Once upon a time, there lived an ancient and distinguished family called the Vanderburgs. They had ruled benevolently over Sim Nation ever since they had been victorious over the greedy and self-centered Landgraabs back during the war between the Pirates and the Nobles.
The current queen was Catarina V, a woman as proud and overbearing as the very first Vanderburg monarch, who also bore the name. Her Majesty was now desperate, because her two children were now of an age to be married, thus carrying on their family's good name.
Her oldest son and chosen heir was a prince called Sebastian. Handsome and charismatic, Sebastian reveled in his wealthy playboy lifestyle. He was in no way, shape, or form ready to wed. He hadn't even sown his royal oats yet. But he bore a painful secret -- a secret which threatened to rip off whatever veneer the family had left.
Several years prior, Prince Sebastian's sister and Queen Catarina's daughter, Princess Francisca, disappeared. All of the crown's efforts to locate her failed. Sebastian eventually found her, but Francisca forbade him to reveal her whereabouts to the rest of the family -- especially the queen.
It turns out that Francisca wasn't actually kidnapped, like she had led the crown to believe. She actually ran away, voluntarily, because she wanted to experience life outside the castle walls. She wanted to paint, write, travel the world -- and, most importantly, marry whoever she pleased.
Post by Butterfly on Oct 12, 2011 at 3:53pm
One beautiful early fall morning, the Queen approached her son. "You are a lazy good for nothing bum!" she shouted in a rather unbecoming string of insults. "Why haven't you married by now?"
Like his sister before him, Prince Sebastian, too, was growing weary of the constant harangues about marriage. He was a young buck. It wasn't time for him to settle down yet!
"But mother --" Prince Sebastian responded in an attempt to reason with her.
Queen Catarina took a deep breath. "I've a plan. There will be a royal ball within the week. I am inviting all of the eligible women in this town. You will pick a bride from that group."
"But mother --" Unable to get a word in edgewise, Prince Sebastian merely sighed.
"The matter is settled." Queen Catarina returned to counsel with her husband, Prince Consort Renauld.
Just around the bend from the royal castle lived the Pertridge family, consisting of the ambitious Lonnie and her two daughters, Astrid and Eunice. Their father had perished long ago, and so, too, had Lonnie's second husband, Elliott Carlisle, who had brought along his own daughter, Ella. After Elliott's death -- the circumstances of which had raised suspicions in their old community -- the Pertridges settled in Hidden Springs.
Lonnie condemned Elliott's daughter Ella to a kind of indentured servitude. In exchange for Ella staying with them -- in a converted closet, no less -- she was to perform chores for her, Astrid, and Eunice.
Ella faithfully did her duties for years, without complaint. She enjoyed keeping things orderly and clean. She was a decent cook and loved making new recipes.
The Pertridges were eating breakfast as they always did. The Sunday brunches were lavishly prepared, multi-course meals. Ella took great care to make sure that they were delicious. "Did you hear?" Astrid Pertridge began, in her high pitched voice. Of the two girls, she was definitely the more tolerable. "The queen is giving a ball!"
Her older sister, Eunice, rolled her eyes. She pretended she could care less about the queen giving a 'party,' as she called it, but in actuality marrying her single son, the 'fabulously loaded' prince, would be her ticket to riches and greatness.
"A ball?" Lonnie Pertridge, the family matriarch, asked. "The queen is giving a ball?"
Overhearing bits and pieces of the conversation, Ella decided to ask Eunice. "Is there really going to be a ball at the palace? And am I invited?"
"You?" Eunice sneered, "going to a royal ball? Puh-leeze!"
Meanwhile, Astrid and Lonnie walked in behind them and took one of the styling stalls. "We just have to get you an outfit," Lonnie muttered.
"Well, this one won't do," Astrid grumbled. "I look like I'm going to a concert, not a royal ball."
"If I knew what you were looking for --"
"Something fit for a princess!" Astrid shouted.
