"Let's see if you have the guts to do that on a battle field," Julianna murmured after her brother left.

"Here," the prince said, examining her cheek, "does it hurt?"

"No, I am a vain, spiteful, unholy creature who is incapable of feeling pain," she replied sarcastically.

She sealed herself up again, the prince thought. He needed to find a way to penetrate her defenses. With a tenderness that she had never seen before, the prince leaned down, and lightly kissed her sore cheek.
"I don't know if that will help, but it may be a start," he whispered.

Julianna hissed her breath imbetween her lips, and was about to reply when her mother stormed in.

"Oh, how lovely! You two make a perfect couple!" she exclaimed.

At that, Julianna wrenched herself away from the prince and stood at least ten feet away from him, her arms crossed over her chest, her face fixed in an expression of pure distaste. He swore under his breath; she had sealed herself away yet again.