he first prince, Tenth Kingdom's heir, marches down the grand hallway in giant strides... making it difficult for the short, old man to keep up. He is bouncing behind in a hurry. "Jejung. Will you not reconsider? The fifth princess of the Second Kingdom is much more suited for you. She has beauty and grace and—"

"I have made up my mind, old man."

"Perhaps a princess from the Seventh Kingdom? I hear they have much admiration for you and their personality is far better than—"

"I will not be persuaded."

"But... but, why must it be the Lady Xinling? Why? She is trouble. She and her... and her people." The old man seems to fear the lady and her people... a great deal.

"Her activities are... refreshing."

"She is also four years your senior. Please reconsider for the sake of the kingdom."

"Three and a half years." He makes the correction. "But, does it matter? She is so small and cute."

"Jejung... why must it be her? Why?"

The prince turns around, plucks the little man up, and gives him a big kiss. "Because you seem to be most displeased with her, old man. That is why I must have her."

—

"Oh, the heavens... has she been captured again?" The queen of the Eleventh Kingdom, faints upon receiving the usual troubling news concerning her only daughter, Xinling.

The king catches his wife and grunts. "You are exaggerating again, dearest."

"I am not!" The queen's sparkly eyes flutter open in an instant. "Just when we were about to send her off to the Tenth Kingdom, she goes and gets herself captured. This child will be the death of me. Why... what if Prince Jejung of the Tenth Kingdom will no longer have her? This will be the first and last proposal of marriage we will receive!" The queen issues a chilling wail before fainting again.