Author's Note: I started writing this in 2015 and am slowly working on it. I wasn't going to post until my other work was done but….. I had to. Anyway, I own no characters, all references to real people and places are made up and not real etcetera, etcetera. Enjoy and of course please leave a review.

Prologue (Summer, 2015)

The release of her breath comes simultaneous with the ping of the string, followed by the slight delay in the drop of the majestic stag standing by the edge of her favorite meadow. The collapse of the stag causes the remaining herd to panic and scatter into the surrounding woods where she has been hiding in wait most of the early morning. Rising before the sun to go hunting with her father is one of her favorite things to do, unfortunately she doesn't get to do it as often as she likes. But the Earl and Countess Hawthorne and his enormous brood are visiting the Royal House of Přemyslid, so they have traveled to the country palace of Veveří Castle in order to entertain the avid outdoorsman and his older sons. The colors of early morning swirling over the lake to her left catch her attention, beautiful, she sighs under her breath. This sanctuary has always been a balm for her soul, but the pressures she has been under lately have her mood weighed down even here.

"Nice shot sweetheart" the gruff voice of her Uncle breaks her silent meditation as he walks up under the tree where she is perched. Shaking herself out of the balm that was her solitude, she gracefully begins to descend the tree releasing her hold on a lower branch allowing her body to plunge the remaining height where she lands with a graceful silent thump.

"Yes, a perfect shot as always kitty" the melodious voice of her father reaches her as she walks towards her kill where her father is standing surrounded by the Earl John Hawthorne and his eldest two sons Gale and Rory.

"Nice shot Catnip" Gale praises her although his tone holds a hint of sarcasm, earning a glower from her, a pointed stare from his father and a grunt of derision from her Uncle. Katniss smirks internally at his annoyance, she had seen him sight the buck with his cross bow, and so she had quickly nocked an arrow and hit the buck first, just to piss him off.

The Earl Hawthorne lays a pointed stare at Gale. Then Rory, the Earl's second oldest child, addresses her in the appropriate manner, "You always shoot well, your Royal Highness".

Katniss Elisabeth Anne Everdeen Přemyslid is the oldest child of Queen Lillian Anne Ottokar Přemyslid and her consort-King James Edward Richard Everdeen of the small European Country of Moravia. Moravia is situated to the west of the Czech Republic and had even belonged to the slightly larger country at different periods in history. Moravia finally regained its independence through the European court system after a long fought legal battle in 1964. Although small in size, Moravia is rich in natural resources, it is home to one of the only still producing diamond mines on European soil that are not even close to being mined out. In addition Moravian Diamonds are known throughout the world as having the highest quality stones with spectacular color, flawless beauty and incredible size and come in multiple colors. More importantly the diamonds came without the guilt associated with conflict diamonds or as they are more commonly called 'Blood Diamonds'.

The Moravian mines are all owned by the Royal Family Přemyslid of Moravia. Moravia is governed and funded by the Royal family. A job in the Přemyslid Moravian Mine Company, or PMMC, is highly sought after in the mining industry. Safety standards are set and then surpassed by the PMMC making them the safest mines in the world. PMMC pays well too, from the lowliest janitor to a miner to the Chief Operating Officer; no one who worked at the mines went without basics. A small percentage of the profits went to support the Royal family since they owned the mines, but a large portion went to the population of Moravia.

Moravia is a small country where the population is happy, well cared for and very content with being governed by an actual monarchy. A civil government would have actually fared worse for the population, since the Přemyslid family legally owned the mines. If the monarchy was dissolved PMMC would become a private company and the main source of income for the country would be tax based, effectively losing the income from the mine profits. The benevolence, generosity and fairness of the Přemyslid family in sharing their profits from PMMC were the reasons why the monarchy was beloved and respected by the population of Moravia. There has never been talk of dissolution of the monarchy since the Přemyslid family was returned to power after the long-fought battle to regain their country's independence. Before that, Moravia had been forced under the rule of the Czechoslovakia, although the Přemyslid family owned the mines.

Though the royal family lost personal wealth by gaining independence for Moravia, the family believes the personal sacrifice is worth it for the health and wellness of their countrymen. The School System provides to all children in Moravia is considered excellent, so excellent that one of the boarding schools, or magnate school, takes students from other countries for a hefty fee, but is free for any Moravian child.

