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Annalise stood when the Princes entered the hall and greeted them with her father. She would be lying if she said that each one didn’t peak her interest. Each and everyone of them was so incredibly different. She had known this would be the case however actually getting to see it was something else. She greeted each with a smile and a bow of her head, but said nothing. As soon as her father began speaking she took her seat, observing the individuals as he spoke. Trying to read each Prince’s reaction to the situation. Both Sulhana and Loreena addressed the Princes directly. However Annalise had decided to observe before taking action. She knew all too well that as the eldest at least a few of them, if not all, would attempt to claim her as there's. She has no intention of taking the situation lightly. Whoever she married would inherit both their own kingdom, as well as hers when both of their parents could no longer rule. 

The eldest daughter had gracefully slipped out of the main hall when Loreena was giving them their gifts. In the hopes that they were distracted by her sister.  The suitors who had joined them seemed to simply be adjusting to what was happening. They weren’t showing their hands yet, and she wanted some time to think before she joined Sulhana in the Court of Flowers. After all she had a whole country to think about. 

Annalise soon found herself in the castle’s Library. She would often come here to distract herself. Reading some of the old tales that were here helped calm her down. Though today her thoughts were too strong. No amount of books could distract her from her thoughts today. There was too much riding on the decisions to come. The man she married would lay claim to not only his own thrown, in the case of all the men besides Gil, but also Astalia’s thrown. 

As she looked at the many books on the shelves her thoughts wandered to the Princes who had arrived. Logically, if she wanted to ensure that Astalia remained a military power within the continent her choices for suitors were the Prodzy Prince and the Jorda Prince. Both had strong military forces. However there was an unknown with the Elven Prince Alvaro, and the Orcish Prince Gil. Of the two however Prince Gil held no claim to his people’s throne. From what Sulhana had managed to get the young prince had little to no desire to rule. As the third son he had the most freedom among his siblings and seemed content to maintain that status. The likely-hood that he would have any interest in herself was slim to none. Then again, a man who had no interest in ruling would be far more likely to let her take the responsibility of doing so.

Annalise decided that clearly she was not going to get any peace of mind from reading and headed, finally, toward the Court of Flowers. A handmaiden scurried back into the castle from the courtyard and stopped only briefly to curtsy in her direction, then continued on her path. She was about to enter the courtyard when the sound of music reached her ears. She paused outside the door and listened. A tear fell down her cheek as she listened to her sister’s song. They were all so young when they lost their mother, and their father hadn’t been the same since. Annalise only had vague memories of her mother, her siblings were likely the same. Jin had barely entered the world when she had passed. How ironic that the daughter that looked the most like her mother entered the world shortly before their mother left. 

It took her a moment, but she composed herself and walked into the Court of Flowers. The veil that covered her slightly discolored right eye was still secured to her hair, she had honestly meant to remove it but had forgotten it was there since she couldn’t see it. Her pale blue eyes hid the difference well from a distance, but up close it was obvious that one eye was much closer to a silver color, and this eye never focused on anything. The obvious sign that she had no sight in her right eye. She worried this would make her less appealing to the suitors and ruin the whole plan but now was not the time. Her functional eye landed on her sister, as she walked to her. 

“Why must my younger siblings show me up so extravagantly?” She teased embracing Sulhana in a short hug, releasing after only a few seconds. “Do you think any of the men will come?” She questioned though it wasn’t something she was expecting much of an answer to, she was more asking herself out loud. She wasn’t even sure her other two sisters would join them. Jin especially, this was not her type of thing. She hoped that everyone would turn up. A chance to converse without the prying eyes of their father and the nosey members of the court would be fantastic. They would all get a sense for each other before they had to appear in public, at a ball no less.


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After it seemed the ruling family was finished addressing them and they were officially allowed to wander the grounds Gil left the Hall without a word to any of the others there. Aldar and Sioban followed behind him as he left, though he quickly dismissed both men to do as they pleased. Aldar excused himself to go make sure the group’s sleeping arrangements were prepared but Sioban continued to follow the Prince around. 

Sioban was young for as skilled of a Shaman as he was. Though he looked to be the same age as Gil, Sioban was in his early thirties. He was by no means a master at his craft but he was far more skilled than others at his age. Though there was a decent age gap between the two, Gil and Sioban were pretty good friends so the Prince had no qualms with the Shaman following him around. 

“Do you plan to attend that gathering the Princess was speaking about?” The Shaman’s amber eyes landed on the Prince, he seemed he had more to say but kept it to himself. Gil took a moment to think. He was told he could decline but it seemed rude to do so. Not to mention what he would say about his character if he refused to interact with any of the Princesses outside of official functions. Though he didn’t particularly care for marrying any of them, it was for the benefit of his country and his people. 

“It would be rude to not attend. Plus the opportunity to get to know them before all eyes are on us would be ideal. So yes, I do intend to attend.” He glanced over to the man beside him who smiled lightly. “Which means you will have to go bother Aldar for a while. I don’t need a babysitter.” Gil’s blue eyes squinted at the half orc beside him, who was chuckling to himself. 

“I had no intention of following you to the Court of Flowers. I was going to take the time to prod at the minds of the court mages here, I have never met a mage so I figured it would be fun to compare notes.” Gil gave the Shaman a skeptical look. “Relax Gil when I say prod I mean talk not invade their personal thoughts. You know that takes a while to prepare anyway. Plus I am sure Mages would know how to defend against something like that. Anyway, I am leaving you now. Don’t embarrass us in front of the ladies. Good luck.” Sioban slapped the young Prince on the back before turning on a heel and walking back down the hall he had come from, leaving Gil to his thoughts as he wondered. 

It was a short walk from the time Sioban left him to when he made it to the Court of Flowers, after asking a servant for directions. He stopped beside the door, staring at it for a moment. He mentally prepared himself to use the Astalian native language, rather than Orcish. The advantage of having a collection of citizens from every country is there was always a tutor in the languages he needed, so he and his brothers were all and least conversationally fluent in most of the languages spoken on Sahas. When the invitation was sent out Gil’s practices went directly to Astalian and the languages spoken by the remaining countries free from the Empire. With a sigh Gil straightened and entered the Court of Flowers. A quick glance said he was the one of the first here, not even all the Princesses had made it. He should have had Sioban add the ribbon to this hair before coming here, maybe then he would have been the last. It was too late now, so in a heavily accented voice Gil greeted those there already. “Greetings.” He bowed his head a little in respect and then his blue eyes watched the reactions of the others.