c++ project advice

I am interested in doing a small project where I write a screen that allows me to update and retrieve information from a database using c++. The update/retrieve screen would preferably be a windows screen. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive or free database package that has a simple api that works well with c++? Thanks.

I've used mySQL in the past and found that it works well.

I second the motion for mySQL: great, fast and commonly used so there're lots of docs on it.