All of the schools, whether boarding or local day school, provide for children from the Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 3–5) to primary education (ages 5–11) to secondary education (ages 11–18). All receive three healthy meals daily and on-site health and dental care (including orthodontics). Uniforms are required and are either provided or purchased based on the child's preference. Rarely is a child found hungry or poorly clothed in Moravia.

Higher education, beyond secondary, includes several options: acceptance at one of the two Universities of Moravia, where again attendance is free if you are a Moravian citizen. Attendance at a trade school of your choosing, there are four in Moravia. The last option is attendance at a University in another country, where the country of Moravia will pick up part of the bill dependent on the income of the family. For example Gale Hawthorne attended Eaton College paid for entirely by his family, whereas Rue Johnson, the daughter of a maid in the Royal family's primary residence, Špilberk Castle, is attending Oxford University the tuition being paid entirely from the Moravian coffers.

Katniss herself had attended Oxford University and graduated last year with a degree in international relations, a very fitting major for a girl who will one day rule a country. The running of Moravia also required a significant amount of business acumen besides political savvy, so Katniss has been discussing getting a business degree with her parents.

"Whatever" Gale mumbles the word lowly that she barely catches it, but not only does she hear it but so does her Uncle Haymitch Richard Everdeen, Duke of Abernathy and Chief Operating Officer at PMMC.

"Hey Broody" her Uncle shoots over at Gale calling him by the nickname that was bequeathed upon him by the tabloids. Gale is a highly eligible bachelor in Europe and was nicknamed 'the brooding lord' by the tabloids years ago, due to his serious nature paired with his dark looks. "I know you and sweetheart here have known each other since you were both in nappies. But ever since she turned 18 five years ago and was formally crowned 'Princess Royal of Mahren' it is proper to call her 'Your Royal Highness' in mixed company."

Katniss snorts at this slightly, her Uncle never calls her 'Your Royal Highness', opting for his favorite nickname, sweetheart, which he bestowed upon her years ago in deference to her prickly nature. She bites back her sarcastic retort though, as the hunting staff is present, dressing her buck for transport back to the castle. Plus, she hates the nickname Gale gifted her with years ago, hates it. As far as she is concerned her oldest friends don't need to call her Your Royal Highness, she had a very serviceable name in Katniss. But Gale, although one of her oldest friends, is stubborn, a little snobbish and doesn't like to pay any deference to her (he was older than her dammit) therefore he refuses to call her anything but that stupid nickname he invented years earlier if he can help it.

"Yes, Your Grace" Gale acknowledged as he addresses her Uncle. "I apologize for the slight in formalities, Your Majesty" he smiles deferentially turning to bow at her father. Her father then smiles at him and then turns to have a discussion with Lord Hawthorne not noticing that the appropriate apology for Katniss has yet to be proffered.

James Everdeen had been a Duke before he became the Consort to the Crown when he married Lillian. Lillian had James crowned King a few years after they were married, the earliest she was allowed to as dictated by protocol. It is considered a great honor to crown the consort and has not always been done. James is the younger brother of her Uncle Haymitch and had been extremely fortunate to fall in love and have Lillian fall in love with him. The line of monarchy ran through Lillian, which is why James Everdeen took the Přemyslid name, as it will be when Katniss marries.

Marriage is actually one of the reasons why the Hawthorne clan is visiting. If Gale Hawthorne the Eldest Son of the Earl Hawthorne of Moravia is considered one of European Nobility's most eligible bachelors, then Katniss is considered one of the top catches in the world. She is not only heiress to one of the world's largest personal fortunes, but the first in line to the throne in a country where Royalty is not considered titular. Just last month she had been visited by Prince Harry of England, even though he was years older than her and a notorious playboy.

Queen Elizabeth called her mother requesting that Katniss and Harry meet to see if they were compatible for potential courting. So out he came to Moravia spending a month touring the countryside and getting to know Katniss and her family. Because when the Queen of England calls, titular though she may be, you answer. Katniss doesn't dislike Harry they had met several times in the past at social events; he was funny and super handsome. But he is more of a nightlife person then she is, although they both do enjoy outdoor sports. He left on affectionate terms, with promises to visit, but Katniss is sure that he isn't the one.

