“You are possibly the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” a tall muscular man with striking blue eyes said as he leaned in closer. Esmeralda rolled her eyes, but forced her thin lips into a smile as she responded, “Thank you, Charles.” Taking one of her hands, Charles leaned in closer and whispered, “You’re welcome, darling. We should meet again to discuss joining our kingdoms through matromony. It would add peace and stability to the realms, and I would be able to wake up every day do your heavenly smile.” “What would I gain from such a gesture?” Esmeralda muttered under her breath, leaning back slightly. Shaking her head, she heard a chuckle from the table behind her. “What was that, Princess?” Charles asked, leaning in even closer. “Nothing, I just needed to get away from all of the hot air in the room,” Esmeralda sighed. Under her breath she added, “Although you seem to be full of an endless supply…” Muffled laughter erupted from behind Esmeralda. She wanted to turn and look for the source, but Charles took her other hand as if to force her to face him. He stared into her green eyes longingly and said, “I wish I could stay, but I have another meeting I need to attend. I’ll dream of your emerald eyes until I can gaze into them again.” “Oh that won’t be necesssary-“ Esmeralda started, but Charles was already standing to leave. “You are the most beautiful woman in the realms; I really am a lucky man,” Charles said over his shoulder as he walked away. Esmeralda rubbed her temples with both hands as she shook her head. “Every time…” she muttered. “It’s like when they see me they can’t hear me…” “It’s a shame,” a voice behind her responded in a hushed tone. “It seems prince Charles of Ishikeburg missed a wonderful date—with quite delightful company—all because his mouth is larger than both his ears combined.” Laughing, Esmeralda turned around to face the voice; however, whoever had spoke had already blended in with the crowd of nobles shuffling out of the dining hall of the central palace. The chef stood at the door, thanking them as they left to attend meetings at the Grand Assembly of United Kingdoms. Many of the men turned to stare at Esmeralda, which she was used to, but none stood out or approached her. “I wonder who that was,” Esmeralda asked herself with a smile spreading across her face. She stood up and followed the crowd to her next meeting, silently debating why the man who had spoken hadn’t identified himself. The thought distracted her through most of the day, until she returned to the dining hall for dinner. As she walked in, she locked eyes with every Nobel man she passed, trying to guess who the voice belonged to. Without any indication of what her target looked like, she was unsuccessful. Every man she looked at either smiled or drooled at her as she met their eyes. Frustrated, Esmeralda sat down at a table opposite her mother. “I presume your lunch went well,” her mother stated with a mischevious grin. “What gave you that impression?” Esmeralda asked, rolling her eyes. “We already received Prince Charles proposal!” her mother squealed with delight. “You have got to be kidding,” Esmeralda sighed. “Young lady, watch your tone! I’ll not have you turn down another proposal… especially one that comes with such a large bride price!” “So as long as he pays well he can marry me?” Esmeralda quipped. Esmeralda’s mother glared at her, took a deep breath and retorted, “Charles is well connected, smart, and has ties to the throne of a large nation that would be a valuable ally in the ongoing wars. There are many reasons he is a good suitor, but if you can offer a better one feel free to do so now.” Silence fell across the table as Esmeralda stared at the empty plate in front of her. It was sparkling, beautiful, polished and empty. Esmeralda could relate, until a servant came by to fill it with roasted duck and potatoes that he carefully laid in an appealing manner. Soon the plate was so full of food that she could hardly see it at all. It simply supported the food and kept it off the table, unnoticed and unappreciated. “I didn’t think so,” Esmeralda’s mother huffed. “If I found another suitor could I turn down the proposal?” Esmeralda asked, trying hold her head up high and keep her voice steady. With a sly grin, her mother responded, “I’ll make you a deal, sweetie: at the end of the week, after the Grand Assembly, you can accept any marriage proposal you want from the ones we have received. However, you can’t choose for any reason, I’ll choose one for you. You are of age, and it’s time we secured your future, Esmeralda.” “Fine,” Esmeralda sighed. “I’ll pick one before the end of the week.” “I’m glad we could sort that out. Now, let’s eat before the speeches start.” The two Nobel ladies turned to their plates in silence and ate quickly. Esmeralda’s mom then excused herself to socialize, mingle and scheme with the other ladies from the realms. Meanwhile, Esmeralda stared at her broken reflection in her dirty plate and furrowed her brow. Her ears perked up when they heard a familiar voice speaking behind her. It was faint, taking to someone else at a different table, but it was unmistakable as the voice that compliamented her at lunch. It politely commented on the color of someone’s dress and bantered with a female voice that got lost in the crowd. Jumping from her chair and whirling around to face to conversation, Esmeralda saw the source of the voice. He had sandy blonde hair and chocolate eyes that were fixed on a woman standing near his table. As she spoke the nobleman nodded, but his shoulders