I kept waiting in my room, sitting stiffly in front of the vanity table. Gena's words kept echoing in my mind. She said she sensed something from the Crown Prince's entourage. What could it be? Something that even Goddesses could sense.
After waiting for what felt like hours, I looked out the window. The sun was already shining high above our heads, signaling noon.
Finally, I heard the doorknob turn.
Click.
I spun around in my chair. It was Mother. She walked toward me, her expression unreadable.
"The entourage has already passed our gate," she announced.
I stood up immediately. Mother led me out of the room. Adel and the three children, who were waiting just outside, fell in step behind me.
On the way to greet the entourage, my nerves got the better of me. I started wringing my hands together.
"Don't be nervous, Aurelia," Mother said without looking back. "And don't grip your hands like that. It is so inappropriate for you."
I hadn't even realized I was doing it. I quickly clasped my hands demurely in front of me.
"Remember one thing, Aurelia," Mother continued, her voice firm. "You are in your home, not in his home. For what reason do you need to be nervous in your own home?"
"I will keep your word, Mother."
"Great. That is the Aurelius spirit you need to show. Show him the strength of your family's name."
After walking through the grand halls, we arrived at the main entrance. Everyone was gathered there, even Felix, whom I hadn't seen for a while. Mother led me to the front of the group.
Father, the twins, and Gena were already waiting. Mother positioned me at the very front, with Gena and Adel flanking me.
Three carriages rolled up the long driveway. Two were standard noble carriages, but the one in the middle was distinct—white, gleaming in the sun, and adorned with intricate gold ornaments. I assumed it was the Royal Carriage.
As the carriage drew closer, I caught glimpses of figures inside through the window. Maybe the Prince brought someone in his carriage, like a sibling, I thought.
I glanced at Mother behind me. Her expression suggested her assumption was different—and far less charitable. She looked irritated.
Suddenly, she stepped up beside me and whispered something to Adel. Adel nodded and switched positions with her. Now, Adel was behind me, and Mother stood protectively in front, partially shielding me.
The three carriages stopped in front of the house. The Royal Carriage halted directly before us.
The footman jumped down from the coachman's seat, retrieved the portable stairs from the back, placed them in front of the carriage door, and opened it.
In a few seconds, the Prince emerged.
For no reason I could discern, Mother shifted to cover me almost completely, as if trying to hide me from his view. I just saw a glimpse of him over her shoulder. He wore white clothes and royal robes embroidered with gold and yellow ornaments. His hair was blonde, shining in the sunlight.
He stopped at the top of the stairs and extended his hand back into the carriage.
I tried to peek around Mother's shoulder. There was someone else inside.
A girl took his hand and stepped down. I caught a glimpse of her—she had red hair.
I noticed Mother's hand make a sharp signal behind her back.
Immediately, Adel grabbed my hand.
"Come, My Lady."
I was pulled away before I could see anything else. As I was being led off, I looked back at Gena's face. She looked genuinely shocked, staring at the red-haired girl.
We went behind the crowd, and Adel led me away from the entrance entirely. It seemed she was taking me back to my room. It was just Adel and I; even the three children didn't follow.
"Why did you pull me back from there?" I asked as we walked down the empty corridor. "It seems you want to lead me to my room again."
"It is Madam's order, My Lady," Adel replied briskly.
"I saw Mother whisper something to you. May I know what she whispered?"
"Madam just whispered about this order."
"Do you perhaps know who she is beside the Crown Prince?"
"My Lady, you did see her. I have no clue about her. Even I haven't been informed about someone beside the Crown Prince, especially another girl in his entourage."
"So I may not see my fiancé today?"
"That depends on Madam's order."
"What about Father? Does he acknowledge anything about this?"
"I think His Grace will follow Madam."
…
We arrived back in my room. I returned to my seat in front of the vanity table, while Adel stationed herself outside the door like a guard.
Moments later, the doorknob turned.
Click.
The door opened to reveal Gena, followed by the three children. Gena walked toward me, while the others stayed by the door.
"What is going on down there?" I asked Gena as she stopped in front of me.
"It is a mess," Gena said, shaking her head. "Your mother, Madam, was furious about the Prince's entourage."
"Why?"
"Perhaps you didn't see it? Your fiancé brought another girl in his carriage to see you."
"I saw a glimpse of the girl," I shrugged. "But I thought she was his sibling or one of his family, so I didn't find a big problem there."
"You didn't find it a problem until you heard this," Gena said gravely. "That girl is not his sibling nor one of his family."
My eyes widened. "Oh my!! So who is she?"
