The King of Lima's health was deteriorating, and miracle man after miracle man was brought in by the Queen. Anything for her husband.

But it was all for not. No matter what herbal remedies and treatments were tried, the king grew sicker still. It was then decided that the king's only son would have to take over and soon.

However, there was a problem with this plan. To become the king, the prince would have to be married, and that was a much greater challenge.

While Prince Jesse St. James was an attractive young man with his bright eyes and wavy golden brown hair, he was incredibly hard to deal with to say the least. He was critical of those around him to the point where it went from constructive to cruelty. The only things he cared about were singing and hunting, and he couldn't be bothered to associate with those who didn't enjoy his past times as well.

His parents had wanted him to marry the princess of Westerville so that the two feuding countries could form an alliance, but when Jesse found out that she not only disapproved of the recreational killing of animals but also happened to be terribly tone deaf, he refused the union.

"I demand a woman worthy of a man of my position," he mused. "She must be beautiful. She must be musically inclined. And she must be able to deal with the fact that I won't be around often."

His best friend and close confidant, Count Karofsky, spoke up next. "Your Highness, I think I know of a maiden who possesses the qualities that you desire. I have heard of a girl who lives in your kingdom. The daughter of the most successful dairy farmers around . . ."

"A milk maid? You're wasting my time."

"Oh, but she's more than just a milk maid. They say that her beauty is unmatched by any of the other girls, and she sings to herself as she does her chores. I am certain that you will find a suitable bride in this girl."

While the prince trusted his friend's judgment of the girl, he was a bit wary of it. For you see, he knew his close friend would never lie to him, but Count Karofsky was not married, and he had never been with a woman to the prince's knowledge. And that made him less inclined to take the Count's suggestion.

"I must see her for myself," he said. "And if she is truly what you say she is, I shall make her my bride."

The very next day, the prince took the royal carriage down to the dairy farm of the milk maid's fathers. Avoiding the puddles of muddy water on the dirt road, the prince climbed out of the carriage and made his way up the path to the front of the house. A few quick knocks and a couple minutes later, the door was opened, and one of the milk maid's fathers was bowing before the prince.

"You majesty, what brings you to our humble little dairy farm?"

"I wish to see your daughter. I have something that I need to discuss with her."

"I'll take you to her right away," the dairy farmer said as he started to lead the prince down a different path outside of the house. A path that led back to the barn and dairy sheds. "I hope she hasn't done anything to offend you, your majesty. She's changed slightly since her loss, and it wasn't a change for the better. If she has been cold to you or insulting in any way at all, I can assure you that it will not happen again."

"What? No. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your daughter just yet. I simply must speak to her though. It is of the utmost importance."

"Of course, your majesty."

They soon arrived at what appeared to be a rundown dairy shack. Something that could have been living quarters for any help that had been needed on the farm.

"She spends most of her time in here. Her father and I can rarely get her to leave. Feel free to take as much time with her as you like. Maybe she'll talk to you."

The prince stepped inside of the dairy shack and took in his surroundings. The far wall was lines with shelves holding empty milk bottles. What appeared to be a rather dirty mattress was lying on the ground in one of the corners, a blanket or two in a heap on top of it. The floor was filthy and covered with straw and dirt clumps, and it was quite obvious that it hadn't been cleaned in a very long time. The one window in the room was caked with grime barely letting in any light.

One thing seemed out of place to him though. And that was the woman sitting in a rocking chair towards the back. There was a sad look in her eyes as she stared at the piece of paper in her hand, and she was by far the most beautiful woman that the prince had ever seen. Count Karofsky had not been mistaken in his judgment after all.

"A suitable looking queen," he thought. "Now to find out if she fits the other standards."

"What is your name?" he called out asking her after staring for a moment or two.

"Rachel," she replied looking up and noticing the prince for the first time. The piece of paper in her hand was quickly folded up and tucked away in the folds of her dress. Unlike her father before her, she didn't bow before him. She stayed in her chair and waited for him to speak again.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"You're Prince Jesse St. James. Heir to the throne of Lima."

