#belczech

She sits tall as her father lectures her one the respectability and proper acts of being princess. Get married, rule by your husband, a conversation that causes her to twist up her nose and turn her head rudely.

The king sighs and puts his hands to his head, maybe to remove the tension of a headache she had been the start of. Svetlana doesn’t particularly care. If it means she can be her own person and ruler without having to give up her personship, it’s more than worth it.

“You’ve left me no choice my daughter,” the king says and Svetlana offers him a soft glare in return. He stands and she watches as he calls forth a servant. The bring him a long scroll.

“I hereby decree-” He begins and Svetlana stands sharply, almost toppling her chair in the process.

“The princess shall be won-”

“No!” She cries but it does not hinder the proclamation.

“By way of three tasks completed.” The king turns on his heel to leave her to her meal alone. Svetlana sits without appetite as it gets cold. Eventually she is corralled to her room to sleep and await the upcoming trials.

--

Her attitude has soured in the months time. The royals who have seen the decree, even the ones she had rejected far before are now swarming the castle yard with dark thoughts and wicked smirks that make her stomach churn.

Her dress glitters int he sun and some men make wolf calls which are ignored by the king in order to speak to them all. Three tasks are set for the next three weeks. Whoever completes the tasks the best will be crowned king of their kingdom and the husband of Svetlana.

“You never even asked me,” She hisses to her father when he stops by her. He sighs and looks to her with sadness and no answer. They have one week to complete their first task to the best of their ability.

As annoyed as she is, she’s excited to see the creations the potential spouses will come up with. Maybe it’s nice that her father has taken her favorites and turned them into the tasks to complete, but it doesn’t mean she’s still not angry with him for putting her in this position in the first place.

The blown glass decorations will be put on display for all to see and she will chose her favorites.

When the week passes, she’s walked outside by her father to explore the decorations that are standing on a simple table, a few tables. There are more decorations that she thought. She walks around, examining each piece to her own tastes. There are few she enjoy, and some she even wants to own.

After she has decided on the half she likes the most, the makers are called to stand by their creations and either take the glass and themselves home or present them to the princess themselves.

She takes them politely as she can, giving bitter smiles to the ones she had rejected before who now are cocky she has chosen their art. She’s sure now they paid someone else to do it.

One of the favorites she picked is given to her by a person masked in a green cloak and a mask that covers their mouth. She catches a glimpse of their bright green eyes underneath the hood. They are full of mischief and mirth and she finds herself watching as they walk away.

--

Svetlana has her doubts about the second task, though her stomach grumbles regardless. She enters the dining hall and eyes all the bowls of food placed at each seat. Some look better than others but Hovězí guláš is her favorite.

As she’s been told, the contenders have made the food from the start. They have slaughtered the cow themselves, and the peppers and onion grown from their own gardens. They have baked and prepared the dumplings with provided wheat but nothing more.

The kitchen had been offered for those too far away and the spices just in reach for those who wished to make one. Her stomach rumbles just enough for her to hear and with a sigh she decides to try the food made for her. A hand maiden with a cup of water follows just in case.

Some she spits out right away as the beef slices are either full of fat or raw entirely. Some are too tough and the ones with decent meat are kept around. The onions and peppers have been seared enough for her regardless. The dumplings provided difficult for all but two dishes.

The sauce sells her one a few of them. The spices not enough to burn her tongue but enough for the flavor she adores. The five main dishes she picks are claimed and she’s excited to know her suitor in the green cloak stays for dinner.

They eat at the table with her father at the head talking about the week break they will take, a ball held to see how well they handle the high society the princess surrounds herself in. She catches the eye of the green suitor and the glow in their eyes as they lock on her.

Svetlana smiles to them and the glow they hold grows brighter.

--

“Father this is boring,” Svetlana complains and has danced with no one. Her father can only sigh and bow his head to those who greet him and his lovely daughter. Every time a suitor comes to her, including some that she actually chose based off her father’s requirements, she rejects them.

She only has eyes for her green suitor right now, trying to find them in the crowd. Her entire demeanor brightens when she spots them by the wall with their clothing still a rich green and their hood gone. She leaves who ever is talking right away to go to them.

“Are you enjoying the festivities?” She asks the suitor. They glance up at her but say nothing. A mask is over their face that only shows their brilliant eyes that look at her fondly. More than any of the others who have come her way.

They bow low and Svetlana smiles beside herself. When they hold out their arm she takes it happily. There are a few gasps as she’s taken to the middle of the dance floor but her green suitor is gentle and she swears she can feel them smirking from behind their mask.

Regardless of the words they do not speak, Svetlana has made her choice.

--

“Are you mad!?” Svetlana rounds on her father as she is shown the pit where her chosen five are standing. He simply shrugs.

“They have to prove they can protect you,” He says and a bell is sounded. Svetlana turns just in time to see them all lunge for each other. She pushes past a few people but guards hold her back to keep her safe. She’s forced to watch from a safe landing as they hurt each other.

Her green suitor holds their own, sweeping their legs and making sure the others are more focused on each other. When someone really goes for them, they are quick to dodge and strike them from behind when they carelessly exposed themselves.

When it’s just the green suitor and another rude rejected suitor are left Svetlana almost thinks she’ll be safe when they tackle the green suitor to the ground. She gasps hard as they are pinned and punched, their mask being ripped off and the whole world stills.

The green suitors eyes are bright and bloodshot with a fire lit underneath. They wipe at their nose that is bleeding hard and their hair is dirty and wavy. Feminine features grace them and no one moves. Except for them, when they swing a leg around to knock the other off and then pin them down.

The crowd erupts into confusion as the green suitor manages to knock the other unconscious and therefor out of the running. Svetlana manages to rip away from her guards and down to the pit where her green suitor stands rugged with blood and dirt covering them.

She cares no for her dresses as she goes to them, taking their face in her hands and checking for big damage.

“You fought for me,” Is all she can think so say. Her green suitor smiles in a smirk that Svetlana had imagined on them since the beginning. Their shirt is partly ripped and the curvature of their chest clearly shows they are no man.

“That can’t be allowed!” Svetlana jerks away from the rejected suitor, now conscious, sadly. Svetlana stands tall with her chosen suitor, them wrapping an arm around her protectively.

“She’s a woman!” They cry.

“So?” Svetlana asks of them. It dumbfounds the others and she turns to her father who watches in silence.

“Father I chose them!” She announces, holding their hand tight. Her father strokes his face in thought, waving a hand for her and them to follow. Refusing to let go Svetlana guides her suitor inside. Her heart races when they place a soft kiss to her hand.

--

Seeing her spouse dressed in the bright green they wear so well, Svetlana’s heart beats with joy. They please the crowd with smiles and yet still manage to send smirks her way. Emma proved herself worthy of being her spouse and future king. The uproar of her being a woman took some by storm but she had completed the tasks to the best skill. There could be no other.

“My dear,” Emma greets as she takes Svetlana’s hand gently. Svetlana smiles sweetly and allows herself to be guided to the dance floor. The crowd smiles on just like they did at their wedding day.