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Edmund One-Shot : Few Smiles

A/N

Though this is set in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, for plot relevance, I'm going by the film ages so Edmund is 12. Also, sorry it's kinda shit...

Y/P – Your Pronoun

"Hey Ed!" you said as he walked into the classroom. Instead of the usual hello, he acted as though you weren't there and sat in the spare seat on the opposite side of the classroom. Your smile dropped as he did so - this wasn't like him. Smiles from him were few and rare recently, but this was different. You hoped you hadn't upset him. You had grown up together after all - your friendship couldn't end when you were 14.

Alas, the day continued in this foreign way. He didn't sit next to you in lessons and acted as though you didn't know each other. Any time you attempted to go near him, let alone speak to him, he immediately walked away.

By the end of the school day, well, it was safe to say that you'd had enough.

***

The corridor was empty, or so Edmund thought. He yanked his locker open and began ramming the contents in his bag, filled with anger. He cursed every Government Worker he knew the name of while fumbling with the straps of his bag.

"Edmund!"

He froze. Slamming the locker closed, he slung his bag over his shoulder. Spinning around, Edmund made to walk down the corridor, away from you.

But you'd had enough. You covered the space between you and him in three long strides, and grabbed his arm, making him turn to face you.

"Hey! Get off me!"

"No!" You cried back. "What is going on Edmund? Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?" You had tears in your eyes on the last question.

"Nothing's wrong, except that I'm being bugged by an annoying little nobody!" Edmund yelled. As soon as the last word left his lips, his faces morphed into one of horror and regret.

"Oh." You whispered, the tears in your eyes escaping, and trailing a cold, lonely path down your cheeks.

"Y/N, no, I didn't mean-"

"It's okay Edmund, I understand. I'm sorry if I did something wrong." You sniffled, "but, I'll leave you alone now. Bye Eddie Bear."

After the familiar nickname escaped your lips, you turned around and fled the hallway, and Edmund's heart broke upon hearing your sobs fade down the corridor as you ran off, away from his harsh words, away from him.

***

The door of the Pevensie's home slammed shut as the youngest, ebony haired boy stormed into the house. His older brother's head snapped upwards at the abrupt noise, and he exchanged a worried glance with his mother as Edmund ran upstairs.

"I'll go." Peter said, motioning for his mother to stay in the living room.

As he approached him and his brother's room, he heard the unmistakable sound of crying. Sighing, he carefully opened the door, and, receiving no backlash for doing so from his brother, entered the room.

"Ed? Edmund, what's wrong?" Peter asked, concerned for his sibling. He sat on the edge of Edmund's bed.

"Ed? Please tell me what's going on?"

"It's Y/N." Peter's eyes widened at this. Y/N and Edmund has known each other since they were babies.

"Is Y/P hurt, what happened?"

"I did. I-I can't believe I said that to Y/P." Edmund said, his voice breaking.

"Said what?" Peter said softly.

"I called Y/P a nobody..."

"Why?" Peter said, shocked.

"I ignored Y/P for the whole day..." Edmund continued, sobbing.

"Oh Eddie," Peter sighed, pulling his little brother in for a hug. "Why? Y/N's your best friend."

"I guess, I was so upset about dad that I didn't want to talk to anyone in case I was mean. I'm just so angry, and I didn't want to take it out on Y/N..."

"Look," Peter began, " You two have known each other since you were three years old. Anything that you did or said, just explain why, and I'm sure Y/P will understand. Okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Pete."

"Always." Peter replied, rubbing Edmund's shoulder, before his younger sibling abruptly shot up, and ran to the door.

"Where are you going?" the eldest Pevensie yelled.

"To talk to Y/N," he said, running down the hall.

"Good luck!" Was the reply he got, as he bolted out of the door, one thought running through his head.

Please Y/N, please forgive me...

A/N

Part 2?

Instruments the Pevensie's Would Play

Peter

Violin

Piano

Guitar

Peter picked up the violin at the age of five after hearing a busker play on the street. Ever since, he's been dedicated to the instrument, always trying to improve. Peter is a talented, expressive player, and is equally good at fast and slow pieces. He was the first Pevensie at his music school, and the teachers were over the moon when they heard that more of his family would be joining.

When Peter was eight, he decided that he wanted to learn the piano as well, and was a fast learner, quickly excelling at the instrument. He found it calming to sit down and play such a relaxing instrument when he felt stressed by the responsibility of being the eldest.

