Lady Margarette felt like the time had stopped for her at that moment. She felt it was fated as she saw that the couple sat on their assigned seat and paid attention to the current presentation. At this point, Lady Margarette's attention was not on the stage as she tried to keep herself from staring at the Crown Prince.
Elizabella, being aware of her presence, knew that she was peaking hard at Prince Maxen. She sighed as she wondered if, in fact, it would be Lady Margarette, the female lead, that would draw people's attention. She felt her headache about to grow and decided that she should give them a chance to meet.
"I feel bad coming between this couple. Too bad, the male lead is a public figure," thought Elizabella as she kept a gentle smile on her face and would clap with everyone else at the presentation on stage. "At least one of us should be happy. This play is going to be long and difficult."
After the first presentation, another research doctor came up on stage and began his presentation. During this time, Lady Margarette wondered how long this would go on. She knew that after the presentations, there would be famous artists performing. Then, people would be able to mingle and even give their donations. It would end with a late dinner.
For now, she had to wait until the presentations were over. She tried to keep calm as the presentations continued. Elizabella wanted to frown at her behavior as she herself noticed that she was antsy. If she could notice, seated on a different table, others would know of her movements.
"She is already drawing attention to herself. If these two actually meet, even in private, people will notice their movements. I thought that she would have more common sense. What happened to the strong, admirable girl that rejected the Crown Prince's proposal so she could follow her dreams? She is ruining her script!
"I was rooting for her from the beginning because she was so decisive in following her heart. Now she is acting so... annoying. Like I said before, I do not see these two with a long and happy marriage. Must be considered puppy-love," thought Elizabella as she wondered how the play would turn out. "They should still meet. Maybe they themselves will learn that they are not well suited for each other. Sigh. If I could really choose the female lead, it would really not be her. But what can I do? She had already cast this role before I came into the picture. Whatever. Let's watch the drama."
Soon, a few famous people came up on stage and would perform. Elizabella was very much interested as she was into flashy productions and music. Her favorite thing to do while watching a new music video or listening to a new song was to see if she could properly interpret the meaning. Sometimes they would disappoint her, and other times they would amaze her.
After the performances, some light music began to play from a full orchestra as the guests began to mingle. A designated waiter would walk around with the donation box where the guests would place their donations.
Although it was not said that every guest must give at this party, it was subtly implied as it was a way to approve of the next Crown Prince and his wife. If someone found out that a certain guest did not place a donation, that guest could look forward to social suicide within the circle.
Therefore, every guest had prepared their donation beforehand, including the Royal Family. Everyone was aware that this charity event was a political ploy to boost the future Crown further. So everyone played their roles this night. Elizabella, noticing that everyone seemed to have a good impression on the future Crown Prince (she forgot to include herself in this scenario), the thought that he should keep his position in the future came to mind, but it quickly left her.
"If he keeps it, then we cannot divorce. Unless something happens to me, I am stuck being his wife if he becomes the next King," thought Elizabella as she smiled politely at the guests who had come to pay their respects to her and the Royal Family. "...If something happens to me... I would be free..."
She stopped her thoughts as this was a dangerous territory that she was treading. She did not want to continue her thoughts as she continued to have small talk to people who approached them politely. She glanced at Prince Maxen and noticed that he was still in his princely manner. Does he not want to meet up with his beloved?
This question struck her as she quickly spotted Lady Margarette next to her mother, looking straight at Prince Maxen. Elizabella really wished at that moment that she could hear the internal monologue of the male lead. How can he remain so calm when his beloved is so close?
As they were seated down, Elizabella suggested that they stand and mingle with the guests. The King, hearing her request, smiled, and gave his consent to the three younger royals. The three stood up and walked around for a bit together as they met a few guests and interacted with them a bit.
Seeing how both the Crown Princess and Prince Zander could properly hold conversations with the guests they had not met before brought much elation amongst the older royals. Crown Prince Maxen had interacted with these crowds for quite some time before, so he had taken a back seat when the others spoke with them.
