It was a pleasant afternoon the day after Prince Emil and Princess Lin Xuelan arrived at the Palace. Oriana invited them to have tea with her in the gardens, hoping to tighten the bonds between them.

This was her first opportunity to have a proper conversation with the Dragon Princess. The evening before, her father called for a welcoming feast, and even though they were sitting by the same table, the surrounding conversations were causing enough noise to prevent them from having a proper one themselves.

It didn’t help that the Prince instigated a quite heated discussion about the land belonging to the Faolán Kingdom. He believed that Aelius should take the territory, since in reality it doesn’t belong to anyone. That naturally caused the King and Gideon to strongly disagree. Their reasoning was that it was still too early to tell if everyone from Faolán was really gone. The situation in which Aelius annexed the wolven land could also potentially lead to war if it’s rightful ruler was not yet gone.

The Prince wasn’t convinced and for the next hour, stubbornly tired to defend his stance. In the end, even the Emperor decided to voice his disagreement with Emil, which ultimately marked the end of the conversation and the feast.

Oriana stole a glance at the Prince, who was having a chat with Lin Xuelan about tea. With a pleasant smile on his face, he looked almost like a completely different person compared to the man she saw during that first meeting.
The Princess recalled the situation, and her eyes instinctively locked on Valeria, standing at the entrance to the pavilion.

To Oriana, she was like an enigma. She could never tell what she was thinking or feeling. The Commander hardly ever showed any signs of emotion, always wearing an expressionless look like a mask, hiding her true self from others. During the years they knew each other, the Princess could count the instances of that mask slipping on one hand. Each time left her wanting to see more.

Valeria turned her head and their eyes met.

Oriana realized she was caught shamelessly staring at the Commander, so she looked away embarrassed.

Stupid, control yourself or that Ruffian will start imagining things, the Princess rebuked herself silently. She took the cup standing in front of her and raised it to her mouth before putting it down, after realizing it was empty. The blush on her cheeks reddened.

The exchange didn’t go unnoticed by the other guests.

Lin Xuelan’s curious look jumped between Oriana and Valeria a few times, before she took her cup and took a sip, hiding an understanding smile behind it.

So that’s how it is…

Emil wasn’t blind to it either.

It wasn’t the first time he caught the Princess stealing glances at the Commander. Even during their meeting, her eyes would wander around, searching for Valeria, despite him being right in front of her.

He couldn’t stand it. Not only was that woman a nobody who ruined his plans, she was also messing with the Princess’ head. She must’ve used some trick to have Oriana so attached to her. Emil fully believed that no noble could be ever interested in a mere commoner, no matter their achievements.

This was one of the first things he learned growing up. The aristocrats’ wealth and power was a blessing the gods bestowed upon them, elevating them above normal people. It would be blasphemy for a noble to have any relationship with a plebeian other than that of a master and servant.

If things continued the way they were, Oriana’s soul could become tainted and then refused the entry to the Elysian Fields. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being bastardized like this by some stray. He had to save the Princess.

After all, he was head over heels for her for such a long time.

The first time they met, it was during his birthday ball ten years ago. He remembered it as if it happened the day before.

He was standing by his father, bored out of his mind, listening to the dull conversations. All he wanted, was for the party to be over, so he could go back to his room and his stories. He had no interest in mingling with the nobles, or the political games that were happening around him. As the youngest son of the King, he had no chance for the throne anyways.

Just as he was contemplating on an excuse he could give to his father that would free him from the torture of the ball, they were approached by the King and the Queen of Aelius and their daughter.

Oriana stole his heart right away. She was like a picture-perfect princess from the stories he read. Gentle, polite, pure. She was nothing like the stupid and simple girls that were always chasing after his brothers.

Their meeting was brief, but it was enough for Emil to make a resolution to become someone worthy of Oriana. He changed his life completely, working night and day, honing every skill necessary to become the next king. His efforts payed off, as soon enough his father decided to chose him as his successor. He even managed to secure the engagement with Oriana.

