[center][color=royalblue][h3][i]Valentine/Edelessa of Luxième[/i][/h3][/color][/center]

Marriage.  Betrothal.  The words made Valentine shrink farther into herself.  She wasn't even old enough to be married; her wedding wouldn't be for a couple years yet, and her coronation a year or so after that.  She felt a flash of anger at having this engagement sprung on her, but she was too anxious to keep hold of the sharp clarity it brought.  She didn't feel like a princess.  She felt like an impostor, and a poor one at that.

Prince Akio talked a little about his home country, mentioning how the crown's inheritance was decided.  It was an unusual method, though she wasn't sure if it would be better than primogeniture.  Then again, anything would be better if it put her out of the running for the Luxemi throne.

Eventually he asked her about the party itself, a direct question that demanded some sort of response.  Valentine tried to find her voice and failed.  Instead of a verbal response she summoned a wan smile, though it came close to a grimace.  An uncomfortable, sickly feeling curled in her gut.  It probably was a nice party, but she was hardly in a state to appreciate it.  She already wanted to leave.