Try as he may, Prince Consort Renauld attempted to keep the peace between Queen Catarina and her children. He was often the go-between when Her Majesty directed the silent treatment towards her offspring whenever they disobeyed her. "Cat," he said gently, using his nickname for her. "Don't you think you're going a little bit too far?"
"My children are grown now, so it is time for them to think about the future of the Vanderburg name. It's time for heirs."
"But they are barely young adult," Renauld reasoned. "Give them time."
"Sebastian should be able to pick a mate at tonight's ball. I'm sure there is someone in the community who will pique his interest."
That evening, Prince Consort Renauld called the family's butler, Pierre, toward him. "I want a special meal prepared for the royal ball," he said as Pierre nodded obediently. "I want a fiery angel food cake as the dessert, a grilled salmon, and I want special drinks to go along with the meal."
"Yes, your Highness," Pierre smiled.
"Sebastian," Queen Catarina admonished, "you must put on your absolute best face for everyone. The whole world will be watching tonight."
This was not the face the Queen had in mind, however. Her son was not a happy camper.
One by one all of the single women of Hidden Springs descended upon the Vanderburg Palace for the royal ball.
After several hours of merrymaking, the prince's eyes fell upon one lovely girl.
She was at the drink bar, taking in a drink.
Never shy, he decided to ask her her name. "Ella," she replied in a soft voice, "Ella Carlisle."
"Nice to meet you, Ella Carlisle," he responded.
A few minutes later, Ella was at the family's grand piano, playing the Moonlight Sonata. "How did you learn to play like that?" he asked.
"Well, when I was little, I used to play the piano a lot, like my mother. But then my stepmother sold my piano and I never played again. Seeing this brought back memories."
Sebastian and Ella spent the rest of the night just getting to know each other. They learned about each other's favorite colors, favorite foods, and a few of their traits. She also spoke at length to Prince Consort Renauld. "My stepson seems absolutely smitten with you," he told her. "I would like to arrange a private meeting sometime this week."
Then, suddenly, when the clock struck midnight, Ella whispered, "I'm sorry, but I've got to go," and darted outside without saying anything more.
Ella rushed out of Vanderburg Palace before Prince Sebastian could even muster a goodbye. She looked around to see if someone would detect her, then hailed a cab to take her home. No magic pumpkins for this girl.
The next day, Queen Catarina, with her toddler daughter Alexandra in tow, pressed her husband. "Has Sebastian chosen a bride yet?"
"I saw him talking to a young lady last night, but I didn't get her name."
"Find her! I want to know everything about her. I want to know her name, her lineage, and her record. The future princess has to have certain standards."
"I can assure you, Your Majesty, that your son has chosen well."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh, I'm very positive."
Meanwhile, Sebastian had secretly invited Ella to the palace. While still in his police uniform, he presented her with flowers. "Oh, they're lovely, Your Highness."
"Please," he whispered lovingly, "call me Sebastian. I am at your service."
Then, they went up to his bedroom, where they tossed the feathers at each other. This exercise helped them to forget all their problems. Then, just like the night before, Ella ran off, saying she had to go. Frustrated, Sebastian sat sulking on his bed.
The next evening, as scheduled, Ella sneaked out of her house to go to Vanderburg Palace to meet with Prince Consort Renauld.
She was nervous as she approached the palace. What are they going to think of me? she thought. I'm just a servant. I can't be in love with the Prince.
However, she was interrupted by the Queen. Covering her mouth in surprise, Ella whispered, "Your Majesty," as she bowed.
"Hello, dear," Queen Catarina said, "and who might you be?"
"Ella Carlisle, your Majesty," Ella answered.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Carlisle." Queen Catarina took a deep breath. "You do realize, Miss Carlisle, that no one comes to the palace without an invitation. Who offered you that invitation?"
"I was invited here by your husband, Prince Consort Renauld, your Majesty."
