Lionel bowed slightly at the maids and left the room in quick steps. Once he was gone, Mary and Alice immediately started to attack her with questions.

"Your Highness! Who is that good-looking man who kissed your hand?!" Alice asked excitedly, not being able to conceal her curiosity. Mary couldn't either.

"I also wish to know what business he has with the Princess."

Amelie felt her cheeks grow hot. It wasn't something embarrassing to say, but it still didn't feel real. She didn't want to explain much⸻because she didn't know what to say, honestly⸻, so she just gave them a short right-to-the-point answer.

[He's my betrothed.]

At first, they showed no reaction, as if they were still processing the new information. Then, both looked at each other in shock, their eyes wide open and their mouths agape.

"What?! You're getting married????!!!!" Alice shrieked, rushing to sit next to her on the bed, "Are you serious?"

Amelie nodded shyly, and Mary took a step forward, his eyebrows knit together with worry. She must really have been shaken by the news, as she did not chastise her young partner for her inappropriate behavior.

"Since when are you betrothed, Your Highness? Why did I never hear about this?"

She looked kind of upset and Amelie understood why she was feeling like that. Mary had taken care of her since she was a child. She was basically her mother, so she was probably hurt at the thought of Amelie keeping such an important secret from her. It was a misunderstanding of course, one that she could clarify right away.

[It was suddenly decided earlier today. I had no idea it was going to happen. Apparently, he came today to ask for my hand.]

"Wow! That's amazing, Princess!" Alice clapped excitedly, her eyes beaming with anticipation. "Congrats!" she smiled brightly and hugged Amelie without holding back. Alice was actually a few months younger than Amelie and they had basically become adults together. Thus, unlike Mary, Alice did allow herself to act like a friend from time to time, something Amelie really liked.

Mary let out a heavy, disproving sigh but instead of lecturing Alice about her manners as she clearly wanted, she decided to join in their happiness. "Congratulations, Your Highness. My best wishes to you." 

[Thank you.]

Although still a bit unsure and nervous, Amelie was honestly happy. Getting married and birthing children was considered to be women's fate, and now she could finally fulfill it. She couldn't say she agreed, but that's sadly how things worked. Especially in her situation, her marriage with Lionel was a blessing. After all, the only reason she could 'live like a princess' was because the King had ordered so, but when he died, she would surely be kicked out of the castle at once, with no money and no reputation to her name.

She feared going back to the streets, starving and freezing as she had done many years ago. Furthermore, Lionel seemed to be a good man. She really thought she could be happy by his side. There was no need to fear anymore.

Or at least she would try to stop fearing.

"However..." Mary began to say suddenly, her voice low, "I must admit I am puzzled."

Amelie nodded right away.

[So I am. I still cannot comprehend why he would want to marry someone like me.]

"That's not what I meant!" The woman said hurriedly, cupping her face with gentle hands. Even her touch was like that of a mother. "You're an amazing and beautiful lady, Your Highness, so please don't say that." Although her voice was reprimanding, her tone was soft and kind. Amelie averted her gaze, and the maid let out a sigh before continuing, knowing she still thought badly of herself, "I'm surprised because we have never seen him before. You haven't been to any social event, so people⸻particularly bachelors in this case⸻have never seen you and, therefore, cannot take an interest in you. It's weird for someone to propose under such circumstances." She explained and Alice agreed with her. Amelie did too of course, that was in fact one of the reasons why Lionel's proposal had been so shocking.

[He said we have met before.]

"Really? When?" Alice asked curiously and Amelie shrugged.

[I don't know, he didn't tell me.]

Both handmaidens looked silently at each other, clearly confused. Was all this mystery necessary?

"When is the wedding?" Mary asked after a short while, deciding not to comment on the previous matter.

[In two months.]

"Why so soon?!" Now Alice was even more bewildered than before. She was barely keeping up with everything. Amelie felt a bit apologetic after seeing their expressions, and could only smile awkwardly.

[I was the one who decided the date. I wish to leave, and the sooner the better, right?]

No one asked anything after that, since Amelie seemed kind of distracted and tense. They prepared a bath for her and after that she just went to sleep, restlessly thinking about the future ahead of her.

Had she made the right choice?

***

Lionel left her room in quick footsteps. His heart was beating faster than normal and his mouth felt totally dry. Just remembering the warmth and softness of her hand against his lips made his heart pound wildly against his chest.

Unconsciously, his lips curled up in an excited smile.

He still couldn't believe she was marrying him. It was sadly not for the reason he wanted, but if he could help her and make her happy, then that was enough for him. Even if she never reciprocated his feelings, he still felt grateful enough...

But he could not lie. Even when he did think that, deep down he still hoped that someday she would tell him, even without emitting any sound, the three words he wanted to hear more than anything else in the entire world.

His feelings were just irrepressible. And it was scary.

He wondered if he had come onto her too hard. If his love-struck gaze had been too obvious. He had tried to keep his hands to himself and his facial expression in check, but he honestly felt shaken to the core. He was excited and happy, but also nervous and worried. He didn't want to ruin it or scare her off, but he wanted to be with her so, so badly. He didn't know if he would be able to hold back.

However, aside from his tumultuous one-sided feelings, he felt angry and frustrated for another reason. He already knew Amelie was not treated fairly⸻ she had never been⸻ but he didn't expect the royal family to step so low. Why did they need to harm her physically as well? How could Princess Elise dare to do that with him there? They didn't even try to hide their aversion toward her. Weren't they ashamed?

He felt so guilty and useless for not being able to help her when she was suffering right under his nose. There was nothing he could do when he was away, be he wanted to be reliable at least when he was by her side.

Now more than ever, he wanted to marry her. He hoped he would be able to keep her safe. He was determined not to let something like that happen again. Even if they stayed friends forever, he would die without any regrets knowing he gave her a better life and took care of her until the end.

 He wanted to give her that freedom she desperately asked for with her song. He wanted to lift her sorrows, to grant her eternal longing. He wanted to make sure she didn't compose a song like that ever again.

Now more than ever, he felt the necessity to be by her side, to protect her from any harm, and to make her happy.