She had to marry the king. The man was mysterious to her. She never saw him before. The only thing she had heard about him was that he wore a mask on the right side of his face. Nothing was ever said about him in her country, only that he would protect Liren in times of need and that time had fallen upon the country.
"Your Highness." She took the man's hand that was offered and step out of the carriage. An umbrella obstructed her view of the monstrous castle. One of the castle's doors was open and a faint lantern light that a dark figure was holding appeared. As she got closer she saw it was a woman standing there. She had a firm yet serene feel about her.
"Your majesty." The woman curtsied "I am Madame Giry, under the crown's service. Come. His Majesty would not want his bride sick."
"Where is his Majesty?" She went into the dimly lit castle.
"Sleeping along with everyone else." They went through the dark corridors. The only light that was visible was the one that this woman was holding. "I volunteered to wait for you, your Highness. The king arranged a meeting with you and the nobles tomorrow."
"I do not get to meet him alone?" Her eyes tired to memorize where she was going. "After all I am to marry the man. It only seems fair to speak with him, alone and freely."
"You can speak freely tomorrow."
"How long have you been in court, Madame?" She questioned.
"Fifty-one years." The woman answered and came to a halt at a door. "My whole life, your Highness."
"Then you know as well as I do," A small smile came to her lips. "You can never speak freely."
"Indeed." She was wiser than she looked. His Majesty would love that. Well perhaps not love, for the king loved only his daughter and his country, nothing else, but one more thing. He would find this girl useful. Madame Giry opened the door to a lavish bedroom. "This is your room. I hope you will enjoy it."
"Time to rise, your Highness." A voice filled her restless sleep. "You must look presentable for the nobles."
Christine sat up slowly and looked at the two girls that were slightly younger or the same age as she was. Both blond hair, one had green eyes the other had brown.
"And you two are?" She looked at them.
"We're your ladies." The one with green eyes said, "My name is Meg."
"And I am Sorielli, your highness." The other with brown eyes said. They both curtsied.
"We must get you ready for the meeting with the nobles." Meg spoke, "It is in two hours."
"I can ready myself, thank you." Christine yawned a bit.
"But your Highness."
"I am capable of taking care of myself." Her voice was stern but gentle. "If you please show me where I can do so then I will be ready for the nobles."
"What are we to do?" Sorielli asked.
"Other chores I suppose." She got up and started to walk around, examining the fine objects in the room.
"We don't have any other chores, Highness." Meg shrugged, "Our purpose was to take care of you."
"What are your last names?" She questioned.
"Giry."
"We're sisters."
"Twins."
"I can see that." Christine nodded, and remembered something about that name calmed her. "Now you can tell me where the dresses are so I may start to dress."
Christine followed Madame Giry to the Meeting House.
"Must we meet like this?" She kept up with the fast pace, with her skirts billowing behind her. "His Majesty thought it better to the men who will begin to dictate you on the first day to court." Her stride never missed.
"Dictate me?" Christine looked strait ahead.
"He wants you to become accustomed to everything quickly."
"Ah," She mumbled the last part, "Thrown into the lion's den."
Madame Giry heard, but just smiled.
"May I speak with him after?"
"That is for him to decide" She began to slow her pace.
"Will I ever speak with him?"
"Perhaps on your wedding night." They stopped at two very large doors. "I wish you luck Highness."
The mighty door swung open. Six men sat at tables on either side while at the front was a chair, she supposed was for the king, but was currently empty at the moment.
The men stared at her, not sure of what to make of her. All had heard of the great Liren rulers, mostly women. She had come from a long line of them. Each woman fierce as the next, but this girl stood there with her long curly brown hair and dark blue eyes looking like a lamb, an innocent little angel. Her posture was held with confidence and grace.
Christine knew these men held great power in the kingdom. Each governed a providence that was as strong as the next. The main providence, which was the capital of the whole country, ran by the king who then controlled all of the providences. She looked around the room. She was the only female here. That was interesting.
"Good morning gentlemen." A foreign looking man came in, wearing bright colored robes that contrasted the other men's suits strangely. She was intrigued nonetheless.
"Where is the king?" Christine asked, making her presence known.
"Oh!" His eyes widened, "Forgive me you must be Princess Christine." He quickly bowed, "Forgive me. We are obviously not used to woman of royalty coming to the meeting house."
"I can see that." She nodded, "But what I cannot see is the king."
"Yes," The man sighed, "he will not be coming today he had. other obligations to fulfill. But you are more than welcomed to stay and listen to the drabbles of men."
"Thank you." Christine went over and sat in the king's chair and smiled quietly as a few men winced. "Please continue."
"Thank you." He turned to the men, "Now let's start with." The talk went into trade and commerce. She listened intently. This is what the Borswan court talked about? In Liren, yes they spoke about such things in their court, but there were much more things to be spoken of. What about the rights, and the good of the people? Perhaps she should ask a few questions, as in do women even have a voice? But if she spoke now she would be considered too forward. And she didn't want that. At least not until she was married.
"Alright gentlemen." The foreigner said, "Let's bring this meeting to an end. I am sure her Highness finds this truly boring."
"Quite the contrary." Christine smirked, "I find it all fascinating."
"Liren must not be so different." A man on the side spoke.
"No country is the same, sir." Her eyes went his.
"How is Liren different?" A man that had a pleasant looking face and a silver beard asked, "I had not had the pleasure to go there yet."
"Well," She stood, might as well find the enemy now, "How many women do you see in this room?"
"None except you, Highness." The man answered.
"Liren has equal number of each men and women in the court. We speak of commerce and money but also about the people, and their rights." Her voice never wavered. "Now may I ask you a question sir?"
"Yes?"
"Why isn't there one woman in the House of Nobles?" She cocked her head and waited for an answer from him. But he sat there saying nothing.
"Women are not for the common good of the people." The voice came from behind her and she turned to face her foe. He had white blond hair with a set of black eyes. "They would bring the country to pieces. Women belong at home with the children."
"And men are capable of running a country?" She questioned.
"More than a woman who would faint at the sight of blood in battle." He looked directly at her.
"I am a woman sir." Her eyes bore into his trying to find his soul, "And I have never fainted at the sight of blood."