"Renauld invited you here?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"Why did he invite you here?"
"I'm not sure exactly, your Majesty."
Queen Catarina took a deep breath. "Were you the young lady speaking with the Prince at the ball the other night?"
Ella looked down at the floor. "Yes, your Majesty."
"Well, Prince Consort Renauld is ill and asleep right now, Miss Carlisle. You'll have to come back at another time."
Meanwhile, Prince Sebastian was upstairs entertaining his best friend, Liam O'Dourke. They would seem by appearances and most standards to have very little in common -- Liam thin, freckled, and red-haired, and Prince Sebastian a tanned, muscular blond -- but Liam could make the Prince laugh and forget all his problems. He was the Prince's most trusted confidant. Every secret Prince Sebastian had was safe in Liam's hands.
"You're falling for Ella, aren't you, ole boy," Liam teased. He was the only person who could get away with calling the Crown Prince 'ole boy.'
Hearing the commotion downstairs, Prince Sebastian ran to see what was happening. "She's my guest," he told his mother.
"Really?" said the queen. "Well, in that case, I'll leave you two to be."
"I have a surprise for you," the prince whispered.
He presented her with a portable keyboard. "Oh, it's lovely, Sebastian! Thank you!"
"Now you can play your piano any time you want. And since it's portable, you can put your instrument away when the step-relatives come."
"Say, baby, do you want to go outside and check out the stars? It's a beautiful night."
"Sure, why not?" replied Ella.
They sat on the back porch of the Vanderburg palace -- just the two of them. Alone.
Ella stole a glance at the Prince. "What are you thinking?" she asked him.
"What am I thinking?" he laughed. "Right now I'm thinking I'm a little sleepy as I had a rough day's work at the station."
"Come on, I'm sure there isn't any crime here in Hidden Springs. No one knows we're here."
"You'd be surprised."
"The mountains are so beautiful at night," Ella mused. "It almost seems like the snowflakes on the peaks glisten and glow, providing their own sparkle."
"Isn't that the North Star?" Ella asked. "I can't really tell, my astronomy is pretty rusty."
"It seems pretty good to me," whispered the Prince. "Besides, I can't see any star out here as luminous as the one sitting right next to me."
From time to time, when she wasn't concerned with ruling over the tiny enclave of Hidden Springs, Queen Catarina would sometimes entertain herself with the inane entertainments of the masses. Even, at times, she would take in a little television, and on this day she happened to catch the tail end of a romantic comedy called 'The Wedding.' Oh, how she wished there would be a wedding in her son's future -- and of course, with a wedding would come more royal heirs. But all that would have to wait.
Despite the presence of the lovely young Ella Carlisle in his life, Prince Sebastian seemed to be in no great rush to marry. And this disturbed the queen greatly.
So she told one of the royal cooks to prepare a special meal for the Prince and Ella, in an effort to 'help' things along.
The private dinner in honor of Prince Sebastian and Ella was held at Vanderburg palace. There, the Prince formally introduced Ella to his parents.
"When is the wedding?" asked Queen Catarina.
Ella laughed it off, but Prince Sebastian was furious with the question. "Mother!" he yelled, "we hardly know each other. We only met the other night."
After dinner Ella and the Prince decided to hang out in the backyard. Who were to show up but Ella's stepsister, Astrid.
"Hey, you want to come in?"
"The pool?" Ella asked.
"Sure, it'll be fun."
"What are you doing?" Ella asked.
"Skinny dipping. It'll be fun."
Ella shook her head. "Uh-uh. I don't think so."
"Come on, Ellie -- where's your sense of adventure?"
So there the Prince disappeared underneath the water, sans clothing. For several minutes he swam in the pool. Being an outdoorsy, athletic type who once harbored ambitions of being an Olympic swimmer, the Prince made quick, furious strokes.
He then rose briefly, to pull Ella inside the water.
