Lucille sat close to her window, while watching the departing figures of Diane and Diego. To be precise, she knew the very second that they stepped into the palace, she was the one that informed her uncle about the news of Diego's wedding afterall. She watched as Diego helped Diane into the carraige, and immediately felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. If only Diego cared for her like that, if only she was Diane...
A knock on her door snapped her out of her thoughts. "Lucille, are you in?" A female voice asked. "Yes, aunt, you can come in." Lucille replied. A woman with dark brown hair came in. "I was thinking that you will go to see him." The queen, who was as elegant as ever, said, while sitting on Lucille's bed. Lucille looked at the woman, who had actually turned out to be the queen. Estelle Agerintia. She looked at Lucille with a smile, revealing a pair of dazzling white teeth, with her slender body which looked so young, making it impossible for one to actualize her exact age, and those brown eyes of hers, ever so calm and peaceful. "I didn't just feel like going." Lucille said, turning her head away. "Oh dear? I thought the two of you are friends?" She asked, gazing deeply at Lucille. "We are. And like I said, I didn't just want to face him." Lucille repeated herself. "Though I was surprised when I heard the news of his marriage though, maybe you could have.." "Aunt, please " Lucille began, visibly frustrated. "I am really not in the mood, to talk about this issue right now." She said. "Very well, then." Her aunt began, seeing that she is wasn't In a good mood. "But at least, come out periodically, or you might end up being even paler that snow." She said, with a slight smile on her face. "Who knows, maybe I will be prettier with paler skin." Lucille grumbled. There was another knock in the door. "It's me." A voice said. "Come in." The queen called out. The man opened the door, and walked up towards the two women. "This was the only place I could think of when I couldn't find you in your room, mother." Regaris said meaningfully, before glancing at his cousin who laid down on the bed dispiritedly. "What is the matter with her?" He asked turning to his mother. "You know the way this child gets sometimes." Queen Estelle smiled helplessly, while patting the bed. "Will you not sit?" She asked him. "I am alright, mother, I just came to check up on you. I even have a message for Lucille as well, if she is willing to stop sulking about goodness knows what." He added, a bit irritated. "It won't kill you to be supportive, you know." Lucille grumbled, as she sat up on the bed. "So, what do you have to tell me?" She asked. Regaris shrugged. "Your father called upon you, I believe he wanted to check up on your well being. " Regaris said. "So he finally remembers that he has another daughter." Lucille said, a mocking smile on her lips. "Maybe he was praying that I would die In the war.." "Lucille!" Regaris called out her name, his tone sharp. "Even if he was less of a father to you, that doesn't give you a right to disregard him like that. He still remains your biological father, and that is the truth." He said, while shooting a glare at her. "You might as well give me an award for being his daughter." Lucille said, with a mocking gaze. "Lucille..."Regaris began "How will you even know what it feels like, all your problems can always be resolved like.. that." Lucille said, while clicking her fingers. They was a brief moment of silence, which was characterised by both cousins staring at each other. The queen sighed. "Agerintia might as well drown before the both of you get along." She said helplessly. "Anyway, how did the audience go?" She asked, swiftly changing the topic. "It went well, nothing quite eventful about it." The prince said, adjusting his clothes, while still giving his cousin a nasty glare. "Except that we have a new awakened, and I have to trace her genealogy now, to see if she is just a random variable, or not." He added. "Are you talking about that girl, Diane?" His mother asked. "She is quite interesting- who will willingly leave her family behind in the name of love?" The queen said, a wry smile on her face. "She isn't losing anything, Aunt, her husband is even wealthier than her father." Lucille said. "To me, family itself is the greatest wealth that one could ever possess."The queen said, with a smile. "She must have a steel resolution, since she didn't go back on her word." She added. "So if you don't mind, then, mother, I will be on my way now." Regaris stated, while giving a bow. "Don't just go like that, come here." The queen said, spreading out her arms. "Mother, I am too big for this now." He said, flabbergasted. But his mother looked determined. "Fine." He said, while embracing his mom, while Lucille gave him funny looks. "You are never too big for this." His mother said, while releasing him. "So long as it pleases you." The prince muttered, while secretly giving Lucille a hard pinch. "Ow! Aunt!" Lucille began, but Regaris interrupted her. "Anyway, I will see you both later." Regaris told them. "And, Lucille, you better do as I instructed. I have my eyes on you." He said sternly. "Just get lost already!" Lucille snapped, while rubbing her sore arm. The door bolted shut.
