Visit to Greavaria: Part III

"You're welcome," Archie forced a smile.

Dylan stood up, "If your Imperial Highness allow me, I will go to bed."

Archie stood up and bowed, "Thank you so much for your company, your highness."

"Have a good night," Dylan cracked a smile.

"Thank you very much. I wish you a good rest."

"Thanks."

Dylan left.

Archie raised his head as he watched him disappear.

"Nut!" he sat down.

Dylan returned to the castle and headed towards his Bedchamber.

He walked in and closed the door.

"Dylan!" Lizha was putting some clothes in the closet.

Dylan threw himself into an armchair.

"How was your day?" asked Lizha.

"Tiring..."

"I couldn't go to the banquet anymore..."

"I get it..."

"So… we didn't have time to talk… Did you manage to think of something?" Lizha kept a cloak in her closet.

"Not yet... But I'm marrying him...for now..."

Lizha stared at him, "Really...? You're a man... And so is he... How are you going to do when it's time to consummate?"

Dylan sighed, "I just talked to him... I made him understands that none of us want to consummate this marriage and he took it well..."

Lizha frowned, "Okay."

"I need sleep," Dylan got up and began to undress, "give me a sleepwear, please."

"Don't you need help getting undressed?" Lizha was taking some clothes out of the closet.

"Of course not... It's not because you're my escort that you have to help me with everything."

"Here you go," Lizha handed him a nightwear.

Dylan received, "Thank you."

He wore the the clothe.

"I need to sleep…" he yawned.

"You'll have a long day tomorrow..." Lizha was making the bed.

"More long than this one?"

"Yes. In the morning instead of attending the council, you will attend a friendly battle between the general of the kingdom and the Emperor's son and later on, both of you will have to attend a show. A circus arrived this afternoon in the kingdom and will stay for two days. Your father wants you to go with the Imperial Highness there. Tickets have already been purchased."

"He is determined to forge a good alliance with the Promor Empire. What else?"

"That's just what Leila shared with me, apart from the daily activities you already know what they are. There, the bed is made."

"Thanks Lizha... You're so sweet," Dylan cracked a smile.

"I've never seen you so tired as today..."

"Yeah... I'm broken..." Dylan went to the bed and laid down.

"Well, I'm leaving... see you tomorrow and goodnight."

"Good night," Dylan closed his eyes and snuggled into bed.

Lizha left.

Archie entered his quarters and slammed the door closing it.

Ian turned back and saw Archie pacing impatiently.

"What is going on?" Ian asked him.

"That nut!" Archie continued to pace.

Ian frowned, "You are talking about... ?"

"I m talking about Dylan Montgomery..." he grimaced.

Ian sighed and went back to writing.

"Who does she think she is? Asking me not to consummate the marriage…?"

"And you accepted?" Ian continued to write.

"Of course I accepted..."

"And now you're all sulky, why?"

"Simply because she doesn't want to consummate the marriage!"

"And you wanted to?" Ian turned back again and looked at him.

Archie rolled his eyes, "Of course not… I just didn't expect her to be straight with me."

"Anyway... Relax... You'll have a busy day tomorrow."

Archie frowned, "What do you mean? And what are you writing?" Archie approached the table where Ian was.

"I am writing a letter to the Emperor. To be delivered in the morning."

Archie took the paper and began to read it.

"As I said, steward shared tomorrow's schedule with me. Tomorrow will be a long day. In this castle they have prayers every day at 7 o'clock. Afterwards, breakfast and we will have it with the royals. While the council is running, you will have a friendly battle with the general here. In---"

"What? Friendly battle? Who decided that?"

"It's a way to occupy you."

Archie sighed, "Whatever! What else?"

"After the battle there will be lunch and finally you and Dylan will see the circus that arrived this afternoon."

"Circus?"

"Yes... It's a shame, I wish I had taken Jeanette to see the circus," Ian sighed.

"And whose idea was that sow and me going to the circus?"

Ian lifted his head and stared at him, "Would you please stop calling the princess that?"

"Okay…whatever you like," Archie held up his arms.

"The king decided that. It seems he is determined to create a good bond between both sides."

Archie hissed, "That barbarian..."

Ian sighed, "Go to sleep..."

"And I will go..."

"Good night," Ian went back to writing the letter.

"Good," Archie left and closed the door.

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Ian entered Archie's room.

"Archie! Wake up!" he went to the foot of Archie's bed and started shaking his body.

Archie pulled back the blanket and covered himself up to his head, "It's still early."

"There was a change of activities in today's schedule. After prayer you will go with the princess to feed the homeless. In return you will have training or friendly battle. In other words, breakfast will be taken after training. And it will be with the princess, as the royal breakfast will take place at the same time that you will be training."

Archie uncovered the blanket and glared at him, "Really?"

"Yes. And after breakfast you guys will go to circus."

Archie closed his eyes and sighed.

Ian headed towards the door "Get up! I'll call Bentley to help you get ready," he walked out of Archie's room.

Archie grabbed a pillow and threw it at the door.

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Archie was at the foot of the carriage waiting for Dylan.

Finally Dylan left the castle.

He wore a pair of red gloves, a red dress with long sleeves and gold accents. And a black cloak over his clothes.