He was so close to fulfilling his dream and making her his wife. The wedding was supposed to take place in three months. He needed to make sure that nothing got in his way, but he knew he couldn’t be rash. One bad move and he could push Oriana away. He had to be patient. Once they were married, he would send the meddling Commander away. If she resists, he could always put her in prison until no one remembers her.

I’ve waited ten years, a couple more months is nothing compared to that.

The prospect of removing the annoying obstacle fixed Emil’s mood. Valeria was still an eyesore for him, but not as much as moments before.

— Commander, standing and keeping watch while we’re sitting here must be tiring. — Emil fixed himself on the chair — How about you go take a bit of a break. I can assure you that no harm will meet the ladies while I’m here.

Valeria was about to politely decline, when the Dragon Princess interrupted her.

— Prince Emil is right. It’s so shameful for a person of your status to stand while we’re all sitting and enjoying ourselves. — Xuelan took the Commander by the arm and sat her by the table ignoring any attempt at resistance.

Valeria thought that for such a delicate looking person, the Dragon Princess surely had a lot of strength. She wasn’t even able to move her arm once it was locked in Lin Xuelan’s iron grip.

Emil, on the other hand, was having a difficult time dealing with the fact that he was now sharing a table with some insignificant commoner.

— Your Imperial Highness, it’s unsuitable for aristocracy to sit by the same table as those… of lower status. — The Prince barely held off from spiting an insult.

Xuelan looked at him, her expression calm but resolute, just like the words she spoke next.

— It is unsuitable for one to think of themselves higher than others, just by the mere fact that they were born into silk and not burlap.

The Prince didn’t say anything, so she turned back to Valeria.

— Would you like some shortcake, Commander? Maybe a blueberry cupcake? Oh, I know! You absolutely must try these cream puffs.

Before she could say anything, the plate in front of Valeria became full with various sweets. Lin Xuelan was looking at her with anticipation. She seemed excited to hear the Commander’s opinion on the pastries.

At the same time, Kyra and Dragon Princess’ maid - Shun Ming - came back from the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea. She was surprised to see Valeria sitting by the table with others.

Noticing the plate filled to the brim with sugary delights and her sister’s troubled expression, she couldn’t stop herself from laughing out loud.

Xuelan sent her a puzzled look.

— I’m terribly sorry. — Kyra tried to calm herself down — It’s just that, my sister really dislikes sweets. She absolutely refuses to eat anything sweet.
— I’m so sorry! I didn’t know. Commander, please don’t force yourself. — The Dragon Princess tried to take the plate away, but another hand snatched it just a split moment faster.
— Well, it seems that I will have to eat all of these delicious pastries myself. — Oriana moved the plate next to her and picked a lavishly glazed lemon cookie. — Oh, I’m so sad you will miss out on these heavenly delights.

Valeria remained undisturbed, but the Princess didn’t stop. She ate the pastry with an exaggerated moan, then reached for another.

— Oh, how I mourn your loss of jouissance that is eating this scrumptious meringue. — Oriana held out the dessert right in front of the Commander’s face and waved it as if she was trying to hypnotize her with its smell. — How sad and joyless must be the life of those who can’t relish the sugary bliss?! How empty must one’s heart be, to not feel the exhilaration of the sweetest dessert?!

The Commander’s patience was running out with every ostentatious word and gesture of the Princess.

She isn’t going to stop unless I do something, isn’t she?

Valeria sighed in defeat. She gently grasped Oriana’s meringue-wielding hand and ate the cookie she was waving with so much passion. Her soft lips brushed against the tips of the Princess’ fingers.

She turned to the Princess.

— Mm. Sweet.

The blush that budded on Oriana's face was so furiously red, that it nearly started glowing.

— Wha- what are you doing?!
— I’m helping you. It’s not healthy to eat so much sugar, Your Highness.

The Princess was at a lack for words. The poor heart in her chest was yet again pounding in panic because of the Swindler Commander and her shameless tricks. She took the hand that Valeria was still holding and hid it under the table. Her fingertips were still tingling from the innocently tender kiss they were graced with.