When Peter was twelve, he picked up the guitar, finding the chordal instrument relatively easy after having learnt violin for seven years. He trained in classical guitar, but is amazing at electric and bass too.

Susan

Voice

Piano

Harp (in Narnia)

Susan always had a great interest in culture, music especially, so it's no wonder she balanced so many instruments.

Susan loved to sing from an early age, and decided she wanted classes when she was nine. These consisted mostly of phrasing, a few arias and popular songs, as well breath control. At fourteen, her singing lessons became more serious, and she started to explore the techniques of operatic singing, officially starting classical pieces at fifteen. She joined the choir shortly after beginning her singing lessons and is easily the best soprano there, meaning she gets lots of solos and duets. Susan is a soprano with a 2-3 octave range.

There was a piano in the Pevensie household. Helen Pevensie had it because she took lessons when she was younger, and wanted to keep practising her skills even after she stopped. When Susan started showing interest, she taught her some basic scales and tunes. When Susan turned eight, she began to go to professional classes like her older brother, and they coincidentally had the same teacher.

Susan had always liked the harp, and longed to learn how to play the elegant instrument, but its cost, weight, and size prevented her from doing so. You can imagine her surprise then, when she discovered that the harp was played in Narnia. Susan quickly sought out the best teacher she could find (a dryad) and began to learn. By the time her and her siblings accidentally stumbled back through the wardrobe, she was an exceptional player, and her talent at the harp – along with the piano and singing – was a contributing factor to the number of marriage proposals she received.

Edmund

Violin

Viola

Piano (kind of)

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Edmund started playing violin at the age of five. Like Peter, he was excelled at the instrument, astounding his teacher and those who went to the music school concerts with his technique, tone and style.

However, when he was eleven, Edmund began to show interest in the viola. He found its low pitch and sound pleasing to the ear, and though it greatly lacks in repertoire – and is made fun of by violinists and other string players – he found himself drawn to the shunned instrument, seeing the beauty behind its sombre sound. His violin teacher offered to give him lessons free of charge, as the family already gave so much to the school, and Edmund accepted. He knew it wouldn't be difficult, as the technique was the same as that of the violin, and he would only need to get used to a bigger instrument and reading in alto clef.

Once in Narnia, he decided that he would learn the piano. When Peter found him sitting down trying to figure out how to play, he offered to teach him, and very soon, piano duets filled the halls of Cair Paravel every Saturday.

Lucy

Cello

Voice

When Lucy was six, she heard a recording of Jacqueline du Pré playing Elgar's cello concerto in E minor. When it came on the radio, she stopped reading her book and went completely silent. Lucy was entranced by the music, and the deep, rich tone of the cello. Afterwards, the youngest Pevensie decided it was time for her to take up music lessons. Getting her first cello is one of the happiest moments of her life, and as she grew older, she only loved it more. Even the way you play the cello - as if you are hugging it - matched Lucy's affection for her instrument perfectly. Her favourite piece she's played so far is The Swan by Saint-Saëns, and her dream is to play the Elgar concerto that first inspired her to take up the cello.

Lucy also loves to sing, and has a bright joyful voice. Though she never took private lessons, she is in the choir at the music school the Pevensies go to and loves every minute of it - especially when she gets to proudly watch Susan do a solo. Lucy is a mezzo-soprano with a 2 octave range.

Preference (Modern) : Your Favourite Disney Movie

Peter

Tangled. You and Peter had liked each other for a while, and you were both nervous when a movie night was arranged. Before the lantern scene, Susan excused herself to go and take a phone call, Edmund was called to tidy his room by his mum, and a scheming Lucy conveniently decided to go and refill all the food bowls. You both started to sing along to 'I See the Light' and before you knew it, the song had ended and you were kissing.

Susan

Frozen II. While you both enjoyed the first one, you liked the ancient/mythic route the second film took. You also love hearing Susan openly sing along, because she's normally quite shy about her singing voice, however many times you insist that it's amazing. You're both waiting for a third film where Elsa finally get a girlfriend.

Edmund

Beauty and the Beast. Edmund gets very cynical and sarcastic about Disney romance films, but whenever you start to put this DVD in the player, he's already on the sofa with crisps and chocolate. It's not the film itself that you two love (though it is amazing), it's the memories. About a month into your relationship, you went to watch a re-release of Beauty and the Beast in a local cinema. You really wanted go to it so Edmund took you, and that was the moment you both realised that what you felt for each other could be love. After the film, you went to a secluded area in the snowy, cold park and had your first kiss.

