Meetings and Promises

"Isn't today just too perfect?" Mia smiled at Audrey, who sat quietly on her side of the bed. Her smile was so wide it made Audrey suspicious, but she couldn't go about accusing someone who was being friendly to her.

"I can barely say that." Audrey had walked aimlessly around the palace. She had never been good with lies, so she couldn't have devised a silly excuse to meet the crown prince. It didn't help that the crown prince was cooped up in his quarters all day. He seemed like the type that couldn't be bothered about what was happening in his surroundings. "I feel sorry for all those maidens who got disqualified." She truly did. She knew they would eventually get evicted, but not so soon.

Mia shrugged; "It was a pity, but it was meant to happen. How about we do something about your mood before tomorrow contest? I heard it would be more difficult than etiquettes."

Audrey wasn't looking forward to tomorrow, plus she missed having fun. "What do you suggest we do?"

Mia jumped down from her bed and sat beside Audrey. She linked their hands like they had been best friend forever, "I heard there is a river in the palace. How about we have some fun there?"

Audrey nodded, "It's a good idea to get lost in the water."

Thus, the two maidens left for the river with their maids trolling behind them. The river was a bit far, but the idea of having fun brought a smile to Audrey's face. Just as they got to the river, they saw a maid struggling with her luggage while she tried lifting it on her head. No other maid could help her, and she was about to fall. Before she could fall, Audrey darted at her and helped her stabilize it. 

Their maids, who were planning on helping their colleague, bowed in shame at how fast Audrey was.

After helping the maid, Audrey insulted her for being such an idiot, trying to lift such a heavy thing alone.

Mia couldn't help but snicker at Audrey's attitude. If she showed off her attitude in front of Ms. Peep, she knew Audrey would be long gone from the palace, but Mia ignored her attitude as she doesn't pose that much danger to her anymore. If she was a threat, she had her way of dealing with threats.

Audrey stripped and jumped into the river, welcoming the cold water on her skin. It was just what she needed.

Damien sat at a secluded part at the bank of the river with Zeus quietly lying in his arms; he had seen the struggling maiden and was about to help before the maidens helped. Damien might be cold to the maids, but he'd never ignored someone struggling before him. His mother had taught him always to help the less privileged. It was her last wish. He was fascinated that she had got her hands dirty instead of calling for help. What was weirder was her attitude after helping the lady. She didn't want to believe she could be that kind to others.

The other maiden didn't interest him in any way.

Damien smirked at the maiden who had helped; she had the good nature in her that she was trying to deny. The maiden splashed in the water while the other sat like a proper lady at the bank. She didn't join the lady in the water.

Damien hadn't meant to spy on them; he was having his much-needed relax time at his favorite place before they barged in on him. He loved to stare at the water as it cooled him down. It was where he had spent most of his childhood with his mother before she developed her mysterious illness.

"Come on, Mia. You suggested this. It's fun." The maiden shouted at the other one, splashing water on her.

Mia turned away from her with a frown, but when she looked back at the maiden, she smiled, "Fine. But, we are keeping this a secret. We won't want Ms. Peep saying the future queens don't have etiquette."

The maiden sipped her mouth shut. She acted funny, which made Damien develop an interest in her. He had never been curious about anyone but wanted to know this funny and kind maiden. She had captured her interest.

Mia, now also in the water, turned to the maiden, "Audrey, what will you do if you won the contest?"

"Audrey." Damien tested the name slowly. She had a beautiful name, too.

Audrey thought for a while, "I just want to help the king make a better Kingdom for the citizens; both noble and commoners. It'll be interesting to have a magical power and help others. I've always seen myself like some sort of hero."

Mia nodded, "That's a great ambition. But, a queen is supposed to focus on her king not the citizen."

Audrey shrugged, "Won't the King be happy if his citizen's are happy? My father is always happy whenever I am."

'What a spoilt brat?' Mia thought. She smiled at Audrey, "That's a great way to see it."

Audrey didn't ask what Mia would do if she became queen because she would win the contest.

At the queen's chambers, the Duke of Philo sat at her visitor's sofa with a cup of tea in hand. The queen smiled at him; she knew why he was there and had the upper hand in the palace for the first time. She intended to use it wisely, "To what pleasure do I owe this visit."

The Duke dropped the tea, "We all know the princess contest is ongoing, and the one who pick the final selection in true is you, the queen. Your son is going to listen to whatever you say. How about your merge with the most powerful noble in the kingdom?"

The queen nodded, feigning disinterest in the topic at hand, "Are you trying to say the royal family ain't powerful enough?"

The Duke smirked; he knew this game. He had been playing it since he was appointed the next Duke of Philo; it was only unfortunate that he didn't have a son, but his daughter could make his dream come true easily. "Have you heard that some nobles are trying to change the crown prince?"

"What absurd claims?" The queen shouted, almost jumping from her seat. She couldn't hold her cool regarding her son's position in the palace. It was the reason she needed to get that cursed prince out of the way completely. She couldn't believe some nobles were still loyal to the dead queen; they couldn't accept the fact that a concubine had risen to the position of queen.

Happy with the reaction he got from the queen, the Duke continued, "I think you'll need every ally you can get. What's the best ally than becoming in-law with the most powerful noble after the royal?"

The queen hated that she no longer had the upper hand in the issue; she had wanted to put the nobles on their toes. She had been from a less powerful noble family, and by becoming the concubine in the last crown princess selection, those nobles had looked down on her. But now that her son would become the kingdom's king, she would show them what a woman from a less powerful noble family could do.

"Are you sure your daughter is still part of the contest? I heard a lot of maiden were disqualified for improper etiquette."

The Duke picked up his tea again with a smile this time. "My daughter is of a prominent noble family; she has great etiquette. Your majesty, it's up to you to keep my daughter to top five and pick her as the crown princess. You know what to do your majesty."

She knew what to do; she nodded. She wasn't making any promise to the Duke. If she found a better option, she would surely drop the Duke. She wouldn't be a pawn in his game. She would rather be a queen in herself.

Satisfied with the meeting outcome, the Duke excused himself. The crown prince was at the door and had heard most of the discussion. Yet, he pretended not to hear anything as the Duke left his mother's chamber.

Dorothy smiled at his son, "Welcome, son. Is there anything you have to say?"

She asked her maids to bring refreshments for the crown prince.

Alex smirked at his mother, "Mother, I don't think it's a good idea holding meetings with this nobles; If father founds out."

The queen nodded, "There's no way your father will find out. I'm doing this for you."

He shook his head slowly. The maid brought the refreshment. As Alex collected the tea from her, he winked at her. She blushed and ran out of the room. The queen noticed the brief encounter.

"I told you to stay away from these maids until the contest his over."

Alex groaned, "You know that's impossible, mother. No one is going to find out."

She knew there was no changing her son's mind on the topic.

"So, did any of the maiden catch your eyes, yet?"

"I don't know mother. I've been busy working on the parchment father gave me. I don't want to be a disappointment. I need to be careful until I am crowned the king." He lied. He was looking for a way to push the responsibility on Damien. He knew his mother hated it when Damien was involved in the kingdom's activities. So, he planned on making Damien work while he took the credit. The way he would convince Damien was the problem he was having. They didn't have the best of relationships.

"That's great, my son. You are different from some useless prince."

Alex smiled, "I just need to get married and unleash my great powers. You'll be proud of me, mother."