Valentine felt horrible inside. The way he treated her was really low of him, but he needed to solidify Acacias position by belittling princes Lola a little bit. Him heaving a fiancé should never threaten Acacias safety, or her position in the society. Lola could handle some humiliation. She was probably even used to it considering her appearance, but Acacia was a proud woman who could never stand beneath anyone else. Even so she was week and petite and had threatened to hurt herself on many occasions when she felt abandoned by him. Even on the day of the gala she sand him a letter threatening to drown herself, saying that he did not love her anymore with this ugly scar on her body. That was probably why he went to find another woman to accompany her to the gala, while she was forcibly shot in her residence forbidden from attending it. When Valentine read this, he immediately abandoned Lola and rushed to her side. He tried to console her, saying that she was the only one for her. He would have taken her, but it was the kings decision that forbade Acacia from attending. They needed to honor princess of Ujarma and let her feel welcome. Of course that would not happen if a lover of her fiancé came to her welcome party. Valentine could do nothing against the king order. Still this treatment was unfair to Princess Lola and he would never do this to her if not for yesterdays events. He saw with his own eyes how much of a petty and jealous person Lola could be. How could she just assume this arraigned marriage would be filled with love? And how could he ever love someone like her, who hits and insults a person as sweet and lovely as Acacia. He felt such resentment towards her upon remembering the events of yesterday. After what had transpired seven months ago, he was determined to protect his loved ones with everything he had. An ugly princess of a small country like her, should never dare to touch the love of his life and just stay in her place.
Princess Lola was silent. Valentines words had made her speechless. How dare he ask such a thing from her. If future crown princess was to visit her fiancés lover to show her respect, it would utterly humiliate her and destroy any kind of reputation she might have. She placed both of her hands on the table and stood up.
"I apologize my prince, I am sure I have misheard you. It is not possible that my own fiancé would force me to pay my respects to his lover. Im sure you understand how humiliating that would be for me."
Valentine slammed his hand on the table startling the servant. To his surprise Lola did not even flinch. His furry grew even more. He yelled at the top of his throat. "How dare you?! Instead of being grateful for my leniency, you dare talk back?! You will show your respect and go to Acacia or i will make your stay here, pure hell! Am I making myself clear?! Now leave!"
Lola was furious. Her feast were clenched tightly and tears kept falling from her eyes hidden by the vail. She turned around and left slamming the door behind her. This was an order from the future monarch and her fiancé. She would have to obey. They were walking in between the columns in the garden heading to her quarters.
"The prince continues to show his worst colors in front of me." Spoke the princess suddenly to her handmaiden. "I will be visiting the central garden and you shall be making arrangements for the plan B. If push comes to show I need to come on top and be prepared."
"Yes your highness." Said Shali and disappeared in a second.
Princess Lola kept walking in the direction of her residence. When they reached the garden of the central palace, she stoped and finally felt herself calming down. The flowers were in full bloom and dazzling bathed in morning light. Lola was standing there in a daze. She looked up at the clear blue sky above her and closed her eyes to feel the cooling breeze blowing her hair gently. It did not matter how horrible a moment before this was, the sky was still blue, the air clear and the flowers blooming with all their might. The world was still going forward, even without her. So even if one second of this life was hard and painful, the beautiful world still kept revolving around her and made her feel safe and alive. What was the point of getting angry when she could act instead.
Suddenly she heard footsteps behind her. As Lola turned around, a gentle, calm voice reached her ears. "O, princess Lola. I did not expect to see you here."
It was the kind first prince of Dali walkig toward her. Lola smiled underneath her vail. "Prince Shermandin Mi Si Ushgul, it is a pleasure to see you here."
"O please Princess just call me Shermandin. I was just chasing after my glove that flew away and coughed a glimpse of you alone in the garden. It is truly a wonderful coincidence as i wished to speak with you. I... I wanted to apologize for my and my brothers actions at yesterdays gala. Please understand that Valentine is a kind man. His was just hurt deeply by the people he loved most and tends to lash out because of that. I was also needed in the dungeon and could not return, as the man who attacked you killed himself before the interrogation. I truly blame myself for such incompetence. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Do not blame yourself please Shermandin. I highly doubt there was anything you could have done in that situation."
The death of the prisoner was just to convenient . It was definitely prearranged by the higher ups in the prison. Lola never expected for him to survive, so of course a prince wouldn't have the chance to save him. but who? Who was behind this?
"Also prince Shermandin please do not apologize on your brothers behalf, when he would never himself utter such words. How he treats me has no excuse, but I will stay quite for now, as I know what is on the line."
Dali needed this marriage to work. The strongest four countries were mostly tied in there military prowess, but align one of them with Ujarma, the country with the strongest military knowledge and the balance would shift. Dali needed this marriage and most importantly they could not let Ujarma align themselves with anyone else.
"I understand what you mean princess Lola and thank you for such discretion." prince Shermandin bowed deeply.
"Please there is no need for that." Lola tried to get him up. Her hands were on his shoulders when prince Shermandin looked up at her. He was startled for a moment and blushed feeling her breath on himself. Lola immediately let go and stepped back. Shermandin coughed and said with his gentle voice. "I was on my way to the training grounds. Actually princes Lola I have heard how amazing you are at archery. Do you mind showing of a little bit in front of this Prince."
"It would be my honor, but how do you know about my archery. It is not something known to the masses."
"That is true. Ujarma sure is tight lipped about anything that has to do with its royal family. I just hear it by sheer luck when leading the relief troops to Lentech. I even heard that you were the one who thought the troops the now known Ujarman stile of shooting."
Lola was surprised. The training grounds of Ujarmas army was a top secret location, protected from all sides. Lentech was their neighboring country who were under their protection, so it was possible that their troopers were in the capital, but to even witness her teaching, this was unprecedented. They did not have enough of a good spy that could infiltrate Ujarmas ranks. The likely scenario was that one of the soldiers discussed the training and a person from Lentechi overhead them. She also knew that Dali had send his best General to help when Lentechi was under attack from his neighbors. If that general was Shermandin than he would not have found out about this just from the soldiers talking with each other. No even in Lentech it was forbidden to discuss Ujarmas royal family. The people there were loyal and competent. Shermandin seemed to be far better at his job than she thought. He had dug up some interesting information. One could not tell from just a glance, but he was a great warrior and a leader. His only flow was that he was not cunning or cruel enough. This was a wake up call. Even if Lola tried her best, some secrets could never be keeped forever. This was just one of the examples why this union was crucial for her. She needed it to work. Lola smiled to herself.
"Well then prince Shermandin, please lead the way."