Archie looked Dylan up and down.

Dylan reached the foot of the carriage, "Good morning your Imperial Highness!"

"Good morning your highness!" Archie bowed, "I'm sorry to be so bold. But your highness is stunning," he lifted his head.

Dylan grinned, "Your Imperial Highness is stunning too," Dylan stared at him.

Archie wore a brown tunic and brown pants, black boots, and a black cloak.

"Thank you your highness! Let's go!" Archie held out his hand with a smile on his face.

Dylan took his hand and Archie helped him get into the carriage.

Dylan got into the carriage and then Archie.

The carriage left.

"So how did your highness rest? By the way... Can I call you Dylan?"

Dylan frowned. "That means a no... Sorry for your daring your highness."

Dylan shook his head, "Nothing like that. I was just surprised by the request... I never thought you'd ask me for something like that. You can call me by my first name."

"Thank you Dylan. Therefore, I ask you to call me Archie.

"It's okay Archie," Dylan smiled, "and I happened to rest well. I was very tired yesterday. I didn't know everyday life at the castle was like that. And you, how did you rest?"

"I rested well," Archie replied serenely looking out the window.

He saw four knights escorting the carriage, two ahead and the other two behind.

Dylan took out a small book and began to read it.

Archie heard the sound of paper and looked at her.

Dylan was all intent on reading the book.

"She can read..." thought Archie.

Archie shifted his gaze to Dylan and went back to looking out the window.

The carriage walked, Archie was enjoying the city of the Kingdom of Greavaria, and Dylan was still serenely reading his book.

After fifteen minutes they reached the center of town and the carriage stopped.

"Looks like we've arrived…" Archie looked out the window.

Dylan closed the book and placed it on the seat.

The carriage door opened and Archie was the first to get out.

Then he held out his hand, Dylan took his hand and went out of the carriage.

"Thanks, Archie," Dylan cracked a smile.

"You're welcome your highness... I say Dylan."

Dylan nodded, "Well...you can stay in the carriage... In fifteen minutes I'm done with the distribution."

"Actually I will help you with the food distribution."

Dylan frowned, "It will be of great help. Thanks! Shall we?"

Archie nodded.

They both headed towards a small hand carriage the royalty had prepared to transport their meals through the heart of the city.

They was delivering food to the homeless. Dylan was on the right and Archie on the opposite side.

In front of them were two royal guards and ditto behind them.

Archie was getting up after handing a bowl of food to someone, at the same time he saw Dylan holding the hands of an elderly man.

Dylan seemed to be praying with the old man.

Archie stood there looking at Dylan.

Dylan ended his words with a smile on his face. He turned away and his eyes met Archie's.

Archie quickly looked away, "Don't look...! She is your enemy's daughter! She is also your enemy!"

He quickly went to the hand carriage, took two bowls of food, and went to deliver them.

MHe exchanged some impressions of comfort with the homeless and turned away.

He saw Dylan, all majestic at the foot of hand carriage.

Archie went to meet Dylan.

"I just delivered the last few meals," Dylan watched Archie approach.

"Fine! Then we can go back to the castle."

Dylan looked around, "Of course!"

Both returned to the carriage, first Dylan entered with Archie's help and then Archie.

They waited while the royal guards packed the hand carriage.

"You seem very familiar with distributing food to the homeless. It's not the first time you've done this, is it?" Archie asked curiously.

Dylan looked out the window, "It's true! At the convent we gave people meals every Monday. And in some cases we prayed for them."

"I see," Archie said coolly.

Finally the carriage started to move.

I should really talk to her to find out about her weaknesses... I have to find out how to break her heart..., thought Archie.

Dylan picked up his book, "Do you mind?"

Archie shook his head, "No. And what book is this?"

"It's a book about Christian literature..." Dylan didn't take his eyes off the book.

The carriage suddenly went wrong and Archie fell on Dylan, catching his chest.

Both eyes crossed.

Dylan was confused and Archie was embarrassed.

"Oh sorry!" Archie quickly backed away from him.

"It was nothing," Dylan said, forcing a smile and covering him with the cloak.

Dylan looked at his book, pretending to read it, Did he notice I have no breats? he wondered.

Archie looked out the window again, Shame on me! I grabbed her chest…, Archie wondered.

The carriage door was opened, "Excuse me, your highness Dylan and your imperial highness Archie. One of the carriage wheels has come loose and we are unable to continue."

"And what is the solution?" Dylan asked firmly.

"Their highnesses will have to wait until we repair the wheel."

"And how long will it take to fix the wheel?"

"Thirty minutes to an hour your highness."

"I understand."

“I have a friendly battle with the general. This time to fix the carriage is too much. I won't make it in time…” Archie retorted.

"There is no other alternative, your imperial highness."

"What if your highness and I went back on horses?"

The knight went into thoughtful mode for a few seconds, "It's feasible. But your highness will need to be escorted."

"No problem. Do you agree with your highness?" Archie looked at Dylan.

"Absolutely. Please prepare two horses. One for me and one for your I highness."

Archie frowned. She's determined to humiliate me, he thought.

"Yes your highness. As soon as we prepare the horses, I will return."

"Fine."

The knight bowed and closed the door.

Both stood there nervous and embarrassed by the incident between them.