim asked"I'm not A normal person, I'm princess Karen of Valor"

"yeah and I'm princess Kim of Valor, soon to be wed to Prince Ben of Arn" the sisters stared at each other for a while and burst into laughter. "good one Kim, Prince Ben of Arn" Karen laughed again and Kim began to look nervous. "By the way, what's with the fancy dress up and make-up, anything special happening?"

"Um...yes, I've kinda been wanting to talk to you about it since you weren't at the last council meeting." Karen frowned as she put the pieces together "wait a minute, don't tell me...." she gasped "you're really going through with it?"

"It should have been you Karen but father couldn't wait anymore, he needs this alliance..."

"so you sacrificed yourself? Kim, father is just using you. He's a selfish old man. By the way, when were you going to tell me?" she crossed her arms over her chest "I really thought you knew, you should have heard"

"ugh! Okay fine, I knew. I just wanted to hear it from you"

"you know Karen, you really should be attending council meetings, people are beginning to talk and father is beginning to feel embarrassed."

"who cares what that grumpy old man feels anyways...."

"That grumpy old man is your father Karen." Queen Isabelle said walking in with two guards trailing behind her. She was wearing a yellow fitted dress and her long blonde hair fell in curly waves to her waist. She was tall and elegant and carries herself in graceful dignity, she was an incredibly attractive woman with full lips that was painted red, she had a bold yet gentle look. She commands respect but is yet compassionate. The princesses curtsied before their mother and Ida kneeled. She motioned for them to rise and they did. "Your curtsey needs work Karen. You've had twenty-two years to practice and this is the best you can do?"

"mother please, I just got back from the warfront, it's obvious I've forgotten how to curtsey like a proper princess." the Queen just stared at her for a while and then motioned for the guards and Ida to leave the room, once they did, she crossed the distance and sat on the bed and motioned for her daughters to come, Kim sat like her in a graceful elegance while Karen just slumped on the bed. She turned to Kim, held her hands and smiled into her eyes "I'm so proud of you Kimberly, a mother's happiest moment is watching her daughter get married." she sniffed a bit "The twenty years of your life has been one of the best in my life, I loved watching you grow into a strong, graceful princess and now I hope you're gonna pass on everything I've taught you onto your children as well." Kim smiled "I will mother. Thank you." they hugged and Karen groaned. Isabelle frowned and tilted her head slightly towards her. "Karen, where are your guards?" Karen stiffened and widened her eyes "my guards?"

"Yes Karen, where are your guards? I didn't see them by Kimberly's door, so where are they?"

"Um... I think I lost them either in the palace gates or the grand Hall, I'm not sure though"

"you lost your guards?" Isabelle asked with fury "how is it even possible for you to loose your guards?"

"more like they lost me, they couldn't keep up. Those guys are way too slow...."

"too slow? Did you walk like a normal princess or did you cartwheel your way here...?"

"mother. Please don't scold Karen today, it's my big day, common." Kim said sweetly and Isabelle sighed "Yes Kimberly, you're right. I'm sorry sweetie, it's your big day and there will be no scolding."

"thank you mother"

"well, I guess I should get going to the grand Hall then, your father must be waiting." she stood up to leave but paused at the door and turned her head slightly "will we see you there Karen?" Karen scoffed "of course I'll be there, I wouldn't miss my little sister's wedding for the world."

"don't be late!" with that being said, Queen Isabelle left the room leaving her daughters. "Gosh, what is wrong with those people, they're so uptight." Karen said with disgust "I think mother and father are just trying to make you fit their description of a perfect princess...."

"yeah, and you're it. Don't you see it Kim? You're mother and father's description of a perfect princess, you attend to Royal duties, do as you're told, always poised and pretty and you do other princess stuff. But look at me, I go to war, I don't attend to Royal duties, I most certainly don't do as I'm told, I mean just look at me, I wear trousers. What proper princess wears trousers all the time and I am not poised and pretty and to top it off, I don't get along not even a little bit with father. I feel like a stranger, I feel like no one gets me...."

"I understand you perfectly Karen and I don't think you should be ashamed of who you are, I think all your traits makes you a unique princess, so what if no one else understands your style, the important thing is that you're happy and confident in who you are." Karen bit her lip and hugged Kim. "thanks sis, you're certainly the best. Though I wish father would understand and stop being so rigid..."

"I'm sure he'll come around soon" they were interrupted by a knock. "Come in!" Kim called and Ida and Evelyn entered, they curtsied before the princesses "his Majesty the King requests the presence of the soon to be bride at the grand Hall immediately." Ida announced "oh right, I have a wedding to grace. Would you do me the honors sis?" Kim asked and Karen smiled "I don't look too good right now but of course." she grabbed Kim's arm and locked it in her's, Ida and Evelyn both grabbed an hem of her long flowing pink silk dress as the guards escorted them to the hall.