As soon as the nobility of Moravia and the rest of Europe caught wind of the Prince of England's visit, calls were made for similar visits with eligible sons. Soon the tabloids were sporting headlines like 'Princess Window shopping the noble elite for next consort of Moravia!' This really isn't true; in fact Katniss is getting ready to go to back to University. Recently Katniss has been accepted at University of North Carolina in the school of Business. Her parents have agreed that while she was getting her MBA she can take classes in Landscape architecture to 'feed her soul' as her father puts it. So she has been getting ready to leave Moravia for UNC in North Carolina in the United States where she will live as Katniss Everdeen, normal student for three wonderful and hopefully anonymous years.

In the meantime, every Tom, Dick and Harry with a title have been attempting to visit Moravia and gain audience with Katniss and her parents. Although, not all had been accepted. The Earl of Hawthorne has not been an exception. As soon as his wife, the Countess Hazelle, heard that Prince Harry had been calling on Katniss she ordered her son back from his visit with his high society friends in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia. She then directly booked a visit with the Royal family with the pretense that the Hawthorne family and the Přemyslid family were due a hunting trip. To his credit, Gale only sulked for the first few days complaining that he was missing the pack of models who are recovering at his friend's villa after Paris's fashion week. The tabloids that featured first Prince Harry and then Prince Amedeo of Belgium's visits to Moravia had evidently failed to reach him on the beach in Sardinia. But as soon as Katniss mentioned their visits and the upcoming visit of the very handsome Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg, he stopped pouting and started to act like he was in love, most of the time. It has been a bit weird for her.

For their part, the Hawthorne's have always assumed that Katniss would marry from within Moravian nobility. In that department there really is not much competition, the only other eligible bachelor with a title as high as Gale's around Katniss's age, is Finnick O'Dair who is four years older than Katniss, and the son of the Earl of O'Dair. Finnick is the opposite of Gale, where Gale was Tall, Dark, Serious and Brooding; Finnick is Tall, Bronze-haired,green eyes, fair skin that tanned and full of lightness and mirth. All three of them grew up together and are very close friends. Although Finn and Gale drifting apart over the past few years has put a strain on their friendship in fact they haven't done anything as a group in at least a year. This saddens Katniss; they have always been friends, the three musketeers so to speak.

Katniss isn't certain what caused the rift between Finn and Gale; she had been away at Oxford when whatever argument occurred. Originally she thought it had something to do with the burgeoning relationship between Finn and Annie Cresta. Finn met Annie at the Summer Olympics in London, she is a gold medal swimmer from the US and he is a medal winner representing Moravia. Katniss originally thought that Annie would be another notch on the notorious playboy's belt, but that hasn't been the case. Annie rejected Finn romantically and insisted on a friendship. In response, Finn then slowly began extricating himself from the party scene and spent more time with calm, sweet Annie. Katniss had thought that Gale was upset at the loss of his partner in crime, or more accurately 'partier in crime', and that is the reason for their strained relationship. But recently she has begun to think there is something else; comments from both men have made her think there was something more behind the rift. That there had been an actual argument with words exchanged that had split the two men apart.

Katniss sneaks a surreptitious glance at her lifelong friend wondering what he is thinking behind his ruminating gaze as he pretends to be involved in the conversation taking place between her Uncle, her father and his father. Unsatisfied that she cannot decipher what he is thinking Katniss immediately becomes irritated and annoyed; shouldn't he be trying to woo her? Even Prince Harry spent a considerable amount of time focusing on her and she is sure he was only there to appease his grandmother (not that she would tell Gale that). She understands that Gale knows her very well, so maybe he feels he doesn't need to take the time to get to know her, it is still irritating though. Looking around she sees her horse Lady off on the other side in the meadow accompanied by her bodyguard and quickly decides that now would be good time to go for a ride. She hastily turns to Rory, since he seems to be the only one paying attention to her, and lets him know her intentions and then determinedly strides across the meadow towards her horse.

"Your Royal Pain in My Ass", the words greet her with a smirk. "How's it going over there with tall, dark and handsome?"