Lucy

The Lion King. This film is special to Lucy because it reminds her of Aslan, and anything that makes her happy makes you happy. The neighbours sometimes get annoyed hearing you singing along to the soundtrack but you two couldn't care less.

Caspian

Moana. Caspian has an obsession with the sea. He loves to sail on holiday, and was beyond excited when a Disney film came out that challenged the stereotypes made by its predecessors as well as making fun of them, while putting one of his favourite things on screen.

Preference : Your Nicknames For Each Other

A/N Y/N/N = your nickname

Peter

His for you: My Queen/My King – My Love – Milady/My Lord

Yours for him: Pete – Love – Bear

Susan

Hers for you: Beautiful – Love – Y/N/N

Yours for her: Su – Love – Gorgeous

Edmund

His for you: Y/N/N – Juliet – Cuddle Bug

Yours for him: Eddie Bear – Romeo – Snuggles

Lucy

Hers for you: Y/N/N – Sunny – Sunshine

Yours for her: Lu – Lu-Lu – Smiley

Caspian

His for you: Star – Y/N/N – My Dear – Amor

Yours for him: Moon – Cas – Dear

⊹ ⋆ ꒰ఎﾟMOODBOARD ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹

peter pevensie⠀⠀ ﹝〝⠀golden age⠀!⠀⠀╱︎⠀⠀high king, the magnificent .⠀﹞ the chronicles of narnia .

⊹ ⋆ ꒰ఎﾟMOODBOARD ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹

peter pevensie⠀⠀ ﹝〝⠀golden age⠀!⠀⠀╱︎⠀⠀high king, the magnificent .⠀﹞ the chronicles of narnia .

Ugh hes just so—ugh 😍😍

I love him <3

Hi! I saw your requests were open and I was wondering if you could do a fic with Edmund Pevensie and very shy reader? Thanks!

Prima Donna ~ Edmund Pevensie

Ahhhh, thank you so much for requesting! Shy!reader is a new one for me, so I hope you like it (even though it took me forever to finish it)

Word count: 2.3k

“Whose fabulous idea was it to throw this dinner?” Edmund grumbled, wrestling with the buttons of the wretched jerkin Susan had told him to wear. “I’d like to throw them a dinner in the royal dungeons.”

“It was yours, if I recall correctly.” Peter stood beside him, the perfect picture of composure. “Shall I warn the dungeon master of your impending arrival?” 

“I merely suggested that relations with Calormen could be improved by allowing the opera tour to come through Narnia,” Edmund protested, still trying to get the buttons to cooperate. “Nowhere in there did I say anything about hosting a banquet in their honor, and certainly I didn’t say a thing about myself having to attend.”

Lucy laughed from her place on Edmund’s bed. “Ed, if you’re not going to go to the opera tomorrow, it’s all the more important that you attend the dinner.”

“Pete isn’t going tomorrow either,” Edmund said, with a perfect imitation of the pout his little sister used to sport when asked to do the dishes back home.

“And Pete’s going to dinner.” 

 Edmund frowned and did not deign to answer her, returning to the confounded jerkin. 

“You know, in Calormen, the opera season is the height of court,” Lucy said, sliding off the bed to stand beside Peter. “Everything of note happens at the opera, all marriages arranged, alliances formed, grievances aired, it all happens at the opera.” 

Edmund snorted. “The fact that the attendees don’t go to the opera to watch and listen to the opera itself should tell you something.”

“Oh, Edmund,” Lucy said with a sigh, shaking her head. “Have you no appreciation for the arts?”

“Now, now,” Peter stepped forward. “Ed is a great connoisseur of art.”

Lucy raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh, really?” 

“Well, swordfighting is an art, is it not?” 

The two burst into giggles, and Edmund scowled. “Shut up.”

“Ready?” Susan asked, floating into the room in the flowing, graceful way of hers. “They’ve just arrived.” 

“Ready,” said both Peter and Lucy.

“If I have to be,” Edmund grumbled. 

“You’d better be,” Susan said. “Because the director will be seated beside Peter, and the prima donna will be beside Edmund.”

“What is a ‘prima donna’, and why do I have to put up with it?” Edmund demanded. 

