Royal Chapter 9

Luana's POV (The Blanchard's Palace, Kingdom of France)

It is morning and we're about to take our leave before noon but I can't find my brother. As soon as I finished everything I need to prepare with myself, I immediately walk around the Blanchard Palace to find Tier. I know he has the guts to see Blaire before we leave.

To be very honest, I am one of those people who opposed his feelings towards Blaire. It's not because of what I heard from Eulalie, but also, there's a lot of other reasons that I want to discuss with him. I haven't got a chance last night because he said he needed to verify something so, he told me he will speak to me right before we leave.

I am definitely sure that my brother is one of a hell introverted person I have ever known in my entire existence and that worries me.

After passing to hallways and corridors, my search has been over the moment I saw him in the west wing of the Blanchard Palace, standing firm and staring at the window seriously. It seems like he's watching something from below outside the palace.

"There you are."

He lifts his head and turns to see me coming towards him from the end of the hallway. Any minute from now, our carriage will arrive and we are leaving France to go back to Belgium. The thought of Belgium right now makes me want to just stay here a couple of weeks longer.

I don't want to see that damn prince.

"Does the carriage arrived?"

I shooked my head and stand next to him, who returned to what he was doing before I found him. I look down through the glass window and saw Blaire with her sisters in the ground wearing match made color dresses and hats. She really looks cheerful, innocent, and beautiful every time I lay my eyes on her. I don't feel insecure and jealous though. Her image is like, I want to have her as my sister too.

As my younger sister. Yes, right. She's younger than me.

"What do you want to ask me last night? I just remembered."

"Do you really like her?" I look at him.

He keeps staring down and watching Blaire with another two of her sisters having fun while practising their ballet. I know it because I learned ballet too when I was young. I just stopped practising now because I need to focus on learning politics and foreign languages.

"Am I that obvious?" He chuckled as I nodded. I slightly smiled and remembered even though he's sometimes quiet, he's really soft in the inside.

"Yes, absolutely and honestly, I don't approve of this, Tier." He turns his head to look at me, confused.

"Why? Aren't you in good terms with her and her sisters?"

"She's younger than me. She's only sixteen!" I exclaimed.

"Age doesn't matter, sissy. I love her. I promise her I'll wait for her." He sighed and still watches them sincerely.

"Love has limits. We all know that whenever someone goes beyond the line, he must be ready to face the consequences attached to it. How sure are you that you're not pressuring her?" I may sound angry but I just want him to think about his actions.

"I told you, Ana. I am not pressuring her! I'm willing to wait until she gets ready to want me too." This time, he raised his voice at me and look at me straight to my eyes. I can see the sincerity in him.

"What are you so mad for?"

"I'm just concerned with her---"

"But your eyes say otherwise, my dearest sister. Are you, perhaps, insecure of her because she gets to enjoy her youth while you don't because of your arranged marriage? Tell me what you---" I shockingly slap his hand which is about to hold me in my arm.

How dare he compares me to her?

"Don't touch me! I may have been unhappy with this whole marriage thing in my life but I won't be insecure with any of you who got to enjoy your lives and living with your own decisions without restrictions. I... I have to go." I turn around and walks out of the palace as fast as I can.

I never look behind when he calls my name. I pretended I never heard him. I went out of the palace and just right in time, the carriage arrived and I immediately step in. I am not in my best self today to make amends with him so, I ignored him throughout the journey back to Belgium and reached the Great Palace.

I am welcomed by Kadline but I just told her I'm tired and want to rest in my room. I just passed her and as soon as I reached my room, I opened the door, look around if any of my maids are in here, locks the door when they're not, and throw myself in my bed to cry it all out.

I cried all of the heavy feelings I kept inside ever since the marriage was announced in the dinner and when Tier slapped me with the reality that I won't ever live the life I want for the rest of my life. I admit that I lied, that I'm truly insecure with Blaire.

She gets to enjoy her life freely and as much as she wants without the burden of being married for the sake of alliances. She gets to love the man she chooses that she probably won't regret even if they get married later. Another thing, the personality that she portrays. All of her is so admirable.

I hate myself for being like this sometimes.

What did I do wrong to deserve all of this? 'cause I never asked for this at all.

I wish I'm brave enough to say that to all of them again but I can't. I'm not ready to go beyond the limits. I know someday I will but not right now.

----

Kadline's POV (The Great Palace, Beaumont, Belgium)

"What happened?"

After Luana ran off back to her room with her gloomy aura, the moment I saw Tier approaching me, I asked him immediately.

"She got offended about something. She must be really hurt because she never talked to me the whole journey." Even Tier looks unhappy and regretful. I got more curious about what truly happened.

"I can help if you would tell me what did you do." I offered him but he just sighed and rejected me.

"Much better if you hear it from her. Tell her, I'm really sorry for raising my voice at her. I never meant to." He sadly said and looks really sorry before he left me to rest in his room.

