Aria is safe. Father treats our people kindly, many of the once non-H (non human) species enjoys my father's presence and supports his power over the land, we normally get along with one another minus the occassional disputes and such. Unlike the other provinces, there is nothing wrong with ours and for now, we are fine. 

I am Alice Cross, the youngest and only daughter of the Cross family. We are a family of a long aristocratic lineage and are well known among other families as kind rulers who are fair to the people of their province. My father, Grand Duke Cross and my mother, the Grand Duchess, holds a lot of power in the royal courts and are always heard out in royal meetings. That title was given to my family centuries ago by the previous King and as of now, we are the only family that holds such a title. Our province is Aria: a spacious, forestry filled land that is-- although behind on technilogical development, excels greatly in medical herbs and fine wood. Although it may seem that our province isn't that special, we are located near the bay and thus prepared many docks for trade with foreign neighbors. You can say we are smiliar to a trade market like province, well the cities near the ocean that is. Our province is normally peaceful, the people finding no reason to cause trouble but it happens.

My brother, Alexander, has already been wed and is following my father's footsteps into becoming a Grand Duke. Although he will most likely be tested by the other Dukes of the other provinces, I have faith my brother will do fine. As for myself, I am already 19, I have been the topic of many possible bachellors and their families. Bearing such "prestige" blood, or how so many people love to call it, I have become the apple to many males eyes. Many come and visit our estate, hoping to fancy me but they all are just the same: bland and boring. Although it would make my parents ecstatic to witness me interested in one of the possible bachellors, it is simply impossible. Many times, during dinner, my mother would bring up how the earlier bachellor seemed like a nice fellow and I do take into appretiation her concern over my matrial status but I cannot find a care for someone who is only "nice". I do not wish for someone who is "nice". Rather, I want someone who is everything but it. And woe be me that it is nearly impossible to find a suitible man that qualifies to be my spouse who is not "nice".

"Alice," Mother began as we sat at the dining table, the food being set out before us by the servants. "I think your father and I may have found a very suitable bachellor for you."

"Both you and father agreed on him?" Alexander teased. Father was always so hesitant on me being married. He always said I needed to marry an Arch Duke and Alexander had already married the daughter of Arch Duke Stein. As far as my knowledge went, there was no Arch Duke bachellors for me to marry. 

"Yes Alexander, your father and I both agreed on this. You see, not too long ago, there has been a new Duke of Vlascu, I believed their surname was Jung. Anyways, he was promoted to Arch Duke Jung by the King. However, due to his and his wife's sudden death, Lord bless their souls, their son is now the Arch Duke and from what I have heard, he is quite a stunning man." Mother was smiling widely. She was always excited about me meeting possible suitors but never did I see a grin as big as the one she had now. Now I really felt pressured to like this Arch Duke.

"What happened to the previous Duke--"

"He will be coming tomorrow." Father interrupted me. "This Arch Duke Jung will be arriving here tomorrow. He is to be staying the night at our estate and returning the following morning." Father was bitter about anything that included myself and marriage. Although mother said he had agreed on this new Arch Duke, father's facial expression was still as bitter as always when it came to the topic.

"Yes, he will be seeing you all the way from Vlascu Alice. Oh I do hope you give him a chance." Mother couldn't help but ramble and although I found sincerity in her excitement, she had cut father off from ending the conversation he despised more than sitting in the royal courts for hours during a pointless meeting. "I believe his name is Taekwoon. Ahh, even his name sounds so-- dashing."

"We'll see mother." Was all I could say to end the topic, for both my father and myself. He couldn't be too bad was what I thought. How different could he be from all the other suitors was what I asked. He must be a nice man for father to agree was what I believed.