Somehow, Elizabella had diverted everyone's attention back to the dinner, giving the couple a chance to leave cleanly. After parting, Lady Margarette seemed to flee from Elizabella's presence, making her think that being the villainess for the play would be too much for the female lead to handle. Another disappointment.
"Ultimately, the culprit is this Crown Prince. Why would he choose such a weak girl as the leading lady? She did not have to act like she was caught doing something naughty. At least I made the reporter and cameraman believe that she was just too shy to be interviewed. Don't tell me that I will have to babysit this couple when they do their secret dating?" thought Elizabella as they had sat back in their original seats while she smiled on the outside and groaned on the inside. "I wish I could quit. I really need a break."
"By the way, Princess Aphra, who was that girl you two were talking to earlier? Does she really go to our school?" asked Prince Zander with an innocent expression, making Elizabella want to hurt him while giving him a fabulous smile.
"She is in the Arts Department with us. I am sure you may have seen her in one of your classes, though you came exactly on exam week, so maybe you have not met her yet. Her name is Lady Margarette Myles," said Elizabella as she was upset that Prince Zander had spoiled her fun.
"Oh, I see. Since I do not know that many people my age, I wondered if I could invite her to my birthday party next week," said Prince Zander as he wondered why Elizabella was covering for his cousin. "Maybe she is embarrassed that she was almost caught being cheated on. I guess I can understand that a Lady such as her would feel very upset that they caught their spouse cheating on them. Perhaps it was wrong of me to have gotten that reporter to witness my cousin's infidelity. I need to be extra careful in the future. But, how will she respond to me inviting her to my birthday party?"
"Oh, that would be great! The more, the merrier," said Elizabella with a wide smile as she thought. "Finally, this Prince Zander thought of a good thing. And here I thought you were a pig teammate! Since he wants to have a very private setting for his party, there will be moments that this couple can be together, and I will not care as I will be doing my own thing! I hope this does not backfire."
"Oh? What family did you say she was from again?" asked the King as he overheard their conversation.
"Your Majesty, she comes from the Earl Myles family. She is an excellent dancer at school," said Elizabella as she thought to praise their potential future daughter-in-law, when she noticed that Prince Maxen was quietly sitting there, making her wonder what was wrong with him. "Why is he not helping his future wife to look good in front of his parents? Did their talk not go as planned? Oh no, does this mean that they will break up soon? Will he be so upset that he will not want to divorce me when the time comes because, at that point, he may feel that it does not matter who he marries? Please! I cannot deal with this stress! I really need a break!"
"We see, Earl Myles. They are good people. We think it is fine to have them join your birthday party," said the Queen as Elizabella perked up from their conversation.
"If it pleases you, Your Majesty, may I have some time to go and visit my parents this weekend? It has been a while since I have seen them," said Elizabella with a sweet smile on her face, making the King and Queen look at her pleasantly.
"We believe that you have done a great job handling yourself at this charity event, and even the preparation work was handled cleanly. We think that you deserve some time with your parents," said the Queen as she smiled gently at her daughter-in-law before thinking to herself. "Right, remember to take the Crown Prince with you. He also needs to pay his respects to your family as well. Why do you not take the rest of the weekend to spend with your parents?"
"Oh, that would be lovely! Thank you, Your Majesty," said Elizabella while beaming a smile, but still feeling irritated that she had to take her husband to stay with her parents. "I am sure that they will be happy to see him as well!"
Hearing her words, Prince Maxen felt conflicted as he thought that his wife must be angry with him if she was trying to leave the Palace's comfort to go back to her parents without telling his parents that she caught him with another woman. He thought that maybe he should try to resolve this issue later with her.
At the same time, Prince Zander heard their conversation. Although he was smiling at them, he felt bitter inside, especially since he knew that Elizabella knew that Prince Maxen was having an affair with another girl, yet she was trying to cover for him. Was she not upset with this arrangement? He thought that maybe it was just something that she thought she had to deal with. This made him more indignant over the matter.
He secretly vowed to help Lady Elizabella in the future. All the while, Walliams wondered what his Lady was thinking about letting the bastard Prince get away with cheating. Even if she did not hear their conversation, he heard every word. Knowing what they were talking about made him even more upset. To think that the perfect Crown Prince had a secret lover on the side.
He clenched his teeth as he thought that he was not worthy of his Lady.