"That is what Madam wants to know. Therefore, she threatened the entourage to go back, not allowing the Prince to see even a single strand of your hair."
"Well, Mother is scary if she is angry," I mused.
"And about that, My Lady… it seems your father is not that scary compared to your mother. Even he didn't say anything when your mother was furious at one of the courtiers from the entourage. And this nature seems to pass down to your little brother, Aurelio."
"Even though he is not as capable as Mother, he still does his job well," I defended him. "And I noticed you were shocked back then. What made you shocked like that?"
"Ahhhh! About that.." Gena suddenly looked nervous, averting her eyes. "I will te..ll you about that another time. Right now, you need to prepare."
"Are you blind or what?" I gestured to my gown. "Look at me! Am I not prepared in your eyes?"
She looked me up and down. "Not that outfit or appearance." She pointed a finger at my chest. "But prepare your heart."
"My heart?" I put a hand over my chest.
"What would happen if the girl he brought was his lover, when he has you? Do you have a feeling of jealousy if that happened?"
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…" I thought for a moment. "I don't know what I would feel if that happened. I think because I still don't have any feelings toward the Prince—I don't recall any memories with him—the word 'jealousy' will not appear in my mind."
"Hehhhhhhhhh," Gena groaned, disappointed. "That is not fun. There will be no conflict in the Royal love then. I want to see you stand in front of the Prince and say, 'This betrothal is over!' Like that."
"Tell me that you are joking right now."
"No, I am not jok—"
Click.
Suddenly, the door opened again. We spun around. It was Mother and Father.
Gena immediately stepped aside. They walked toward me.
"Aurelia…" Mother said softly.
Suddenly, she hugged me tight for no apparent reason.
"What is the matter, Mother? Why do you hug me like this?" I asked, patting her back awkwardly.
She released the hug and looked into my eyes. "Do you perhaps not feel angry or jealous, darling?"
"Why do I need to feel those?"
I saw Mother shoot a sharp gaze at Gena.
"Did Gena tell you about it?" Mother asked.
"It?? Ah! You mean the girl that the Prince brought? Yes, she told me. I thought she was one of his siblings or one of his family."
Father walked forward. "Aurelia, have you perhaps not felt itching or stinging inside your heart?"
"Father's question is like Gena's question," I sighed. "But I will answer it the same. I don't have any feeling like that or jealousy when I see the girl."
Mother and Father just looked at each other, perplexed.
"May I know who this girl is?" I asked them.
"The Prince introduced her," Mother explained, her voice tight. "She is the daughter of a Count. And he didn't tell us anything about how he met her. You must have already known about the peerage rank… In this occasion, it is impossible for this girl to know the Prince, let alone be close to him, with her status as a Count's daughter."
"I don't quite follow it, Mother. I know about the peerage, but why is she impossible to get close with the Prince? I don't quite catch it."
Father tapped Mother's shoulder gently. "I think it is not great for Aurelia to know about this details, dear. Just let her evaluate or judge her betrothal herself. How about we end this conversation and ask her the question?"
Mother looked at Father, then sighed. "Sorry, dear… maybe it is my habit." She turned back to me. "So darling, I gave the Prince a chance to meet you. But this chance is up to you. You can easily give us a signal that you want to get away from the Prince, and we will easily oblige the signal… and kick out that Prince. So, do you want to meet him or not?"
I nodded firmly. "I will meet him."
"If that is your word," Mother declared, "I will withdraw the three children as your maids for today. But Lady Octavi will be there. So you will have Adel, Gena, and Lady Octavi staying beside you. With this, you can easily give them a signal or a word, and they will immediately act."
"I understand, Mother."
"Great. Now let's meet this person."
I left the room with Mother and Father, followed by Gena. Outside the room, Lady Octavi was already waiting.
Mother and Father led me to the living room, followed by my retinue: Adel, Gena, and Lady Octavi.
When we arrived at the living room entrance, I saw some courtiers waiting outside. Mother and Father stopped at the door, allowing me to enter first, flanked by my protectors.
Inside the room, I noticed three guards standing in the corners. I walked toward the sofas where the Prince sat.
As I approached, I saw them clearly. The girl was sitting beside him on the sofa.
I took the seat opposite them. Now, I could completely see their appearances.
The girl had short red hair. The Prince had short blonde hair. Most importantly, they wore the same color of clothing—white.
The girl spoke first, her tone dripping with sweetness that didn't reach her eyes.
"It seems My Lady Aurelia needs a lot of attention from the servants, that they follow you in here. It is like you need them because you feel not well. May that be the reason to bring them into this great meeting between you and your fiancé?"