The Vanderburg twins couldn't wait for their teen birthday party. They would have it as they did everything else -- together. However, as they aged, some key differences emerged, besides their hair and skin tones. Alexandra, the older of the twins by three minutes, was athletic and outdoorsy, while Anastasia, three minutes younger, was the artistic one.
Crown Prince Sebastian showed to the party with his lovely girlfriend, Ella Carlisle, but even though by now they had settled into a comfortable relationship, he was in no rush to marry her, and that seemed to suit them both just fine. However, Queen Catarina was much less than comfortable with the arrangement, and even more so now that she was an elder and feared that she would die before a royal wedding even took place.
Anastasia had already blown her candles out by the time Alexandra even got to her birthday cake. At this point Catarina made up her mind. She would not make the same mistake she made with Francisca, allowing her to come home from Smuggsworth Preparatory school because she was unhappy. This time, the twins were going, and they were going to stay until they were young adult. It was high time they become proper young ladies.
Soon after their birthday, the Vanderburg girls took new official portraits, which were released to the media by the Hidden Springs Press Association. In Hidden Springs media access was regulated by the Vanderburg family, and they let out only what they wanted to, which explained why Hidden Springs was such an attractive destination for celebrities.
However, what wasn't shown in the official photographs was that Alexandra was already showing signs of rebelling against the role subscribed to her by her birth. On the night of her birthday, she ran toward the other side of town in an effort to catch a party guest who had returned home. That party guest was none other than... the famed musician and composer Nathan Jolina-Plumb.
Unfortunately, she was caught by the police. And reprimanded by her mother. For Queen Catarina, it was like she was dealing with Francisca all over again.
"Alexandra Maria Louisa Vanderburg, don't you dare defy me like that again!"
"But mother, I was not going far!"
"You had no business leaving this house! It's nearly 2 in the morning, and you and your sister are leaving to go to Smuggsworth in the morning."
"Smuggsworth?"
"Yes.
"But I don't want to go to Smuggsworth!"
"It is already settled. Now go to bed."
Prince Consort Renauld drove his wife's van down the mountain, taking in all the scenic views to which he had grown accustomed.
He came across a huge ranch he had never seen before. He'd heard there were quality thoroughbred foals.
Prince Consort Renauld breathed in the crisp mountain air and looked around at the luscious landscaping, which clearly rivaled the greenery around the castle. Whoever did this, he decided, had done it well.
Two healthy looking thoroughbred foals ran around the grounds like they owned them.
Taking a deep breath, Prince Consort Renauld rang the doorbell.
A well-dressed young woman answered the door. She donned riding gear. Clearly she was aristocratic in bearing. "Hidden Valley stables, how can I help you?" she asked.
"I came to acquire one of your foals, if you don't mind," said Prince Consort Renauld with a smile.
"Do come in, sir," the girl said, leading Prince Consort Renauld through the doors.
When the girl got a look at the well-dressed elder gentleman she had before her, she realized it was the Prince Consort! Quickly she got out her cell phone and took a picture with her cell phone, doubtless to show her friends at school.
"Pleased to meet you, Sire," she said in her sweetest voice. "So you wish to acquire one of my foals?"
"Yes, ma'am, if you do not mind."
"Sure, no, not at all," the girl laughed. "By the way, my name is Devin. Devin Huff."
"I know who you are."
"Really?"
"Your father kept our horses before ... before ..."
"Well, he passed away a couple years ago. It's just me and my brother now, running the stables." Devin flashed a saccharine smile, while ushering Prince Consort Renauld outside, "Right this way, please, sir."
Without blinking, Prince Consort Renauld chose a foal called Grace to take home to his daughters for their birthday.
Before sunrise, Princess Alexandra went outside to feed Grace, her thoroughbred foal. "I'm going to miss you loads when I'm gone," she whispered, "I wish I could take you with me."
Meanwhile, hours later Princess Anastasia was eating breakfast with her mother. "Are you nervous?" asked Queen Catarina.
