Royal Chapter 7

[Blanchard Palace, Kingdom of France]

"How long will you stay here?"

I was brushing my long blonde hair while looking at myself in the mirror of the dressing table. I'm preparing myself to sleep when Eulalie knocked on the door and visited me here.

She looks pretty simple in her satin blue nightgown with her wavy long brown hair let down. I look at her reflection in the mirror I am facing. She is sitting in the bed behind me.

"Maybe, a day after tomorrow."

Honestly, I really don't know. I am here just because I was tagging along to my brother. I didn't know that the business I thought that is much important than a council meeting to him all along is just a palace visit to see a princess whom he adores.

"Oh, I see. I've never heard your brother's name from my sister ever. How did they get to know each other? Did you know about this? How long?" I turn around to face her. I can see how she's confused enough that she manages to visit me late at night just to feed up her curiosity.

"To be very honest, I didn't know at all. I was not in my right mind when he asked me to go here. I thought it's for business. This is also the first time I saw Tier being shy in front of someone." She laughed.

"I thought your brother had an eye for me. Turned out I was wrong and I'm embarrassed to myself for having such assumptions like that." Then she laughed again. I raised my eyebrows and shockingly went to the bed to sit next to her. I didn't know about this!

"Oh goodness, Eulalie. Did you like my brother? Not just any of my brothers, but with Tier?" She awkwardly smiles at me while nodding slowly.

"Why you didn't tell me? I could have helped you!"

"I wasn't sure of my feelings though. But it's okay. I'm okay. Maybe, he really is meant for Blaire. Not for me." I see her eyes narrowed down, looking disappointed.

I never saw my best friend like this before. I know we don't see each other often, but I still keep in touch with her through letters and she always sounds happy in her letters for me.

I get sad the moment I realized how she felt with what she saw earlier. If I am her, I'll probably get mad and not talk to the person I like for some time. I'll definitely be bitter about his happiness and also, feel insecure to the one he truly likes. I hold Eulalie's hands as she lifts her head to see me.

I may not erase the negative feeling she's feeling right now but I still want to at least try my best comforting her. Having a title of being her best friend will be such a waste if I don't do something to make her feel alright again, even the slightest.

"I'm sorry, Eulalie. I wish you find someone better than my one of a hell brother. I'm always here for you, wishing for your happiness always." I smile to her, assuring her she hasn't lost anything other than giving up on her potential romantic life.

"I'm wishing for your happiness too, Ana. I can feel how you totally disagreed your engagement with the Prince of Netherlands but I hope, you see something in him that will change your mind." I frowned from what she said. Did she just tell me to just accept my engagement with that annoying prince?

"What? I don't want to talk about it, Eulalie. He can have everything except my life and mind his own business." I irritatedly said. Why did she just ruin the mood? And I thought she will side with me. I let go of her hands and go back to my dressing table. Still irritated.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, Ana. I just want you to try and be nice to him. Maybe you can see something in him as everybody sees in him. I got a chance talked to him before when we visit the Netherlands. He was nice. What made you hate him?" Eulalie said in her soft voice, convincing me.

I took a deep breath and ask myself before answering her. Ana, what's wrong about him? Let's see.

He's kind of annoying when I met him in the Centertown. Since then, I haven't talked to him again. I don't even want to be near him. His presence annoys me. But everyone says he's a good guy, which I don't really think so. I don't want to believe so.

"He's annoying."

"That's it? People are always annoying when you first met them but it doesn't mean they'll be annoying forever. Have you spoken to him inside your palace?" She's wrong. There are people who annoy you without any reason at all. He is like that to me. I bet, with or without the engagement, he is still annoying for me.

"Why have you so many questions, Eulalie? I said I don't want to talk about him. I came to visit you and have fun with you, don't ruin it." She laughed and stood up. I can see her in the mirror as she walks towards me and hugs me from behind.

"I'm sorry, Ana. I was just curious. You'll get married soon and I want to make sure you'll marry a person whom you're happy to spend your life with. Also, ruining your mood tonight is not my intention for visiting you." I nodded to her and sneered.

"Well, I should go. Good night, Ana. I hope he changes your mind someday. Oh! Let's roam around Paris tomorrow."

"Fine. Good night, Eulalie. I'll see you tomorrow." I said not looking at her.

I'm putting powder to my face while looking in the mirror. I'm so upset that I didn't mind her leaving the room. After she left, I heave a deep sigh and stare at myself in the mirror.

"Get a hold of yourself, Luana. You're being irrational. You shouldn't be like this," I said to myself and shakes my head to erase the negative thoughts before I go to bed.

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Kadline's POV [Garden of Fleur, The Great Palace, Matias Kingdom]

"Have you seen my sister?"