"Awful", she whines pitifully, "this is so contrived its painful". Katniss rolls her eyes and scowls at Johanna Mason, her main female body guard, companion and friend. Well as much as anyone could be friends with someone that has vowed their life to serving and protecting you could be considered a friend. "He called me Catnip in front of dad, Uncle and Lord Hawthorne, I thought his dad was going to kill him with the menacing look he sent Gale. Of course Haymitch had to go and make it worse by chastising him, so of course he apologizes to everyone BUT me. Typical stubborn ass." She mutters while her annoyance begins to dissipate as the words leave her lips. It feels good to vent to someone who doesn't have a vested interest in her marriage.

"I don't understand why suddenly there is an interest in my single status? I'm only 23. Can't we just wait and let me find someone on my own, date, fall in love and then get married?" her voice huffs out and her face scowling. "All these visits are annoying as hell."

"Awww, pooor wittle pwincess, it must be awful having to put up with scores of handsome real-life princes and lords vying for your attention and hand-in-marriage. No woman alive wants that." Johanna coos at her the sarcasm dripping off her words like honey from a hive, thick and viscous.

A small smile is trying to make itself known on her lips while she fights the reaction, Katniss attempts to hold onto her scowl as long as possible. The twinkle in Johanna's eye tells her that she is losing the battle, so she finally gives in and snorts out in laughter.

"Well none of these 'handsome real-life princes and lords' would be currently courting me if it wasn't for the Queen mother. That biddy just wants to see her youngest grandson respectably married before she dies, preferably to royalty. I am pretty sure she thinks Charles will fuck it up if she leaves it to him." The chuckle that comes out of her mouth at the statement surprises even herself and the shocked look on Johanna's face turns the chuckles into giggles. "I swear as soon as it hit the tabloids that 'Prince Harry was courting me', the other vultures began descending including the Hawthorne matriarch. Gale has no interest in me; he is just here to placate his parents. This whole thing where he is suddenly courting me is ridiculous."

The splutter that Johanna emits catches her attention causing her eyes to narrow at her friend, "What?" she asks but is just answered by her friend shaking her head at her. "No come on, just say it."

"You really are brainless aren't you," her friend sighs in response to her insistence that Johanna tell her what she means.

"Gale has assumed that he will marry you for years, he never felt the need to court you. He assumes that you two are inevitable and all he has to do is be patient and wait for you to be ready." Johanna explains exasperation thick in her voice. "Come on, you have only had two boyfriends, your first puppy love when you were 18 and Darius Plummer from Oxford, who you liked and was nice, but everyone could tell wasn't going anywhere. Now his territory is threatened, Harry shows up, then Amedeo and everyone knows that yummy Sebastien is coming next week."

Katniss peers at her friend; Jo is 10 years older than her and has been her companion and body guard since she turned 16. Katniss knows that Johanna is more perceptive then she is, but she chooses to ignore the most important parts of her comments opting to mull those over in private later and instead comments on the last statement.

"Sebastien is yummy isn't he?" she smiles wickedly raising her eyebrows at Jo suggestively. "Those eyes and his butt, mmmhhmmmm" she licks her lips, "delicious, maybe I should consider having a little prince snack before we head to University. I might as well have a little fun if I have to endure all this 'courting'."

Jo's hearty laugh is contagious and Katniss soon finds that she and Jo are holding their stomachs in laughter while tears are leaking out of their eyes in protestation from how hard they are laughing. They both know that Katniss's idea of having a Prince snack might include some light snogging, but that's about it. Katniss isn't innocent, but she is conservative, although she likes to make jokes pretending otherwise. All her tension from earlier is completely gone as their laughter fades to giggles.

"Jo, seriously" Katniss asks between giggles, "how are things going with the preparation for the move to UNC. Will Thresh still be back tomorrow?" Katniss grabs the reigns of Lady and begins walking toward Veveří castle. Johanna falls in step at her side; to the casual person it appears as if they are two friends walking together. Katniss notices how Johanna always walks with her eyes darting to and fro, how she will sometimes turn and walk backward, as if talking to her, but is truly getting a better view of the landscape behind them.

"Thresh is back tomorrow, I spoke to him yesterday though. He sent me the full report and wants me to brief the team with you in attendance this afternoon." Johanna looks over at her, "I have already called up your team, we will meet in your apartment for tea. Your mother already excused your absence from tea with the Hawthorne's; your safety is of higher priority than your love life."

