The next morning, I received a summons to the royal gardens to meet the Emissary of Bellavierre. My heart skipped a beat—would I be exiled from court? Or worse, locked in the dungeons to reflect on my reckless outburst?
The Queen, ever unruffled, gave me a stern nod as she pushed a brush and some parchment toward me. "Princess, the Emissary expects an apology. Be gracious. Keep it decent."
I nodded, clutching the brush as if it were my only lifeline. Art fixes everything, anyway.
Elias, who had been shadowing me like a nervous servant since the duck debacle, furrowed his brow. "You're really going to try and fix this with a picture? The Bellavierrans are serious people."
I shot him a glance. "You can't be serious. Just have faith, Elias. I know exactly what I'm doing."
He sighed, but followed me toward the royal garden, where the Emissary awaited by a marble fountain, his expression as cold and unyielding as the stone itself. His monocle gleamed in the morning sun, daring me to make another mistake.
My plan was simple: art and charm. The perfect formula for redemption.
I inhaled deeply, curtsied low, and smiled sweetly. "Your Excellency," I began, my tone as honeyed as I could manage, "I owe you a most sincere apology for my exuberant outburst at last night's banquet."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Princess, your outburst was... unconventional."
"Indeed," I agreed, holding his gaze. "That's why I've chosen to make amends with a personal offering—a portrait of Bellavierre's finest ambassador." I gestured to the blank canvas I had brought with me.
The Emissary raised an eyebrow, but a flicker of interest sparked in his eyes. "A painting, Princess? To make amends for... chaos?"
"Certainly," I replied with a smile I hoped was disarmingly innocent. "I wanted to show you that my kingdom respects the seriousness of your people. What better way than through the universal language of art? And, naturally, no ducks will be involved."
A brief flicker of amusement passed across his face. "I should hope not."
As he seated himself beside the fountain, Elias lingered by my side, watching me with a mixture of disbelief and reluctant hope. "Are you really going to do this?" he murmured.
"Just wait," I whispered back, setting up my canvas and palette. "Trust me."
I began to paint slowly and deliberately, capturing the stern dignity of the Emissary, his monocle gleaming in the sunlight. The tension in the air seemed to melt as my brush moved across the canvas.
"You're... good at this," Elias remarked softly.
I didn't look up, concentrating on the details. "It's not just technique," I muttered. "It's about capturing the spirit. If I get the details right, he'll see I'm genuine."
The Emissary remained silent as I worked, but I could feel his eyes on me, the tension thickening as minutes passed. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I stepped back from the canvas.
"Your Excellency," I said, gesturing toward the finished portrait, "I present to you my gift—a perfect reflection of Bellavierre's beauty, immortalized in your likeness."
The Emissary leaned forward, his sharp eyes scanning the painting. For a long moment, he said nothing. I held my breath, waiting for his verdict. At last, he exhaled slowly, his tone softer than before.
"This is... better than I expected," he said. "A very decent bit of work, Princess Charlotte."
I beamed, relieved. "I'm so glad you appreciate it. I hope this will help clear up the... miscommunication from last night."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps. Though, next time, I would recommend your 'gesture' not be so... animated." He offered a small smile. "But it seems your intentions were not entirely mischievous."
"Of course not," I said, winking. "And I promise, no more ducks. Only art from now on."
The Emissary laughed, a sound that surprised me. For a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "Perhaps I will accept your kingdom's offer of peace after all. No more... accidents."
"You have my word," I replied, bowing low.
Elias let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "I think that went well."
I flashed him a wicked grin. "I knew you'd believe in me."
The Emissary stood, his face relaxed for the first time in days. "I look forward to our next meeting, Princess Charlotte." He paused as he turned to leave, then added with a sly smile, "And if you ever wish to introduce me to your ducks, I'll be there... just not at a banquet."
I smiled quietly, still buzzing with relief. "Deal."
Elias shook his head fondly as we made our way back to the palace. "You're a handful, Princess. But I suppose I'm getting used to it by now."
"Good," I replied, my eyes gleaming. "Because this is just the beginning."