"Tea?" 

"Yes, thank you Daniella."

"I hope you're not too stressed about today's announcement. You've been frowning all day, Your Highness."

I sighed. "Yes, I know I'm sorry. It's just that I'm worried about people's reactions. Before this, they would think it was just some girl that almost got shot. Now everyone will find out about it! I prefer that only a few people know. The King and Queen, my parents, you, Penelope, Eloise, and the guards. This whole thing is frustrating. I don't want people to be scared or treat me any differently. And then there's the execution too."

Daniella laid her hands on my shoulders again.

"Oh, it'll be alright Princess. Don't worry too much. Everything will be fine…" 

As much as she tried to hide it, I could hear the tone of worry in her voice. I wasn't sure if it was concern for my mental, or the reaction this news will gain. Maybe both.

There was a heavy knock on the door. 

"Come in!" I said.

Greer burst open the heavy door and stomped her way to my vanity.

"Having tea without me??" She asked sternly with her arms crossed.

"You can join me if you'd like." 

She squinted her blue eyes at me as Daniella poured another cup of barley.

"Oh. I thought you'd be too busy picking out MENUS again." 

Her tone was very mocking and sarcastic, so it was easy to tell that she was still upset with me.

I didn't respond to her charades and continued to drink. 

"Wait…I didn't mean to make you upset. Sorry…please don't be sad."

”I’m not sad, Greer. Sit down.”

She did as I asked and sat on my bed with a worried look on her face.

“So you see….I’m simply worried about travelling. With all of us in big groups, it might be a bit…cumbersome.”

Her face frowned again and she pouted her lips. 

“Well, we’ll all be in separate carriages right? No need to worry." 

I nodded. 

Did she buy my lie? Had she still perceived the worry on my face? Worry for her reaction when the news will finally be announced?

"Well luckily lessons are cancelled today for whatever reason." She said happily while taking a sip of the tea.

"I was thinking we could go out for a walk. The weather is spectacular today!” 

I turned and looked at my curtains, which were drawn back to reveal the beautiful innocent light that shone into my room.

I had been so negative about everything that I didn’t realise that it looked so nice out…

“Alright, then a walk. Just for a little though. I still have much to prepare for this trip." 

"Kaprina, why did Sir Damond not escort you this time? Actually, I haven't seen him in a while. It’s like he disappeared." Greer said while fanning herself with her constant accessory. 

We were walking outside now, by the same garden we conducted our meeting in last time. 

The sun had fooled us both. Despite the warm light, the weather was cold, and the air felt dry and stale. It is November after all.

"Err… I'm sure he's busy or…something. He seems to be very occupied with the Prince nowadays.." 

Greer stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Oho! We spoke of the Angel and he appeared!" 

Wait what? Damond??

Suddenly, she pulled me to the side of a nearby curb and poked her head slightly out of it.

"Greer, what are you doing!!?? Is it Damond?? Why are we hiding from him??"

She turned around and put her finger on her lip as if to shut me up.

"Shush! And gosh no. It's not your silly guard! It's my cousin and….Prince Luca!!" 

Greer swooned on the mention of Prince Luca's name and brought both her hands to her chest smiling happily.

Ok…

"So, what's happening? Are they talking? And why can't we just pass them by and say hello?" 

I tried to poke my head out as well but only caught a glimpse of the two of them talking by a rose bush before Greer eventually pulled me back.

"What the heck! Don't let them see you!! They don't like to be interrupted if they're talking about serious business. And my cousin's got a very funny temper as you should know already."

Obviously…

We both poked our heads out slightly while whispering and giggling about what they could possibly be discussing. 

I can't believe they don't notice us standing here!

"Wait, Greer. Are they close? They look so serious with each other…" I whispered. 

She pursed her lips slightly. 

"Mmm well yes, they usually are. But when they're discussing…her, they do   get a bit more serious."

I pulled back a bit. "Discussing who?" 

"Well Katrina, obviously." 

…

"Katrina? Who's that?" 

Greer pulled back as well to face me and the naughty smile on her face disappeared.

"He hasn't told you about Katrina?" 

I shook my head. "Who hasn't told me about Katrina?" 

She was frowning now and her eyes fell from mine as she bit her lip in anxiousness. It looked as if she was thinking to herself, trying to make an important moral decision in her head.

"I- no well… my cousin should have explained that to you already…I don't know why he- um no. Maybe he…."

"Maybe he what?"

Prince Luca was standing behind her with a bright crooked smile on his face. 

Greer jumped and shivered before facing him and stumbling backwards in my direction. I grabbed on to her dress and hid behind her as best I could.

What in the world?! How could we get caught so easily???