"Not really," Anastasia stated matter-of-factly, "Alex and I simply don't want to go."
"Ah, but you must," replied Queen Catarina. "It is tradition. Generations of Vanderburgs have attended this school."
"How come Sebastian and Francisca attended Alpine? They didn't have to be sent away."
"Ah, but they were," reminded Queen Catarina. "Sebastian had additional training at Fort Starch, for the job he has now."
At precisely nine in the morning the limousines arrived to whisk the girls away to Smuggsworth Preparatory School, where they were going to be transformed, supposedly, into proper princesses. They were not happy about it.
Queen Catarina breathed a deep sigh of relief. With her daughters at Smuggsworth she could turn her attention to planning Sebastian's wedding.
Crown Prince Sebastian and his girlfriend, Ella Carlisle, spent the morning eating breakfast. While the Prince opted for Belgian waffles, his girlfriend chose grape pancakes.
"My mother is getting on my nerves," complained the Prince, "first she sends my sisters to boarding school and now she's pressuring me about marriage."
Ella let out a deep sigh. "You know, Prince Sebastian... we have been dating awhile...
"What I'm really trying to say is, I would like to know for certain how you feel about me. Do you like me at all?"
"Of course I like you, Ella. You're terrific. I've never felt as comfortable around a girl as I do around you."
Ella blushed deeply. "What are you trying to say?"
Just then they heard footsteps.
Meanwhile, the Queen arose from her bed with wedding bells ringing in her ears.
While the Queen descended the staircase, she overheard Crown Prince Sebastian on his telephone. "Ok, I'll see you then," his voice trailed off.
"Who was that you were talking to?" asked the Queen.
Meanwhile, the next day, with everyone else out of the house, Queen Catarina and Prince Consort Renauld found themselves in the TV room.
"You know, this is all your fault," muttered Queen Catarina over the din of the movie music playing in the background.
Prince Consort Renauld let out a deep sigh. "What is my fault?"
"This. All of this."
"Majesty, I do everything to please you."
"You fill the kids' heads with all these ideas that they can do whatever they please. The fact is, they are royalty. They cannot do whatever they please. Start with Francisca. Her mind is so poisoned, she won't even as much as say hello to me, the person who gave her life and is the cause she even exists! You've got Sebastian angry with me, too. Because I never approved of his lifestyle and I want him to settle down and rise to the standards set for him by my father and all the other Vanderburg rulers. And let's not even go there with the twins --"
"They're still young yet, give them time."
"But I'm not young anymore! Any day the Reaper will come for me and for you, and where will this family be then? It is high time they realize their responsibility to the family and to the realm."
"You're living in the past, Majesty. Look around you. Look at the high rises, the sprawling mansions, and all the glittering celebrities who now call our little hideaway home. Hidden Springs is no longer 'hidden' anymore."
"What's up bro?" Princess Francisca said cheerily into the receiver.
Crown Prince Sebastian whispered, "She knows. She caught me on the phone."
"Ok. Calm down."
Just as Queen Catarina exited the door, Crown Prince Sebastian said, "Fran, one of these days I'm going to have to tell her the truth. I can't keep lying to her much longer. Keeping up with this charade is, quite frankly, wearing me out."
"How's Ella?"
"She's fine."
"And the twins?"
"At Smuggsworth Prep School."
Princess Francisca let out a deep sigh. "Unbelievable. Don't mention that place to me, I hated it."
"Look, we're going to have to meet. Perhaps when mother and Renauld are at work?"
"Sounds good. See you then?"
After their days of being royal, Prince Consort Renauld and Crown Prince Sebastian took to the yard for a game of catch. "Remember when you were a little boy and I came to the palace to work for your mother?"
The crown prince shrugged. "Look up!" he shouted. "I don't want to hit you -- again!"
"You should have been a pitcher, I swear," Prince Consort Renauld sighed as he caught Crown Prince Sebastian's well thrown ball. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"About what?"
