Nickolas arrived just as the sun started to set below the horizon. He spotted Sir Brian, with his gleaming attire shining brightly from the last few rays the sun had to offer. Nickolas gave him a hug, and said, �And where is my Celeste?�

Brian was a little taken back by his use of �my Celeste� but responded, �She is over there behind the wall. We�ve been waiting a long while. Where have you been?�

�I�m sorry. Being late has always been my worst trait. It is hereditary,� Nickolas shrugged. He walked behind the wall and saw her. His jaw almost dropped off.

She had to be the most beautiful sight he�d ever seen. She was wearing a stunning white gown that had lace trimming. It showed off her slim waist, and billowed down into a full-length gown. You could barely see the matching white shoes on her feet. And her hair was swept up entangled with remarkable beads and lace.

She looked up and saw the silly look on his face. She grinned and gave him a warm hug. �I am so overjoyed that this is happening. And I am glad that it is you that will become my husband. That is, if it all works out. You have really outdone yourself, Prince.�

Nickolas smiled and kissed her forehead. �You look marvelous, Celeste. More beautiful than an angel from the Heavens.�

She smiled and kissed his cheek. We should be going inside now. Do you remember what we said yesterday?�

�It is been all I have been thinking about until five minutes ago,� Nickolas replied. �Now I can�t seem to stop thinking about you.�

Celeste blushed and whispered, �Save it for later, now is the time to be serious. After this is all over, you can continue rotting my teeth with such sweet talk.�

Nickolas grinned and took her hand. They rejoined Brian, who led them to the castle. It was wise that Brian go first, then Celeste and finally Nickolas a little bit afterwards, so not to be suspicious. All three hid at the entrance, behind the large curtains.

Brian looked back at his two accomplices and said his last goodbye. He kissed Celeste�s cheek and then disappeared into the crowds.

Celeste was about to go next, but Nickolas stopped her. �Celeste, before you go.�

�What is it?� she asked, anxiously looking out at the party. From a distance, you could see King Dorough and his royal family at their thrones, chatting with friends.

�If this doesn�t work out, promise me we will still see each other,� Nickolas told her.

Celeste whipped her head to face him. �Why do you say that? I have confidence in you, Love. I know you can do it.�

�But if I don�t��

�If you don�t, I will still visit you at the lake. As always.�

Nickolas smiled and kissed her on the lips. Very politely at first, but Celeste kissed him back, surprising them both. She kissed him again, and then set off, just like Brian did. Nickolas� heart kept pounding and he was afraid it�d jump right out of his chest. It was more fantastic than he�d thought it would be.

When his pulse returned to its normal pace, Nickolas straightened himself out and then set out. The hall was full of familiar faces. Ones that greeted him with a pleasant hello, others that bowed down. He made sure to say hello, and make his way to where his family sat.

�It is about time you got here, Son,� King Carter said. He clamped a mighty hand on Nickolas� shoulder and laughed. �Isn�t this a grand turnout?�

�Indeed,� he replied, finally spotting Celeste in the crowds talking to Alexander. She caught his eye and winked.

�Do you have any plans in pursuing any dames tonight, Sir?� the king asked.

�I hope to. I have one in mind already.�

His father laughed. �Now I know for sure you are my son. Go out and have a good time. Do not forget to thank the king for lending his home out for the night.�

�Yes sir,� Nickolas replied. He nodded and left to walk through the crowds. He kept an eye out for Celeste and Brian. He noticed how Celeste kept herself busy, dancing with men across the floor.

After the present song ended, Nickolas cut in and took Celeste to dance.

�How is everything going?� Nickolas asked her.

�Perfectly fine. Brian, on the other hand, is looking like he is about to give birth to a horse. The poor man needs a drink,� Celeste commented.

Nickolas laughed and shook his head. �And he is the leader of the Peters Brigade? It is an awful shame that a man that important is so��

�High-strung?� Celeste offered.

�You took the words right out of my mouth,� Nickolas said. She did it often. They were always on the same page, sometimes they could almost finish each other�s sentences all day. It was odd.

�So, when are we to take action?� Celeste asked, her voice becoming more secretive and soft.

�Soon. We need to get near your father, I suppose. You did speak to him, correct?�

�Yes, I did. He is really a gullible fool, I am afraid to admit,� she said with a grin.

�Lucky for us, my dear,� Nickolas stated. He guided her closer to the Peters thrones, and began telling her jokes. On cue, she laughed and grinned. Nickolas was sure King Peters was watching.

�How he taking it?� Celeste asked.

�He�s looking at us. I don�t think he�s mad or upset. He looks rather�curious, actually.�

�Hah, the poor beast is confused. Oh well, keep it up, Love.�

Nickolas leaned his forehead upon hers and listened to the orchestra as it played the tune. He put his arms tighter around her waist, and pulled her a little closer to him. He could feel her heartbeat, and almost laughed as it was almost in sync with the orchestra�s tempo.

