Yesterday they lined up all the boys to give them a good talking to. After all, when you're about to ask the head priest's daughter for her hand, you must do it the right way.
But of course, they'd only line up the boys, and not the girls who glance and flirt and trail the tips of their fingers along wet gowns when bathing. It's known that Victoria will kiss anyone who can tame her curls, and Alice leaves violets for those she fancies. Even a pig recognize that Jacob and Peter have been making eyes at each other for about two summers, and that Matti only longs for books. Harold's true love is venison, and though he could be won over digestively, Emi is really trying to move towards vegetarianism.
So they told the boys how to carry themselves and some listened in desperate eagerness and earnest and a few planned pranks, and anyone worth their salt could tell it was a disaster. This morning, the local girls dressed the boys in flowers, as is strange tradition, but then a few joined the line and fairly glowed in their blue linen and lemony cinnamon licorice hair, dripping with petals.
The king laughed and the head priest smirked in bemusement, as it is every year. And Emi gazed, bored and silent to every proclamation, gift, and oath. Yet a fourth year had passed without a chosen suitor. Courtyard emptied, and I drew near her chair as well.
"I have no strange and beautiful art to exhibit or exotic sweet to taste. I do not seek what you will not eagerly give, and I will not ask you to be my wife, but I'd very much like to be your friend ifthatwouldbeokaywithyouthanks."