I asked the first guard I saw in the Garden of Fleur. I haven't seen her since this morning. I wonder where she went. I have plans for her today.

"I'm sorry, your highness, but I have not." I dismissed him.

I went to her bedroom earlier and even her maids aren't there. Where is she? I promised Prince Dominique that they will have tea this morning in the gazebo. What will I say to him if I don't find her any minute now?

I am walking around the garden when I saw Olivia, one of her maids, picking flowers and putting it in the basket. I walk towards her and tap her shoulder. She turns around and when she sees me, she immediately curtsied.

"Princess Kadline, what can I do for you?"

"Where is Luana? Did she went somewhere outside the palace?"

"Ah, yes, your highness. Milady and Prince Lothair went to the Kingdom of France yesterday to visit the Blanchard Palace. That is all I know."

"When will they come back?"

"I'm sorry but I don't know your highness."

What? And she didn't tell me? I thanked her for the information and walk the way back to the palace. How should I tell Prince Dominique that her fiancé is nowhere inside the kingdom? Argh, Luana, you're giving me a headache.

I am clouded with my thoughts when I heard someone called my name. I turn to the direction where I heard my name and saw the person I want to see the least today. What is he doing here early in the morning? I don't remember having him to visit me today.

"You look like you have lots in your mind. How are you today, my Princess?" I can feel my face blushed when he called me that.

"What are you doing here, Prince Lucius?"

"I came to visit you."

"Really?" I smiled. He really knows how to makes me smile. He walks towards me and stops an inch in between.

"Actually, I was just tagging along to my friend who wishes to see Prince Lucifer. I bet they're speaking to each other now." I giggled at the thought of him finding me first instead of escorting his friend.

"Do you like some tea while waiting for your friend?"

I guess my preparation in the gazebo won't be put to waste after all. I'll just tell Prince Dominique that Luana went somewhere can't make it to their tea today. Well, it is true that promises are meant to be broken anyway. I hope he understands.

"Yes, please."

-----

"How about we talk about business today? Would that be alright?"

We are sitting across each other in a table I prepared, which was supposed to be for Prince Dominique and Luana but my sister is not around. As I planned earlier, I sent a message to Prince Dominique that the tea is cancelled today. I also asked Alfonso to take Prince Dominique with him to do something fun that will distract him from finding my sister today. I hope it all went successfully.

"It's alright for me but I don't think it's the same for you, my Princess." He calmly said as he puts back the teacup in its saucer. I look at him confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard about the engagement of your sister to the Prince of Netherlands. He is a good friend of mine as well."

"Stop beating around the bush, Prince Lucius. What does it have to do with you?" I sipped at my tea carefully.

"I plan to get married after his marriage." I almost choke when I heard the word 'married'. Good heavens! With whom?!

I cough nonstop, holding the handkerchief to my mouth with my hand and the other in my chest. Prince Lucius rushed over to my place to give me a glass of water and caressed my back until I stopped coughing.

"Are you fine now, Kadline?"

I slapped his hand to refrain touching me. How dare he touch a woman without permission and especially, him being committed to someone else.

"You're getting married? With whom?!"

I am frustrated enough to myself to not think about this before I met him. I was so occupied with the thought that he's a bachelor and not engaged to someone. It all makes sense why he was so gentle to women because he has a fiance already! How foolish of me to not expect such things like this!

"I am not yet---"

"Don't lie to me! You just said you're getting married!"

"No! Kadline, listen---"

"How dare you tell me you liked me when you're already committed to someone? How could you do that?" Too much frustration got my eyes wet and I'm too embarrassed to let him see me cry. I turn around, ready to walk away when he stopped me by pulling my hand back to face him.

"Wait! I think you caught the wrong idea." I frowned. Now, he's going to cover up the truth with his lies. I don't want to listen.

"At what part I am wrong?" looking at him, angrily.

"That I'm getting married already."

"Lucius, I clearly heard---"

"I just said I am planning to. I didn't say I already found the woman I want to get married with." That hits me.

"But I think my search is over."

"What do you mean?" He reached my face and wipes my tears that flowed down earlier. I'm getting calmer. It feels like his touch made all my worries and bothering thoughts go away.

"Looking at you, being mad about the thought I'm engaged with someone else is enough for me to know one thing," he slowly smiled at me genuinely, "You're in love with me."

My eyes widened when I heard that. I'm in love with him? What mockery is that? I was just upset for being too careless---

"And I love you too."

Good heavens! he's... he's in love with me? My heart.. why does it beat so loudly? I almost got deaf. I can also feel my face heating up. And his genuine smile, why does everything about him looking sparkly? What is this weird feeling?

Is this love? I wish it's not. I don't think I'm ready for this.

"Please marry me, Kadline."