For Mary 

Chapter One

Chapter 1: A Master Piece Idea

Truly far away there was once a Kingdom called Lokta. In the time of this tale, Lokta was ruled by King Philip and his beautiful wife, Queen Guinevere. Their son, Decebal, was soon to be of the age in which the Prince is crowned King in Lokta, but in this Kingdom law dictates that only a wedded Prince may become King. This law had the entire kingdom in panic.

Decebal turned twenty in two weeks, but in his twenty years of youth he had only courted four women, none of which lasting more than three months. It seemed that Prince Decebal had yet to find any woman that interested him or charmed him enough to spend more than a week or so with them, let alone marry one of them.

When the Prince was young he was not like the other Princes. He did not wish to flaunt at balls or ride his steed into town, hoping for the maidens to swoon. He preferred to read and enjoyed the servants company over most. He was stubbornly set on being alone it seemed and this made the King furious.

See Decebal’s lack of a wife proved to be a nasty thorn in the Kings side. If Decebal did not become King than the next heir in line would take his place. That heir was Decebal’s cousin Prince Phineas. Fat, worthless Phineas. It was quite known to everyone that under the ruling of Prince Phineas and his crow of a wife, Lydia, the Kingdom would truly fall into shambles and dry up like a river in the desert. Lokta would be doomed and King Philip wouldn’t stand for it.

The King was found in his chambers, wallowing, by his head of staff and right hand man Wilbur. Wilbur was a thin, panicky man. He had perfectly combed, ashy, hair and grey eyes. Wilbur was loyal to the King and was just as concerned about the situation at hand.

“Your majesty!”, his shrill voice called out, almost cracking from embarrassment. The King was lying in a bubble bath, his face painted with defeat. “You will accomplish nothing in a bath tub!” Wilbur helped the King out of the tub and allowed him to dry off as he laid out his clothes for the afternoon. “What is the point Wilbur? My Kingdom is doomed!”, he announced dramatically.

As Wilbur waited for the King to dress he looked out the window. They were to attend a pig chase in the garden of the back courtyard. Wilbur noticed woman on the patio staring intently. He watched as they chattered in excitement. Following their glances he realized it was in fact Prince Decebal that held their attention and in that moment Wilbur had an idea.

A candle was lit in his mind and Wilbur couldn’t help the sly grin creeping up from his lips. He traced his fingers across the cool glass. “You know, we haven’t had a ball in quite a while your Majesty.” He practically cooed, facing the window seal to hide his devious expression. The King grumbled. “I hadn’t noticed”, he replied sarcastically. It was clear he had not minded the lack of dull social events he was required to attend.

“But your Majesty, if we invited every Lady from Lokta and every Princess from our neighboring Kingdoms, well Prince Decebal would have no choice but to fall in love.” He finished off his sentence in a giddy shrill as if he hadn’t known his own plan all along. As if it had only occurred to him as well.

King Philip was tending to his hair in a large, gold trimmed mirror. His eyes widened and he perked up instantly as if he had come up with the plan himself. Anything to solve this dreadful problem. Anything to stop Phineas from taking the throne. Immediately he headed towards the Queens dressing chamber. He walked swiftly, practically floating with hope.

Arriving at the Queens dressing chambers he knocked vigorously. “Guin! Guin!” Two handmaids opened the doors wide, panicked by his sudden outburst. “Yes your Majesty?”, one asked in a breathless tone, but the Queen pushed past them. Her face was flushed.

“What is it Philip?” Her tone was short as she hated to be bothered. Her chamber was meant for her solitude. She enjoyed her time to think and reflect within her own mind and soul. She expected his face to be red and his temper hot from some plight or another, but in fact came to find his eyes bright and a large smile upon his face.

“Guinevere, I have decided to hold a ball!” the king announced as if it had been his idea all along. Wilbur had been trailing him since he left the dressing chamber. He stood inches behind him, fingers touching at the tips as he reveled in the beginning of a masterpiece.