slumped and his face remained expressionless. Hurrying over to the table, Esmeralda listened for a moment. “Surely you have seen the play ‘The Least Likely Lovers’ at a theater?” the woman asked in a nasally voice. The nobleman responded with a polite nod and emotionless smile. “It was written right in my kingdom. Cirid is lovely this time of year, you simply have to visit!” “The best part of ‘The Least Likely Lovers’ and Cirid is the same,” Esmeralda pointed out as she took a step closer to the table. “Whenever you are finally allowed to leave them.” The man sitting sitting at the table covered his mouth with his hand as his eyes lit up. He muffled a snicker only half successfully. The Princess of Cirid narrowed her eyes, turned red and took a step forward to put herself between Esmeralda and the nobleman. Without breaking eye contact with Esmeralda, she hissed, “How dare you!” However, she was intrruped by the man when he stood up and placed himself between the two princesses. “Please, let’s not let this turn into another theatre of war in these already perilous times,” he implored. “Vanessa, I can speak with you later. Speeches are starting imminately, and it seems that lady Esmeralda has business to discuss before they start.” Vanessa glared at Esmeralda but politely agreed and excused herself. She made a point of locking eyes with Esmeralda while strutting away in dramatic fashion. Left alone, Esmeralda studied the man she came over to meet more closely: he was slightly taller than average with a large build and was well dressed in a neat uniform that bore the symbol of her families greatest rivals. “I don’t know that we have formally met,” the prince admitted. “I’m prince Xavier of the Dravell Empire. It’s truly a pleasure to met you, Lady Esmeralda of Chevivia.” Xavier bowed slightly, as was customary for a polite and respect greeting between members of the nobility from different kingdoms. “Especially since it’s here and not in our own theatre of war.” Esmeralda curtiseyed, and then responded, “I believe we met at lunch—did we not?” As Xavier raised an eyebrow, he admitted, “Briefly… but I did not want to cause a scene… if our families saw us talking, what would they think?” “I’ve never cared much what my family thought, and I imagine you are the same. After all, you could have sent me away rather than Vanessa.” “Ahh, I do believe I owe you for making my day more interesting… and much quieter,” Xavier chucked warmly, which made Esmeralda smile in turn. “When someone holds the positions that we do, there are certain consequences that come with it… I fear I may be stuck with Vanessa for the rest of my life.” “A prison made of economic and political favors,” Esmeralda sighed. “What if I could break you out of it?” Xavier raised his eyebrows again and looked Esmeralda up and down twice, as if sizing her up. He thought for a moment before asking, “How would you propose to do that, and what would be in it for you to help me with my… personal prison?” A man at the front of the room stood up and cleared his throat. As the room began to fall silent and everyone rushed to their seats, Esmeralda leaned in and whispered, “Let’s call it a prisoner exchange… meet me in the western gardens after supper—alone—if you want to hear what I have in mind.” With that, Esmeralda returned to her table. She could feel Xavier’s eyes follow her, along with the eyes of every noble that noticed the unlikely pair talking. When she pulled out her chair to sit, she risked glancing back to see a grin plastered across Xavier’s face. She was able to genuinely smile for the first time since the Grand Assembly began as the usual post-dinner speeches began to drone on for the next few hours. Later, in the western gardens, Esmeralda walked through an archway made of hedges to see Xavier sitting on a bench near a pond, waiting. As she approached, he just kept staring into the water as it reflected the image of the night sky with eerie ripples from the wind and creatures of the night. She sat next to him and enjoyed the peace of the garden for a moment. “You came,” Esmeralda eventually said, interrupting the frogs and crickets. “I felt I didn’t have a choice…” Xavier responded. “There is an obligation of duty to my country to listen to any suggestions that may end the death and suffering of my people in the war between our nations… and a personal interest in escaping the prison of my royal duties.” “Sorry, but I’m not sure I can relieve you of all your royal responibilities…” “But you could end the war and save me from the prison of a prearranged marriage to someone only seeking my status and riches?” “Only if you are able to free me my prison…” “What prison do you find yourself trapped in?” Xavier asked, turning to look Esmeralda in her green eyes. Thinking for a moment, Esmeralda replied, “A prison of beauty. One where everyone can aknowledge my good looks, but no one cares to appreciate anything else about me.” Xavier leaned back into the bench and sighed, “The worst part about being stuck in these prisons is wondering if anyone appreciates who we are. Whoever marries me will gain a great deal of wealth and influence… and whoever looks at you can tell that your beauty is far greater than any other woman.” “Which is precisely why I’m here to offer a prisoner exchange,” Esmeralda said, extending a hand towards Xavier. “Two people trapped in a similar prison—who are able to free the other but not themself.” With a grin, Xavier took her hand and announced, “The only thing that surpasses your beauty are your wit and brilliance! Now we both have a way out!”