“The prima donna is the main female singer in an opera,” Lucy said, clearly exasperated. “Honestly, Ed, do you never listen when I’m talking?”

Edmund opened his mouth, ready to defend himself when Susan cleared her throat. “We don’t have time for this. Now, smiles on.” Susan turned and walked out of the chamber, Peter and Lucy close on her heels.

“I’m not scared to meet the Calormens,” Edmund muttered to himself as he tried to multitask walking and trying to keep his jerkin from flapping like a flag in the wind. The small clasps slipped through his fingers, and he cursed. “I won a war and had to lead a country at the age of 10! Prideful divas don’t compare to the Witch.”

Edmund swallowed his pride and looked up, intending to ask one of his sisters to come to his aid when he saw he was alone in the corridor, save for a servant girl lingering at the end of the hall. Her plain, Narnian clothing and the jug of water she carried indicated her to be a servant, but the way she carried herself…

Heat bloomed in his cheeks. Had she overheard him?

He straightened his back. “Are the arrivals from Calormen waiting?” The woman’s eyes flicked up to Edmund’s crown with a little apprehension before she nodded. “Can you help me with this?” he asked. “I cannot get these blasted buttons to button.”

The woman didn’t say anything, but set her pitcher down on the nearest windowsill and came forward, dexterous fingers accomplishing what he couldn’t with ease and efficiency. 

“Thank you.” Edmund straightened his jerkin, still feeling morbidly embarrassed. She was unfairly pretty and clearly new to Cair Paravel. He didn’t know her, he would’ve remembered her, for sure.  “Er…what’s your name?”

The woman blinked, momentarily meeting Edmund’s eyes with a startled expression. “Y/N,” she said in a mellifluous tone. Her eyes kept darting around, never staying long on Edmund or anything else. Was she uncomfortable? Or was he keeping her from something important? 

If Susan were around, she would’ve ordered Edmund to dismiss the girl so she could carry out her duty, but he couldn’t squash the urge to talk to her more. “Have you ever been to Calormen, Y/N?” 

“Yes, your majesty.” Her quiet voice was so endearing that Edmund couldn’t keep himself from smiling. 

“What was it like there?”

She looked up, nervously pulling at her fingers. “Hot.” 

Edmund laughed, and the smallest of smiles flitted across her lips. “Thanks again for your help.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Um…as you were.” And before he could embarrass himself anymore, he took off. 

Hopefully the next time he ran into Y/N, he was composed and in possession of the wit he was so famous for. 

He passed the horrid purple curtains Susan insisted be hung over the windows of the banquet hall, trying to get himself back under control before he joined his siblings. 

“Ah, Edmund,” Susan said, grabbing Edmund’s arm and pulling him forward towards the group of dark-skinned people dressed in the odd fashion of Calormen. “This is Lalnon, the esteemed director of the show Lucy and I will see tomorrow evening.” Susan indicated the man in the front who wore a glittery coat and upturned shoes. 

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Edmund said, forcing a smile and extending a hand to the director. “My royal sisters cannot wait to see the show, they’ve been talking about it nonstop.”

“Thank you,” the director said in a heavy Calormen accent before pushing past Edmund’s hand and walking over to the table, clearly done with the conversation.

Edmund tried not to roll his eyes as he turned back to the others in the group. Why did the creative types have to be so sullen and withdrawn? If Edmund had to be here and be polite, the least the guests could do was acknowledge how very polite he was being. 

Another Calormen man stepped forward with a bow. “I’m Ishdu, I’m the conductor. I lead the orchestra and instruct the singers.”

The siblings all nodded with regal airs, offering smiles.

The conductor brought forward each member of the crowd, outlining their names and their role in the show. Instead of following the director’s lead and seating themselves at the table, they awkwardly stayed standing, bumping into each other to allow certain members to the front of the group for their moment of recognition. 

Edmund bit the inside of his cheek, wishing he could be anywhere other than here. Could he come up with some sort of excuse that the Calormens and his siblings would believe? 

Ishdu, who was still talking, gestured to the group with a grander flourish than he’d yet used. “I’m also delighted to introduce our prima donna.”

Edmund steeled himself, trying to prepare himself for some overweight, gaudy woman to come trotting through the crowd to receive her demanded praise. But when the crowd parted, there was no such woman.

Edmund’s mouth fell open as none other than Y/N, the woman who’d helped him with his buttons, came forward and swept into a deep curtsy. “Your majesties.”

