Adela was in the living room looking outside at the wetness when she saw Lucia and Prince Michael emerge from the woods. They seemed to be having a rather serious discussion as they walked. She saw as Lucia stumbled and Prince Michael automatically reached out and grasped her arm. Lucia looked up at the prince and he said something to her as he slowly let go of her.
Adela's jaw clenched as her sister said something to the prince who threw his head back and laughed. Lucia had a pleased grin on her face as if she had accomplished something.
And everyone wants me to befriend her, Adela thought acidly.
How could she get close to her sister when she was actively taking the one thing that she treasured from her? Prince Michael was hers. She had grown up training to be his. How could Lucia take him from her? How could she stand back and let her? She would not. She did not have it in her to not give her best. Standing back and accepting defeat was not her best.
Hatred filled her eyes as Lucia took off running towards the house and the prince followed her. When they reached the patio, they were laughing. Adela pretended to be occupied as Lucia opened the Patio door and stepped into the house.
"Oh!" Lucia exclaimed in surprise when she saw Adela.
Why was she surprised? Was she feeling guilty that she got caught cosying up to the prince?
"Good morning, Della," there was uncertainty in Lucia's voice as she greeted her older sister.
Was she wondering what Adela had seen? Adela put everything in being nonchalant and looked up at her sister.
"Good morning, Lucy," she said flatly.
Prince Michael walked in after Lucia a smile on his face.
"Good morning, Adela," he said cheerfully.
Adela was not fooled. He was not happy to see her. This was the lingering joy of spending time with Lucia. It was very rare to see him like this. She hated that. She could do that for him too if only he'd let her. Why didn't he see that? She was the most constant in his life. Lucia wasn't. She would let him know.
"Good morning," she said with a manufactured smile.
She watched as the pair of them walked out of the living room and into the foyer. She suspected they were going to their rooms to wash off the sweat produced during their run. She wondered how Lucia had convinced Prince Michael to join her on her run.
Does it matter? A part of her wondered. The only thing that matters is becoming the future Queen of Vershia. I didn't endure my mother's teaching for nothing.
Lucia could feel Adela's eyes on her as she left the living room. She had not missed the icy reception she had gotten from her. This was why she had left. Back then she had felt partly responsible and guilty but now she was beginning to get annoyed. She had given Adela three years to comprehend that she had not done anything on purpose. She loved her. They were family. Didn't that account for anything? Adela knew her for crying out loud she should know that Lucia would never knowingly or willingly hurt her.
"Think about my offer," Prince Michael told her as their paths diverged.
"I will," she returned with a smile.
I will think about it, she thought, I will think about everyone involved.
She was almost to her room when her father rounded a corner.
"Good morning, Daddy," she automatically greeted.
"Good morning sweetheart," he said as his smile softened into a smile.
He wondered if he should mention that he saw her running into the woods but decided to leave it alone. He had kept the trail maintained especially for her. At least she took someone with her this time. He did not like her running in those woods alone. If she fell and got hurt it would be hard to call for help. He decided to let her think she got away with it.
Lucia got into her room and took her time washing up. She was thinking the whole time. She was thinking about Adela. Thinking about how to get through to her. If the look her sister had given her this morning was anything to go by, she knew that their relationship would not get better until they had a good talk. She dreaded that. She had left to avoid that among other things.
As she got out of the shower and got dressed, Caroline and her fiancé were walking into the living room. Adela had opened the patio door and was standing there just feeling the cold moist breeze on her skin.
"Good morning, Dela!" Caroline sang.
"Good morning, Line," Adela responded as she turned.
She noted that Caroline had her arm intertwined with Prince Alex's arm and they were holding hands.
We went through the same training, she thought sadly. We went in with the same expectations. She got her prince. Why can't I seem to? Why her and not me? Why would Prince Michael look at Lucia than me? Is there something wrong with me?
She realised she was sinking into her melancholy and blinked it away.
"Prince Alex," she nodded at her future brother-in-law.
"You know it's Alex," the man responded airily.
"And it's not a good morning," Caroline said with a sad sigh, "The holiday is over for me. I'm going back to the mainland."
"That's today?" she wondered aloud.
"The days flew by very quickly," Caroline moaned.
"I'm sorry I can't go with you to the palace earlier," Adela told her sister earnestly.
"It's okay," Caroline grinned, "Lucia will be with me. She has no excuse. But do hurry up, I want both my sisters with me."
Adela felt the humour and goodwill leach out of her when Lucia's name was mentioned. She fought it back. She did not want to be Caroline's dark cloud. She did not want to be the bitter one.
"I will," Adela promised.
She would not give Lucia more of a head start than she already had. She needed to take away the head start that was there. She would become the Crown Princess of Vershia. It's what she was raised for.
"Good morning, everyone," Josephine said as she entered the living room.
She was dressed in a simple wrap-around dress and she looked as elegant as ever. Adela couldn't help but admire her. She was raised to be like her. And yet she kept falling short.
"Breakfast has been served," Josephine told the group after they returned her greeting, "You can all come into the dining room."
Upstairs, Lucia got the same message from the maid. She waved the girl off and finished getting dressed before making her way out of her room. She met her brother and father at the stairs and the three of them went to the dining room together. When she walked into the dining room, she noticed how her mother's eyes lit up as she saw her husband. She saw how Lucia genuinely smiled at her and her companions before giving her a bright, then swiftly turning her eyes back to her man.
Her gaze went to her sister Adela who gave her the fakest of smiles and went back to her meal. Prince Michael smiled at her. It was the purest of smiles. His eyes lit up with that smile. He was genuinely happy to see her. She automatically smiled back at him and picked up how Adela looked from him to her. She did not miss the frost in her older sister's eyes. She needed to talk to her soon. She needed to try and do something about their relationship. Things couldn't carry on like this.