"That is correct. I am your prince, and it is customary for you to bow before me."

"And I am your subject. I make the choice to stay seated."

"Do you sing at all?"

"I used to. I was once told that my voice had a way of enchanting people. I was told that people would hear me sing and would instantly be drawn to me like a moth to a flame. I suppose that I was talented."

"Would you sing for me now?"

"No."

"You dare deny your prince again? You're treading on dangerous waters, miss."

"I cannot fulfill your request. I don't deny you by choice," she replied as she gazed out the filthy window. "The music in me died several years ago, and it has seen no reason to come back sense."

"Pity. It would have given me much pleasure to hear such a grand voice."

There was silence in the room.

"You're quite beautiful, you know."

"I've been told that before."

"And I, myself, am quite attractive. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I hadn't noticed."

"We would make beautiful children together, don't you think?"

"I suppose so."

"Then marry me and provide me with an heir to the throne when I die."

"No thank you."

"And there you go denying your prince again. You are aware that to refuse a marriage proposal from your prince is an act punishable by death, aren't you?"

"I was not," she replied. There was no feeling in her voice. "If that is the case, could you kill me quickly? I don't really wish to be living a second longer."

He was startled by her response. He wasn't used to girls not wanting to be with him. He was a prince after all. That made him highly desirable.

"And why does death seem better than being married to a prince? I could give you everything that you've ever wanted."

"You couldn't. The only thing I want was killed by pirates several years ago. Even a prince cannot bring back the dead."

"And who, may I ask, is dead?"

"His name was Sam, and he was my truest love. Not even a prince could compare to him."

"I think you're being quite unreasonable here. I could try to make you a happy woman. You deserve epic romance."

"I've had it before, and it didn't end well. I am sworn to never love again."

This was not the reaction he was expecting at all. He'd thought his charm and good looks would have attracted her to him almost instantly. But she was different than any of the other girls who fawned over him on a daily basis.

He had to have her.

"Hear me out," he started as he stepped towards her. "If you marry me, you would be treated like a Queen. You would eventually become the Queen. You would live a life rivaled by every woman in the kingdom. All that you have to do is say that you'll marry me and provide me with an heir to the throne. So what's your choice? Live a life of luxury with me, or die a terrible and painful death sometime in the near future?"

Rachel stood up to her full height of five feet and three inches and looked up into the prince's eyes.
"I'll never love you," she told him.

"I wouldn't want it if I had it."

"Then, by all means, let us marry."

One thing led to another, and several years passed. The king still wasn't at all well, but he was still alive much to the surprise of everyone involved.

The day of the engagement announcement finally arrived, and everyone in the kingdom gathered in the square to see the woman that their prince had chosen to be his bride.

"My people!" the prince addressed the crowd that had gathered in the square from the castle balcony. "This day has been long coming. Today is the day that I shall present to you your future queen. When I first found her, she was nothing more than a commoner like yourselves. You will not find her so common now. So without further ado, I present to you, Princess Rachel."

As her name was announced, trumpets sounded, and Rachel stepped out towards the prince from her spot at the balcony's doorway. He took her by the hand and led her to the front so she could gaze upon her subjects. She smiled and waved down at the crowd as she moved into the spot that the prince had guided her to. However, her smile did not reach her eyes. The people in the square may not have noticed because of the distance, but the prince did.

"Buck up, darling," he whispered to her. "Your new life is beginning today."

"Then why do I feel so dead inside?"

"That will soon change. I'm sure of it."

"And I doubt it highly," she replied. "I wish to go riding when we're through here."

"Anything for you, my darling."

But if Rachel had known what was waiting for her in that crowd, she would have chosen to stay inside that day. But how could she have known that of the hundreds of people in the square, four had plans to kidnap her, and three of those four planned to end her life?