When Rosa returned to the servants' quarters, the place was unusually quiet, with only a few servants walking in and out because everyone was busy with the party, and the ones remaining were either eating, or preparing to go to bed.
Most of the faces she came across were unfamiliar, because she hadn't interacted with them beyond the simple introduction by Katherine earlier when she arrived, so she just smiled politely to whoever met her gaze and responded happily to those who remembered her name and greeted her.
She first stopped at the kitchen, where she found only the chefs and a few maids having their dinner.
"Rosa," the first assistant to the head chef greeted her cheerfully, a bright smile on his face. "I almost thought you wouldn't make it to dinner," he said.
"No. I was just preparing Ade—Lady Adeline for the party," she corrected herself before she could utter Adeline's name without the title. "I wasn't going to serve at the party. Is there anything for me? I'm farmished." She walked to where Luca was standing, not forgetting to greet the other people in the room.
Apart from her two roommates, Luca was the only person who was friendly with her up until now. Just like the head chef, he was kind to everyone and Rosa was glad that at least she could get someone to chat with whenever she felt lonely.
"Here, I kept something for you." Luca retrieved a covered plate from one of the kitchen drawers and handed it to Rosa with an expectant grin.
"Oh, thank you so much," Rosa looked up at him with a greatful smile, her eyes slightly gleaming with tears, feeling touched that someone who barely knew her already cared for her. It wasn't everyday that she met kind people in such places and situations.
Seeing how touched and sincere she was, Luca's ears slightly burned red as he smiled sheepishly. He took the small towel on his shoulder and waved it at her. "It's nothing."
The head chef stared between the two and smiled knowingly, then continued his work without saying anything.
Rosa thanked Luca again then ate her meal quietly at the room connected to the kitchen where servants had their meals. Afterwards, she returned the utensils, bade Luca and the head chef goodnight then walked to her room with lighter steps because her stomach was now full.
When she entered the room, Lucy was nowhere to be seen but Celine didn't even notice her coming in as she peered through the window with keen eyes.
Rosa walked to her and her curiosity peeked when Celine still didn't hear her approaching. She lightly tapped her on the shoulder and Celine jumped, startled.
"You scared me," she scowled in annoyance, throwing Rosa a weightless punch.
Rosa laughed amusedly, squeezing beside her by the window to see what caught her attention. "What are you looking at? You didn't even hear me coming in," she asked and beside her, Celine smiled dreamily while staring down at the two silhouettes in in the backyard, which was directly below their room's window.
"Oh, just look at those muscles," Celine squealed, her eyes turning even more dreamy. "God, if you could just give me such a man," she added, raising her head as if directly begging God to grant her wish.
Rosa turned to her with amusement dancing in her eyes. "I can't even see who that is," she said, moving her face closer to the window, her eyes narrowing to see the two men clearly.
Just then, the two silhouettes stepped out of the shadows, their backs facing the window. One of them had long hair that fell on his shoulders, while the other one—the shirtless one— had shorter hair, slightly ruffled up by the night breeze. He had broad shoulders, visibly strong even from a distance. His muscled hands rested on his sides, and his toned back looked tempting with his skin slightly glowing under the moonlight and the candlelight from the upper rooms and fire torches outside.
Rosa's eyebrows arched up, taken aback by the man's attractiveness. How could a man look so… sexy, without even trying.
"It's Jacob, my dream man," Celine whispered beside her, with their faces glued to each other as they admired the shirtless man.
It took a moment before Rosa could register Celine's words in her mind because she was in some sort of a trance, but it was instantly broken as she remembered the name.
"What?" Her head whipped to the side, her dreamy face turning stoney, slightly shocking Celine.
"What?" She asked back, uncertain about Rosa's sudden reaction.
Rosa turned back to stare at the man, her lips curling disdainfully as she remembered how he had manhandled her when they were leaving Havenbridge.
As if finally sensing someone's gaze on him, Jacob turned around, his gaze landing on the two women standing by the window.
Rosa rolled her eyes, turned around and walked to her bed while Celine almost jumped with joy, rejoicing inwardly that Jacob had looked back at her.
"That is your dream man?" Rosa asked incredulously, her voice carrying a hint of sarcasm and her eyes still filled with disdain.
Celine didn't answer the question until the two men had walked away and she had to turn back reluctantly. "Ah, he's so handsome," she said, dramatically fanning her face.
Rosa shook her head in disbelief, looking at Celine as if pitying her judgement and her choice in men. "He's so ill-mannered," she half-yelled, resisting the urge to shake Celine and make her see it.
Celine just waved at her dismissively and rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'll admit he's a little rude. But with such a handsome face and such a gorgeous body, he can be whatever he wants. He'll still be my dream man." The dreamy look returned in her eyes, and Rosa could almost see through her fantasies with Jacob.
"I better sleep and leave you to your wild imaginations." She turned her face away to change into her sleeping clothes, leaving Celine standing there with a far-away look.
****
Meanwhile, Adeline had just gotten over her surprise of seeing Sylvan with matching clothes to her, and was now walking down the long flight of stairs, her arm hooked with the king's and Sylvan and Katherine walking behind them.
Sylvan was dressed in white pants, an ivory coat with golden leaves embroidered on the front, matching the design of her dress, the top buttons of the coat and the white shirt underneath open amd his hair neatly slicked back.
Adeline didn't know if it was because they wore matching outfits, or just that Sylvan was despicably handsome that she couldn't take her eyes off him. His cold, deep set eyes drew her in anytime he glanced at her, and she would find herself dazed for a few seconds, just like she had been when she saw him for the first time.
Before they could even reach the ballroom where the party was being held, music and merry chatter already filtered through the walls and into their ears. Adeline wasn't nervous at all, mostly because as a duke's daughter, she was used to this kinds of gatherings and nobles didn't intimidate her. The only difference was that this time, she wasn't attending as a duke's daughter but as the crown Prince's wife. The other reason that made her less concerned about the party was the King, who engaged her in light conversation and making her mood lighter.
"Just remember that I made this party as informal as I could so, just enjoy yourself," Roderick said as they stopped in front of huge double doors with striking carvings, two guards positioned at either sides.
Adeline cracked a smile. "I will. Thank you for the gathering, it is a chance for me to acquaint myself with your people and I'm intending to make the most of it," she said, to which the King smiled, his lips parting to say something, but Sylvan cut him off before he could say anything.
"People are waiting, father," he reminded, his tone filled with annoyance which he didn't bother to conceal or disguise.
Adeline and Roderick whirled their heads in unison, then Roderick gave a short laugh and motioned the guards to open the doors.
"The King of Darkfrost Kingdom, King Roderick Lowell, and the crown Prince Sylvan Lowell, accompanied by Princess Adeline Sage Lowell!" A loud voice announced as the doors swung open.
Adeline smiled through her slight confusion, her mind still replaying the title used to announce her presence.
Princess?
Adeline Sage Lowell?