He really trusts you

"The boys are making a lot of noise out there," Louisa commented, looking outside.

Mariette took a look outside too. From above, she could see Elroy, Louie, and Ferdinand talking. Sometimes they laugh and throw curses.

"Unexpectedly, they hit it off quickly," says Mariette. "I heard you are familiar with the His Highness' tutor?"

"They're lovely and nice people, Louie said," said Louisa. "The truth is, Louie is trying to take off their real mask. Louie plans to make them his personal knights."

"I… Didn't think Prince Louie would even think that far," said Mariette.

"Next year, we will be 18 years old, which means Prince Louie is already an adult. Next year he will be crowned as a Crown Prince. Before that happens, Louie at least wants to have someone he can trust."

"That's why His Highness suddenly asked for a new tutor?"

Louisa nodded. "Actually, Louie... was anxious and scared."

She saw Louisa playing with her fingers. Mariette learns from Emmanuele that humans have certain habits when anxious and afraid. Now Louisa is making the habit.

Then Mariette hold Louisa's hand. That young lady flinched. Then she looked at Mariette with teary eyes.

Mariette slowly pulled Louisa into her arms.

"I'm scared, Mariette. I'm scared," Louisa sobbed. "I'm trying to be okay like Louie, but I'm tired."

Mariette knew sooner or later this would happen.

Louisa is a princess. Her debutante will be used as a special event by brash noblemen to attract her attention. There's no such thing as a beautiful debutante like in a fairy tale. Louisa's debutante is going to be hell.

So Louie insists that Louisa's first dance partner be a close relative. King Vallotton, Sir Anatole, or Count Lavaud if possible.

That's just about men. Louisa also had to start looking for a maid to serve her. If she chose the wrong maid, Louisa could die from poisoning.

That's it: being a princess is not that easy.

"You will be fine, Your Highness. You will find a good maid and meet a man who will love you," said Mariette, trying to calm her down. "This world is not that scary. There are still good people out there."

"I don't want to be like this either. But there have been many invitations coming my way," said Louie. "I know that even though Count Lavaud burned the letters."

"Princess Louisa." Mariette let go of Louisa's embrace. She watched her face for a moment. A beautiful young lady with sapphire blue eyes and flower bud lips. Normal people would be sad to see her pretty face dripping with tears. "Believe me, His Majesty the King will not marry you to any random man. Prince Louie would also do the same."

"Is it okay if I don't just get married?"

"Don't say that, Your Highness. Later a man will come who will love you sincerely. Mariette tucked Louisa's hair behind her ear. "Although you haven't met him now, but believe me."

"Ugh… Mariette…" Louisa rushed into Mariette's arms again. "I just want to stay here. I want things like this forever."

This time, Mariette just paused and patted Louisa's back.

Mariette didn't know what to do with this young lady.

***

Louie's lessons with Elroy usually ended before sundown. But this time, when Mariette was waiting for him, they had not finished yet.

And when Mariette walked into Louie's study, they found the two of them trying to put together some miniature.

Mariette let out a long breath when she saw Louie's messy appearance. "Actually, what are you guys doing?" she asked, looking at the two of them in turn.

"We are building something that can make humans fly. You have to see it, Mariette!" Louie answered excitedly.

"Not now, Your Highness." Mariette pushed Louie out. "Clean yourself up and go out for dinner. Don't keep Princess Louisa waiting," he said firmly.

"Eh. But-"

"Hurry, Prince Louie. Princess Louisa would like to have dinner with you alone. Meet Her Highness in her room."

"In her room? Why are we eating there?"

"You'll know when you see it for yourself."

Mariette took Louie out and closed the study door from the inside. Then she turned and looked at Elroy. He was as messy as Louie.

"Good evening, Viscountess Tierney," Elroy greeted awkwardly. He scratched his neck. "Sorry for holding Prince Louie off so long. Our discussion–eh–was going very well."

"No. I've disturbed you and His Highness. It's just that today… Hmmm." Mariette struggled to find the right sentence. "Today, Princess Louisa wishes Prince Louie a special presence."

"Something happened to Her Highness?" he asked.

"You can say that." Mariette approached. She somehow noticed what Elroy and Louie were doing earlier. "Did Prince Louie not say anything in particular to you?"

Elroy tilted his head. His gestures looked like a child's in Mariette's eyes. "Not. Hmmm… Oh! His Highness said he would give Sir Ferdinand and me the day off at Sir Anatole's banquet. They said the palace knights didn't like us, so we were told to leave when there was a gathering later."

Mariette was confused about how to respond. She did ask Elroy, but it wasn't the kind of answer she was expecting.

"Sir Ferdinand and I are going to a little pub on the edge of town. How about you come too?" ask Elroy.

"Forgive me, Sir Elroy. I must be present at the banquet of Sir Anatole later," Mariette refused.

"Ah, yes, yes. You and Sir Anatole are..." Suddenly Elroy turned gloomy.

Mariette knows why.

Elroy must have known about her arranged marriage with Anatole. The twins' mouths, especially Louie's, were sometimes hard to hold on to. Well, Mariette wouldn't blame them, though. It's just… if Emmanuele said before, one would definitely be heartbroken if the person liked someone else.

Mariette didn't like Anatole. He's nice, but Mariette has no eyes on building a future with him. If she was betrothed and Anatole agreed, Mariette would most likely accept it. After all, Anatole already knew how she was.

The problem is, the arranged marriage still hasn't really happened. It's still just talking. Mariette didn't know Anatole's answer either.

"The matchmaking was just a talk. So don't make that face," said Mariette.

"You-you actually consider my feelings?" asked Elroy in amazement.

"Didn't you ask me? Or was it just a bluff?"

"Not! I am serious!" said Elroy quickly. "Wow…" The man covered his face, then looked at Mariette shyly with an awkward smile. "I'm so happy to hear that."

Because Linda said I shouldn't hurt anyone else, thought Mariette. Of course he didn't tell Elroy.

"Okay, it is finished. I have to go back," said Mariette. "Dress up before you go out, Sir Elroy. And don't forget to clean up the mess here."

"Of course! I will do it."

Before Mariette left the room, she said, "Be a good knight and tutor to Prince Louie, Sir Anatole. He really trusts you."