"Who is the host of this party?" Randall Edwards asked his two daughters as they took a seat in the main dining room table.

The eldest girl spoke. "Prince Coyne is having a ball to help his four friends find a wife. The four princes are Mark and Adam of the Fitzgerald Kingdom, and KC and Andrew of the Torres Kingdom."

Randall seemed deep in thought. He didn't like the idea of having his only daughters attending an unsupervised party. He also didn't want any of the princes taking an interest in either of the girls. His main worry was Jenna, the younger of the two. She could be easily persuaded into almost anything. She was really sweet and friendly; maybe that was her problem. Her older sister, Clare, was quite the opposite. She was modest and reserved, only speaking when necessary.

"Please, Father, allow Jenna to go," Clare implored, taking a sip of water from her silver goblet. "She has been extremely good lately and it'd be fantastic if she happened to find a husband there."

Randall nearly choked on his wine. Jenna was far too young to even consider marriage; she had just turned fifteen the previous month.

"Please, I really would like to go," Jenna whined, "and maybe…Clare here can come along as well."
Clare's eyes popped out. She didn't like the party scene. Things got wild at times, usually a brawl would start between one of the royals and their wives would argue as well. She also didn't like the way some princes eyed her like she was a piece of meat. all in all, Clare wanted to stay as far away from partying as possible.

Randall knew Clare would be able to keep Jenna grounded. She'd probably sit in a corner reading a book, and even though it bothered imagining his daughter being so anti-social, he was relieved she could be trusted. Maybe she was his real pride and joy.

"Clare, I insist you go," Randall said after a few moments. "It'll do you good to make some new friends and see our neighbors. I think that Coyne boy is a real catch, especially for a lovely girl such as yourself. And you, Jenna, should try talking to that KC boy. His family has very good investments in the cattle industry."

Jenna smiled brightly and Clare grimaced. Parties for royalty were busy events. A dress had to be picked out, along with a new hairstyle that no one else had worn. It also meant that Clare would have to spend time away from her friend, Elijah.

She had to keep their friendship in secret because of social status. Clare was next in line for the throne; Elijah was a poor stable worker. He was a kind, mysterious young man with the greenest eyes Clare had ever seen. She hated admitting it to herself but she liked him. He was attractive, not just physically, but he also had a charming personality. He cared for her, too, in his own ways which meant meeting in secret behind the horse stables at night. Now with a party, Clare could have to option but leave Elijah all by himself for the night. It really killed her, since she had grown so attached to him.

"Clare!" Jenna exclaimed, snapping her fingers in her sister's face. "Let's go get ready for tonight. You must help me choose between my yellow dress and my pink one."

Clare would've rather jump off her balcony than pick a puffy, princess dress with her sister. She detested dressing up, and when she did, she wore simple outfits. Nothing outrageous like Jenna. They were as different as they come.

"Clare, are you okay?" Jenna asked, gently stopping her sister from walking down the corridor and onto the stairwell. "You've been too quiet lately and frankly, it's scaring me. You're not sick are you?"

Clare shook her head quickly. "I-I'm fine, thank you. Let's head into our bedrooms."

Clare had chosen the bedroom farthest away from the rest of the family. It faced the south garden that overlooked a small lake. Besides the lake, was the horse stables where she visited Elijah. The large balcony allowed nearly ten people to peer over the land. She usually took a book to read and sat in the shade, turning page after page. Sometimes Elijah would climb the tree next to her balcony and they'd talk for hours on end.

"Maybe you should wear your peach dress," Jenna suggested, opening Clare's wardrobe widely and pushing through dresses. "It looks so great on you."

Clare knew for a fact that Jenna hated that dress with a passion. She hated it as well but it was a present from her Grandmother Edwards so she couldn't bring herself to throw it out.

"Can I borrow your beige dress with the pearls on the neckline?" Jenna murmured, pulling out a long beige dress with a low neckline accentuated with little water pearls. The bottom was puffed out and made Clare look curvy. "I just love this dress. You won't mind will you, Clare-bear?"

Clare just nodded, more interested in the view from her balcony. She could see Elijah feeding the horses. One of them was Romeo, Clare's sandy-colored Estonian horse. She loved that horse to death, more than she loved her own sister. Elijah turned to look at her and smirked. That smirk will be the death of me, Clare thought.