"You disappear at odd hours of the night, you lock yourself in your room when you are here, and poor Ella -- she's worried sick about you."
"Mother doesn't know this --"
"What doesn't your mother know?"
"Mother doesn't know that I'm a spy."
Crown Prince Renauld's mouth dropped to the floor. "You're what?"
"She thinks I'm going to the police station to help out. But I'm actually a top secret spy. I go undercover at crime scenes."
Prince Consort Renauld shook his head. "Why?"
Crown Prince Sebastian didn't hesitate: "To find Francisca and bring her home."
Princess Francisca enjoyed jogging in the woods near the cottage where she'd hidden herself away. She realized that she had put her brother in a tough spot, and now she was in a tougher one, with rumors flying in the tabloids about her romantic entanglement with a Bridgeport actor. "Seriously?" Francisca muttered to herself. "I don't even know the guy."
Meanwhile, back at the palace, Crown Prince Sebastian was listening to a raucous guitar tune being played by his girlfriend, Ella Carlisle. "How'd you learn to play like that?"
Ella laughed. "You think I cleaned my stepmother's house all day?"
Crown Prince Sebastian managed a chuckle. "What's the name of the tune?"
"I don't actually remember the name, but I remember Nathan Plumb is the composer."
"You get really into it." Crown Prince Sebastian was rhythmically dancing along with the jaunty tune.
"Sebastian Rudolph Wilhelm Vanderburg, care to clue me in?" asked Queen Catarina at breakfast.
"Clue you in? About what?"
"I would like to know what in the good name of my mother Queen Eloise is going on?"
Crown Prince Sebastian was confused. "What do you mean, Mother?"
"You know well what I'm talking about. You continue to lie to both me and your stepfather."
"I don't know why you continue to treat me like I am a child. I'm not a 'little prince' anymore, and you know that."
"Well, I can't believe anything you say to me because it's all lies. You have not proven to me beyond any shred of doubt that I can trust you on this throne. If you're lying to me about these things, what else have you lied to me about?"
"How do you know that I'm lying?"
"You're always keeping secrets from me! I am the queen, for goodness sakes! I know you know where Francisca is by now. I order you to produce that girl --"
"Or what?" Crown Prince Sebastian laughed. "She's not a prisoner. She's not anyone's captive. And you can't take my inheritance away."
Queen Catarina took a deep breath. "I shall restrict you to the grounds." Queen Catarina changed the subject. "When are you going to marry Ella?"
"When I get good and ready, mother, and not a second before."
"Son, you do realize that I am getting up there in years, and I would very much like the succession to be secured before I go off to the great beyond. That's why it's imperative, Sebastian, that you marry and begin to produce heirs."
Ella Carlisle, the potential princess-in-waiting of Hidden Springs, spent her morning watching the cooking show on the palace's high-definition television. "This TV is bigger than my entire bedroom at home," she mused as she saw the chef whip up a plate of spaghetti.
When Queen Catarina wasn't busy ordering her household around, she liked to paint. As a girl she'd had art lessons and deigned to have dreams of having paintings shown in Champs Les Sims, but alas her mother Eloise had discouraged her from pursuing her hobby. Now that she had cut back her schedule a bit as queen, she returned to the brush to relax.
While Queen Catarina was painting, Prince Consort Renauld sneaked behind her to hold her hand. She liked having his steadying presence around, especially after her first love and the father of her children, Gregor Bellemy, had passed away. Although she didn't like that he often took her kids' side in their disputes, she appreciated his even-handedness, without which she admits she would have cracked long ago.
That evening, when Crown Prince Sebastian returned from work, he surprised Ella with a bouquet of flowers. "For you, sweetheart."
"Really, Sebastian?" Ella laughed.
"Really."
"How thoughtful of you, thank you!"
