La Regina les Coeurs {Queen of Hearts}

If one were walking on a day such as this, then one would surely be startled by the noisy and startling exertions that were shaking the Bleuyn Manor. Perhaps one would even feel anxious and apprehensive, but not quite know why. One thing for sure, however, is that one would be too distracted to take heed of the young lady that is lying across the moist grass. Therefore, it would be inevitable to do anything but stumble upon the young lady, who would undoubtedly give one a quick lash of the tongue.
Arabella Bleuyn, the young lady who is spread across the grass, was determined to do anything but go into the house. Now that her loving elder sisters and brother had arrived home, her new mission in life was to avoid them as long as she could, practically on this fine day. Surely there could be no better place to hide then in the confines of the winding garden, of which her sisters rarely travelled for fear of dirtying their dresses. She simply rolled her eyes as she thought of this, and began tugging on a piece of grass.
For the source of this apprehension and ruckus in the manor was due to the same reason her siblings had come home a week earlier from court. Their mother is gravely ill, and so the dotting children rushed home to bend to her whim. Or, they scurried home on account of fear of their father who had written to them demanding they retire from court for their mother's sake, whichever story one would prefer.
Arabella, having just a fortnight until her seventeenth birthday, had not come to court. Truth be told, the youngest Bleuyn preferred to remain with her loving mother and read, rather than live the rushed life at court, even if that meant having to endure her father even longer. She had experienced court life when she was a little girl, and so most of those memories had faded. She did have one memory of an incident with a certain boy who remained her brother's closest friend that she would prefer not to dwell upon.
It was not, however, her siblings arrival that made her flee from the house. In fact, she adored her brother. She did love her sister's, but she liked to talk of more than just court life. No, she was hiding because the court she so desperately avoided was coming to her own house, along with the boy that will never be named in her precence. For her mother had been lady in waiting to the current Queen Alexandra until she married Arabella's father. Her mother was the Queen's closest friend, which probably explained the sudden marriage proposal from her ever ambitious father. Because of their close friendship, as soon as the Queen heard of their mother's weakening condition, she immediately set plans to come to the Manor, along with the entire court, it would seem. Her father, absolutely thrilled that his wife's friendship had happy affects, wrote to her siblings demanding they come to make the house perfect.
Today was the fated day which their Majesties would arrive, and Arabella felt absolutely bitter. She could not conceive of how bringing the entire court could do anything but make their mother more ill. As she irately dwelled upon these thoughts, she was much too angry to hear a certain boy she had hoped to forget quietly steal upon her presence.
The young man was walking, eager to get away from the ever scrutinizing eyes of his father. He was flustered from the never ceasing chastisement in the carriage, reminding him that he is not fit to be king, as if he was unaware of the fact. He was so focused on his anger that he was startled upon seeing the maiden stretched over the grass. The only thing that distracted him from his cross mood was puzzlement. Why was she out here, instead of greeting his family, as every other person within a ten mile radius was? He surveyed her, and found the answer to his questions immediately. He would recognize those raven curls anywhere, although they have grown since the last time he saw her. He gently rolled his eyes, some people rarely change.
"I see some people never stop thinking themselves above even royalty, Lady Arabella. Why are you not greeting them?"
Arabella, startled, quickly jumped upon her feet to reprimand the intruder of her privacy. Unfortunately, her anger only doubled upon seeing the identity of the spy. Her cheeks flustered, and the young prince continued to study her. He was wrong, it would appear. Some people change very much. She still possessed those electric blue eyes, but she had changed since their last meeting.
The evaluated young woman, already irked, was less than happy to see the young prince, and she could safely say she did not miss his arrogance. His pride needed to be dropped down a little, as was her job when she was young.
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but I fear we are not properly introduced, and it would be very improper for us to continue any longer without proper acquaintance. Besides, might I not ask you the same question?" Her smirk quickly matched his world famous one, and hers all but wiped his off of his face. So, she did not recognize him, when he had her? Him, who is the most celebrated face in the world? As she could the last day they met, she wounded his vanity.
"But thank you, kind sir, for I was unaware that their majesties had indeed arrived, so if you may excuse me." With a quick bow that hid her quick giggle, she swept passed the prince.
However, as one may know, what we plan and what happens are two very different things. The young prince grabbed her arm and turned her around, making her high escape plan fail.
"If I may, Lad-" the prince had begun, but his plan also failed, for her brother, Nicholas, walked in to see the prince's hand clasped upon his sister's arm. Seeing as whenever their presence was mentioned in front of the other, they would either leave the room or change the subject, he was confused to say the least.
"Majesty, Bella, the King and Queen request your presence." He stated as Bella ripped her arm out of the prince's grasp.
"Sorry, Nick, but Prince Demetri and I were playing a game." Demetri regarded Bella, absolutely stunned. Of course she knew who he was. He should have known.
"Playing a game?" Nick asked, absolutely incredulous. "Who won?" He asked, still looking skeptical.
"I did, of course. Come on, Nicholas, Prince Demetri, your parents are expecting us." Arabella stated innocently as she passed her brother and walked gracefully to the manor.
"A game, Demetri?" Nicholas asked, suppressing a laugh as the prince grunted, shrugged, and continued after Arabella to the Manor.