The king of Corona was a man with kind eyes and a lovely beard that had already begun to pepper with age and stress. It took a lot to run a kingdom and while the walls that surrounded Corona gave it the protection it needed it also didn’t mean that rats couldn’t still get through. The nearby nations of Antipe and Dionda were at a constant power struggle with one another and it was feared that exhaustion would lead to an allyship between the two. If that became the case and they turned their sights to Corona, there would be little that they could do to fight them off.
Corona, as it was known, was already expanding its resources thin with following the princess around. It would be easier to force her inside the castle indefinitely until she was of ruling and marrying age but she was stubborn and crafty. A mouse in her own right, she’d find a way a squeeze through the weak points of their protection. So they expanded her roaming area to no farther than the gates that separated the kingdom and the castle. It wasn’t much but it was enough. She could see her people and they could see her.
Rumor of her beauty spread from kingdom to kingdom which became an asset now that she was of age. If she were to marry someone with a strong background then their Kingdom would surely flourish and whatever dangers that could befall could be risen up against. The king with the kind eyes and lovely beard that had already begun to pepper with age and stress could only do so much to protect his daughter.
“Welcome to Corona. I hope the trip faired you well.” He looks towards Rapunzel but she seemed disinterested. While he was arguably accepting of this endeavor, the princess was not and made no show of pretending. Her mouth was set in a grim line and twitched at the mention of herself. “Rapunzel?”
“Yes?” Her voice is tight but not unpleasant.
“Don’t you have something to say?”
Eugene gave a polite nod and smile as the king welcomed him to the kingdom. Despite this not being his idea, he knew that going against his father’s wishes by being impolite would only make his life more difficult. Better to play the game and find ways to enjoy it best as he could.
Which, considering the princess’s current mood (Eugene dared to wonder if it was rather a permanent mood), may prove easier said than done.
Clearing his throat, Eugene spoke. “It is a pleasure to meet you both. Thank you for your hospitality.” His gaze flickered to the blonde as he tried to make eye contact, break through her stubborn exterior somehow, but somehow he knew that was a fruitless task. “You have a beautiful kingdom -- I was enjoying the sights on the ride here. Do you like to explore the scenery, Your Highness?”
There -- a direct question. She could hardly ignore his presence when he had so clearly addressed her.
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