Elijah was shirtless, sweat running down his bare, tan chest. His hands were glistening with the horse water and his hair was matted to his forehead. He waved a little and turned back to the horse, running his long fingers down his mane.

One of the maid's came running out to Elijah, holding a glass of what looked like lemonade. She was Julia, Clare's closest friend on the grounds. She was a pretty young girl of Clare's age. She had black colored her and dark brown eyes that sent waves of comfort through anyone she looked at. Julia was a nice girl, even though she hated her job as a maid. Clare wanted to ask Randall for Julia to be her personal maid, to treat her better, but knew her father wouldn't agree. She was still planning to try, and maybe give Julia a taste of the good life.

"Ooh Clare, pick a dress already!" Jenna laughed.

Clare had no option but to close her balcony doors and turn to face her own hell. She looked though her wardrobe, pushing dresses of every color aside and examining a few closely. None appealed to her much. That is, until she reached a dark green dress with a plunging neckline and emeralds along the length of the skirt. The emerald color reminded her of Elijah's deep eyes. She pulled it out and set it over her bedspread.

"This is my dress," Clare announced proudly.

Jenna glared enviously. She wanted that dress probably, but she was too late in choosing it. "Well, Clare-bear, that dress is alright, I guess. Nothing too amazing, in my opinion, but it is your choice."

Clare grinned even wider and almost shoved Jenna out of her room. "I must take a shower. Go get ready and I'll meet you in the garden in two hours."

When she was alone, Clare rushed to take a shower with warm water. She dressed in a simple baby blue dress that hugged her body. Randall would never approve, but he wouldn't have to see. Darkness was falling over the countryside. No one would notice if she left her room for a minute. She crept out of her room and climbed down her large tree. She was so used to sneaking out that she landed on the warm June grass in no time. She skipped down over to the stables, lifting her dress above her ankles so it wouldn't get dirty. She knocked on the stable door, and Elijah opened up the wooden door.

"What are you doing here, Blue Eyes?" Elijah said, using his nickname for her.

"I-I can't come over tonight," she whispered, moving into the stable and sitting on a pile of hay. "Jenna tricked me into going to this stupid party. Father is forcing me into going with her. I'm really sorry. I wish I could just skip it but it-"

"What are you apologizing for, Edwards?" Elijah said with a laugh that made Clare's legs turn into jelly. "I don't mind spending one night alone. Julia will probably join me for a quick chess game."

Clare's jaw tightened. She couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the thought of Julia being all alone with Elijah. "Be good, Goldsworthy."

Eli rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother. I'm kidding. Be good ,Clare, and eat that fancy food you princesses eat."

Clare smiled lightly and gave Elijah a quick hug, taking in his scent of fresh clothing and violets. His warmth engulfed her and she felt like she was swimming in a sea of happiness. They held each other longer than usual and she left quick a sad smile. She made her way over to her house, running over the grass and climbing up the tree. She pushed open her balcony doors and ran to her bed. She slipped her dress over her pantyhose and corset. She buttoned it by herself and spun around a little. Her perfect curls were bouncing over her shoulders. She slipped on a pair of green boots that tied at her ankles.

"Are you ready?" Jenna screamed from outside her room.

Clare took one last look at herself in the mirror and put on her emerald earrings and necklace. She looked gorgeous, even if she tried telling herself otherwise. When she opened her bedroom door, Jenna's jaw dropped wide open.

"Beautiful, Clare-bear," Jenna said a little bitterly. "Anyways let's get going."

Jenna looked pretty too, but not as much as Clare. The beige dress fell in waves over her body and her neckline showed a little too much cleavage. She had her hair pulled on top of her head and a pearl necklace hung from her neck.

Both girls walked down the staircase to the foyer, their boot heels clicking on the ceramic tiles. Randall turned to look at his daughters and smiled. "Lovely as always, daughters. The carriage is waiting out front. Now don't be home late. And be careful."

He kissed each of their foreheads and they stepped into the warm air. She starry sky was staring at them and the dim lights illuminating their faces. The girls got into the carriage and sat on the red cushions. The bumpy ride over to the Coyne's palace was short. Soon they were walking over the family's lawn alone with the other guests. They saw Duke Simpson and his wife, as well as Princess Bianca and her friend, Owen.

"This will be a long night," Clare thought, waling into the brightly lit home of royalty.