THROUGHOUT the birthday celebration, King Patrice would appear at the main balcony to wave to the public and present speeches while there was still light outside during the afternoon hours. The queen and two princes made appearances alongside him, meeting the cheers of the people.
Then King Patrice would spend his evenings in the great hall speaking with each and every nobleman and woman who had come from far and wide to wish him well. The King radiated dignity as he welcomed his guests from atop his extravagant throne at the center of the dais. Sitting at his side, an elegant smile rested upon Queen Cordelia’s lips.
The crown prince, Prince Henry, sat in the chair on his other side, while Prince Severin sat on a chair placed at the edge of the dais, nibbling at the food laid out on the narrow table stretched before them.
“Presenting Her Grace, the Duchess of Clare, Sonia de Clare, accompanied by Sir Crisford Cortot!”
This was a formal salutation that once called, required them to strut pompously down a red carpet to King Patrice.
Formal salutations are so exhausting! And I’d curl up and die if anyone saw what I look like under my dress... Sonia had to dip into a partial squat and bow at the waist. It was a bow-legged curtsy.
The position put a fair amount of strain on her thighs. It didn’t help that she had to hold the position until King Patrice said, “You may rise.”
It hurts, but it’s considered proper decorum for a lady to wear a mask of composure as she curtsies. With that thought in mind, Sonia endured it with gritted teeth.
“You may rise,” King Patrice said.
Hiding her inward relief, Sonia put her best smile on as she rose.
“Sonia, it is good to see you again. What were your thoughts about returning home after all these years?” he asked. While he still maintained his kingly dignity, Sonia was relieved he spoke with his usual kindness. This was the first she had ever interacted with him in a formal setting.
“It is good to see you. The remaining castle staff are most diligent. I was relieved to see that the castle looks just as it did before I departed for the abbey,” Sonia answered, fudging the details on the state of her castle to keep up appearances.
“I’m glad to hear it. I was worried since you had to inherit the heavy responsibility of serving as the lady of the castle despite your young age.”
“I’m only doing this well because I have your kind support, Your Majesty.”
Patrice gave Sonia a broad smile before turning his attention to Chris. “How about it, Chris? What do you think of life beyond the palace?”
“Your Majesty, I find it most pleasant,” Chris answered with a bow.
“Ha ha!” Patrice gleefully laughed and teased, “I’ll be! I dare say, it sounds like you’re enjoying that over palace life! I see you prefer being at the side of a beautiful, young lady, after all.”
Sonia’s face turned beet red, but Chris maintained his composure as he smoothly replied, “Not only is she extremely polite for her age, she also has a cheerful disposition. And as you say, she is most beautiful and enchanting. I feel like a young lad again.”
Sonia’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.
“Is that right? I’m glad the two of you are so compatible. May you enjoy this night to the fullest.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After another formal curtsy, Sonia placed her hand upon Chris’ arm, and the two took their leave.
Did we do the right thing?
Sonia decided to direct the question on her mind at Chris. “Was it okay...that we didn’t tell His Majesty about postponing the wedding?”
“Yes, it was,” Chris replied. “I sent him a letter beforehand explaining the situation. If we discussed it in the presence of other nobility, some could grow suspicious and start poking their noses where they shouldn’t. That’s why His Majesty intentionally didn’t broach the topic.”
“But aren’t there a fair number of people under the wrong impression about us? Some seem to think of you as my bodyguard,” Sonia stated.
Chris stopped dead in his tracks. “Huh?” He stared at Sonia with his light brown eyes bulging in surprise.
“Um, uh... Did I say something strange?” she asked while fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
“...Does that mean you don’t mind if people think we’re betrothed?” Chris asked in turn, this time making Sonia’s eyes widen in surprise.
Feeling awkward over the whole exchange, both dropped their gazes to the immaculate floor. Sonia’s hand naturally pulled away from his arm. Without anything to hold, she nervously twiddled her fingers. Casting a quick glance up at Chris from under her long eyelashes, she saw he was holding his fist up to his mouth, his face also flushed.
“Ahem!” he coughed to clear his throat. As if taking that for a sign, Sonia raised her head.
“Well, you see, I thought you were still uncomfortable around me. As such, I, uh, figured we should see how things play out a bit longer. Besides, you’ve only recently left the Royal Abbey. Now that you’ve entered the social scene, you might want to socialize for a time...”
Huh?
“What...do you mean by that?” Sonia asked.
“Er, exactly what it sounds like. Why...?”
The sweet atmosphere that had been hanging over them mere moments ago vanished without a trace. Boiling with anger, Sonia felt as if the blood pulsing through her veins had suddenly started to flow backward. Startled by the abrupt change that came over Sonia as she drew her brows into a deep scowl burning with fury, Chris unconsciously edged back.
“In other words, you mean to say I should fraternize with other men?” she pushed.
“That is one way of looking at it,” Chris answered.
“If I fell in love with someone, and he returned my feelings, you wouldn’t care if I betrayed your trust?” she demanded.
“I don’t think there is a man alive who wouldn’t fall for you,” he replied with a faint smile, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. But Sonia was too overwhelmed to guess the reason behind it.
He continued, “You’ve only recently left the abbey. You were prohibited from the pleasure of life as a woman while you were cooped up in there all these years. You should continue experiencing the joys of dressing up, conversing with men and women, and falling in love. That is what King Patrice wishes for you.”
King Patrice?
“...And you’re okay with this? Don’t you realize you’re giving me permission to cheat on you? That I could decide to call off our engagement?”
Chris was unable to answer either question. His smile merely deepened...
“...I see how it is. I’m going off on my own now!” Sonia snapped, hiking up her skirts and fleeing as fast as her legs could carry her.
“Princess!”
She ignored Chris’ voice calling after her as she raced straight through the ballroom to make her way outside. Her tears wanted to come gushing out, but she fought to hold them back for fear they would cause her makeup to run.
What was that?! What is he thinking?! Sir Chris is such a jerk! So what if I’m just an ignorant child!
“Eep!” she screamed. In her mad dash through the dark garden, Sonia eventually caught her foot on something sticking up. Just as she was about to fall on her face—
“Look out!” a man cried. She noticed his arms were supporting her from behind.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Sonia craned her neck to see who was supporting her weight.
“Are you all right, Sonia?” the young man asked in a kind, sweet voice that tickled her ears.
“Prince Severin!”
After making sure her feet were planted soundly on the ground, Severin pulled his arms away.
“What are you doing out here?” Sonia asked.
“I was worried when you suddenly raced out of the ballroom, so I came after you. It’s dangerous for a noblewoman to run around blindly, and in the dark no less,” he answered.
“Thank you... I’m okay now,” Sonia said.
Severin gently brushed his finger against the corner of Sonia’s eye. “You don’t look okay to me. Did Chris say something?” he asked.
This struck Sonia as odd. Was Severin watching Chris from afar? If he saw her run out of the room as if trying to escape from Chris, it would certainly explain why he chased after her out of concern, but it was hard to believe this was the same Severin who avoided touching her when he paid her a get-well visit.
Tonight Severin not only touched her like normal, he had saved her from falling. It was only natural for her to be touched by such kindness.
“Prince Severin...”
The tears she had managed to hold back began to spill down her cheeks. She buried her head in Severin’s chest and cried freely.