"You're engaged to the woman who was supposed to marry me?", was the first thing the crown prince said after regaining his speech.
Alek looked at him, unimpressed. "As far as I know, she'd already rejected your request. Besides, it's not like you're having a particularly hard time finding a replacement, is it? This jewel belongs to me now, though," he explained, pulling Celia even closer to him. She tried to push him away a bit, though, as she didn't really think that was conducive.
"Well, isn't this great?" asked Princess Sarra. Even with that forced smile, Celia found her absolutely adorable. She was aware, of course, that she probably had a crush on her cousin, but could anyone blame her? Her gaze went sideways to Alek. Those cheekbones really are to die for.
Besides, the princess was still young, with her beauty, she would definitely have dozens of suitors. If Celia were a man, she would definitely fall in love with her. In fact, it was quite cute that she was so jealous towards Celia. She seemed more her age now, unlike when they met earlier.
"Great?" the crown prince asked spitefully. "Oh yes, quite great. I'm sure father was insanely proud of you Alek. After all, once again you managed to grant him his wish. Not like me who only seems to disappoint him."
"Uncle was indeed delighted to welcome Celia into our family," Alek replied. While her fiancé treated the crown prince more like a pouting child, his counterpart seemed to view him as competition.
That was getting a bit too awkward for her, they should probably retire for today. Inconspicuously, she tried to pull on Alek's jacket and then gave him a penetrating look. Luckily, her fiancé was smart and understood what she wanted right away.
"It was very nice to see you, but I think we should be going again then. We have some preparations to make, after all." He nodded to the two and Celia gave a slight curtsy before they finally turned and walked back to the carriage. There, Celia finally felt like she could breathe again. "That was...really awkward."
Concerned, Alek looked at her and stroked her cheek. "I hope it's alright. After all, it was your first time meeting the royal family. If I had known they were coming to the garden, I wouldn't have brought you there."
How sweet he was. She forced herself to smile and just shook her head. "It's all right. It wasn't that bad," she lied to reassure him. "But where's Lora, anyway? I was hoping to talk to her for a minute."
Celia wasn't sure if she'd seen correctly, but it seemed Alek rolled his eyes at the question. "She has probably already left. We should do the same now," he declared, quickly opening the door to the carriage before the coachman himself could.
"Lora!" cried Celia in surprise, when suddenly her old maid stepped through the door that had just been opened. Alek quickly looked into the carriage and then back at Lora. "How did you get in here?"
She looked at him gravely and shrugged. "There are ways, Your Grace."
"Excuse me?"
But Lora paid him no further attention and turned to Celia instead. "Do you mind a quick chat? Who knows when we'll see each other next."
Celia looked to Alek to make sure they still had enough time. The latter nodded rather reluctantly, but at least he gave her his consent.
The two women moved away a little and now Celia also fell around her old maids neck once more. "I can hardly believe it myself, but I have really missed you. Are you sure you want to stay with my father? If I talk to Alek, I'm sure you'll get a post in his house."
Lora, however, only shook her head. "It's not time to go yet."
Celia didn't really understand that. What else did Lora have in mind that she would continue to work for a man she really couldn't stand? Or did she like Alek even less?
"When is the time, then?" she wanted to know from her former maid.
"As soon as the terms are in my hand," Lora declared, and Celia gave it up. If she spoke in riddles like that, she certainly would not tell her more.
"How are things going with the Grand Duke? Did you listen to my advice?" she suddenly wanted to know and Celia nodded slowly. "I gave him the cold shoulder, but he seems genuinely sorry. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh and pay more attention to him again." She was curious what Lora thought of that, but the maid just looked at her thoughtfully before opening her mouth after all. "Did he say he was sorry then?"
Celia avoided her gaze slightly. "Well, not exactly. But he showered me with so much attention today that I'm sure he couldn't have meant any harm. Maybe he really was just very busy and that's why he couldn't see me."
"Possible, yet he should apologize to you properly, even without you having to point it out to him. Remember, you will soon be a grand duchess. You may as well show a little more pride."
She was not entirely wrong. Her teacher had also explained to her that apart from the royal family, no one was above her and therefore she didn't have to put up with anything. An adjustment that was not particularly easy for her. "But what do I do if he doesn't apologize to me on his own?"
Lora, however, reassured her directly. "Don't worry, it's not about whether he'll apologize to you, it's more about how he'll do it."
"Is there some wrong way to apologize?" If she'd known relationships were this complicated, she would have sought advice from Lora much sooner. Apparently she had considerably more of a clue about that than she did.
The maid narrowed her eyes. "Of course! The proper way to apologize would be to get something small that you like, like flowers, and then another written or verbal formal apology. But not all men go to that much trouble, they think women are simple creatures who are easily bribed. But don't worry, as long as he doesn't just try to win you over with expensive jewelry, you'll be fine."
That really made sense. How lucky they were to have run into Lora again. She bid her a fond farewell and then went back to her fiancé. She didn't even notice her maids gleeful grin anymore.