SONIA bid farewell to the Abbess before the sun set and sped off in her carriage to the Royal Palace, where she had been invited to the Summer Solstice Festival. Naturally, Pamela was with her.
As Sonia’s handmaid, Pamela wore a high-neck, Nile blue dress with puff sleeves and a straight low-waist skirt. Sonia had complained about the simple design and added a large, pure white lace detachable collar to it to give it a sense of youthfulness.
“...It’s cute, but you didn’t have to do this...” Pamela pouted as she tugged at the expensive collar.
Seeing this, Sonia protested, “It’s fine! Who knows what chance encounter is waiting for you? You need to be sure to look your best at all times!” and readjusted the skewed collar.
“You’re right! As your handmaid, I’m bound to encounter countless wonderful gentlemen of influence!” Pamela realized. As soon as the topic turned to romance, her eyes began to sparkle. Her demeanor made it clear she hadn’t given up on marrying for love. Sonia smiled faintly, glad to see her friend hadn’t changed from their days at the abbey.
“I hope the man I fall in love with is open-minded—like Sir Crisford!”
“You may find one of Sir Chris’ friends to your liking,” Sonia pointed out.
Pamela didn’t miss the expression that briefly flashed across Sonia’s face when she first mentioned Chris. “You haven’t seen Sir Crisford since then, have you?” she asked.
“No,” Sonia answered with a sad smile. “But we’ve been sending each other letters. He responds within three days and sends adorable gifts along with the letters... So I’m sure he thinks fondly of me.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t really have any feelings for you?”
Chris had posed as Sonia’s fiancé to deceive Ferns and the demon in order to keep her and those around her out of harm’s way. While defending her, he had uncovered the true identity of the demon behind the curse and fought him alongside Sonia. She could still remember the warmth of his hands supporting hers on the sword.
“You’ll be all right now, won’t you...?” Chris had asked with a smile. With all the respect of a knight, he had kissed the back of her hand and taken his leave.
“He’s mentioned in his letters that his days are busy disciplining Prince Severin, but I went ahead and asked him to escort me to this upcoming Summer Solstice Festival,” Sonia said.
“And what did he say? Is he going to?”
“Yes. I also put in that I could use his advice on how to contend with the influx of suitors. They have been sending gifts and letters to Clare Castle on a daily basis, some even coming to pay a visit. With so many asking for my hand at once, I’m afraid a fight will break out regardless of who I choose. Seeing as Sir Chris is so widely known and respected, I thought perhaps he could offer some advice on how best to handle the matter. When I added that, he gave a most favorable response,” Sonia explained.
Hearing that, Pamela inwardly gave a sigh of relief. She knew all too well how Sonia felt about Chris. She reached across the carriage and firmly grasped Sonia’s hands.
“I’ll be cheering for you from a distance!”
“Thank you, Pamela.”
Sonia thought to herself, I want to tell Sir Chris exactly how I feel at the Summer Solstice Festival...even if he doesn’t view me as a mature woman...
✦ ✦ ✦
EVEN at the Royal Palace, Sonia was the center of attention. The Summer Solstice Festival didn’t start until the next day. Sonia was bound for the audience chamber to greet King Patrice and Queen Cordelia first and foremost.
On her way there she could feel the eyes of the court officials burning holes through her. Some of the officials were young men who hailed from noble families of high prestige. They stood out by a mile.
These were the men in ostentatious garb who would make certain to enter Sonia’s field of vision. In their gaudy garb, they might clear their throat just before Sonia walked by. Or they might drop a handkerchief and try returning it to her, saying, “Excuse me! Did you drop this?” They had a bag of tricks they would pull in hopes of getting close to Sonia.
Each step she took, another came out of the woodwork. Sonia had gone from flabbergasted to genuinely annoyed.
I’m not getting anywhere! How many men were waiting to ambush her in this corridor that led straight to the audience chamber? Sonia wanted to turn 180-degrees and go back home!
“Sonia!”
The moment everyone realized who was running up to her as he called her name, they hastily fell into deep bows at the waist. Also taken by surprise, Sonia dipped into the most formal of curtsies.
“I heard what was happening here, so I came to get you.”
“My...! I never dreamed you would escort me personally, Prince Henry! I’m unworthy of such a great honor!”
“Don’t be so stiff and formal. I wish you’d call me ReeRee like in the good old days,” Henry said with a cheerful laugh before taking her hand and leading her down the corridor.
“Gentlemen, the festival hasn’t started yet. Save fighting for the lady’s favor for tomorrow and focus on your duties today,” he announced in a dignified voice to reason with the young men who sent vexed glares their way.
With the Crown Prince as Sonia’s escort, they couldn’t use lame excuses to approach her. She was able to walk without any further interference.
“Sorry about that. The palace is abuzz with stories of your accomplishment. I’ve heard the court officials are so eager to meet you, they can’t focus on their work,” Henry explained.
“I feel like the rumors are getting out of control... I couldn’t have defeated the demon and priest without Sir Chris. Still, it’s hard to believe this has been blown so far out of proportion that it’s interfering with court functions...” Sonia said and offered her sincerest apologies, earning her a brilliant smile from Henry.
“Hey, I know this isn’t your fault. You don’t need to feel bad,” he told her. “Oh, truth be told, Chris is in the middle of a conversation with my parents and a dame. It looks like they won’t be done for a while, so I came to invite you to join my wife and I for tea.” He winked.
“Sir Chris is with...?” Wondering what the nature of the discussion could be, a small crease formed between Sonia’s brow.
“Are you curious?” Henry asked with an impish grin. “It’s about his future.”
His future?
“...As in...getting...married?” Sonia tried to make the question sound smooth and natural, but her voice came out trembling.
“I’m not involved, so it’s hard for me to say,” Henry said and led Sonia to one of the drawing rooms.
Henry’s gorgeous wife’s pretty blue eyes welcomed them at the drawing room. Her lovely oval face, with lashes so long they shook when she laughed, only enhanced her brilliance.
Sonia was filled with mixed emotions as she sat across from the Crown Princess, whom rumors claimed was the object of Chris’ affections. Unable to ask the truth regarding her relationship with Chris, Sonia’s mind was elsewhere even after they had tea. Distracted during her audience with King Patrice and Queen Cordelia, she could hardly remember what they had discussed.