“And that’s how that went,” the prince explained. “Ever since, to ensure that Leticia keeps calling me by name, I’ve constantly reminded her that we’re equals, and here we are now.”
“How romantic, to want to be called by your name!” Maria exclaimed.
I didn’t think it was romantic at all. What about that was romantic? What kind of romance was Maria talking about?
I’d been having tea with her and Brie when the topic of how I addressed Lord Clarke came up. And the prince, who had barged in through the secret door just then, had explained in great detail.
Well, honestly, I didn’t really remember it all that clearly. I couldn’t possibly remember every little thing from when I’d been eight! But I did remember Lord Clarke constantly telling me that we were equals. And every time, I’d argue in my mind that we weren’t.
That wasn’t important, though. What was important was that I wished he’d stop waltzing in through the secret door as if that were something normal people did all the time. He could’ve at least used the regular door! Also, could he please not butt into people’s tea parties?
His timing was so perfect that I couldn’t help but suspect that he’d been lurking about, waiting for the right moment to barge in.
“Huh... Hmm... Huh...” Brie mumbled, looking at me suggestively.
What did she want to say?! Actually, never mind. I didn’t want her to say it.
“So,” she began, saying it anyway, “did she correct this term of address immediately?”
“No,” the prince replied. “For a while, she remained concerned about those around us, and continued to address me as ‘Your Highness,’ so I went directly to Nadir instead.”
I wished he’d stop relying on my brother every time he found himself troubled. Why would he skip past me and go straight to Nadir?
His words reminded me that, indeed, my brother had spent about three weeks endlessly reminding me to call the prince “Lord Clarke.” He’d been so persistent that it’d put out even the little mischievous fire I’d had in my heart to address the prince in a way he didn’t like. My brother was way too obstinate—in other words, a jerk.
“Ah, poor you,” Brie said softly to me. “How hard it must be to have him as a brother.”
“I don’t want to hear that from the woman who wants to marry him,” I replied.
“He may be like that, yes, but he has money.”
“Money, money, it’s always money with you! You can’t buy love with money!”
“What do you mean? You can buy most kinds of love with money.”
“Hey!” I snapped. Had Brie forgotten her modesty?! “Don’t say that in front of Maria! Maria, cover your ears!”
The handmaiden, meanwhile, furrowed her brows. “It would be hard for me to work while covering my ears,” she protested. “Don’t worry. I’m already an adult!”
“I don’t want you to be corrupted, Maria.”
“Why are you so protective of that girl?” Brie asked.
“Because she’s adorable!” I replied. Was there another reason, I wondered? No. No, there wasn’t.
Brie seemed exasperated, and Maria was flustered. See, her being flustered like that was adorable! It made me warm and fuzzy.
“I think you’re cute, Lettie,” Lord Clarke said.
“You really don’t have to say that,” I told him.
“The fact your cheeks turn red every time I say it is also cute.”
“Really. Seriously. You don’t have to say that. In fact, you could simply return to your room, and I’d be content.”
“The fact you’re so indifferent is also cute.”
“Are you just going to keep calling everything I do cute?” I asked, desperately trying to hide my cheeks, which were probably quite red.
He smiled gently at me in response. What the heck? How was I supposed to interpret that?
“I feel like my status as a single woman is being rubbed in my face,” Brie said.
“It’s okay, Lady Brianna!” Maria exclaimed. “I’m single too!”
“You have a cute little prince. You do not belong in this club.”
“I keep telling everyone that it’s not like that!”
Brie angrily stuffed a cookie into her mouth. She always ate so much whenever she came over!
Huffily, Maria poured us more tea, looking dissatisfied at being associated with Prince Louis.
“You know, it really would be best to call you ‘Your Highness’—” I began.
“Lettie,” the prince interrupted. “I. Said. It’s. Fine.”
That was the same line as before. Yikes.
“I’ll keep calling you Lord Clarke, then!”
“Good. Please remember never to call me ‘Your Highness.’ And, when I’m king, do not call me ‘Your Majesty.’”
Wow. He even future-proofed his statement. I wondered if he’d caught on to the fact I was, in fact, planning on calling him Your Majesty when the time came.
I glanced at him, and he offered me a smile that betrayed nothing.
“There’s the staring contest,” Brie said. “I should probably get going.”
“Allow me to escort you, then,” Maria said.
“Wait, wait, wait!” I pleaded. “Please! Stay!”
I managed to persuade Brie to stay with an offer of additional cookies, which she promptly started munching on as soon as she resumed her seat.
“If you’re going to flaunt your marital status, you could at least introduce me to someone,” Brie said. “As the crown princess, surely you have the connections to order a rich nobleman to marry me.”
“No, I can’t simply engage in something so ethically dubious,” I told her.
“Ugh! Why are you so honest?! I know, all right?! I know!” she exclaimed, cramming three cookies into her mouth at once in a blatant disregard for the rules of etiquette.
How did she eat this much and not gain weight, while my body had changed enough to get me stuck in a wall? Wait...did all the calories go to her bust? They did, didn’t they? Ugh. I was so jealous...
I pinched my sides. They were slimmer than back when I’d gotten stuck, but still plumper than when I’d first arrived at the palace. Oh, the humanity.
Okay. From now on, I’d go on a run every time I ate sweets. Yes.
Honestly, I should’ve just stopped eating sweets altogether, but the ones they served at the palace were just so delectable! I wanted to stuff my face full of them. And I would’ve liked to continue doing so. Giving them up was a last resort.
“Now, Leticia,” Lord Clarke called out, sipping on the tea Maria had poured for him. “Why don’t we get rid of the ‘Lord’ part next, hmm?”
Oh, come on.