"Grand Duke, Princess Zinnia safely rode the carriage and left the mansion." One of my maids said.
"Alright, thank you. You may leave."
"Understood."
Now, I should make preparations by wearing modest clothing and a simple robe as instructed by Princess Zinnia.
Fortunately, my aunt has already departed, she won't cause any inconvenience when the Princess returns tonight.
Though, I find myself wondering why the Princess chose to meet at the back of my mansion instead of the front. Could she be apprehensive about something? I'll have to inquire with her later to confirm.
As I made my way to my chamber, I noticed the Head Maid, Sofia, heading towards the garden.
"Sofia!" I called out and hurried over to her.
"Yes, Grand Duke?" she said with a warm smile.
"I'll be heading out later. I'd appreciate it if you could accompany me."
"Of course! I'd be more than happy to, Grand Duke!" she replied with enthusiasm.
Sofia is one of the maids I trust the most; I'll have her come along as my escort. I'm sure the Princess will also bring at least one person with her.
"May I inquire about our departure time, Grand Duke?"
"We will be leaving in about an hour. Please be prepared by then."
"Absolutely!" She smiled once more and bowed. "Then I'll make preparations right away."
"Thank you, Sofia," I smiled in return.
Following that conversation, I entered my bedroom and changed into something simpler.
With ample time still at hand, I decided to attend to some paperwork before setting out for the designated meeting spot.
Sofia stood by my side, also waiting for the Princess to arrive.
"Master, when do you anticipate her arrival?" Sofia inquired.
"Maybe in a few more minutes, I'm sure she wouldn't let us wait for too long." I answered.
To pass the time, I gazed up at the sky, the moon shone brilliantly, illuminating the night with its captivating radiance, revealing the shimmering stars.
A gentle breeze brushed against my cheek, and with it came a delicate fragrance of lavender, evoking a sense of anticipation that the presence of the Princess was near.
"Xyriel!"
I quickly looked at where the sound was coming from and my eyes widened.
"P-Princes Zinnia?"
"G-G-Grand Duke!" Sofia shouted, grabbing me by the arm.
The Princess appeared atop a spotted white horse, her face adorned with a radiant smile as she joyfully waved in our direction. However, the horse raced towards us with remarkable speed and its gaze fixated upon our presence.
Before we could fully comprehend the situation, the Princess and her horse swiftly came to a sudden halt, causing the gusting wind to disheveled both our attire and hair.
"Xyriel, forgive me for being late!" The Princess exclaimed as she dismounted her horse and performed a curtsy.
She wore a white buttoned shirt paired with black pants and covered by a black robe. Her purple hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and as she closed the distance between us, the scent of lavender grew stronger.
"Xyriel?" She said in a concerned tone.
"Y-yes?" I stammered.
"Shall we go? The night will be over before we know it, let us make haste!" She said with enthusiasm.
"And may I ask, who's this behind your back, Grand Duke?" She questioned, smiling at Sofia.
"Princess Zinnia, allow me to introduce Head Maid Sofia Greenwood. Assuming you would arrive in a carriage, I brought her along as my escort," I explained.
"Greetings, Princess Zinnia!" Greeted Sofia.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sofia!" The Princess said and curtsied again.
She turned her gaze towards me. "Oh I apologize, Xyriel. I should have told you beforehand that I only wanted the both of us to go visit the town together." And the horse neighed and nudged the Princess' shoulder. "And of course with Ellie here as our means of transportation." She added while touching the horse's muzzle.
"Are you, by any chance, uncomfortable with just the two of us?" She frowned.
"No, not at all! It's my fault for assuming and did not even tell you that I was planning on bringing Sofia with us." I replied, bowing as a gesture of apology.
"No, it's not your fault for assuming, I should have told you earlier when I had the chance but I got too excited. If you want, we can use your carriage instead so that Sofia can join us."