“You’re the prima donna?” Edmund asked before he could help himself, earning a glare from Susan.

For a split second, a shy smile flashed on Y/N’s face, but it quickly left as she said: “Yes, your majesty.” 

How could she be from Calormen? Why was she wearing Narnian fashion when everyone else in her group wore fashion from their own country? And what had she been doing in the corridor with a water jug? And why had she helped him with his buttons instead of announcing herself?

Edmund tried to form words, but she was scrambling his brains, even though she was doing nothing but shifting, looking as uncomfortable as he felt.

Shooting an odd look at her brother, Lucy stepped forward to rescue the situation. “Y/N, we’re so glad you’re here, let me show you where you’ll be sitting.”

With a glance at Edmund, Y/N followed his sister further into the room, smiling to humor his sister’s conversation, leading the other performers towards the banquet table. 

Susan’s hand clamped down on Edmund’s arm, pulling him towards her and Peter. “What was that?” she hissed. “That was not being hospitable!”

Edmund buried his face in his hands, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. “I mistook her for a servant.” He half-heartedly hoped they wouldn’t hear him, but his brother’s guffaw quickly dashed that sentiment.

“You did what?!” Susan almost shrieked.

“What was I supposed to think? She was in the corridor, wearing Narnian clothes and carrying a pitcher of water!”

“What did you say to her?”

“I asked her to help me with my buttons,” Edmund mumbled, causing Peter to laugh harder.

“What are you, twelve?” Susan snapped before massaging her temples. “You’d better do some damage control during dinner, before it’s irreparable!” With that, Susan walked in her floating way over to the banquet table to take her seat. 

Edmund sent his older brother a hopeless look. “How on earth can I fix this?”

Peter clapped a hand on Edmund’s shoulder. “You’re the witty one, I’m sure you can come up with something.” Then Peter went to sit beside Lalnon, the director, leaving Edmund to trail behind him.

Y/N was already seated, with her hand neatly folded in her lap on top of her napkin. The glimpse of her delicate fingers served as a reminder of how easily and contentedly she’d helped him.

He felt hot as he finally took his seat beside her. “Y/N,” he immediately began, “allow me to extend my sincerest apologies for my mistake.”

“Unnecessary.” Y/N took a dainty sip from her wine goblet, but the way she avoided his gaze made him nervous.

“It is necessary. I swear, I never meant to offend you in any way.”

“No offense,” Y/N promised.

Edmund winced. “Not even when I called you a prideful diva?” 

She didn’t answer, leaving Edmund to wonder if she really was offended or just didn’t feel like talking. But the silence that stretched on made Edmund’s discomfort rise, and he refused to let it go on. “So…” he said, searching for something, anything to say, “I hear Calormen is hot.”

The tiniest of chuckles broke through Y/N’s lips, but she still didn’t say anything. 

“Why were you in that hallway?” he asked. 

“Lalnon insisted he be allowed to wash his feet before setting foot in the banquet hall, and the servants looked frazzled already.”

Edmund cast a glance in the director’s direction just in time to see him sniff the bite of food on his fork and then promptly set the fork down on the plate. “But you’re one of the guests of honor. Why would you risk missing an introduction with the kings and queens?” Edmund asked, finding it hard to believe that someone as beautiful as her would prefer to notice than to be noticed.

“As it turns out, I got to meet one of the kings anyways,” Y/N said with a sideways smile. “I even got to help him with his buttons.”

He gaped at her.  “Er…yes, well, I guess you did, didn’t you?” She turned back to her meal, but Edmund had lost all interest in eating. Instead, he propped his arm up on the table and rested his chin on his hand. “How long have you been performing?”

“I’ve been the prima donna for a year and a half, your majesty, but I’ve been a part of the opera company for as long as I can remember.”

“What does it mean to be a prima donna?” He remembered what Lucy’s answer was, but he wanted to hear it from Y/N.

Y/N lowered her fork. “Being a prima donna means the primary female roles fall to me.”

“That’s quite the privilege,” said Edmund, wondering what it must feel like to know that she would always have the opportunity for center stage. 

“And quite the responsibility, your majesty.”

Edmund furrowed his brows. “Why’s that?”

“If a show goes poorly, there’s only so many ways to split the blame.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. Shouldn’t more blame fall on the writer rather than the prima donna?” 

“Well, sure, but when the writer and the prima donna are the same, it gets complicated.”