"If there is ever a chance, I will help my Lady by taking her far away from here, where this bastard Prince cannot bother her again," thought Walliams to himself as the dinner continued.
**********
The charity succeeded in their goals for the night. The audience viewership ratings were also very high, and much praise was being passed around on the forums and hospital page. Many congratulations were being said to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess for having their first successful charity.
The people who watched it live believed that this was cause for celebration as the future Crown was seen as benevolent and accommodating to the masses. They felt this way as they remembered their wedding where many people could enjoy themselves with the Royal Family, even if they were just the common people. Their wedding was not too long ago, and now this charity where all proceeds were going to the research hospital.
Seeing the success of the charity brought hope to the people for what the future may bring.
Many guests had decided to stay for the resort hotel weekend, while the Royal Family left that night. Their journey home was going to be long and tiring but staying in the comfortable hover cars helped them relax. Prince Maxen and Elizabella shared their ride home. The way back was silent between the two, and Prince Maxen wanted to say something to her.
Just when he was about to clear his throat, he heard Elizabella speak.
"Walliams, I am hungry. Did you bring me some snacks?" asked Elizabella as she was looking a little listless since she did not eat as much as she would have liked.
"Yes, my Lady," Walliams appeared with a large basket of fresh fruit before turning back into the shadows, leaving Prince Maxen wondering if she was going to finish the whole thing herself.
Watching her peacefully eat away her fruit made him think that maybe she was ignoring him. He cleared his throat while looking at her, making her freeze for a moment before she slowly turned to look at him.
"I am sorry, where are my manners? Would you care for some fruit?" asked Elizabella while clutching the basket close to her, making Prince Maxen feel that if he took any, he would lose his life.
"No, thanks. I am still full from dinner," said Prince Maxen as he felt a suffocating presence before it left when he saw that Elizabella looked away while continuing to enjoy her fruit.
"Your loss," said Elizabella as she happily munched away on the fruit.
Prince Maxen was speechless as he watched her quickly eat away the fruit. Every time he saw her eat this much, he would wonder where it would all go. Seeing her in the red dress, it did not really hide her figure. Anyone could tell that she was a lean person, and this dress made her look curvy in the right places.
"No, seriously. Where does it all go?" Prince Maxen felt dumbfounded as he did not know how she could continue eating so much all the time.
"Be honest. If you knew that we could not feed you, would you have even thought of marrying me?" asked Prince Maxen as Elizabella looked at him with a raised delicately drawn eyebrow.
"I do not need anyone to feed me. I can feed myself. If I did not marry a Prince, I could still live very comfortably by myself. Once you come to my home later, you will see what I mean," said Elizabella as she continued to eat the rest of the fruit, while her words made Prince Maxen think that maybe she was not mad at him. "Besides, have you not read the report that I gave to your mother? I dare to say that my pocket change could rival any Prince. I tell you this because I do not want you to overreact when you see my house later."
"From what I know, that money does not belong to the Baroness, but you alone. How do you have so much money?" asked Prince Maxen, curious to learn this side of her and even forgetting that he wanted to know her thoughts on him seeing Lady Margarette behind her back.
"I do not feel like telling you. Maybe someday I will," said Elizabella as she finished the last fruit, and she subconsciously looked for more in the now-empty basket. "Aw. I finished the fruit. Walliams, did you bring any more?"
"Too much fruit at night is not good for your health. They contain too much sugar, and you will not be able to have a restful sleep. I did not pack any more fruit than what you already had just now. However, I did pack you some pistachios and even a protein smoothie since it is so late at night. They are useful in promoting restful sleep. Plus, the smoothie will help with muscle repair," said Walliams as he came back out from the shadows and gave her a small bag of pistachios for her to munch on and a small thermos. "Yacub said to be mindful of your sleep."
"Good old Yacub. Fine, I will have these for now," said Elizabella as she took the bag while Walliams went back into the shadows, but not before he glared at Prince Maxen.
Prince Maxen felt that Walliams must have been aware of what had happened between him and Lady Margarette. He understood why he would be so upset.
"Do you have trouble sleeping at night?" asked Prince Maxen as he tried to hold a friendly conversation with Elizabella.
Elizabella heard him ask but did not know how to respond. She continued to eat her pistachios and drank from her thermos. Prince Maxen wondered if she had heard him or if she did not want to answer. When he thought she would never answer, he heard her softly respond.
"...Sometimes..."