"U-um n-nothing Your Highness. Really! Nothing at all!!" She said nervously.

That was the first time I heard her stumble with her words like that.

The Prince squinted his beautiful eyes at her before sliding it towards mine and smiling again. 

"Oh. Forgive me Your Highness, I didn't know you were here. I couldn't imagine that someone such as yourself would befriend the esteemed Duchess." He bowed

His words on its own were kind, but he said it with such irony and distaste that it made me wonder if he were insulting Greer instead. 

"Excuse me, but there's no need for that tone. Why are you always so curt to me when we meet?" She said angrily.

"Well I'm not the one who was eavesdropping, now was I?" 

He seems really scary... Was my former impression of him incorrect?

He looked at me again, but with his smile dropped now. He seemed to be pondering something deep in thought.

I was only peeking over Greer’s shoulder meekly.

"This is awkward." Greer said again. She moved her body I had been using as a shield this whole time and pushed me toward Luca. 

"Your Highness, meet Prince Luca! Or…have you two already gotten yourselves acquainted?"

He shook his head and laughed.

"Yes we have. Since she arrived actually, isn't that right Your Highness?" 

"Y-Yes it's true…" 

I was in between the both of them now. They were glaring at each other intensely as if they were using their eyes as sharp knives. 

Are they rivals in some way? I thought they were good friends! Greer was fawning over him just a moment ago…

“A-ah! How about we all take a walk together? All three of us?” 

They broke eye contact briefly before looking at each other again and nodding. 

I didn’t think they’d really agree to it. 

Now THIS is awkward…

We were walking in silence now, I was still in between them and could feel the tense air around us. 

At least it's not as awkward when I'm with Andres- Wait…where did he go??

"Your Highness, I hope you don't mind me asking but where is Prince Andres? He was here a minute ago." 

Luca sighed sarcastically. "He left through the other door. Thankfully. If he were the one to catch you both instead, he might not be so forgiving. Especially towards you, My Lady." 

He was referring to Greer.

"Yeah, well I've known since I was three that he never liked me. No need to rub it on my face. Sheesh." Greer frowned and beat her fan below her face more intensely.

So they aren't close then…hm. He never talks about her anyway. Wait..he never talks about anyone for that matter.

He ignored Greer’s complaints and looked to me again.

"Also, Your Highness, I believe there is no need to address me formally. I am only a Prince by title and you are soon to be Queen. Talking on the same level would be inappropriate. It's alright to refer to me by name, should you desire to do so."

"O-Oh. Alright then. Luca…"

Another bright smile.

"Ahem!" Greer gave me one of her looks. I wasn't sure what it meant but it looked like she wanted me to stop whatever I was doing with him. Does she really want to talk to him instead?

I’ll concede to her wishes then.

“Oh! I just remembered! I still have a lot to do for the upcoming trip. I-I must go now.”

They both stopped and faced me. Greer was trying to stop a smile from spreading across her face. 

“Oh, you must mean the exposition Princess. Truly, organising such a thing is no easy feat. The Duchess and I will release you now.” 

He stretched out his hand, wanting mine in his. What is he doing?

Like the first day we met, he took my hand and pressed it gently to his lips.

I pulled back quickly, surprised  and froze in place like a statue. I’m sure my eyes were wide in shock. 

“Uh-um. Yeah- well g-goodbye!” 

I wanted to wave goodbye to Greer but I turned only to see a childish look of anger and upset on her face. 

Oops… 

When I had gotten inside my heart had felt a little heavy from what had happened just now. Not Prince Luca, but Greer’s face. 

Why didn’t she tell me that she liked him? It’s pretty obvious…and it doesn’t seem that he’s spoken for. I hope I haven’t upset her too much. 

I was glad when I opened my room door and plopped on my bed, letting my arms and legs stretch out as much as I could. 

Ahhh~ Finally!! Social tension seems to have a physical effect on my body! 

…Oh wait! I really do have to organise the excursion! Ughh!

As if God knew of my laziness, a light knock came from my room door to wake me up. 

“Come in!” 

Like always, Eloise. It used to be Damond knocking on my door so frequently…

“Um, Your Highness. I’ve come with the documents for the trip but-” 

“Oh, ok ok. I’ll look at them now. I just want to get it over with so I can take a nap soon.” 

Seriously, it’s only been a day but I'm still so tired. 

“Ah- yes indeed but you see…”

I managed to get myself out of bed and onto my vanity. 

“Yes what is it, Eloise? You can say it.” 

He seemed nervous in the way he spoke and his body language was rather unusual. 

“Sir Damond told me to inform you…”

“Yes??”  I pressed on.

“The announcement.”

A quiet somberness came over me when he said it.

“It will take place tonight.”