Prince Maxen wondered about Elizabella's words for the rest of the ride back home. After saying she sometimes had trouble sleeping, he pondered why. He even thought that maybe it was a touchy subject since it took her so long to answer him back.
At first, he had assumed that she fell asleep as she became quiet afterward. He felt as such until he turned to look at her and noticed that she was looking outside in the night.
Usually, he was used to her being boastful about herself. Seeing her sitting so quietly felt eerie to him. The hover car's atmosphere was a little heavy, and it never lightened until they finally came home. It was strange to him that she would turn like this.
He started to think that maybe it was also because of what had happened earlier. He had tried to ease into the conversation during the ride home but never knew how to approach the topic. Still, he had the chance to reach out to her and stop her, to talk as they both made it to their wing.
Yet, in the end, he watched her enter her room without looking back at him. He did not know how he should feel at this point. He felt his mood a little complicated, and he eventually went inside his room.
The Steward had helped escort the young couple alongside a few servants and maids. They had seen the complex look that Crown Prince Maxen gave his wife. The younger maids were gleeful to see the two developing their feelings so quickly.
Maybe, news of a new Prince or Princess would be announced sooner than they had anticipated. Even the Steward thought that their feelings were adequately growing. He beamed as he was happy to believe that the future Crown will be harmonious.
"All we need is the Crown Prince to have the heart to chase after his wife, and the Crown Princess will eventually fall for his charms. This is good news, indeed," thought the Steward as he and the servants left for the night. "Should I report to the King and Queen about this? Well, if I do, I will have to do so tomorrow when they are properly awake."
**********
Elizabella was helped off her dress, and she quickly got ready for bed. As soon as they left her alone in her room, she plopped on her bed and sighed while massaging her temples. She tried not to frown as she felt upset that Prince Zander ruined the evening earlier.
"Ah~! My entertainment for tonight was cut short by that Prince Zander! Would the leading couple have gotten past that air of awkwardness, or would they have continued to remain as such? Well, if they can get past this, I am sure that results will happen at Prince Zander's birthday party," Elizabella remembered about his party, and she smiled happily. "That is right. If he had not suggested that she comes to his party, I would feel more aggrieved as I would not know how to put these two together. I should reward him with a great performance as his gift since he did request a dance. He should be grateful that I will do this for him."
Elizabella smiled to herself as she turned to get more comfortable. Suddenly, she remembered Prince Maxen's question and how she did not want to respond. She just remembered that her Aunt and Uncle believe that they are indeed married. They will probably have to share a room tomorrow. Even worse, a bed.
"I do not think that anything will happen between us, but I am worried that I will trouble him with my nightmares. I do not always get them, but he will not be so startled if he is aware of them beforehand. Opening up to someone is always hard," thought Elizabella as she knew that Prince Maxen would need to be at least aware of her situation. "Thankfully, we do not normally have to sleep in the same room. In all honesty, I am more afraid that I will hurt him in my sleep. To bad romance for me is something that I really should not think about right now."
Elizabella closed her eyes as she tried to welcome sleep. Tonight she slept well. Perhaps it was Walliams meticulous diet planning, or maybe because she relaxed her mind before falling asleep. Whatever the case, she woke up the next morning, starving.
The maids came in and quickly helped her get ready for the day. They had already prepared an outfit for her to leave in while they continued to mess with her hair. She knew to stay still even though she wished to complain that she was famished. It did not help that her stomach began to growl during the process.
The maids pretended not to hear as they secretly looked at each other, wondering if they should have let her eat first before getting her ready. Elizabella felt her ears burning and her neck starting to turn red first before it reached her cheeks. She coughed a couple of times to defuse her embarrassment, making the maids pick up the pace.
They finally finished helping her get ready. It helped when they plan for her hair the night prior with braids. Otherwise, it would not have been easy to finish her hair on time. By the time the maids had finished, she felt like she was about to pass out from starvation. They led her to the sitting room to prepare a light breakfast, making her want to cry.
"All this time and they only want to feed me a bite. I may need to complain to someone about this. At least when I go back home, the servants there will feed me better. I miss home," thought Elizabella as she politely ate her food instead of wolfing it down so that it could last her. "I should probably train these new maids to feed me more."
