"Oh? Do you doubt that she is the girl intended for the Crown Prince?" asked the Dowager Queen while the Queen gave a pensive look at her.
"We had. Which is why We had the Head Steward test her blood with the Bloodstone we had of the late Baron. The Head Steward says she was calm throughout the process and behaved like a proper lady."
"What was the result?" asked the Dowager Queen as she took a sip of her tea and calmly looked at the Queen.
"The Baroness had fifty percent of the Baron's blood..." she trailed off as the Dowager Queen patiently waited for her to continue.
"...And then?"
"Aphra's blood was also fifty percent of the Baroness. Meaning that the Baroness is the daughter of the late Baron and that she must have given birth to Aphra," said the Queen a bit absentmindedly.
"So, again, where lies the problem?" asked the old Dowager Queen.
"It is the money and their splendor. Head Steward Wesley stated that the mansion received an elegant makeover, a total transformation from what he could remember. He also states that the servants there conducted themselves in a manner that could rival our servants. The way they treat her, is as if, she is their true master where as her parents happen to be distinguished guests in her home. There is just something odd about it all."
"We see. It does appear that there is something else to all of this. How about you meet with her and judge for yourself then. If you have this much doubt, do not announce anything until you know for sure. If something shady is happening, we must not let it enter the Palace."
"Thank you for advising Us and sharing your wisdom," said the Queen with a sigh as she stood up. "We shall make the arrangements."
"This is good. The sooner you set your worries to rest, the sooner we can move on as planned," said the Dowager Queen as she placed her cup down and noticed an open file on the Queen's desk, making her eyes widen. "Is this the girl in question?"
"Yes. She looks nothing like her parents or grandfather, which is why We were highly suspicious."
"We can see why you would be suspicious of her..." trailed off the Dowager Queen as she looked at the pictures in the file.
"Yes. Servants! Bring me the Head Steward-" said the Queen as the Dowager Queen was transfixed on the pictures, not noticing the movement happening around her.
"This face is so familiar... where have We seen her before? Surely, if this face has left an impression on me, then she must have been someone with a noble background, but who? I would remember her face if it was one of our nobles... so, who is she?"
**********
The next day at the Academy, Elizabella was not in the best of mood. She kept to herself and sat on her chair while trying to control her emotions. Her classes somehow felt colder, despite the warm weather, as her classmates complained that the temperature was too cold. When the instructors went to check, they could not find the problem.
When lunchtime came, the students and instructors were happy to leave the cold classroom, leaving Elizabella alone as she looked out the window. She finally sighed and got up to leave the empty classroom. She had decided to walk to the cafeteria that was in a different building.
The path she took had other students along the way as they spoke amongst each other while others happily found a spot on the soft grassy lawn and ate their lunch. As she neared the building, she noticed the volume of the students around her turn to low whispers, making her turn to see what was going on.
"I had hoped to find you here, Lady Aphra, or do you prefer Director Ginny?" said the Prince who had walked up behind her with his signature smile, prompting her to give him a curtsy.
"You may call me however you please, Your Royal Highness," replied Elizabella.
"May we speak in private, Lady Aphra?"
"Please, by all means," she gestured for him to lead the way.
"Follow me, please," said the Prince as he strolled away while Elizabella made sure to keep a respectful distance from him.
They walked to an open area where no students had ventured through for lunch yet.
"This place shall do, it does not matter if the other students see us, so please act proper," said the Prince giving her a stern look before placing a warm smile on his face.
"As you wish, Your Royal Highness," said Elizabella with a polite bow of her head.
"Right. First of all, I am certain that you know about our engagement through Royal Decree; however, there is still a possibility of this to be overturned... that is we both must agree."
"Would you like me to say 'no' to this engagement?"
"That is the thing. You must agree."
"I do not follow. I was under the impression that you were severely against this."
"I am, but the Royal Court will not stop until I am properly married. At least we have met each other and know enough that we annoy each other."
"This is very true..." said Elizabella feeling her eyes narrow behind her glasses as a budding anger began to form inside her.
"Well, you know you are not my first choice-"
"-Likewise," replied Elizabella immediately in agreement, making the Prince look at her funny.
"...I have come to terms that I am powerless as a Crown Prince since I cannot say no to this marriage. We can both agree that we do not really suit each other. But I have a plan that I hope you will help me out in."
"I am listening."
"Let us get married. We appear like a happy married couple in public and in the Palace; however, you and I will both agree that it is just a paper marriage, a marriage that will end in divorce. No meaning to it at all. When I finally turn twenty-one, I will abdicate my crown and finally, we can get divorced and live our merry lives separate from each other."
"Why wait until you are twenty-one?" asked Elizabella with a light frown while she thought of how long they would need to be married.
"If I want a divorce, I need to wait until then. By then, I will appear as a more mature adult to the eyes of the Royal Court and will not dare say that I am being willful due to my age; whereas if I say anything sooner, they will deem it teenage rebellion. They will take me more serious then. In return, you will live the fabulous life of a princess. I mean, how many can say that they have had the opportunity to marry a Prince?"
Elizabella was left speechless at this point.