"…Damen," she stated as he bowed ever so slightly to acknowledge his introduction. Sana's face stiffened. Then, that mean the blunt and ever smiling man aside her was her to-be-fiancé.

"Sayden, dear, will you come with me for a minute?" the Queen asked the older prince. "Damen, entertain the princess!" She nudged him and whispered so that Sana would not hear.

Damen stepped forward and began, "How do you like my brother, princess?"

"It seems the trait of being blunt runs in your family." she responded to his overly forward question.

"Forgive me…It was curiosity asking. My brother is very unconventional, even for a Galen. When I saw your expression, I was sure he had said something shocking to you…He doesn't quite understand diplomacy." Damen laughed cynically.

Sana looked suspiciously at the dark-eyed prince. He should be endorsing his brother and the marriage, but he did not seem to enjoy either. If anything, he hated them. She spoke evenly, "I gather you dislike your brother."

Damen chuckled mirthlessly. "What gave you that impression? Forgive me, my manner of talking at home seems to have followed me. It's been a tiring journey."

She eyed him with contempt. Neither brother was sociable. The elder was far too blunt and direct with his emotions for her taste, and the younger far too fake and concealing with his emotions. She could not pinpoint the reasoning behind his anger, though she could feel fury radiate off his person.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Castel, unfortunately, is a long way from Galen. Your brother does not seem as affected by the journey as you are, my prince." She said baiting him. He would not enjoy being compared to his brother.

With his teeth clenched and eyes void of any humor, he bit out, "Yes, my brother, enjoys travel and adventure. I suspect he told you off the company we met on our travel, and how he dealt with it." The sadistic gleam returned to his eyes. "Blood, death, and misery. They seem to be three things that follow my brother's path. If he likes something, he will treat it in a manner of heavenly adoration, but if dislikes it, he will destroy it, without a second thought. He's a wonderful man to please, but a frightening man to disappoint. He does exactly what his emotions call for. I don't know whether that is lack of control or simplicity—"

"He's not fit to be a king or my husband. Right?" Sana asked interrupting Damen's description.

Damen smiled truly for the first time in the evening. She was different than he thought she would be. "You're quick. You were supposed to be—"

"So disgusted I would call of the marriage and deprive your brother of my power as the Princess of Castel. No?"

"I'm not quite sure how much I like your ability to read my mind." He said with a cocky smile, showing he was more amused than upset.

"And I'm not quite sure how much I like your desire to break this marriage apart." She returned equally. Perhaps, this boy could be an asset to her cause. "You want to be king?"

"And you don't want to be queen?"

Sana smirked. She truly didn't like his ability to read her. "What gave it away?"

"Your expression is not much better than mine, other than a few fake laughs and smiles here and there."

"Yet you attempted to dissuade me from desiring your brother with that little speech?" She responded.

He grinned, "Never wrong, to play it safe. I could not be sure whether your expression was because you did not want to get married or you were not ready to meet us, but you don't seem to be the nervous type."

"I'm not." Sana agreed. Damen's expression lightened. He had the same boyish tone as his brother with a smile and relaxed eyes. He wasn't as frightening as she had first suspected. In fact, he looked kind.

"What's your plan, princess?"

"Why do you think I have one?" Sana snapped.

Damen replied thoughtfully, "You don't strike me as the unprepared sort."

Sana's patience was wearing thin. "You seem to have made many judgments about me."

"The first impression is the best. Are you saying you don't have a plan?"

"If I do?" Sana gave up. He wasn't going to let this go. If she didn't have a plan, he would make one, for sure. She was beginning to think this marriage bothered him more than it bothered her, even though she was the main character.

He grinned hearing the answer he wanted. "How may I be of assistance?"