Emma had assumed that by three and twenty years of age she could anticipate every one of her parents’ actions. Proclamations, meal menus, guest lists - she was certain she knew it all. But there was one thing that she hadn’t foreseen causing quite the stir in the Perrault Castle.
Shockingly, the article regarding the previous night was not the one that had caused her parents to call her into the library that evening. Peeking over the desk, she’d been able to ascertain that it was the earlier one that mentioned her secluded dance, the latest edition tucked beneath it.
It did take long for Emma to realize that she was in trouble. The consequences of her actions, however, came as a total surprise.
According to King Adam, she had spent far too much time with Baxter Pan-Darling and she needed to do a better job of seeking out a husband. It was, after all, the only way to secure the crown and the longevity of the Perrault rule of the kingdom. Dancing freely with multiple gentlemen, as it would turn out, had been a good thing, but she had not diversified her interest enough to be entirely pleasing.
Truthfully, much of the previous night was a blur to the princess, a dance or two with various gentlemen sticking out to the girl as much as how she was almost certain she’d attempted to rest her head on Baxter’s shoulder at one point or another.
So she understood. Truly. It looked bad to play favorites and she and Baxter were not courting. He had not brought flowers, declared any sort of intentions, or even indicated to her in the slightest that he had any interest in marriage in general. Being explicitly ordered to stay away from one of her dearest friends, however, was extreme. She was not even allowed to pen him a note warning him to give her parents (and herself) a wide berth.
Was anyone truly surprised when he then appeared at her window just hours later? A frown settling onto her face the minute she heard a knock at her window, Emma did not even wait until Baxter was in her room before she began to pace about.
“If we are in a fight I am also unaware, but you’re correct. We’re not meant to be seeing each other at present. My fault, I’m sure, but as it’s my first official season I’m apparently meant to be entirely focused on finding a husband. Chattermore is not helping in that quest. She has… misread the situation and called out you and I multiple times. My parents insist on putting an end to that speculation.”
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“Lord! A husband?!” Baxter nearly shrieked out the words, one of them in particular getting so caught in his throat he nearly gagged.
Emma finding a husband was...well...maybe he knew deep down that it was always meant to happen but the very thought of it troubled him for reasons he could not explain. She was one of his dearest friends, his closest companion. They had spend their entire lives chasing each other, learning to dance, and bathing in each other’s smiles. And now he was simply supposed to walk away from it all?
“They think you need one to rule don’t they? That’s bloody ridiculous. And we’re not allowed to see each other while you’re on your search? Or have they made it clear our separation is going to be a permanent one? You find yourself a husband and your parents hope our friendship just disappears? If I stay unmarried what will the people think? The princess, betrothed, continues her frivolities with the title less Neverland never-do-well.”
Baxter wasn’t sure how to go about processing his emotions at the current moment. He was upset, angry, hurting in ways that were difficult to explain. The very thought of losing Emma was enough to make his throat go dry.
“Your parents truly put stock into what that unknown gossip has to say?”
