A Royal Pursuit ~ Meet the Lovers

Princess Serena, daughter of King Elian and Queen Cerise, the Ruling Two of the country of Aldagar, located on the continent of Ghent.

Layla, daughter of Nolan’s Guard, a soldier in training. Her parents are Garrick and Noelle.  

Serena is older than Layla by a couple of years. She has a younger brother. Her father inherited the throne when he came of age, and he has a sister, but she declined the throne. (More to come on royal ascension in a separate post). Serena’s mother is an only child.

Layla, meanwhile, has three siblings – two sisters and a brother – and from one of them, nieces and nephews. Layla is the light of her father’s eye, the only one interested in following in his footsteps. Her father is part of Nolan’s Guard, and her mother works in administration.

They first met in passing, ages ago, when Serena asserted herself against her parents, to refuse their protection. They insisted that if she proved capable of defending herself, she wouldn’t need to keep a guard. Thus, she began to take self-defense classes, one of which was taught by Layla’s eldest brother, and Layla happened to drop by one day, causing them to meet.

Amusingly, Layla hadn’t even recognized Serena. She paid little attention to royalty or nobility and therefore barely knew what the Ruling Two looked like and didn’t even know the names of their heirs. She only noticed Serena because she was hilariously clumsy, but had the most beautiful head of hair.

Friendship came first. It later evolved to more…

A Royal Pursuit ~ Dinner

Layla always eats as though someone is going to steal her food from her. She gobbles down her meals, all the way to the last crumb, even sopping up the roast juices with her last chunk of sourdough

She washes it all down with her third mug of Rozlin and still never so much as staggers. Serena’s seen her outdrink two-thirds of the patrons to every bar they’ve ever visited.

And she does it all in half the time it takes Serena to finish her own meal at a leisurely, enjoyable pace.

It’s not because Layla has no manners. She was raised with a wealth of them.

But she is accustomed to fending off the grabby hands of three siblings with bottomless pits for stomachs.

Her family doesn’t know the meaning of the term “leftover.” For them, remaining servings are called “not yets.”

It’s quite cute actually.

Serena’s still waiting for an invitation to a family dinner. She suspects it hasn’t been extended because Layla is a little embarrassed.

Sooner or later, Serena is sure she’ll understand that Serena loves her just the way she is.

Crumb flecks on her cheeks and all.