Crown Prince Sebastian Rudolph Wilhelm Vanderburg of Hidden Springs was Sebastian's official name and title. But he hardly ever used it. Instead, he preferred to be called simply by Sebastian. In some respects, his mother was right. Now that his adult birthday was coming up, he began to ponder his life and situation. Certainly his hard-partying, playboy ways had to cease at some point. Could they? Could it be he was growing up instead of merely growing older? And what of Ella? Could he see himself making a life with her by his side as his Queen?
Surely, being the crown prince of this municipality had its advantages, namely access to any female he desired, married or not. All he had to do was throw a couple thousand simoleans at their feet and they would come running. And the situation satisfied him, too. He didn't have to commit to anyone or anything.
But Ella -- Ella was different. You see, Ella was a woman of HIS choosing. He was the one who picked her out of a crowd. And surely, by her taste in music and her surprising willingness to skinny-dip in the pool proved that she at least shared some of his wild side. Sebastian was certain that his mother would never approve of Ella because she was a commoner.
Francisca's disappearance didn't help the situation, either. The fact that she ran meant he had to stand in the breach. Because she wasn't willing or wasn't able to stand up to their domineering mother meant that he had to do it. Back in the old days, when royalty actually had political authority, disobedience to the crown meant death. If Queen Catarina had actually had political power, he might well have been executed. Not only did Prince Sebastian have to protect Francisca, but he also found himself needing to protect Alexandra and Anastasia, too.
So for Crown Prince Sebastian, there was only one thing left to do.
He waited until Ella returned from her job at the restaurant and then did what he had to do.
"Ella Rosemary Carlisle --"
Ella's mouth dropped to the ground as Prince Sebastian pulled his grandmother Queen Eloise's glistening diamond ring out of his pocket.
"Will you marry me?"
Ella Carlisle was bereft of choices. She could live a life she hated, cleaning up after her stepmother and stepsisters, or she could marry the prince and be groomed to become the next queen. The idea of sitting on the throne was not something she'd given a thought to, even though she was dating the prince. To her, Prince Sebastian was just a wealthy guy she was dating -- not the next king.
"Ella!" called the queen, noticing her possible future daughter-in-law had a faraway look on her face.
Ella was startled. "Oh! I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
"I've been told that the Prince has submitted his marriage proposal to you. Have you a response?"
"Not yet, Your Majesty."
What do you mean, not yet? thought Queen Catarina. She should be running to him, not the other way around.
"What do you say?" asked Prince Sebastian.
Ella let out a deep sigh. "Sebastian, I -- I don't know what to say!"
"Say yes... please."
"Your mother --"
"Let me take care of my mother. This is about me and you."
Ella put down her bowl of fruit parfait. "Yes!" she whispered, with a hint of trepidation. "Yes, I'll marry you!"
In that instant Ella knew that her life as she'd known it was over.
It didn't take long for Queen Catarina to go to work. "My son is apparently smitten with you. You're certainly not my choice, but you're his choice, and I must live with it. Now that you have accepted my son's marriage proposal," she began, "it's time to turn you into a proper princess. That means lessons in the history of Hidden Springs and particularly this family. I'll have my foreign affairs minister educate you from top to bottom, and I'll personally take you on a tour of the offices. That also means an appointment with the royal family's personal stylist, Miss Wentworth, who will ensure that you get into some decent attire. I have to contact the royal photographer for some photo shoots..."
Ella sighed politely. What had she gotten herself into? Privately she was thinking, woman, you have to have lost your mind.
Queen Catarina, for her part, seemed to enjoy her little pet project.
Ella sighed again. She was now ready to face the cameras.
"Now," exclaimed Queen Catarina, "you look like a princess."
The chords came rushing back to Francisca's mind and so did the memories as she sat down to her mother's grand piano at the engagement party for her brother, Sebastian Vanderburg and his intended bride, Ella Carlisle.
