The princess woke up with a jolt as she looked over to her window. She was confused about her position for only a moment as she tried to recall the previous night, and then she remembered how she had sat down next to the window, waiting for her advisor to return. But seeing how she fell asleep while waiting, was enough to let her know that Elena had not come to her after her dinner.

It caused a frown to make its way to her face as she sat up and stretched her limbs slightly. She wanted to have a long talk with the other woman about Oanez, but she clearly couldn’t, and it bothered her.

Getting up from her seat, the princess thought of freshening herself up before going to her advisor immediately.

It wasn’t completely light out which was better for Isabella to go over to Elena for a conversation. Isabella knew that advisor Oanez was seemingly on her side as he portrayed to Elena, but the princess was doubtful of the man’s intentions. It was only because every time she had seen him with the prince, he was always complacent and obedient to the prince. He never questioned the prince’s actions. Yes, there were times when he would stop the prince from his unnecessary antics, but even then, the princess could not find herself to trust Oanez.

Seeing him so close to Elena bothered the princess more than she had thought it would. It was the way Elena smiled at the man and their obvious closeness which brought a bitter taste to the princess’ tongue.

As the princess finished getting herself prepared for the day, wearing a blue gown and her crown atop blonde locks, there were rhythmic knocks on her door. Frowning at who it could be the princess chose to open the door rather than to inquire.

“Good morning, Isabella.” The princess’ frown disappeared immediately as she looked at Elena’s soft expression and her regular attire. Elena always wore dark trousers and a tunic just like the other men in the kingdom. The princess had found the advisor odd when she had been forced to be around her the first time but then her clothing choices grew on her.

Now, Elena looked adorable to her, which was a strange perspective for her to be having in the first place.

The princess looked at the other woman for a while before she chose to frown again. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, the princess chose to show her anger at the advisor. “I told you to come to me after dinner.”

Immediately, Elena looked guiltily at the princess as she rubbed her nape. The action brought the blonde royal’s attention to the other woman’s shorter hairstyle. Her ponytail was always clean and tight with not even a single strand out of place. It brought more attention to the advisor’s soft features. Isabella traced the advisor’s features with her eyes as if in a trance which could only be broken when Elena spoke up.

“I had a long conversation with the other advisors and when it ended, it had been too late to come and disturb you, your high—Isabella.” The princess watched the advisor’s guilty smile, and she immediately felt her anger subside.

Stepping to the side, the princess looked away. “Come inside then.”

Elena walked into the room without a word as the princess closed the door behind the other woman. She turned towards Elena the same moment when she faced her. Their eyes met for a brief second before the advisor coughed awkwardly and looked away, backing away slightly as well. “I-I wanted to discuss something with the princess before the Queen called for us.”

Isabella frowned as she went to sit on her bed. “Hm.”

The princess watched Elena fumble around with her fingers as she shuffled on her feet awkwardly. “What is it?” Isabella’s voice brought Elena out of her uncomfortable state as she thought back to the previous night and how the princess had treated Oanez in front of her. It was something that she had wanted to ask her right then and there, but Isabella had dismissed her at that time before she could do so.

“D-Do you dislike Oanez?”

Isabella immediately knew what Elena’s conversation with her was going to be about from that one question. She narrowed her eyes in distaste as she begrudgingly shook her head. But Elena saw through the lie as she raised a curious eyebrow. “So, when you ignored his address last night, it was not because you dislike him?”

Elena’s question was answered with another shake of the head, which verified the royal’s true emotions. “For someone who is trying to hide her real sentiments, you certainly show all your emotions on your face.”

The princess scoffed as she folded her arms. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.” Elena tried to be indifferent about this matter since she didn’t want to be on either the princess’ or Oanez’s bad side. She was grateful for her fellow advisor since he was the only one who had supported her from the beginning. He was also a friend to her which gave Elena enough confidence in herself. But she also didn’t want her improving relationship with the princess to suffer because of some misunderstanding she had about Oanez.

Seeing how Elena wasn’t going to believe her, the princess sighed as she began speaking her mind. “I don’t trust him.”

Immediately, the advisor was frowning as she shook her head. But the princess wasn’t finished talking. “He is my brother’s advisor, and I know how they tell each other everything. Therefore, it’s perfectly understandable as to why I can’t trust him.”

It wasn’t like the princess was exaggerating or she didn’t have her own reasons for feeling that way, but Elena held a different sentiment. And this was where their opinions clashed. “But he is my friend, and he has always supported me when even my father didn’t.” The princess’ gaze softened as she looked away from the advisor.

What was she even supposed to say to something like that?

“I understand your concerns since the prince is clearly out to get you, but Oanez is not like that. He is a good person, and he is on our side.”

Isabella wondered who else was on her side but held harming intentions for her. She didn’t trust the man even when Elena spoke so highly of him. All she knew was that Elena was the only one who had been assertive in supporting the princess in front of other people, so far as to speaking against the prince in her defense as well.

If Isabella was to think of Oanez in similar situations, she would only come up with moments when he would passively stop the prince’s mischievous behavior towards her. But other than that, there was nothing else she expected from the man.

But perhaps Elena’s actions had raised her expectations after she had spoken up for her multiple times in front of the Queen and the prince. Isabella felt a certain warmth in her chest as she recalled those moments before speaking.

“I don’t believe I have anyone loyal to me aside from you, Elena.”

The princess’ words were meant to show her unwavering trust in Elena and none in Oanez, but it had an entirely different effect on the advisor whose eyes widened, and her cheeks darkened.

Isabella wondered what she had said to have caused such a reaction from the other woman, but before she could ask the woman herself, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes!” The princess immediately asked as she stood up. “Your Highness, the Queen calls you to the throne room.” A small voice replied from the door and the said princess’ eyes widened as she turned to look out the window.

It was completely bright outside now with the sun shining bright and new. She didn’t think she and Elena had been talking for so long that day had broken.

Their conversation felt like it had lasted only seconds, but they had been in each other’s company for a long while.

“I’ll be there immediately.”

“Yes, your Highness.” There was no other reply from the door as the princess frowned slightly. “Why not have breakfast first before we discuss about politics?”

Elena found the princess’ whining endearing as she smiled at her. “The early bird gets the worm.” The princess frowned as she heard the other woman. “We are the early birds but we’re not getting any worms.”

The princess’ words brought a chuckle to the other as she shook her head. “If things turn well and, in our favor, we might get something far greater than just a worm.”

“What’s better than food?”

Elena remained smiling as she spoke with affection in her tone and a certain softness in her eyes. “The ability to earn it yourself.” Even when the princess still didn’t quite appreciate Elena’s analogy at the moment, and simply just wanted to have breakfast – she found the other woman’s actions far too intimate. Her eyes held a gentleness which she had only ever seen in her own father’s eyes.

It brought the same warmth to her chest that she had felt when she thought about Elena defending her. She didn’t know what to call these emotions, but the princess knew clearly that she didn’t want to disappoint the other woman or to upset her. Unbeknownst to her, Elena also held similar sentiments for the princess.

“Shall we then, Isabella?” The princess stared at her advisor for a moment more before she turned away with blushing cheeks. She couldn’t let Elena know how her attention caused such a reaction out of her. “Hm.” She made her way to the door, expecting her advisor to follow along. Elena did so without question and they made their way to the throne room together.