With the whole castle unaware of the incident, Meriane and Selene are still making their way through the castle. The wide smile and the slight blush on her face show how much excitement had filled her veins.
"Don't you think he's already opening himself to me, Selene? You should have seen how relaxed he was earlier, enough for him to un—," she giggled, barely hiding her laughter with her fan. "Either way, it was the first time I've seen him like that."
"So, it makes your heart race, am I correct?" Selene teased her, which finally turned her face into a tomato. She did not complain but hid in her fan even more. "Based on your reaction, I guess I'm right."
"Well, how about you, Aren't you being awfully close with the former knight. I don't mean to pry but—" if the princess is weak to teasing, Selene is even worse. She froze on the spot, blushing up to her ears. "Come on, you don't have to be so obvious," Meriane doted on her more.
"At least my affection is being returned properly and not dismissed by some dense, cold-hearted prince," her attendant uttered but she made sure the princess heard her.
A bit pissed, she closed her fan and asked, "Could you repeat that, my beautiful Selene?" her attendant was quick to quack and immediately praised her relationships development for the day. "Right, that's what I thought."
"I don't want you to get your hopes up that much, princes. Do you remember the time when some children visited the castle. You gave him something, right, What was it again?"
"Chocolate, what about it?"
"What did he do with it?" she asked, watching Meriane halt, clearly remembering what happened.
"Who cares if he gave it to the kids. Don't you think that's nice of him to put the children first. He would be a great father."
"I remember you sulking for whole day because of that. You even cried, remember? Too much that you almost cried a river and he just cruised through without much thought," Selene could only cover her mouth as she noticed the princess looking upset once again.
"How would you feel if I replaced you as my attendant?"
She could only bow down and ask for forgiveness, "Of course I'm just kidding, princess; Prince Nicolas must have changed since then," They were laughing all the way before finally knocking through her father's lounge and letting themselves in.
On opposite chairs are his father and King Frederick, separated by a small table housing a chess board with only a few pieces left. They have a keen look in their eyes, checking every possible action the other could take and his strategy to counter them. Although Meriane had very little knowledge with the game, she can clearly see that in this round, it was his father's loss.
"Check," Frederick declared, pinning Ferrol's king with a queen and a rook on the final move.
"That's one to one. Guess the last game would be the deciding match," Ferrol said, taking a sip on his tea.
"I doubt you'll go easy on me like this time. You came from a great line of strategists, after all."
"Don't flatter me with those words because we both know you're the same."
Their laughter filled the room and Meriane finally found the chance to ask.
"Oh, Meriane I see you're feeling well already, I must have been busy; I didn't see you during the meeting," Frederick greeted her.
"Don't worry about it, Your majesty."
"Didn't I say to call me Uncle?"
"Oh right, Uncle Frederick, forgive me for forgetting," she repeated her curtsy.
"So, what brought our Princess Meriane here," Ferrol followed up.
She looked for courage in Selene and she provided her just that, nodding her head with a smile. Taking a deep breath, she once again did a curtsy. "I am hoping the both of you, especially Uncle, could grant a selfish request of mine."
"Is it to discipline Nicolas, What did my son do this time?"
"No, he did nothing of sort; much more is that he's been opening to me better than before. I am hoping if you could grant us the privilege of having our lunch outside on the garden's balcony. Only if it's possible, of course, and I won't be forcing this if it would cause any danger or problem."
The Kings could only look at each other in surprise. Frederick had an evident shock on his eyes, while Ferrol had a glistening sparkle in his eyes and smile. No words are needed, as they both remembered a conversation that they so vividly remember.
At that time, it had only been a year since the incident and bringing along the emotionally unstable Nicolas was a gamble. Frederick took the bet to try and meet the ends of their deal that night of the feast.
"Bringing him here at such a young age is finally coming into fruition, isn't it?" Ferrol whispered as he fixed the pieces for their last match. "I'm expecting a grandson soon," he teased.
Frederick tried to keep a straight face, but he is more than happy and parts of the guilt he has been carrying since are finally starting to dissipate. "Are you sure this is not him willfully asking you to do his bidding?" he still made sure.
"Nothing of that sort. I promise, this is all on me, Uncle," She finally lifts up her head.
Seeing her daughter happy brought an even brighter expression to Ferrol. She had always been pleased talking with Nicolas, but this time is exceptionally different. Her smile extrudes a different kind of hope; she felt so glowing that she even put the chandeliers to shame.
"Frederick"
"I know; I am not planning to refuse but they should have a guard. You know the risk."
"Of course, don't you underestimate my geniuses," After they deliberated, they turned to the waiting princes. "See to it that your request shall be granted; you can tell the other attendants. Bring some guards with you too."
It was music to her ears and now all that's left is to finally accomplish her plan. She was just about to leave the door after saying her final gratitude when knocks halted her advance. To her surprise, it was the prince.
"Good day, your majesties," he said, too, showed respects with a curtsy. "Is the princess still here?"
It took the King's by surprise altogether with Meriane herself. Never in their mind has there occurred the possibility that Nicolas would be the one seeking the person he spent his childhood trying to dismiss. It favored Frederick even more that Ferrol could not help but tease his friend.
"I'm here, Nicolas; I told you to wait for me there. Why are you here?" the Kings kept their mouths shut, waiting for something they themselves is unsure of.
They watched as the prince made his way towards the princess. His face painted with a gentle smile. Halting in front of her, he leaned in and whispered something that, according to what the kings had observed, flustered the princess.
Not even a second later, they were also caught off guard by Meriane's squeal, "In— IN YOUR ROOM?!"
Ferrol almost choked from his tea, while Frederick almost spit it out. What in the world is happening, the both of them thought as they tried to regain composure, drying the pieces of their clothing that fell casualty to their reactions.
"Well then, father, we'll be off. King Ferrol—"
"Wait a minute, son— I mean Nicolas. From now on, please call me Uncle. I don't mind, and it seems proper from where things stand."
Nicolas was puzzled by this sudden improvement in familiarity, but he went on with it. After all, it is a fact that they have known each other for years now; moreover, Gregoria and Algernon had a long history. He once again bowed, "If that's your wish, Uncle Ferrol, well then, let us be on our way, right, Meriane?"
He held her by the hand as they both exited the lounge. This time, I almost shook them both out of their seats.
"So..." Ferrol forgot about the game. "When and where? Gregoria or Algernon?"
"What?"
"Stop pretending; I know you know what I mean."