"Thank goodness for priorities," she gushes out, her own sarcasm thick on her tongue. "I swear if I have to listen to Hazelle discuss the wonderful attributes of Gale and Rory over finger sandwiches, tea and crumpets again, I think I might scream."

"Catnip" the distinctively masculine voice calling from behind startles her.

"Shit" she whispers under her breath, "is he close enough to have heard me Jo?"

"Nope" she whispers back, "he's running to catch up. Do you want me to back off for privacy?"

"Fuck no" she breaths out, "we have an important meeting to go to."

"Catnip, wait a second" this time the voice is closer and she can hear the heavy breathing associated with running. Plastering on her 'Princess' smile Katniss turns and walks backward to see Gale jogging to catch up to her.

"I hate that nickname you know that right?" her voice is saccharine sweet like the nectar that pulls prey into a fly trap, sweet before it traps and kills.

"Nah, you just say you do" Gale's smile screams 'cocky' as he ambles up alongside of her and falls into step where Johanna was moments before, whereas Jo has silently drifted back behind the two friends.

"No, I really do" she fires back with a hint of ice in her tone. Katniss may not seek the spotlight; she may not always act or demand the respect her station requires, nor does she actively participate in the social scene most of her peers enjoy, but Katniss is the Princess Royale of Mahren. She will someday become Queen of Moravia and assume responsibility for the welfare of her people; Katniss can be regal when required.

"Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, Lord Hawthorne. I am your Princess and I will someday be your Queen. If you cannot call me by the name my parents gave me then I will insist you call me by the title as required by my subjects."

His eyes narrow at her and she can see the fire simmering in his eyes, Katniss rarely reminds people of her station above them. Of course most people don't push her buttons to purposefully irritate her so that she feels she has to remind them.

"Your Royal Highness" Jo's voice breaks the staring contest that is currently causing her to become more irritated.

"Yes, Johanna?" she enquires without breaking her stare down with her friend.

"I have just received word that Lord Finnick O'Dair has arrived at Veveří and is requesting an audience with the Princess Royale of Mahren today. Would you like to entertain his lordship or shall I have the palace send him on his way?"

A huge grin overtakes her face and her irritation at Gale is instantly gone, of course she wants to see Finn. "I would be happy to receive a visit from Finn, have Sae set another place at the table and I think I will enjoy some time at the pool after brunch." Her anger assuaged by the anticipation of seeing Finn, Katniss turns to Gale with a softening gaze and voice. "Finn's here, should be fun like the old times."

"Huh, I thought this was an exclusive visit." The slight bitterness in the statement has her narrowing her eyes at him.

"What the hell Gale? It's just Finn. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but get over it. I like our friendship, I like hanging out just the three of us, I can just be me with you two, both of you are my closest friends, come on I love you both, don't make me chose."

"Speaking of choosing, how were Harry and Amedeo?" Again his tone holds a note of something in it that Katniss doesn't like; she just can't quite put a finger on what is going on with him.

"I like them just fine, Gale. Really this whole thing is stupid. Elizabeth gets it in her head that Harry needs to marry properly and now I am suddenly Miss popular. This whole thing is dumb.

"I neither am 'window shopping' nor am I planning to 'tie the knot' anytime soon." Katniss snaps at him, really the thought of doing anything with any of these potential suitors right now is unthinkable, well with the possibility of a little snogging with Sebastien, if she can manage to do it without getting caught by the paps or worse her mother.

Suddenly a hand is gripping her elbow and she is being spun to face him. Gale looks down at her with those eyes that are so very similar to her own. "Katniss, I have always cared for you. I am happy to hear that you are not taking these visits seriously, I think we should wrap this up soon so you don't have to suffer any more of these visits."

"Wrap what up?" Gale can be so infuriatingly vague sometimes, Katniss is pretty sure she hears a snigger from Johanna behind her.

"Our engagement" the statement is said so casually as if it is a business deal and that alone has her taking a step back and questioning, "Our what?"

"Engagement, it makes sense, we're good friends. I have always loved you. I know Moravia. I think the people will be happy with me as their King." His voice is smooth as butter as he turns on the famed Hawthorne charm, stepping closer to her, using his long arms to pull her in closer to him. His lips coming closer to her and he looks at her using what Finn likes to call Gale's 'smolder' look (and yes they did get that from Tangled).