***************************************************************
Meanwhile, Diane continued to stare at the window, while the carraige rode on in the nearly deserted streets. "You really love looking outside, even though the civilians have already retired for the day." Diego observed. "I am sorry, but I am not like a certain young master who was able to go out as it pleased him. So when I have the opportunity to move out, I like to appreciate it." Diane explained, not even bothering to look at him. "You could always sneak out, you know." Diego said. "Yes, Indeed, and get the poor servants into trouble." Diane said, finally turning away from the window to face him. "But you sneaked out the day I first met you, though." Diego countered. "Well I have to use my discretion, do I not?" Diane asked him. "I only sneak out the days that my father Is not around, and I have to be continously time conscious as well." She said. "That day was different though, I fell into the ditch and.. well, I can only assure you that If I has arrived even a minute later, poor Dorothy would have been punished." She concluded. "Then you should be thanking me then." Diego said. "What?" Diane inquired. "You ought to be thanking me, for saving you that day." Diego insisted. "You wish." Diane scoffed lightly. "So, you are not going to thank me?" He asked, a naughty smirk in his face. "What will you do If I don't?" Diane dared to step on the tiger's tail. The man smirked, then leaned In on her. In such a way that she laid flat on the chair while he towered over her. "What are you doing?" She asked, while turning as red as a tomato. "Shh, be quiet now." The man said, while leaning down even further. She closed her eyes, only to feel a soft sensation on her forehead. Wait, that was it? She opened her eyes, glaring at the man that had already returned to his Initial position. She sat up and rubbed at her forehead, staring at him angrily. "Bastard!" She exclaimed, giving him a punch to the shoulder, with her delicate fists, but the man acted as though he couldn't feel anything. "Which reminds me, why did you use my surname when you introduced yourself to the king?" Diego asked. Diane halted her assault for the time being, and threw him a weird look. "We are married, aren't we?" She asked. "Wouldn't it be weird if I used my surname?" She asked. "Besides, you are the one always referring to me as 'Lewis' whenever you get mad." She added. "So, do you want me to be calling you 'Diane Raymond.' From now on?" He asked her with a smile. "It sounds funny to me, but I will get used to it." She told him. "You better." He told her.
"The crowned prince is as handsome as the rumors say." Diane broke the brief silence, while fantasing about the man who stood next to the king throughout the entire audience. "You are seriously thinking about another man, right in front of me." Diego said. "Gosh, you are making it sound like I am cheating on you or something." Diane muttered, with a slight frown on her face. "You decide, between him and I, who is more dashing?" He asked. Diane gave him an incredulous gaze. "To think that the almighty Diego Raymond will be concerned about such trivial affairs." She mused. "I am not sure- or I know is that I will lump you, my brother, and the crowned prince In one category, oh-and Thaniel too." She added. Diego sighed. "Well unfortunately for you, the crowned prince is already Interested in someone, so you can stop thinking about him." Diego said irritatedly. "Why? Are you jealous?" Diane asked, a corner of her lips uplifted. Diego turned his head to the window. "I am not." "Are you sure?" Sje pressed on. "Why would I be, anyway?" Diane punched him again. "You are impossible." She told him. "Anyway, I was expecting to see Lucille.. I am kind of disappointed." Diane said, with a downcast expression on her face. "Maybe she was busy." Diego stated, while observing her from the corner of his eye. "But the military might and the defenses of the castle are quite impressive." Diane mused. "It will take a strong enemy to break the castle defenses and attack the royal family, if they deem fit." She continued. "You haven't seen anything yet, the defense of the empire Is far more stronger than that." Diego said. "The reason why they did not search us is because of the trust the imperial family has invested in me. Normally, they will search the carraige, as well as the visitors, to ensure that nothing harmful or obnoxious is brought into the castle." He elaborated. "I could tell. Only you could speak to the king with such familiarity." Diane said. "I wish I saw the queen though, I have only ever seen her form afar. I heard it was thanks to her good genes that the prince ended up so dashing." Diane said. "Who knows? You might see her again. Afterall, this may not be the last time that you see the king."