Chapter 30

Alek was drying his hair when there was a knock at his door.

"What is it?" he asked, annoyed, and Ramas came in.

"I see this assassination attempt has also failed."

Angrily, he looked at his secretary. "Truly funny. You do realize that my fiancée almost drowned today?"

"With respect, I am aware of this. Possibly I should add swimming lessons to the list of courses."

Alek nodded. "Good idea, we will have the lake drained though."

Ramas looked at him, blinking. "Excuse me, you want to have the lake removed? Is this not a bit ... excessive?"

"My fiancée almost drowned in it. I don't think it's excessive at all," he remarked angrily. After all, he couldn't stop her from walking by the lake. She would think he was crazy.

It was new for him to pay attention to a person other than just himself. In shock, he almost jumped into the water too late.

His secretary put on a doubtful look. "I consider Lady Celia mature enough not to allow this to happen again. Besides, women like beautiful sceneries. So possibly you will want to think about it again."

As much as Alek hated to admit it, his fiancée had actually taken a liking to the lake until the accident. He really should wait a little longer with his decision. However, he did not admit this aloud.

He put on a fresh shirt and then walked out of his chamber towards the study. Ramas, always half a meter behind him. "Was the trip otherwise pleasant?" he asked him, as if he knew something Alek didn't.

"Everything was fine until this incident. I just shouldn't have allowed her to come to my side."

Now his secretary was walking beside him. "She wanted to sit next to you?"

The grand duke nodded. "Yes, she probably wanted to try rowing once, too. I used to want to when I was younger."

"You think she's on the same level as a little kid?"

Why that look of disbelief? "Oh, what do I know. It doesn't matter now," he replied angrily, unlocking the door to the study.

He sat down behind the desk and started going through some documents. However, Ramas was still standing in front of his desk and looking at him silently.

At first he tried to ignore it, then he gave up. "What else?!"

"Well, I guess the Lord is fair after all. He may have given you good looks, but no common sense in return."

Alek grabbed a knife and looked at him threateningly. "Anything else?"

"Indeed," the secretary declared happily. Someone has a death wish today.

"A royal invitation came."

"Decline," Alek said, making a dismissive motion.

Ramas sighed. "The invitation is for Lady Celia."

Horrified, Alek stood up. "What are you saying? Who is it from?"

"I heard it must have come from the princess. She's inviting to her monthly tea."

Nervously, Alek paced back and forth a few steps. "That would be social suicide."

Astonished, Ramas clapped his hands. "Bravo, Your Grace! After you wouldn't even get Lady Celia a teacher, I didn't think you'd know."

This time the knife actually flew and landed in the door as usual. "Normally it wouldn't matter either, but men aren't welcome to this event, which means I can't protect her."

His secretary pulled the knife out of the door and took out a cloth towel to clean it. "You could put on a dress and appear for tea as well," he suggested with a serious look.

Dumbfounded, Alek looked at his secretary. "No? Well, it was just a suggestion." Ramas put the knife back on the desk and Alek sat down again. He folded his hands and propped his head on them. "What did Celia say about the invitation?"

"She wants to talk to Duchess Starag about it first and get her opinion."

Very good! The Duchess will convince her to decline the invitation.

"That's all I had to say then," Ramas snapped him out of his thoughts. He made an effort to leave the room, but then stopped again in front of the door. He looked at him sternly and pointed to the door decorated with holes. "This really has to stop."

+++

When Celia sat at the table with her teacher, Duchess Starag, the next day, she did get a little nervous.

She was very curious about the princess' invitation. But in the end, she had to listen to the Duchess, because she knew what was good for her.

Elegantly, the elderly lady put down her teacup without making the slightest noise. "Now say what is on the tip of your tongue Lady Fleuret. It is not proper for a lady to make such a face."

"Forgive me. It's just that I wanted to ask your advice on ... on something. I really do value your...experience."

The Duchess cleared her throat in embarrassment. "Well... as far as this subject is concerned, perhaps we should postpone this until your wedding."

"But the invitation to tea is this month," Celia cried disappointedly, immediately apologizing for her outburst.

"An invitation?"

She nodded. "It came from the princess herself."

The Duchess's eyes widened in surprise. "I see, this is indeed a decision where my opinion is required. While you know the common rules of conduct at tea by now, you still lack experience. I would have preferred you to start with a smaller, less significant invitation."

This almost sounded to Celia as if she might actually be able to go to the castle. She still held back her joy, but nothing escaped the Duchess.

"You may be flattered at the moment, but believe me, this event can mean social death. These ladies will test and challenge you. However, you must never forget that you are superior to each and every one of them by virtue of your status as the future Grand Duchess. The only one who stands above you is the princess herself."

Celia didn't quite understand how a simple invitation to tea could sound like the forging of a battle plan, but she continued to listen intently.

"Well, we'll have quite a bit to learn before then, with only a week to go.

Unfortunately, I myself cannot attend this time, as I had to promise to visit my brother. So you will be entirely on your own."

"Can't Al... the Grand Duke accompany me?" she asked cautiously, as she was now getting a bit scared after all.

Her teacher shook her head. "Men are not welcome there, the rule still came from the Queen when she led this event. Even your fiancé would not dare to defy that rule.

Celia swallowed hard. I have a fiancé who everyone thinks is a bloodthirsty murderer, and then he's not even capable of breaking one little rule.

This was going to be an exhausting week.