Ilyana had been preparing for this day for weeks.
The tutors had drilled her on proper etiquette. Her mother had made her practice her curtsy until her legs ached. Her father had sat her down just this morning and reminded her, very seriously, that this alliance was important. That she needed to make a good impression.
"He's a beast-kin prince," her father had said. "He may look different. Act different. But you will be kind to him, Ilyana. Do you understand?"
She had nodded, even though her stomach had been twisting with nerves.
As a way to strengthen their alliance, both kingdoms of man and beast-kin agreed to a marriage between them. Between Corvus, the young prince of the Northern Beast Territories, and Ilyana, princess of Aradia.
One of the conditions of said betrothal, was that one of them would be sent to the other's place for a full year to learn about their ways and cultures.
Lots had been drawn, and Corvus had been chosen to go the human kingdom.
Ilyana waited for the beast prince to arrive, standing in the grand receiving hall in her best dress.
She pictured a monster. Something with fangs and claws and burning red eyes. Something that would growl and snarl.
The doors opened, and a boy walked in.
He was tall, taller than any of the boys at court, with messy and slightly curly black hair. He wore travel-worn clothes that were clearly meant to be formal but had gotten rumpled on the journey.
And he looked... nervous.
His eyes, gold, and actually kind of pretty, swept across the room before landing on her.
Ilyana's father stepped forward with a diplomatic smile. "Prince Corvus. Welcome to—"
But the boy wasn't looking at her father. He was staring directly at Ilyana, his expression somewhere between panic and confusion.
Her father continued talking, saying something about alliances and mutual benefit and blah blah blah. Ilyana barely heard it. She was too busy staring back.
He had spots. Faint leopard spots across his neck that disappeared under his collar. And when he shifted his weight, she saw claws instead of fingernails.
A beast, her mind supplied. He really is a beast.
But he also looked like he wanted to bolt out of the room.
Finally, her father stopped talking and gestured toward her. "This is Princess Ilyana. Your betrothed."
Corvus's eyes widened slightly. He opened his mouth, closed it. Then, very stiffly, he bowed.
It was possibly the most awkward bow Ilyana had ever seen.
"Um," he said. "Hello."
His voice cracked halfway through the word.
Ilyana bit her lip to keep from giggling. He looked mortified.
"Hello," she replied, dropping into her practiced curtsy. At least hers was graceful.
When she straightened, he was still staring at her with those wide gold eyes.
"You're... small," he blurted out.
There was a long, painful silence.
One of the advisors coughed. Her mother made a strangled sound.
Corvus's face went red, and she could see it even under the spots. "I didn't mean—that came out wrong—I just meant—"
"You're tall," Ilyana said, trying to help.
"I know. I mean yes. I am. Tall." He was somehow turning even redder. "Sorry."
"It's okay."
"I'm not usually this—" He gestured vaguely at himself. "—bad at talking."
"It's your first time here," she offered. "It's probably nerve-wracking."
"Very," he admitted, then looked horrified that he had said it out loud.
Her father cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should let the young people get acquainted. Princess Ilyana, why don't you show Prince Corvus to the gardens?"
It was phrased as a suggestion, but it was clearly a command.
"Yes, Father." She glanced at Corvus. "Would you like to see the gardens?"
He nodded quickly. "Please."