It took a moment for Edmund to understand what she was saying. “Wait, you write the operas too?”

Y/N nodded. 

“Did you write the opera you’re performing tomorrow night?”

Y/N nodded again.

Her shyness endeared her to him. All he wanted was for her to talk, to share more of herself with him, but she wasn’t. “What is it about?”

“Love,” Y/N said, and the spark in her eyes made Edmund go a bit speechless. “Most powerful thing ever.”

Edmund felt his heart bounce in his chest, as if it was reminding him of its presence. “L-love?” Edmund stammered.

She nodded, and her eyes went faraway. “The opera is a story of a young man and woman who do whatever they can to be together.” Her distant smile was dazzling. “Their parents don’t approve because the young woman is a priestess-in-training at the temple of Tash, and priestesses swear never to marry.” An adorable crinkle appeared between her eyebrows. “So the young man’s father sneaks a venomous snake into a bouquet of flowers and gives it to the young woman, pretending it’s from her lover. The snake bites her, and she dies, leaving the young man heartbroken…” 

Y/N trailed off, lowering her eyes to the napkin in her lap. “Sorry,” she said with a bashful chuckle, “I just told you the whole plot for act one when you probably have zero interest.”

Edmund stared at her, certain she’d just said more words than all her previous words combined. “No, don’t apologize.” He took a breath. “You love what you do.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Edmund nodded.

“Sorry,” Y/N said again, ducking her head.

“No, don’t apologize, it’s a good thing. In fact, I envy you.”

Y/N tilted her head, studying Edmund in a way that made him feel exposed. “Does the king of Narnia feel wasted in the life he’s in?”

Edmund blinked, unsure how to answer such a question. “He feels wasted at big parties where he’s expected to be charming,” Edmund mumbled. 

Y/N’s chuckle made Edmund smile. “Well, hopefully, you won’t feel that way at the opera tomorrow,” she said, picking up her fork once again. 

Lucy, sitting across from Y/N, looked up. “Oh, no, Ed’s not–” Lucy started to say, but Edmund kicked her under the table.

“I’m sure I won’t,” Edmund said with a smile.

Lucy looked confused. “But you said–” 

Edmund stomped square on her toes, and Lucy let out a little yelp. “I will be at the opera,” Edmund said slowly, hitting every syllable as he turned back to Y/N. 

He’d only been trying to make sure Lucy got the point, but Y/N’s face broke into the biggest smile he’d seen from her all evening. “Yeah? You’ll be there?”

Edmund smiled back. “Yeah, I will. With flowers.”

Perfection

White Moves First, Part 2 ~ Edmund Pevensie

I’ve had this part written for a while but needed to work up the motivation to post it, so here it is. Here’s the part where jealous Edmund comes in. I hope you like it @emotionallyattachedteen​! 

Summary: Despite the distance between their two lands, Y/N, princess of Archenland, is close friends with King Edmund the Just. But when push comes to shove, will friendship turn to more?

Warnings: none

Word count: 3.4k

White Moves First masterlist

With the care Rona applied the rouge to my cheeks, one would’ve thought the whole evening revolved around the perfect pink tint of my cheeks. Prince Rabadash wouldn’t magically love Archenland because of the ministrations of my lady’s maid. 

Honestly, I wasn’t sure there was anything that could divert him from the path of war. 

Rona finally abandoned the pot of the dark pink powder, her fingers fluttering to my hair. 

I opened my jewelry drawer, my hands hovering over the various rings, brooches, necklaces, and hair pieces. Selecting a dainty silver bracelet, I slid it onto my wrist, secretly hoping Prince Rabadash hated silver. 

A knock sounded against my door. “Are you decent?” my father’s voice called from the other side.

“Let him in,” I murmured to Rona, who scurried off to do just that. Instead of greeting my father, I continued where she’d left off, placing little clips to hold my hair in place. The ball would start soon, and it would not do for the princess of Archenland to be late. 

“Y/N?” My father appeared behind me in my mirror. 

“Yes?” I said, without pausing. 

My father didn’t reply, and that was when, in the mirror, I spotted the box he held tightly to his chest. I swiveled to face him, noticing for the first time how nervous he looked. “What’s going on?”

He took a deep breath. “You are the one female member of our family.”

I raised my eyebrows. Had he just noticed this? “Yes…I am.”

Never had my father seemed so uncomfortable in all my life. “The prince—Prince Rabadash—you know, the prince coming tonight?”

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