Charlotte and her friends were seated in the sunlit garden of the Fairybugs estate. Madrienne, Perriwiny and Ashbury, each adorned in the finest silks befitting their noble birth were engrossed in their conversation over glasses of cold pollen juice.
Madrienne, her golden curls catching the sunlight leaned forward conspiratorially. "Have you noticed, Charlotte? Your brother seems quite taken with the princess."
Perriwiny, the youngest of the three with a mischievous glint in her eye, giggled softly as she spoke. "Oh yes, Madrienne, did you see how Philippe practically jumped to his feet when she entered the ballroom? He was the very picture of a gentleman. I am sure the princess was flattered by the sight of him."
Charlotte smiled, everyone was fooled by Philippe's smiles and charm but in reality he was a wolf in sheep clothing. Charlotte, her expression tinged with amusement said, "I know right? But the princess doesn't like him, but rather, she turned him down so many times that it broke my heart. I felt so bad for my brother."
Gasps escaped the lips of her friends, their delicate fingers clutching their goblets. Ashbury raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "That princess! Who does she think she is, rejecting someone from one of the oldest noble houses in Perest? She's nothing but a half-blood, riding on the coattails of her royal father. If not for him, she'd be begging on the streets like a street rat."
Charlotte shot Ashbury a mock glare, her tone laced with feigned concern. "Ashbury, don't speak of her like that. She may not be pure-blood like us but she has the royal blood running through her veins, but soon enough, she'll be my brother's wife and our queen."
The other girls murmured in discontent, She could see the envy in their eyes but they couldn't voice it, they were all playing society. Despite her complicated feelings towards her brother and the princess, secretly relished the prospect of Philippe ascending to the throne. As the future queen's sister-in-law, she would wield great influence and prestige in the kingdom.
Madrienne attempted to lighten the mood. "Well, Charlotte, you must admit, it will be quite the spectacle when your brother finally wins the princess's heart. The entire kingdom will be talking about it."
Perriwiny nodded enthusiastically. "Oh! And imagine the grand celebrations and the magnificent coronation ceremony. We'll be at the center of it all!"
Ashbury, still visibly displeased but maintaining herself forced a smile. "Indeed, it will be quite the affair. I just hope your brother realizes the magnitude of his good fortune."
Charlotte simply smiled, her mind already plotting how she could use her newfound position.
Madrienne cleared her throat and leaned forward with a conspiratorial glint in her eye. "Did you see the princess's new guard at the dinner party the king hosted for your family?"
Charlotte looked up, intrigued. "No, I did not. Why, what happened?"
Madrienne's eyes sparkled with excitement. "My brother told me that this new guard won against Philippe in the archery contest held yesterday at the palace. It was a significant event, with the king and two of his advisors in attendance."
Charlotte's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your brother didn't tell you that?" Madrienne asked, noticing her friend's reaction.
A slight smile played on Charlotte's lips. "Philippe is a busy man. We don't indulge in petty gossip like others."
Perriwiny chimed in. "I heard he is very handsome, and all the palace maids are fighting to be his female."
Ashbury added, "I heard he saved the princess from an arrow attack. He took the arrow in her stead, I am sure your brother wasn't there if not he would have aided the princess."
Madrienne shook her head and said, "That is not what I heard, Lord Philippe was at the forest with the princess and the king."
Ashbury feigned a gasp, "Lord Philippe didn't help his fiancee! Maybe he was scare of the arrows," a mocking grin on her face.
Charlotte glared at Ashbury, "My brother was busy hunting for a togiculo while the palace guard was there to protect the princess," she corrected.
Everyone kept quiet, each person to their thoughts.
Perriwiny's eyes widened with fascination. "Now I am eager to go to the palace just to have a glimpse of this male." Her words broke the silence.
Madrienne sighed, her tone tinged with envy. "Now I am jealous of the princess, having to see that type of face every day."
Charlotte frowned, her thoughts turning inward. Despite her animosity toward Philippe, the idea of their family name being overshadowed by a mere guard irked her.
Perriwiny's eyes sparkled with a newfound excitement. "Oh, this just makes everything more intriguing! A mysterious and heroic guard and your brother with the princess, Charlotte. It's like something out of a romance novel!"
Charlotte said carefully, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Madrienne giggled at Charlotte's expense. Charlotte saw red...
As the servants moved gracefully around the table, refilling goblets and offering platters of delicacies, Charlotte took a deliberate bite of her food. She chewed thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on Philippe. "Why didn't you tell us about the game yesterday?" she asked, her tone deceptively casual.
Philippe, who had been engrossed in a conversation with his father looked up, his expression guarded.
"What game are you talking about, Charlotte?" the High Lord inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Charlotte's eyes never left her brother. "Philippe had an archery match with the princess's guard. And he lost to the commoner."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. High Lady Fairybug turned to Philippe. "Oh no! Philippe, you lost?"
Philippe's jaw tightened, and he glared at Charlotte. "Nothing to worry about, Mother. It was just a friendly match between two males. It wasn't a competition."
Charlotte leaned back in her chair, her smile icy. "The king was there to witness the loss."
The High Lord and Lady Fairybug gasped in unison, their eyes wide with shock.
Philippe opened his mouth to speak, but Charlotte cut him off. "You hit the bullseye twice, and he hit it five times on the same point. He is far better than you and everyone thinks so."
Philippe's hands tightened on his utensils, the metal clinking softly against his plate. "Charlotte, don't get on my nerves. You don't want to dare me!"
Just as Charlotte was about to retort, High Lady Fairybug intervened, her voice firm but gentle. "Children, let's eat, please."
The rest of the meal continued in an uncomfortable silence, the clinking of the eatingwares and the occasional murmurs were the only sounds breaking the silence.