“WHOA! You’re getting married? Congratulations, Sonia! And to the second in line, Prince Severin! That’s wonderful!”
“Thank you, Pamela,” Sonia squeaked with embarrassment to the zealous excitement of her fellow eighteen-year-old roommate. Pamela was as excited as if she were the one getting married. The porcelain white skin on her face flushed red.
“Wasn’t he your first love to boot? How romantic! You get to spend your life with the man of your dreams...! Prince Severin must have felt the same for you all these years!”
“I hope so... Going by the letters I get from him every now and then, I was under the impression he only thought of me as a little sister... I’m afraid he’s forcing himself to marry me,” Sonia confessed.
She dropped her eyes as she recalled the contents of the letters she had received from Severin so far. Part of her was anxious his father, King Patrice, was pushing him into the marriage. If that was the case, she felt bad for Severin.
Being her second cousin who was only three years older than her, Severin had often played with Sonia in the royal palace until she lost her family to tragic deaths and moved to this abbey.
Severin’s blond hair fell elegantly to his shoulders, shining brightly as if it absorbed the light of the sun. With rosy cheeks complemented by deep blue eyes, his beauty surpassed genders, even eliciting a tinge of jealousy from Sonia.
But rather than growing vain in his beauty, he was kind to everyone. People sang him praises, claiming, “If an angel descended to earth, he would be just like Prince Severin.”
“Sonia, I’m sure Prince Severin gave his consent, so it’s all good. You should be more confident in yourself!” Pamela said to comfort Sonia.
“You’re right. I need to start putting my heart into my studies and etiquette classes from now on so I can become a good wife,” Sonia replied, offering Pamela a smile in return.
“But isn’t this all rather sudden? It’s hard to believe you’re leaving in two weeks... As a friend, I’m happy that you’re getting married, but you’ve been a part of my life for so long, I’m going to miss you...” Pamela admitted. Though she felt the optimistic radiance of Sonia’s smile, she truthfully confessed the loneliness she felt in her heart.
Ever since Pamela came to the Royal Abbey, the two girls had slept in the same room. Unlike the other ladies who were here for finishing school, she had also lost her family. With nowhere else to go after a relative inherited the family estate, she had come to this abbey.
“I hope that the uncle I’ve mentioned inherited our Benoit family title and estate will find a marriageable suitor for me... Then I could leave and visit you...”
“Pamela...”
Sonia’s eyes grew misty with tears as she drew her friend into a hug. Pamela’s uncle had probably forgotten about the niece he had dumped in this abbey. As it was, he never once responded to any of the letters she sent him. Supposedly he sent annual donations to the abbey, but rumor had it they were getting smaller by the year.
Sonia stroked Pamela’s tightly braided hair, which was ebony black. Countless ladies came to the abbey because they had nowhere else to go. However, she had clicked with Pamela best. Of course, being roommates helped, but they had laughed and cried together, suffered from the same type of loneliness, and comforted one another.
“I’ll be sure to write. And I have every intention to see your uncle and ask him, ‘Now that Pamela is of a marriageable age, aren’t you going to find her a good husband?’”
“If Prince Severin’s fiancée asked him that, I’m sure my uncle would fly into a frenzied panic trying to find someone,” Pamela said. She must have imagined the sadness in her eyes, for she broke into a smile. Seeing Pamela’s expression, Sonia relaxed and grabbed her hands.
Facing each other, the two put their palms together and interlocked their fingers. Then they pressed forehead against forehead. They made this gesture whenever they comforted one another.
“I’d like to congratulate you again, Sonia. I will always be praying for your happiness.”
“Thank you, Pamela... I will always be praying for your happiness, too...”
The two ladies stayed like that for a long time. Both kept their eyes closed as if trying to hide the stream of tears...