Chapter 1: Decisions
Aliana was walking to her father's council chambers after being summoned by a footman. Her two loyal knights followed behind her. The hallways of her castle were made of stone and it was rather drafty. She was wearing a thick wool dress and a knit wrap over her shoulders.
She sighed and knew what the King wanted from her. A marriage proposal was the last thing on the future queen's mind.
When Aliana reached the sturdy double doors, her father's attendant announced her presence, "Your Majesty, Princess Aliana has arrived."
Her father, King Ferdinand, was busy writing something at his massive wooden desk that commanded the center of the room along with a table running perpendicular to it to create and a "T" shape table for his council members.
"You're late, Aliana," King Ferdinand grumbled.
He set down his quill and she sat at one of the council member's seats and rolled her eyes at her father.
"I don't want to marry any of the suitors you've picked out for me," she seethed. "I am to be Queen of Astaria and the man I marry the King Consort, I should have more of a say in my future if I can be trusted to rule the kingdom."
King Ferdinand smiled, "You've always had your mother's fire, I shall grant you this choice you so wish to have. You shall pick one man from the seven principalities of royal blood and bring them here to court you."
Aliana's eyes widened. She didn't think that her father would give in so easily to her demands.
"I shall travel to the seven principalities and bring men back here who I think I could make my husband?"
"Is seven not enough Aliana?" The king's eyes danced, clearly amused.
The princess's face turned bright red. "Yes it is, thank you, King Father."
King Ferdinand waved his hand in dismissal and Aliana left the council chambers in a happier state than she came in.
The king wanted her to go right away and so her maids were in a flurry packing her chests and trunks full to the brim.
King Ferdinand's attendant came hurrying into the princess's chaotic chambers out of breath. He was a short and skinny little man who was constantly stressed.
Once he gathered his breath he said, "Your Highness, your father has told each of the seven principalities to prepare 14 men of noble birth for you to pick one from, you will have one week in each principality, and then at the end, you shall have the seven chosen men journey with you to your private residence and you shall stay there until you pick a husband."
Aliana stared at him for a moment, "That's over 100 men, is that really necessary?"
"Please take it up with your father, Your Highness," the attendant squeaked. "He wants you to make sure you are satisfied with your pool to select from."
Aliana nodded and waved off the nervous man. He gave a quick bow and scurried out of the room. She simply shook her head at the silly little man and started to look for a maid. Aliana tapped the nearest maid that looked not too busy.
"Edith, can you please get my lady's maids, Louie and Pryja?" Aliana asked politely.
Edith nodded and gave a small bow before getting the women.
Aliana looked around at the organized chaos of the army of maids packing up her belongings and wondered what was going to happen on this husband picking trip. She was nervous about meeting so many men so quickly but she knows her father wants her married as quickly as possible.
Pryja and Louie were Aliana's closest friends and confidants as her lady's maids and she knew she couldn't make this journey without them by her side.
Louie came into the chambers first and gave a head nod to Aliana. "Your Highness, I hear we get to travel with you on your quest to find a husband as your King Consort."
Aliana cracked a wide smile at her friend's words. "I need some help from the best two judges of character I know."
Louie had long brown hair and deep blue eyes, and she was almost a head taller than Aliana. She was often teased as being Alianna's bodyguard due to her size but she was a gentle soul.
Pryja came in a few moments later and bowed to the princess. Her short blonde hair stood out against her tanned skin and green eyes. She looked more like a fairy than a human. "I am sorry I'm late, Princess."
"No worries, Pryja," Aliana told the girl.
Pryja was much more poised than Louie was, she had more experience as a lady in waiting than Louie did. Aliana was happy she had the two of them with her to help navigate the next several weeks.
"We leave first thing in the morning for Eddis which will take about a week to get to from the capital," Aliana said. "I can not believe my father is moving so quickly."
"You know your father wants you married by the time you are twenty-one and you have less than two years now," Pryja reminded her.
Aliana scoffed, "I truly hope these 98 young men I shall be presented are worth all this trouble."
Her friends laughed and Aliana couldn't help but join in.
They agreed on a time to meet in front of the princess' chambers and part ways until the morning.
When Aliana was getting ready for bed with the help of Edith she couldn't help but wonder if she would know any of the men presented to her. She had several young royal boys as companions when she was a girl, and many of them lived in the principalities.
She got into bed and found it was hard to sleep from the excitement of the journey ahead.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone