Keys to the Kingdom (10 page)

Prince Ivan, like most men, was always hungry. But he was leery of the beautiful princess who now faced him with such a casual demeanor. He'd been warned to be ready for anything from the mischievous he hoped to take to wife. Could it really be this easy? Could Princess Luna really be giving up without a fight? It seemed to good to be true. And if there were food involved, well it seemed even better.

"Caution," a voice said to him, and he stepped back as he affected what he hoped was an aloof look.

"I'm not sure if I can allow that at the moment," he said. "You've not yet convinced me I can trust you."

"Trust me?" she asked. "To eat? How can I convince you that I can be trusted to eat?"

"No," he said. "Not trusted to eat... That's not what I meant."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "What then?"

"To behave," he said.

"To behave when?" she asked. "When I'm eating? Are you afraid I'm going to throw food at you?"

"Well, no. Of course not. I mean. Well, maybe... " Prince Ivan was stammering now as he tried to make sense of his own hesitancy. Just what was he afraid of?

"We aren't leaving the room," he finally said, his words coming at her in a rush. There. If her plan was to get out and escape then he'd thwarted it. But she remained completely calm.

Instead she shrugged.

"Who wants to? I'm used to having my meals brought to me, anyway."

Prince Ivan felt his hope take another small leap. The girl seemed calm and positively resigned to her situation. Could it be that he'd gotten the one reasonable princess? He smiled to himself, imagining how he could use this to his advantage by presenting his docile, agreeable mate to his brothers. They would be impressed, especially when he privately told them how difficult Luna had been, and how he had tamed her through sheer mastery of the situation.

Ivan turned so Princess Luna would not see his expression. As second to the youngest he was low in the princely pecking order. Producing a well-mannered princess as his brothers struggled with their little hellions would raise his standing within the family. The way he saw it, he had nothing to lose by indulging Luna, especially if it meant she would be so agreeable as to make him look good.

He turned back to Luna.

"Very well," he said. "If you are agreeable, then so I shall be. That is the way it is. I shall always be a gentle and understanding leader so long as you sweetly yield."

"And why shouldn't I?" she asked. "Fighting you would be senseless. You're bigger and stronger than I."

Prince Ivan puffed out his chest. "Yes I am."

"I could not fight you off should you decide to punish me again."

"No, you could not."

"Indeed," she continued. "My folly would only end in pain brought on my own person. It seems ridiculous to delay my inevitable acquiescence. Why not be about it now and get to know the man I am going to marry?"

Prince Ivan could no longer hide his delight. His handsome face shone now with his self-satisfied, victorious smile. He could not wait to impress his brothers.

But first, food.

"So what would you like, my dear?" he asked.

"Hmmm." Princess Luna tapped her lower lip, considering. "How about scones with fresh raspberries?" She clasped her hands together.

"And butter," she added. "Lots and lots of butter."

"Sounds wonderful," he said, and walked to the door. A servant was passing by and he motioned her over and gave instructions for the food the princess requested to be prepared and brought to the room.

Prince Ivan turned back to Princess Luna.

"Yes, I am quite pleased to find you coming around before you are forced into it," he said loftily. "It is always better to take the more reasonable route. I can only hope that your obedience will serve as an example and inspiration to your sisters, for they may not see the natural dominance in my brothers that you obviously see in me."

Luna looked at him, wide-eyed. "Oh, indeed," she said. "Masterfulness practically shines from you, my lord prince."

Prince Ivan tugged at his lapels and straightened up, taking advantage of his full height as he smiled smugly down at her.

"Growing up in a castle with four other princes, one's special talents often go unnoticed," he said, taking advantage of the moment to both impress and build a legend for his beautiful mate. "Personally I never doubted my ability to lead. Unfortunately, my birth order has put me at a disadvantage where my reputation among my brothers is concerned."

The princess walked over and gently took Prince Ivan's arm.

"Oh, I know just how it is," she said sympathetically. "Since I was quite small I've struggled to be taken as seriously as my sisters. Like you I am the fourth-born of five, and it has been my observation that the best way for elder siblings to maintain their supposed superiority is through minimizing the talents or achievements of the younger ones. I myself have wrestled with this. I am sensible and smart, yet my sisters have branded me incorrigible and mischievous. Do I enjoy a bit of mischief? Of course. But all I've ever wanted was to be taken seriously, as I am sure you have. 'Tis unfair, which is why I hope you and I - together - can serve as shining beacons for both the other princes and princesses."

An ally? This was even better than Prince Ivan could have imagined! He was suddenly tempted to kiss her from sheer happiness, but before he could there came a knock at the door.

"Your food," a servant called from the other side.

"Lovely," the princess said. "I cannot wait for you to get your first taste of our fine raspberries."

Prince Ivan looked regrettably towards the doorway, for he'd been far more interested in tasting Princess Luna's lips.

"Enter," he said, and the servant did as she was bid. She carried a tray with a silver dome on top, which she carried over and placed on the table. When she removed the tray cover, the room filled with the smell of fresh scones.

"Ooo, they remembered the butter!" the princess exclaimed. "Oh, how I do love fresh cream butter!"

She motioned to the chair by the table.

"Join me?" she asked the prince.

"Of course."

They settled into the chairs and began to enjoy the scones.

"What shall my role be once we are married?" the princess asked.