There was a time when she and her mother, Queen Catarina, were the best of friends. They went everywhere and did everything together. Now, though, that time seemed so long ago. Now, though, not only were they bitter rivals, but they couldn't stand the sight of each other. How on earth had this happened?
Queen Catarina had fancied little Princess Francisca as a classical pianist. She'd flooded the child with a steady diet of the masters -- Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and paraded her in impromptu performances in front of all of her friends. Princess Francisca loved the performances but hated doing them in front of the groups of the Queen's guests. Though Princess Francisca loved music, it wasn't the classics that she adored -- no, she preferred indie music.
And that was the problem. Queen Catarina had HER dreams for her children -- but her children, especially Francisca, had their own minds. They had their own dreams. And now, the same thing was happening with the twin girls, Alexandra and Anastasia, who were beginning to develop distinct, unique personalities. That wasn't part of the queen's grand plan. In fact, she'd birthed the girls for the sole reason of turning them into the proper little princesses that Francisca had adamantly refused to become.
Francisca played Beethoven's Fifth like it was second nature to her. And, in a way, it was. She'd been taught the melody since she was out of the cradle. Her younger sisters, Alexandra and Anastasia, looked at her with their mouths agape. Behind them, of course, was their father and her stepfather, Prince Consort Renauld.
Also behind her, could she see the Queen? And was the Queen smiling? Or was she imagining things?
The guests began arriving at the bachelor party of Crown Prince Sebastian Vanderburg, and the guest list was a virtual who's who of Hidden Springs society. Peter Winterly was there, as well as Liam ODourke who had been the groom's best friends, and friends of Queen Catarina were there as well such as Bert Alto, the Chesterfields, and the Abbots.
He watched the pianist at the lodge glide her hands across the keys.
In addition the Crown Prince also celebrated his birthday. He was about to turn adult which meant his carousing days would soon have to end. His mother was right. He had to grow up and become a man, let alone the future king.
Later, the dancers arrived to entertain the guests. The old Prince Sebastian would have slipped a few hundred simoleans in their pockets, gotten drunk, and woohooed them both before sending them on their way. Since meeting Ella, he managed to resist that temptation, and instead enjoyed their dancing in a more conventional way.
Ella Carlisle stood in the archway of the Betrothal Bungalow, the mountainside resort facility that had been specifically rented by the Vanderburg family for the wedding. Her stepsister, Astrid, had been diligently working on her hair and makeup and clothes. "Am I ok?" she kept asking.
"You're gorgeous!" Astrid squealed like a little girl. "You're the perfect royal bride."
Meanwhile, waiting outside was Crown Prince Sebastian's cousin, Duchess Christina Vanderburg, who had arrived from Europe to partake in the festivities. While her famous relatives had come to Hidden Springs a couple of generations ago, Christina remained in Europe with the rest of the family. Like the rest of the Vanderburgs Christina was cultured and outdoorsy. The wedding was Christina's first-ever visit to Hidden Springs and her first time meeting her cousins Sebastian and Francisca.
(Author's note: Christina and Juliana are characters created by me for the wedding)
Ella took a deep breath. It was time.
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"Do you, Crown Prince Sebastian Rudolph Wilhelm Vanderburg, take Ella Rosemary Carlisle to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forth... for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live... till death do you part?"
"I do." Crown Prince Sebastian said in his deep baritone.
Duchess Juliana, Queen Catarina's cousin, inhaled deeply.
"And do you, Ella Rosemary Carlisle, take Crown Prince Sebastian Rudolph Wilhelm Vanderburg to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forth... for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live... till death do you part?"
"I do," responded Ella in her saccharine voice.
"I pronounce you Crown Prince and Crown Princess. You may now kiss."
And kiss they did, barely even coming up for air.
Prince Consort Renauld, Duchess Christina, and Savannah Plumb Cheesman, who had just been hired as Hidden Springs' minister of culture, were looking on with interest.
Queen Catarina was finally happy. Her succession was now secure and her mission was complete.
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