Rules, Peonies, And Ruses

"Sophia dear," Julia said, all smiles.

Sophia beamed, embracing her grandmother, "Grandmere."

Seeing as grandmere was all smiles, Sophia partly assumed she'd seen her and Nicholas waltz last night. That, or she had read the tabloids; she always seemed to know everything.

"Did you have fun at the ball last night, dear?" Julia asked.

"Fun?" Sophia asked, blinking at the sudden, unaccounted question.

"Whatever could you mean, grandmere?" Sophia questioned.

Julia - grandmere to Sophia - chuckled.

"Despite the fact I was kept occupied by those vulgar people that managed to score themselves the title as royal and deem themselves friends of mine," Julia started, her voice bitter.

"It was more than evident that you and Nicholas had an enjoyable time, waltzing at your ball" she said, sounding ecstatic for her granddaughter.

Yet, feeling all this happiness made her oblivious to how this was incredibly unrealistic.

'Seeing as grandmere hadn't brought up anything else, I'm in the clear,' Sophia said with a relieved sigh.

The last thing she wanted was to be teased along with a man she'd just met. Then again, they were keeping up a ruse whereas the both of them would pretend to be madly in-love just to keep their grandmother who was playing matchmaker - and failing horribly, for that matter - happy.

The things she'd do for her grandmother were insurmountable. Case in point being this entire ruse.

All she had to do was endure one long, dreaded conversation with grandmere.

Boy, was she in for one hell of a ride.

_

"How's Julia?" Nicholas asked as he and Sophia strolled the palace gardens, arm in arm.

"Peachy," Sophia answered vaguely. Her last conversation with Julia had gone… as expected, not that that was a good thing.

"And what's got you in a foul mood, your grace?" Nicholas asked unnecessarily, seeing as he was the one with the higher title. One he had no intentions of bragging or using to gain a higher advantage.

Sophia grumbled through gritted teeth, "If you must know, I had to lie to those I hold close to me, my brother, and my grandmother, Louis, and of course, Julia. And why it'd be a big deal to me is because I absolutely despise lying unless absolutely necessary."

Nicholas didn't seem to be concerned.

"It's a given considering the lies we are to use in the future to cover this entire ruse up, is it not," he reasoned.

"Besides, we have more pressing matters at hand," he reminded Sophia.

Sophia sighed. Why'd he have to always be right.

"We do," she agreed unwillingly whilst stroking some nearby peony buds - Julia's favorite flower that she had grown in the palace gardens.

"So… on the topic of establishing our rules," Nicholas started.

Sophia already had something in mind.

"First of all, no telling anyone it's a ruse," Sophia said, averting his gaze.

Nicholas agreed.

"Of course."

"Balls, picnics, luncheons, any gatherings in general are a must," he added.

"And along with that, we must seem as if we're in love or courting throughout all gatherings," Nicholas said matter-of-factly.

Sophia asked offhandedly, "And what else, having to send each other lavish gifts in order to prove or express our 'undying love' for each other?"

Nicholas seemed to have liked the idea.

"Meaningful gifts, you mean?" He asked.

"You're kidding," Sophia said, not expecting him to have taken the idea seriously.

'But it is a good idea,' he mumbled, although his face remained as stoic as ever.

Sophia didn't comment on that, moving on to the next rule.

"Next rule," she said, before Nicholas cut her off.

"None of us can be seen courting anyone else, no exceptions," he said, insisting on the rule.

"And why would that be of any matter?" Sophia asked queerly.

"Like you said before, given that either of us would want to wed each other, why would it eventually come to be a problem?" She elaborated.

She hadn't known why she had asked such a question, since she didn't believe in love, she wouldn't have someone else to wed or court.

Nicholas pursed his lips. There was definitely something on his mind that he refused to say aloud. She just didn't know what.

"Because it would put the plan in shambles, and Julia…"

Sophia surmised that Julia would've been devastated.

By looks alone she seemed delighted seeing the two dance last night.

She nodded grimly.

"You're right," Sophia said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"As always," Nicholas said, his voice cool and confident.

Sophia bit her lip, wanting to ask something she'd been wondering for quite a while.

"Nicholas," she said, before correcting herself, "Your royal highness."

Nicholas turned his gaze over to Sophia.

Twined in her hairs were daisies, and in the sunlight, she looked purely radiant in a pink floral print bodycon mini dress with puffed sleeves; paired with gold hoop earrings, and a pair of cute pastel pink flats along with it.

"Yes?" He asked, taking his eyes off of her, his voice causing Sophia to shudder ever so slightly.

She'd been trying not to look at him and his darned good looks.

He looked amazing in a sky blue casual long-sleeved button-down shirt with his sleeves rolled up and his hair neatly combed. He could've worn ragged clothing and looked just as good - to her, at the very least.

"What would happen if any of the rules were broken?" She asked.

"Or worse, if the entire deal was exposed for what it truly was, a ruse for Julia's sake?"

Nicholas pursed his lips.

"If that were to happen…"

He couldn't find a proper answer. He too didn't know what he'd do, or what to say if that would've happened. He hoped that whatever Sophia and him would go on to do would never be exposed as a ruse. It would be catastrophic, the damage done.

"I suppose I'm to return to Sanguis since Julia would no longer want me to stay."

"And I'd cut off all contact with you and the rest of your family, as she'd want me to."