Katniss watches as his eyes flicker closed and his lips move to mere millimeters from hers before acting. "Consort" she breathes against his lips. His eyes pop open and his head jerks back slightly looking at her in confusion.

"What?" it is his turn to be confused and it makes her smirk internally, gotcha buddy.

Taking a step back she retains control of the situation by instantly mounting Lady and looking down at her friend turned suitor. "Consort" she repeats her voice strong and firm, "The man I marry will be Consort to the Queen of Moravia, the decision is mine and mine alone if he ever gets crowned King."

Her horse turns itself in a circle as she allows Lady to intimidate Gale slightly as she leans down going in for the kill. "I was wondering… were you thinking of how much you love me when you were in Sardinia partying with Prince Azim, your dick between the legs of a new model every night? Were you? Is that what you were thinking of? How much you love me? Or were you thinking that you love me while you were screwing my trusted bodyguard last year?" Completely insulted she doesn't even wait for his reply before she whirls on Johanna who has turned white and reassures her saying, "I never cared Jo, I'm headed home, see you there." At that she nudges Lady into a gallop and flies across the fields and woods until she pulls Lady to a stop in front of the palace doors. The doorman immediately rushes towards her as he talks into the communicator of his jacket. Leaping off of Lady she hands the wide-eyed man the reigns with a curt 'here' as she angrily strides through the doors not waiting for the gaping and stunned second footman to open them. She immediately begins her angry march towards her apartment when she hears her mother calling out to her from the drawing room to her left.

Stopping for a moment Katniss takes a breath to compose herself and straightening her shoulders she walks into the room to see Countess Hazelle sitting with her mother and her younger sister Prim. "Yes, Your Majesty?" she asks in as civil a voice as possible, but she knows her mother can see her barely contained rage.

"Katniss" her mother smiles at her with questioning eyes, "did the hunt not go well?"

"It went fine mom" she answers tersely, "I bagged a beautiful buck. The deer is being dressed and delivered to the kitchens for our evening meal."

"Oh how wonderful, your Royal Highness!" Hazelle trills at her with a wide smile on her face. "I do hope both my sons were of use to you on your hunt. They are both very skilled at hunting, Gale more than Rory, but that may be because Gale is older and has had more time to practice."

Her mention of Gale fans the flames of her anger as she turns and glares at Hazelle before she can school her features to neutral, unfortunately her mother notices.

"Is there something wrong my dear?" her mother's blue eyes probe Katniss' grey ones with concern, in this moment the Queen is not a Queen but her mother.

"No, I am fine, angry but fine." She replies abruptly about to spin on her heals and head up to her apartments but apparently Hazelle isn't done talking yet.

"Perhaps when the men return, Gale can take you on a walk in the gardens, they are so beautiful this time of year, romantic even." Katniss spins and stares down at the woman who is so blind to her mood and her precious eldest son's behavior that it takes a moment before she can reply.

"I am going to shower for brunch. Please inform your son, Gale that if he cannot address me properly, apologize for his egregious behavior and treat me with the respect that I am entitled to, that he may take his meal in the guest quarters." Satisfaction in the dropped jaw of the naïve and insufferable woman and the hard look that her mother turns on Countess Hazelle has her smiling internally as she curtsies to her mother and dismisses herself from the drawing room quickly making her way up the stairs not caring about the mess her muddy boots are leaving behind.

Just as she reaches the double doors to her apartments she can hear Gale shouting her name as he enters the Palace. Flinging open her apartment doors she sees Cato is on duty sitting in the alcove off to the right of the entrance to her rooms. The alcove serves as an office for her protection team and personal secretary; it holds a small desk computer and a locked safe with several weapons.

"Your Royal Highness" Cato barks out as he leaps to his feet ever ready to serve.

"Stand outside the doors, only my immediate family or my personal team is to be admitted, especially not that pompous ass Gale Hawthorne. If anyone asks I'm showering." She spits.

Cato's face splits into her favorite menacing grin; she knows he doesn't like Gale. More importantly Gale cannot stand Cato, which makes her grin knowing that he will have to talk to Cato.

"My pleasure, princess." He brushes immediately past her grabs his favorite sword and exits with a bow accompanying a feral grin on his face.

