Stan grumbled as he pulled on his boots; "I can't believe I am doing this." He heard the door to his room open and knew it was his baby sister that was standing there. "Stan, where are you going to?" Stan wiped the frown from his face as he turned to answer her. Rachel his baby sister stood and watched him with somber eyes. He knew what it cost her to stand there. She has been ill with an unknown sickness and there is no money to do proper diagnosis and treatment. Well, he was adopted by Rachel's parents before they gave birth to her. The sickness drains her energy within minutes of little exertion. He reminded himself of the reason why he needed to respond to the princess's summon.
The princess needs a husband and she must chooses herself, the man's background notwithstanding. Stan pecked Rachel on the cheek and said; "I will do anything for you because I love you that much. I don't like this idea of parading myself before a spoilt brat but I can take it for you". Stan went to the palace and he was bewildered that the palace was filled with men of all caliber.
While he stood in a corner, the princess walked up to him and told him "you are the one". Stan was perplexed. Him how? He has not even done anything and "he is the one?"
A loud announcement was made that appointments would be made for some offices in the kingdom and the young men would be chosen because of a stellar act in the past. Stan heard his name and looked at where the princess stood and remembered.
She was the young girl he saved from three men that were tearing her clothes after they had kidnapped her from the castle. He had fought them and almost lost his life in the process. The royal army came in the nick of time to save the princess but they didn't see him lying in his pool of blood after intercepting the rogues. Stan had forgotten but obviously the princess felt it's time to reward him.
-victoria Ukpaka