By evening, Princess Guinevere was all dolled up, looking out of her window to see when a carriage would arrive. A knock came on the door, and she didn't turn to look at it.
"Come in."
"I didn't know my daughter was this excited about getting married," Queen Margareta said, stepping inside the room.
"Mother!" Guinevere rushed to her and bowed slightly.
"My, my, you look beautiful," Queen Margareta complimented her, and she blushed. She was dressed in a yellow gown, and her hair was brushed to fall smoothly on her back.
"I'm excited because I'll be marrying the man I love," Guinevere said.
"Are you sure he's right for you?" Lucian's voice came from behind them, and Guinevere frowned lightly.
"He is, brother. You just don't like him because he's Nikolai's good friend," Guinevere said.
"Your brother cares for you, Guin. That's why he's asking," Queen Margareta patted her hair. They all heard the short horn, and Guinevere went to check the window to see carriages arriving.
"Father called a court meeting for my wedding?" Guinevere asked excitedly.
"Oh no, my dear. The court meeting was initially to talk about what happened last night, but I managed to convince him to announce your wedding then," Queen Margareta replied, smiling at her daughter, who was really grateful.
"Thank you, mother, you're the best. Let me go downstairs," Guinevere quickly exited the room, holding her gown as she walked lightly out of her chambers.
Lucian stepped towards the window and looked down to see one of the carriages being opened, and Quill stepped out. He turned and stretched his hand forward, and a thin hand covered his as a beautiful woman stepped out of the carriage.
"Why lie to her, mother?" Lucian turned back to look at his mother, who had replaced her sweet face with her usual frown.
"She doesn't hate Nikolai. We have to make her hate him. She'd feel betrayed by Quill and him for not telling her about this. She won't doubt that we were aware of it," Queen Margareta said, glancing down at the couple stepping inside the castle.
"Good evening, Princess Guinevere," the court men that met greeted the Princess, who held her head in the air, blatantly ignoring their greetings.
The guards opened the doors of the courtroom for her, and she stepped inside, going to stand in front of the King, and she bowed.
"Good evening, Father," the man nodded, and the princess took her seat. The doors were left open as more people stepped in, and Guinevere waited patiently for Quill.
She saw Nikolai step inside, and then behind him was Quill. Her eyes brightened as she stared at the handsome man who had caught her heart. His wavy locks were shining and parted at the front, his brown eyes glittered, and she waited for him to look at her. When she saw him turn to smile at someone, her eyes followed. Her smile faltered seeing the woman who held his hand. She looked very beautiful and bold. She wore a black gown that clung to her body like a second skin, her shiny black hair was permed to the black, her pointed nose and small lips painted in red loudly spoke of her boldness.
Guinevere stared at her for a second long, and her smile appeared back on her face. She was just overthinking; the woman was his sister. She could see their resemblance. Quill turned to look at her, and she smiled shyly, looking down to avoid his gaze. She had read that men liked when women appeared innocent and shy.
Once every court man stepped inside, the guards closed the door, and everyone rose from their seats to greet the royal family.
"Sit," King Darren gestured with his hand.
"We heard of the Fae's attack last night and are all happy to know you're safe," the Head of the Court Men, Vlad, spoke out.
"If the castle is not spared from their attacks, what more those in the kingdom?" Charles, one of the court men, asked and was shunned by Vlad, but Nikolai had decided to answer his question.
"Is the castle under an attack more questionable than your involvement with the attack?"
Charles went silent as everyone turned to look at him. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"It was just an assumption, but your reaction seems to me that I am correct, am I?" Nikolai questioned again, and the man quickly replied.
"No," That got everyone's attention away from him except the one who asked the question, who simply went, "Hmm." He had him just where he wanted, Nikolai thought.
As the court meeting continued, Guinevere waited impatiently for when her father was going to make the announcement of her wedding to Quill, who was the young Duke of Quinville, one of the major towns in the Kingdom.
And finally, she breathed out when she heard her father's words. "That's enough for the day, there's an announcement which will be announced by Duke Quill," Guinevere turned to look at her father in surprise. It was Quill who was going to announce their marriage? That means her father had sent him a proposal ahead. Her excitement made her miss the sad look in her father's eyes as he turned to face her.
She looked at Quill as he stood up from his seat, donned in a black coat on a maroon shirt. For him, she was ready to be a duchess. She blushed to herself.
"Good evening to you, your Highness," Quill bowed to King Darren again.
"Thank you for honoring my request to make this announcement. It will be tedious sending out cards to everyone when a simple speech can be said."
"As the Duke of Quinville, I am here to announce that I have found one I'll be making a duchess to rule with me the town left for me by my father."
Hearing his words made Guinevere blush more. This man was excellent!
"Allow me to introduce to you all-" No need to be so dramatic; they knew who she was already, Guinevere thought with a broader smile, which dropped the very next second as Quill turned to the lady he had walked in with earlier and stretched his hands to her, whom she held.
"-Lady Violetta Dragomir."