This is loosely based off of one of my favorite songs, My Oh My, by Aqua... I’m pretty sure.

Princess Catherine dreams of a lovely, daring Prince to fall in love with but her father, King William, wants her to marry on of the loyal dukes of the kingdom.

New to the court is a dashing young gentleman who Catherine falls head over heals for but in reality he’s a kingdom thief.

Now, The Duke of Pael seek’s Quin’s hand in marriage and she is forced into this but really want’s to go with the thief. Will she?

Chapter One

Wearing a pale pink renaissance dress with the lavender lace attached to her wrists. She had on a silver tiara with amethyst gems on it was atop her deep red hair. Her light hazle eyes scanned herself in the giant mirror leaning agains the wall in her tower bedroom.

“I look ok?” she said to her two best friends and maid servants, Ciel and Joli.

“You look lovely!” Joli said pleasantly.

“I agree! As beautiful as the sky!” Ciel said calmly and pointing out the window.

“Mmm. You don’t have to lie to me. Just tell me straight forward. Do I look nice or just ok?” Catherine said, turning around.

Ciel and Joli looked at each other a little uncomfortably and then Joli perked up, “You do look a little... big.” she said quietly.

“A little like that.” Ciel said as quietly as she could.

Catherine turned around and stared at the mirror and stared at herself a little disappointed.

“Ok. I’ll wear the gold one.”

“But it’s the Spring Supper with the King, shouldn’t you wear the pink one?” Joli asked.

“I don’t care. Daddy shouldn’t. Gold is a Spring colour too, isn’t it?” Catherine asked and held up her arms so that they could get the dress off of her.

..

Catherine stepped into the dinging room a half hour later wearing the gold dress with the gold tiara and diamond studs.

“Catherine? I thought it was the pink dress?” King William said, getting up from his chair and all the servants, squires, jokers, and guests stood up as soon as they saw their king stand.

Catherine walked in the room and took her seat a few seats down from her father’s thrown like chair.

William sat and everybody else in the room sat as well, the tension lessened.

What was being served was lamb with mashed potatoes and gravy and wine and grapes.

“Catherine, this is the Duke of Pael. Duke Sir Adam, Princess Catherine Theian.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Princess!” the Duke said, kissing her hand. He was in the seat next to her.

“And I you, Duke of Pael.” Catherine said in her polite light almost monotone greeting.

“Please, call me Sir Adam!” he said smoothly.

Catherine blinked slowly, smiling slightly and politely but she’d rather sneer.

As the supper moved on, Catherine found herself getting board and more board. The Duke kept stealing glances at Catherine, who looked perfectly fine but inside was completely board out of her mind.

“Princess, you look lovely this evening!” he said to her in a low voice so as not to disturb the King who was speaking to the Countess of Reil.

“Thank you for the complement.” Catherine said, hoping to get away from him. His breath smelled of herring mixed with lamb. Where’d he get herring from? She wondered.

“After this supper, would you care to join me out in the Rose Garden?” he asked hopefully.

Catherine thought of a way out of this without being rude. “Without a chaperone?” she asked lightly, knowing what he would say.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t make it. I’m just a little tired, that’s all. I had a lot to do today. Maybe some other time.” she said to be nice but hoped that day would never come.

“Alright, I shall take that offer!” the Duke said, a bit disappointed.

Catherine nearly rolled her eyes but caught herself and sat up straighter for she had slumped down in her chair.

About a half hour later, the King stood up and everybody else, tension rising, stood as well.

“Thank you for the wonderful supper!” he said joyfully and boomingly so it filled the very large room with it’s cathedral high ceilings. “It was very good!” he said laughing slightly, his big belly shaking slightly.

Everybody either bowed or curtsied and left the room all except Catherine. When everybody filtered out the King said, “Yes, Catherine? What is it?” he said as she walked over.

“You know my 16th birthday is coming up?” she asked, her hands folded as she stood there, the sweat was running onto her dress.

“Yes, my dear, of course I have not forgotten.”

“Well, the law states that I must be married or engaged by then and it’s next week?”

“I have found several suitors.”

“Oh? Who are they?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow during the ball. They will all be there. Ok?”

“Alright, good night, daddy.” she said and left the room. Her flaming red hair reaching her waist as it blew in her wake. The tiara slipping slightly.

“Ah, I hope she likes these ones.” he said and went to the Royal Bedchamber to sleep.

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A bit shorter than I usually write, but still. I hope you like it, it will get better with the romance and the humor and the drama in later chapters. REVIEW!

6-13-07 (first day of Summer Break)