After having her morsel, she got up to finish getting ready before she went back to her Aunt's home. As she left her room, she saw Prince Maxen coming out of his room. She politely smiled at him and gave him a greeting.
"Good morning, Maxen," she said as Prince Maxen thought it was not worth telling her again not to use his formal name.
"Yes, good morning, Aphra. How did you sleep last night?" he asked, trying out small talk when suddenly he remembered their conversation last night and became nervous about how she would react.
"I slept well, thank you for asking," replied Elizabella with a fabulous smile, making Prince Maxen wonder if she was responding to appear well or if she was well.
"That is good to know. We will be heading to your family's home soon. Are you ready?" asked Prince Maxen as Elizabella gave a delighted smile before answering.
"Why, yes. Yes, I am ready," said Elizabella as she thought of all the food she would be able to eat once she got home, making her mouth begin to water. "We should go as soon as possible."
Prince Maxen noticed the stars in her eyes and even the light drool coming from her mouth and thought she must be dreaming of all the food she will be getting when she gets home. He sighed to himself, and a slight smile escaped him.
The two had to first greet the older royals before leaving. They made their morning greetings and a few last moment reminders from the elders. The more senior royals were left reassured, knowing that Elizabella's home was well protected. Even the property was very private with its high walls and gates.
Eventually, she convinced them that they did not need that much-added security personnel as her Shadow Guards would be coming, and she had more back at home. Hearing her say these words reminded them of how well she was treated by the old Queen of Edalelia and thought they did not need to worry. Elizabella did not want so many Palace servants intruding in on her territory.
Finally, they left the palace and went to her Aunt's home. Along the way, Walliams had packed her some extra snacks for her to munch. She felt that being in the palace made her feel restricted in her diet. Appearance is everything in this sort of environment, but so was health. Eating in moderations was not how she kept healthy, so she was feeling deprived of food.
Prince Maxen sat quietly as he occasionally saw her eat something new. He wondered if he should say anything over what had happened the night prior. He thought that he needed to at least understand how she felt about the whole situation. Prince Maxen, finally feeling brave enough to speak, clears his throat.
Just as he was going to say something, the car stops. He looks out the window and sees that they have halted in front of the gates. They were quickly led inside the compound and the vehicle parks in front of the mansion. Outside the front door, a servant is waiting to open the car door for them to get off.
Elizabella elegantly gets off first, with Prince Maxen coming out behind her. This would be the first time that he has stepped foot here. He casually looks around him and notices how manicured the landscaping looks. Elizabella and Prince Maxen soon follow after the servant who leads them inside.
Inside the mansion, all the servants were lined up in two neat lines in the grand entrance. They bow and curtsy as the couple comes inside.
"Welcome, Crown Prince and Crown Princess," they said in chorus, making Prince Maxen realize that his wife's home was not shy in spending money on good help.
"Mother! Father! I am home!" said Elizabella as she spotted her Aunt and uncle in the middle of the two lines of servants and made her way to them.
"Welcome back, dear," said her Aunt as she seemed to have tears in her eyes as she watched her niece coming in with her husband. "I hope you two had a pleasant drive over."
Aunt Ludy hugged her niece and thought how great it would be to have her sister there to see how her daughter has married safely into the Royal Family of Glear. All this time, with her sister missing and her having to step up to play the role of "mother," really made her feel overwhelmed. Now she has to also play the role of "mother-in-law" to the Crown Prince.
"Dear Judine, wherever you are, please look kindly on your only sister and help me get through this. I just wanted a quiet, simpler life, away from all the nobles you wished to be apart of, even when they never looked kindly on you. Please watch over your only living daughter as she will be living with the wolves that held father against his will. Make sure that she can grow up to be a great lady someday," prayed Aunt Ludy as she hugged her niece in a tight embrace.
"Mother, I am hungry~! Is there any food ready for me?" asked Elizabella as she gave her Aunt Ludy a pitiful look, making her Aunt smile.
"Of course, there is something. We made sure to prepare you two a feast. Your younger brothers are waiting in the dining hall."
"Oh! Thank you, mother~! I knew I could count on you!" said Elizabella as she grabbed her Aunt Ludy's and Uncle Richard's hand to drag them to the dining hall when she stopped to look back at Prince Maxen. "Dear Maxen, do not just stand there; come join us to the feast!"