I Like Her

"Lady Sigrid! Please believe me when I say that I am at a loss myself at the Prince's words or how it was that he got to me at the exact time you were away," said Beth in a bid to alleviate herself from the Court lady's possible suspicions.

The situation Sigrid had bumped in on them in, was the kind that would naturally warrant her to conclude that Beth was bantering words with the Prince.

It was thoughts like this that had prompted Beth's swift response to Sigrid's question. But what IF the Court lady had already formed her opinion?

"Be calm and talk to me milady. What do you mean by those words Elizabeth? Please tell me why the Prince Aldrich had come here in the first instance," requested Sigrid in a concerned tone; one that soothed Elizabeth's internal worries.

"Thank you for demanding to hear me out Court lady, I will get on with my response... straight from the beginning."

"Yes, please." urged the Court lady.

Her eagerness was getting the most of her as it were.

Whilst settling her gaze entirely on the maiden's parting lips, the Court lady listened attentively to catch every explanation Beth possibly had to give with regard to her situation with the Prince a little while back.

Elizabeth began...

"The Prince came by here and requested to know my name. I told him my name and place of birth as well. But then he asked if I liked pink roses-"

"He did?"

"Yes lady Sigrid," answered Elizabeth.

"Well... Do you?" asked Sigrid.

Elizabeth gave off a puzzled look.

"Lady Sigrid, please kindly unfold the meaning of your question in the language I can understand," pleaded Elizabeth.

"Silly girl! I'm asking if you actually do like pink roses."

IF I like pink... roses? But why should she ask me this? This is not the most pressing matter at this time. My worry lies with the Queen's request and how I can possibly avoid it without having to face undue punishment for disappointing Her Majesty.

Aye! My poor heart! Life in the Castle is indeed a tough one. Cried Elizabeth inside her head.

Next she decided to speak up.

"Kind lady Sigrid! I— This is not the actual— what he said to me is by far more pressing than-"

At this point, Beth hushed from attempting to explain further once she had caught the Court lady's stare. It wasn't a pleasant gaze.

It was enough for Beth to deduce that she[Sigrid] did not appreciate dillydally or going about in circles before her already-asked question was duely offered a sensible reply to, by Elizabeth.

'So far this is the kindest person to me in this place,' contemplated Elizabeth.

'Getting her crossed with me is a No-No!'

"In response to your question kind lady Sigrid, I love flowers and plants of any and every specie."

"You do?" asked the Court lady rhetorically before beaming a respectful smile at Elizabeth.

But why?

"Yes, I do!" re-affirmed Elizabeth.

"That's good. It speaks a lot of your aura, Elizabeth and you do have a beautiful one."

"Thank you truly, lady Sigrid. You are very kind!" applauded Elizabeth.

"So, tell me now. What did-"

"Yes lady Sigrid. The Prince Aldrich came by here to inform me of the Queen's invitation to a Royal banquet—tonight." Elizabeth revealed in a bit of a rush.

Wait! That was it? That was the reason for the drama I witnessed a short while back? But it is an exciting news indeed! Rejoiced the Court lady, internally.

While Sigrid took a minute to digest the information, Elizabeth was observant enough to notice the glow on Sigrid's face which depicted one of gleefulness.

This alarmed Elizabeth.

Yet, she waited on the Court lady to be the first to speak.

"But why milady! That is a brilliant news. You should be happy about the Queen's invitation to dinner, Elizabeth.

I can assure you she would most likely never repeat such a honourable request in a hundred more years to come to you perhaps or to anyone else...

Unless it's her one other favourite person in the world apart from her son Aldrich." Sigrid hushed from divulging further information.

However, Elizabeth's mind wandered...

There is such a person like that who the Queen cherishes? And this person is not the current King I suppose? Or else won't the Court lady have gone ahead to mention his name? Also... Is the Court lady Sigrid indirectly saying that I should feel special about the Queen's invitation?

Even so, the timing is wrong!

"Kind lady that is where the problem lies. I appreciate the Queen's benevolence but I can't honour the invitation because I should be on my way back home already but the Prince suddenly became violent and said such intimidating words to me."

"Hush now! You shouldn't be utterly careless with your words around here." Sigrid said to Beth then she shot a glance at her before adorning her[Sigrid's] face with a heart-warming smile.

"Come with me, Elizabeth. In a matter of time a lot more would be made clearer for you to understand. But for now, let us attend to your stomach at once!"

After these words, the Court lady gently reached out for Elizabeth's arm and tucked it in hers before they began to pave their way back inside the Castle.

Elizabeth, surrendered herself to be led inside the Castle though willingly but had a puzzled expression painted across her face, still.

——

Prince Aldrich, on the other hand, was headed for his mother— the Queen's room once he had departed from the Castle's garden.

He knew that he needed to see Queen Athena to inform her of the foolish move he had just made and his reasons for cooking up such a lie.

Knowing his mother so well, as well as his Uncle—Duke Wauter (who should be by the Queen's side by this time), Aldrich knew the information would get both of them furious for a bit.

However, he had chosen to maintain the possibility of both their anger dying down once he had truly explained himself enough to make them see reasons with him.

Moreover, has the decision not already been made and the information passed across to the maiden in question—Elizabeth?

Therefore he was willing to take his chances with his mother and uncle by enlightening them about the news.

By now, Aldrich had passed by two hallways already and for every two steps he took, he got distracted by handmaidens or Royal guards throwing greetings at him every now and then.

He'd deliberately ignored them because his mind was flooded with flashes of the conversation he'd just had with Elizabeth back at the garden.

Her courage offended him.

"Such insolence! Telling me 'No'; a buttressing NO to the Queen's invitation with so much audacity." Aldrich mumbled out loud while he walked steadily.

Then he halted in his stride and let out some eerie laughter.

'That maiden... her curiosity gets me the most. Hm. But I LIKE HER. You'll be seeing more of me Elizabeth. More of me until you reveal to me what you saw that day in Briceus's room that led him to have you imprisoned.

We shall see!'

A few minutes more, Aldrich was standing before Queen Athena's room, prepared to knock on the door.

After taking a minute to re-strategize his explanation in his head, the Prince finally reached out for but hesitated in knocking on the door.

He then concluded to shout his arrival instead from his end of the door other than bothering himself with the act of knocking.

"Mother! It's me Aldrich! Can I come in?"