Why do I feel like a bridge these days? Connecting people to make amends with each other. I shouldn't be meddling but they are my siblings and that leaves me no choice.

But I knew Luana too well. At times like this, she just wants to be alone until she felt better. I think I will ask her after tonight.

I was about to go inside when I noticed a carriage approaching the entrance of the palace. It seems familiar and that I've seen that one here before. Think of someone who might be inside that carriage, Kadline.

Goodness! It's her!

I waited for the carriage to stop and the butler opened the carriage's door. A woman in her black and white corset gown, wearing a black lace pearl necklace stepped out. Her hair is in a bun and topped with a black hat. Well, it is not her if she doesn't appear in any black or violet things in her. She fancies gothic things.

"Duchess Isobel Fontaine!" I happily greeted her.

She smiled when she saw me and walk towards me to give me a hug. It's been a week already since I last saw her. I never imagined she will visit today. I'm sure Lucifero will be glad if he hears the news.

She gives me a peck on the cheek as her greetings. She's always lovely despite her taste in fashion. I once misjudge her as a very cold and unapproachable woman the first time I met her in this palace but she's just one sophisticated woman after all. Maybe, that is one of the reasons why Lucifero loved her. That was also the time Lucifero introduced her as the love of his life to Father and Mother. She's quite an impression and I liked her for being like that.

"Is your brother not busy? I'm sorry if I showed up here unexpectedly. I have just arrived from Germany today and I am too excited to see him so, I went here immediately," she said in her soft and calming voice.

"Don't worry, Isobel! You are very welcome here. It will be your new home soon enough. Might as well get used to it and go here often as much as you like." She smiled and thanked me. She's really sweet.

I accompany her all the way to Lucifero's workroom. I knocked before I opened the door and find him sitting in his chair with his glasses on, piles of papers in his table and he's reading seriously. After I called his name, he lifts his head to see us and his face lightens when he lays his eyes behind me.

"I'll let you both catch up and just call you for dinner later."

I exited in the door and walks to the hallways. Maybe, I should visit the vineyard and check the fruits that will depart tomorrow to Lucius' place. I might as well, do something productive today and speak with Ana later.

----

(Dining Hall, The Great Palace)

Dinner came already and everyone is in the Dining Hall to eat. We have Isobel, as she joined Prince Dominique as our guests tonight. On the other hand, Ana surprisingly joined too. She doesn't speak to anyone and just ravishing the food, still with elegance, because we both know we're dead if we forget manners in the table.

"How was your Germany trip, Lady Isobel?" Father, the King, breaks the ice that is building up inside this four-walled room. I can feel it. All of my siblings look gloomy, except of course to Lucifero.

I silently listen to their conversation when Isobel tells the story of all of the influential families she visited there. It's good to know that she's friendly and goes out with a lot of people. The things I can't do because of my royalty position.

Ana finished her food and stood up to excuse herself. I glance at Prince Dominique, who looks worried about Ana. He's not done yet, but he also excuses himself to go after her. Love really makes someone problematic as ever.

"Have you talked to her?" Tier leaned close to me just to whisper these words. I am next to him so, I really have no choice but to talk to him.

"Not yet but whatever the reason behind her gloomy behaviour tonight is all your fault. Fix this as soon as possible before it gets big and might affect her engagement." I whispered back to him.

"Of course, I will." Then I nodded to agree.

We return to eating our food silently. Father is now talking to Erov about the military and I accidentally laid my sight to Isobel. She is drinking water and looking at her opposite direction while Lucifero is busy talking about something to her while slicing his food. I glance at the direction she is looking and finds out it is Alfonso talking to Costello.

Why is she looking to my other brother? Guess, it's just coincidence. I should not bother other people's businesses.

The dinner ended normally like the other nights. I am wearing my nightdress already and decided to visit Ana. I just thought she needs company tonight. Also, I need to ask her a favor for my meeting tomorrow with Lucius.

The quiet night had deepened and it is dark in the hallways as I am expecting a lot of people are off to bed at this minute. I am holding a lamp on my hand and the other one is holding the lower hem of my nightdress for me to walk properly without stepping into it and tumbles.

I heard footsteps coming from the end of the hallway and I don't know why I hide behind the wall and stay here. I look foolish hiding here when maybe they are just guards rounding in the palace but my guts tell me it is someone else.

My assumptions had been confirmed when I heard them whispering to each other. I gasped and did my very best not to release any sound. I carefully listen to them.

"Stop following me, Isobel."

"I won't! How many times did I tell you it is you, Alfie? I don't want your brother, I want you!"

"How many times do I also need to tell you that I don't---"

"Good evening, Your Highnesses."

I want to punish those guards who passed by them and ruined the conversation they were having. They greeted back before Alfonso left Isobel there alone to go to his room. A minute later, she also left. I waited a couple of minutes and make sure that nobody is around anymore before I heaved a deep sigh and stepped out of my hiding place.

Oh no, Alfie, you got yourself in a very complicated mess.