The Summer King's Winter Bride

Princess Caroline was in her chambers when a knock sounded at her door.

"Enter."

"Your Highness, His Royal Majesty requests your presence in the small dining room for dinner," informed Marta. 

"At what time?" Elise her maid asked already frantic.

"In an hour's time," came the firm reply before she left.

"Do not fret Elise there is yet time, pull out the Sapphire dress and my royal jewels, I will wear that."

"But Your Highness.....", Elise protested.

"I have nothing else that is of the Summer Court colours." Princess Caroline reminded her patiently.

To which nodded her head and rushed to get the bath water ready.

Princess Caroline used her scent of soap, which was a mixture lavender, winterberries and passion fruit. Her maid sprayed on a perfume of passion fruit and white peach. Laced on her corset and draped her sapphire blue dress over her shoulders.

The maid brushed her long hair till it shone and she let it fall down against her back. She placed a silver tiara of brilliant white diamonds on her head and added a matching necklace and earrings.

Princess Caroline looked at her reflection in the mirror, satisfied with what her maid had achieved. Tonight she would wear her true colours, which was every bit as ice cold as she looked and felt. She was ready for battle and she would look stunning just for it.

She left her chambers and followed Marta who took her to dining room that was well lit and especially meant to seat only two people, herself and the king. This dining room was beautiful she thought as she looked at the grand painting that covered the walls, it was white water lilies painted against a body of water. It was the first time that she felt comfortable, within the walls of the Summer Palace.

King Casimir was already seated quietly at the table taking her in. She seemed to shine like the moon wrapped in the dark night. Her sapphire dress was cut dangerously low showing him a glimpse of her ample bosom, her waist was slender, her eyes sparkled as she took in the painting on the walls and her lips looked tempting painted in pink. She still had not noticed he was in the dining room with her.

"You seem impressed with the painting." He commented.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am. It is breath taking." She agreed.

Her eyes then took him in, he was dressed in a simple white tunic with a black leather vest and brown breeches. Aware that she was dressed rather grand for so simple a dining setting, she blushed and said nothing for a while. She took her seat and lifted the wine glass to her dry lips.

"You look beautiful, tonight." He said with a charming smile.

"It would have been nice if Your Majesty had let me know this was going to be a more casual affair." I am overdressed."

"For Your King, you're not." He replied cheekily.

Her blush came back and she knew she was looking redder than before.

He chuckled as he saw her face flush.

The servants brought out the first course of the night it was roasted lamb with a citrus glaze, steaming bread laced with exotic herbs, the second course was a pumpkin and sweet potato soup followed by spiced venison, roasted figs, pomegranate seeds glistening like rubies and finally golden pastries filled with spiced cream, a platter of glistening fruits, candied nuts dusted with sugar. 

The food was a glorious diversion and utterly sumptuous spread that Princess Caroline was so engrossed in all the flavours and the rich taste of the food, she did not notice the king's gleaming eyes that were rested on her the entire time.

"I take it everything was to your liking?"

"It was, Your Majesty". She replied a smile on her pretty face.

She was beaming up at him and she looked so radiant for a moment King Casimir was stunned.

"The flavours are strong and robust here." The princess added.

"I'm glad you enjoyed, yourself." He said getting up as though to leave the dining room, but he stopped and stared at some words engraved in gold on the wall just below the painting.

Curious, Princess Caroline stood up and came to his side to see what he was staring at.

Written in gold were the words:

My darling Aurora, you will always be the only person my heart can ever truly rest with. - King Antony

"She took good care of him," King Casimir whispered.

So softly that Princess Caroline would have missed it if she had not been standing so close to him to read the inscription.

 "Your father?" She asked gently.

"My grandmother and grandfather," he clarified.

"He had this room painted only for him and her to dine in." He said gazing at her and quickly looking away when she met his gaze, that she could not read his expression.

"Their marriage was a happy one?" She asked leaving his side to stare at a white water lily."

"Very happy," he whispered in her ear.

Her whole body was flooded with heat as she felt his warm breath on her bare neck.

"It's just Casimir, only for you," he whispered before placing a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder.

"Good night princess, sweet dreams." He said before leaving her alone in the dining room, with her head reeling and heart pounding a little too fast.