"Why the role of a good wife, of course," Prince Ivan said, feeling more bolstered and sure of himself with each passing moment. "You shall join me in court, sit prettily and quietly by my side at social functions and bear me sons."

Princess Luna smiled and Prince Ivan, not knowing her as well as he thought had no way of knowing it was her best fake smile Luna reserved for those times when she felt it most important to lead someone astray.

Prince Ivan popped a few raspberries in his mouth and then took a bite of scone as across from him Princess Luna spread a small portion of butter on her own scone.

"A helpmeet," she said, still smiling. "Splendid. That is all any good woman should aspire to. All this business of running a kingdom is better left to men."

"Wise girl," he said. "The weaker sex need not vex themselves with decision making. Ruins their looks."

She smiled. "Do your brothers feel the same way?" she asked. "And if so do you think they have imparted these views to my sisters?"

"I would imagine so."

Princess Luna's expression turned to one of concern and she sighed heavily.

"Then I fear for them," she said. "And I fear for our future as well. My sisters are prideful women, my prince. They will bristle at such expectations, for they believe they should be in control. Since my father has dictated that all princes must be successful in earning our obedience, the failure of one marks the failure of all."

Her blue eyes filled with tears. "I worry that without some sort of influence on our part that my sisters will thwart your brothers' plans, for from what I have seen the other princes lack the natural authority that you display, Ivan. If my sisters aren't won, then neither will I be."

She began to weep softly then into the back of her hand.

Prince Ivan swept over to her and knelt.

"There, there," he said, reassuring her. "Don't fret so, my pet. I am sure if I put my mind to it then I can find some way to help my brothers."

"If there were just some way they could see your influence on me?" she said.

"That's it!"

He stood. "We shall visit my brothers and your sisters. Once they see how comfortable you are under my authority, your sisters will be less afraid to yield to my brothers."

"That's brilliant!" Princess Luna exclaimed. "And when your brothers see how your self-assuredness has influenced me, perhaps it will give them courage to follow your lead."

"Follow my lead..." Prince Ivan liked the sound of that.

The servant had arrived and as Princess Luna handed her the tray Prince Ivan ordered her to summon his brothers and their mates.

"My lord prince," Luna said, "I do believe our father would have us stay on this level of the castle, so why not arrange the meeting in Lenora's room, which sits at the top of the landing.

"Excellent plan," he said, and then hastily added, "I was going to suggest that myself." Of course, this wasn't true but he wanted her to think so.

"Am I dressed alright?" she asked.

Princess Luna twirled around in front of him. She was wearing the same dress she'd been wearing, a peach-colored silken frock. She was a vision.

"Slip into something finer," he said, testing to see if she would obey.

The girl curtseyed demurely. "Yes, my lord."

Prince Ivan smiled, imagining his brother's looks of envy as he approached them with his demure princess at his side. Finally, he would get the respect he was due.

When Luna emerged from the dressing room she was wearing a flowing dress of light blue silk and Prince Ivan - who had not thought she could be any lovelier - felt his breath catch in his throat.

He walked over and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" he asked.

"Of course."

Together they strode from the room. At the bottom of the landing, however, Princess Luna stopped.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"My slipper," she said. "It's come loose. Please, my prince. Go to the door and summon them. I will be up shortly."

He imagined her coming up alone to greet him - a vision in blue silk taking his arm demurely as his brother's watched in awe and envy.

"Of course," he said and walked up as she knelt there.

Prince Ivan knocked on the door and just as he'd hoped is brothers each stepped out with their princesses in tow.

"Prince Luna," he said, holding his hand out and she ascended, smiling prettily.

"I've come to check on everyone's progress," he said. "And to offer my advice to any brother who may need a lesson in procuring the obedience of his princess."

Prince Ivan's brothers looked from one to the other, irritation on their faces. For they had already tamed their princesses, and even if they had not the idea that this upstart could advise them was insulting at best.

"Do you think we need your guidance?" Justin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course you do," Princess Luna said. "For none of you could dare match my prince at being a complete and utter..."

She took his arm and gave him a little nudge as she finished her sentence.

"...dolt."

Shocked, Ivan was unsettled by the nudge in more ways than one, for his heel met a glob of something slippery on the stairs. He did not register what it was until he'd fallen backwards and bumped most ungracefully down the few steps to end up on his bum at the bottom of the landing. When he tried to stand his feet slipped out from under him with each step. Butter. When he'd left Luna there to fix her slipper she'd been doing something else, coating the floor with the same butter she'd just dropped behind him before he'd slipped.

"You little..."

Prince Ivan went to stand but again he fell.

Luna began to laugh, clapping her little hands together in glee. Delighted, she looked at her sisters in triumph. But instead of seeing solidarity as she'd expected, she only saw concern.

Prince Kier stepped forward and took her arm as Justin and Quentin rushed down to the last step before the bottom of the landing. Leaning down they each grasped an arm of their fallen brother and helped him up.

Kier turned to Princess Luna. "That was very naughty, princess, very naughty indeed."

Then he looked at his humiliated brother. "However, I trust that Ivan will restrain his temper as he punishes you for this transgression, for discipline must be just and instructive and not a punitive act of revenge."

He raised an elegant eyebrow at his younger sibling. "Agreed?"

Ivan shook his brother's off and adjusted his coat as he glared up at his princess, who swallowed hard in fear and trepidation.

"Agreed," he said. "However, since my princess has chosen to publicly humiliate me in front of my brothers I think it only fitting they witness her punishment."