Sighing in relief Katniss makes her way further into her Apartment. They are the second largest set of personal living quarters, after the reigning monarchs of course, and is reserved for the first in-line to the throne. Her sister has a similar if not smaller apartment close by as Primrose is second in line to the throne. And there are a few more in the family's wing of the palace that are currently unused, since her parents only had two children. The guest wing sports multiple smaller suites, two of which are currently occupied by the Hawthornes. Špilberk Castle, their other home is located in the center of Moravian's capital, and has very similar accommodations to this castle, but the windows are smaller and there are fewer gardens. Katniss likes Veveří Castle best, she feels most comfortable here, more at home.

The entrance hallway is long and narrow; the first few doors are rooms that lead to the personal rooms of her ever present protection staff and secretary. They all have homes somewhere else in Moravia, but when they are not off duty they are here with her. As the hallway ends there is a small mudroom off to the left in an alcove just before you walk into a large formal receiving room. There are two large windows that look out onto the courtyard below. Doors off to the right lead to rooms of less formal living space meant for entertaining friends, including a room with theatre style seating (although much comfier then an actual theatre), massive flat screen and premier surround sound. There is also a game room as well as a room for lounging and reading. There is a half bath and a guest bedroom which includes a private bath. The door off to the left of her sitting room leads to her more private apartment. Her inner sanctum as she likes to say. It is a place where not many people other than her family, maid, secretary, personal protection team, stylist team, two or three female friends and secretly one boyfriend have ever been admitted.

She enters her sitting room that she had redecorated to fit her style, it is less formal and cozier then when her mother lived here. The Windows are tall and spacious and they tower almost the entire height of the 15 ft. ceilings. Right off the sitting room there is a smaller sun room that has large windows on two sides, the space boasts a fireplace, cozy chairs and a small table where she can take her meals if she likes. There are three doors off the sitting room. One leads to a hallway that takes her to her office / library, when she remodeled this room she had floor to ceiling bookcases installed in dark wood, mahogany if she remembers correctly, and a reading nook in the center of the bay window, filled with pillows and throw blankets, personally she calls it her nest. And a second almost identical room that has remained untouched, it is for her hypothetical future husband, so that he may have a space of his own.

The second door leads to a set of two rooms that she hasn't decided what to do with yet, they are connected with a full bath in a Jack and Jill style. Katniss assumes that they were originally designed for children, but right now that is not her life style. So, one is set up as a small private TV room with a much more modest system then what is in the theatre room on the other side of her Apartment and the other is empty.

The third door leads to her bedroom, it is large spacious and airy, there is a small setae in front of her fireplace and her bed is a California King. She originally wanted a Queen but her mother insisted that she get something larger in anticipation of eventually having to share the bed with a husband. There are two large walk-in closets (his and hers), the slightly bigger one is filled and is designed for women's clothing, purses, shoes and accessories and has a small chamber vault hidden behind a wall of shoes that contain some of her personal jewelry. The other closet is empty but designed for men's wear and accessories. The final room in her suite is one of her favorites, her master bath. It is large and airy with a soaking tub, a large shower with multiple jets that can fit more than one person, double sinks, and a vanity station for her stylist and a separate privy room.

Making her way through her private rooms to her bathroom she begins to relax, it's nice to know that as soon as she enters her private chambers; she is afforded the privacy she wants. Even Johanna knocks and respects her desire for time alone, to decompress. Entering her bathroom she turns to a panel on the wall and puts on some soothing jazz before going over to turn the shower on to let it heat up. Stripping down she sighs as she enters the shower after it beeps to let her know the temperature has reached her preferred setting, which is hot. Multiple jets beat down on her massaging the morning's stress out of her muscles, and closing her eyes she finally allows herself to relax.

Less than an hour later Katniss exits her inner sanctum dressed and ready for brunch to find her secretary, Clove, and Johanna waiting for her. Johanna's short spiky hair is wet and her clothes are clean indicating that she has showered and changed as well.

"Good morning, your Royal Highness" Clove greets her with her no-nonsense efficient attitude that Katniss thoroughly appreciates. "Her Majesty has asked me to inform you that the eldest Lord Hawthorne has been informed that he is not welcome at brunch this morning. And that she has requested that the Earl and Countess deal with his inappropriate manners before he is allowed to accompany the Princess Royale during the remaining time that the Hawthorne family is in attendance at summer court."