�How do you feel, Celeste?�

�Enchanted. But scared, too,� Celeste admitted. �This is all so much to intake.�

�Of course.�

�And how do you feel?�

�To be in your arms tonight of nights? I feel like the luckiest man alive,� Nickolas responded.

�Didn�t I tell you to save that for later?� she joked. She put her hand up to his cheek, and grinned.

�But it is true, Love. I feel like we do have this special connection, do not tell me you don�t feel it, too?�

�I do,� she agreed.

�Good. Then your love is true?�

�Hasn�t it always been so?� she asked.

�That first day we had met at the lake could certainly prove otherwise,� Nickolas told her.

Celeste grinned, remembering back to that day. She had been so mad at him. She had thought him a brat. Now she was dancing with him, attempting to be wedded. �That doesn�t count.�

�Of course it does. But that is okay, because I didn�t like you either, Love,� he replied, teasing her.

�At least the feeling was mutual.�

Nickolas smiled, and kissed her cheek. He slid the backside of his hand against her cheek, and felt her shiver.

�I will never get through Father�s long speeches if you keep all this up,� Celeste said. �You know, I swear that man never ceases to amaze me. Each ball, his words put me more and more to sleep.�

Nickolas laughed. �My father is like that, too. Always has something to say. And he�ll say it, whether we want to hear it or not. His punishments are the worst. He gives me those long speeches about how one day I�ll be king and that one day I�ll be thankful for everything I taught him. Yeah right.�

Celeste grinned, then asked, �Do you want to be king?�

�I�m obligated to.�

�That doesn�t answer my question. I asked do you want to, not do you have to.�

Nickolas ducked closer before he answered. �Yes, but don�t tell my father that. I like to make him throw fits over my insolence. But honestly, I believe I can take over what my father will leave off. He has told me every aspect of his position, I know it like the back of my hand.�

Celeste took his hand and pressed it against her lips. She smiled a little and let his hand go back to its original position on her waist. �Do you think Father has gotten drift of what we want yet?�

�I hope so,� Nickolas replied.

Someone announced the beginning of the great feast that awaited them in the banquet hall. So as soon as the song ended, Celeste led Nickolas down through the crowds to the banquet table. Celeste sat down in a seat, and told Nickolas to sit down next to her. They waited for the arrival and the toast from King Dorough before everyone began to eat.

Then, in the middle of the feast, different important statuses made announcements, speeches and said whatever the hell came to their minds. King Carter made a speech, and everyone had a few laughs.

Afterwards, there was a lull in conversation, and everyone sat there, picking at their food, waiting for some excitement. Nickolas found this the prime moment to take action. He pushed back his chair and stood up.

�In honor of this joyous occasion, I have an announcement to make,� Nickolas said, grandly. Everyone turned their attention over to him. Nickolas cleared his throat and continued, �With his Majesty�s blessings, I would like to marry Princess Celeste.�

In response to him, a few ladies gasped, while men shook their heads. Nickolas looked at his father, who was eyeing him with curiosity. He turned his head and looked at King Peters. He looked furious.

�What is the meaning of this cruel prank?� he demanded.

�It is no prank, Sire,� Nickolas responded, �it is truly love.� Nickolas glanced at Sir Brian, who was trying to be oblivious to the whole scene. It was so uncomfortable for him, Nickolas knew.

�It is insanity, that is what it is!�

�What do you think, Father?�

King Carter sighed and took in all the faces of the people around him. He took his time to respond. �I think that if you both feel it is the right thing, then I cannot stop it.�

Celeste smiled. King Carter was wiser than she thought he was. It was too perfect.

King Dorough had been silent throughout this whole ordeal, carefully observing the conflict. He finally hushed Celeste�s father, who was ranting madly about Celeste and Nickolas and how outrageous this all way and could someone wake him up from this nightmare? King Dorough rolled his eyes and said, �If you don�t mind my opinion, I think this would be history. Think of it: two kingdoms united. You could become an ultimate empire. You and your allies would be unstoppable. It would be perfect. And besides, they are young and restless. I have seen Celeste�s infamous tricks, and have been the butt of them, too. Perhaps young Nickolas here could be that missing piece of sanity she needs.� King Dorough winked lovingly at Celeste. �They have my love.�

Celeste grinned at King Dorough thankfully. He was another good friend of her father�s. If there was anyone who could convince him, it was King Dorough. He had a gift of words.

So the King Peters finally agreed. He also knew that if he had rejected it, people would look upon him as a heartless man, whose attitude came between two lovers. It wasn�t the ideal impression he wanted to give. He put on a smile for the crowd, but when he got the chance to take Celeste aside he wasn�t pleased.

That was fine with Celeste. She had killed a few birds with one stone: She wasn�t going to live with a pig, or give her father the satisfaction of marrying him, and she had Nickolas. Everything was wonderful.

The party marched on, with the new couple dancing in the midst of the chaos. They received well wishes from a few people, including Alexander, who had a new lady at his side. Surprisingly enough, he had been courting her for more than a month. Either he was finally falling into love, or she was a very stubborn woman. Most likely the latter one.