At this moment, as he was lingering behind the two, he excused himself and made his way to an opened door that led to the gardens outside. Once there, he sighed as he felt tired of always acting in front of others. He thought that the Crown Princess was a natural fish in water everywhere she went.
"She really was not joking when she said she was a fabulous actress. Now I know she was very modest," thought Prince Maxen as he saw that the last rays of sunlight were still lingering in the summer night. "Lady Margarette has been acting very anxiously. Does she want to say something to me, or is she only reminiscent of our past?"
Prince Maxen heard some footsteps coming from behind him, making him turn around to see that Lady Margarette was walking behind him. He felt his heart beating up faster when he saw that it was her. He quickly checked his surroundings and noticed that they were alone. He gulped as he wondered why she would be there.
**********
After Prince Maxen had excused himself, Elizabella and Prince Zander remained behind to continue greeting people. Just then, Prince Zander's CD started to vibrate. He looked down and noticed that it was a call from his mother. His expression froze as he had been waiting for her for a while now, and she still had not made it back.
He politely excused himself, leaving Elizabella alone while he went and tried to answer his mother. By chance, he could not answer on time, so he decided to find a private place to talk to her before calling her back. He found an open balcony and saw that he was alone there, so he went to the edge before calling his mother back.
The CD rang a few times before it was cut. He knew that his mother must be upset if she did not want to pick up his call. He sighed before attempting again. This time, it rang for a long time until it was finally picked up on her end.
"It is so nice to know that my son can find some time to call me. To what do I owe this pleasure?" asked his mother as her face appeared in front of him before he sighed again.
"Mother, you were the one that called me while I was in the middle of a charity event. I have told you this beforehand," he said as he knew that talking to his mother was always difficult with her personality but knew if he gave in to her, she would calm down a little. "I am very sorry that I missed your call. I wanted to find a quiet place so that we could talk uninterrupted."
"Humph! You are attending a charity event while I am stuck here! Why did you leave me so early?" she asked as Prince Zander felt a headache heading his way.
"Mother, you sent me away to attend my cousin's wedding. Did you forget? I never wanted to leave your side," said Prince Zander as he hoped that his words would calm his mother down.
"Well, that is that. Have you prepared where I would be staying when I get there?" asked his mother as Prince Zander knew that she had changed the topic because she knew she was at fault, not because she felt guilty in accusing him.
"Mother, your place has been ready. We are just waiting for your arrival. When are you actually coming? You have been saying 'soon' for the past week. Are you not finished with your loose ends by this point?" asked Prince Zander as he massaged his head with his free hand. "I miss you very much."
"Oh! Only my son is this accommodating to me and the only one that cares about me," said his mother as she dramatically dabbed her dry eyes, making Prince Zander think that he should not care at this point. "I will be coming the day after tomorrow. I will be able to meet the new Crown Princess then, too. Make sure that your Royal Uncle and Aunt know that I will be coming."
"So soon?" asked Prince Zander as he saw his mother's face change again. "I meant, what if they wanted to throw you a welcome party. They would need to prepare properly."
"That is true. They would need to welcome me in such grand fashion. But no matter. I will be coming the day after tomorrow. Be sure to welcome me on that day," said his mother before she hung up on him, leaving an empty screen on Prince Zander's CD.
"Have a good night, too, mother," said Prince Zander as he felt tired after speaking to his mother.
Smiling all day in front of the guests and even studying days on end to memorize their likes and dislikes was not this exhausting. Good thing he was outside where there was fresh air for him to breathe. His mother has been very moody recently, more so than what he is used to.
"I wonder if it is because I have not been with her for some time," thought Prince Zander as he saw the last rays of light disappear for the night. "Will she be better by the time she gets here?"
Prince Zander was planning on heading back inside to keep Elizabella company while she made her rounds to greet people when he heard voices in the garden behind him.
"Is that not my cousin's voice?"