"Shhhiiitt" Katniss breathes out, "Mom really laid it down. What happened after I left mom and came up here?" She flops down onto a couch waving her hand casually, a gesture that her staff is familiar with, it means get comfortable, no formalities.

"Oh my god Katniss you should have seen it", Clove starts talking her posture relaxing and a smile flashing on her face. "Not long after you left your mom, Prim and Hazelle in the sitting parlor, Gale burst into the palace calling out that dreadful nickname like he was in some common boarding house. He ran right past your mom, not greeting her at all, and up the stairs that lead to the Royal Apartments like he lives here. You should have seen the look on his face when he found Cato at your door; I have it on tape if you want to see it." Clove's laugh rings out as she relays the story, "brilliant move on your part. We all know how much he hates Cato."

"And how much I hate him" the booming voice proceeds him as Cato enters the receiving room, taking in the relaxed and casual manner following the lead of the other staff. His comment causes Katniss to giggle before she motions with a hand wave for Clove to continue the story.

"After several attempts of Gale trying to enter your apartment, I stepped out and requested that he follow me and informed him that you were at your toilette. I then turned to Cato and requested that he help me escort Lord Hawthorne from the Royal Family's Private Apartments to a more suitable location."

"OH MY GOD, you did not!" pulling her legs up to her chest and hugging them Katniss rolls onto her side giggling harder than before.

"OH MY GOD, she totally did" Cato says in a voice affecting that of a teenage girl while mimicking Katniss's pose, which instantly has everyone laughing.

"You can lay it down just like my mom, you are AWESOME!" Katniss beams at Clove.

Clove composes her laughing and continues her story, "so when we get downstairs, your mother is interrogating the remainder of the hunting party as to what happened out there. Apparently she had already spoken to your dad and Uncle and was just starting to interrogate Johanna when we entered the room. The Earl then immediately started berating Gale as if the Queen was not in their presence, as if his son's behavior wasn't embarrassing enough. Until your mother silenced everyone and had Jo continue the story. When Jo got to the part where Gale had told you 'I know Moravia and I think the people would be happy with me as their King', your mother just stopped the inquisition."

"I have never seen your mother that mad Katniss" Jo butt in, "I swear I thought she was going to have Cato break Gale's neck with his bare hands right then and there."

"I can do it too" Cato interrupts proudly, "I know 15 ways to kill a man with my bare hands and 5 with a straw."

"Yeah yeah we all know, Alexander Cato, highest score ever at the academy in hand to hand combat." Jo parrots at him in annoyance.

"Hey" Cato pouts, Katniss knows he takes his job very seriously and is even sensitive about it.

"Alexander Cato, my number one hero" Katniss swoons at him batting her eyelashes in an overdramatic manner.

"That's right" Cato puffs out recovering his ego quickly, "my Princess can trust me with her life."

"All right, you big baby" Jo jumps in her voice full of laughter, "let Clove finish the story."

"Well your mom looked at Gale with that look, you know the look. The one that makes you hang your head in shame and make you wish she would just yell at you, or hope for a dungeon or torture chamber or something, because anything is better than being on the receiving end of that stare." Clove continues trying to mimic 'the stare'.

"Oh yeah" Katniss agrees, "That stare sucks. I think the last time I got that stare was when she caught me in my bedroom making out with Hoops."

"We all got that stare for allowing Hoops in your room. The protocol we break for your non-existent love life…" Jo states pointedly.

"Anyway…" Clove continues, "Your mother reminded Gale that he is a guest in her home. She then went on to remind him that the Přemyslid family owns 45% of the shares in Hawthorne Industries and that although she has never taken an active role on the board it does not mean she never will. She then turned to the Earl and doled out Gale's punishment as if Gale was 5 years old and requested that the Earl and Countess get their 'unruly son' under control. She then requested that the entire Hawthorne clan return to their guest quarters until brunch is served."

"My mom can be badass." Katniss smiles at the small group before her.

"Yeah well your badass mom and your dad want to see you in their private quarters before brunch." Clove communicates with a smirk on her face, "you better go now, and brunch is in 30 minutes."