Valerie's POV:
I finished dressing Mira and watched her hurry off to meet the prince in the courtyard for their date. I hoped everything would go smoothly and that they would have a wonderful time. With a sigh, I headed towards the servant's quarters to take a short break before my next task.
As I walked through the hallway of the upper floors, my mind wandered to Princess Evie. I hoped she wouldn't bother me anymore.
As I turned a corner, I noticed Prince Cadoc leaning against the wall, holding two banana milks in his hands. The yellow cartons contrasted with his dark attire, and the earring in his right ear gave him a rockstar vibe. He didn't look like a prince at all.
He smiled and held out one of the drinks, "I'm glad I ran into you here."
My eyes widened in surprise, and I stuttered, "M-me?
We sat on the steps of the grand stairway, the prince handing me a banana milk and punching a straw into his own. I felt uneasy, wondering why he had sought me out. His eyes darted to mine, noticing my stare, and I quickly looked away, flushing. I fiddled with my drink, taking a sip to avoid his gaze.
Then, he spoke, "Why did you run away yesterday?" He asked it like a normal question, as if we were old friends.
I looked taken aback, managing to stammer, "I didn't want to disturb you."
He shrugged, "Your presence wouldn't have been a problem."
I fiddled with my fingers around the banana milk, taking another sip, unsure of what to say. But surprisingly, I didn't feel as uncomfortable with him as I did with Prince Nova. I didn't know why I was always uncomfortable and uneasy around the older prince; his piercing gaze and kind demeanor made me nervous. But Prince Cadoc's relaxed and friendly demeanor put me at ease.
I broke the silence, curious, "When did you learn to play the violin, Your Highness?"
He looked thoughtful, "When I was 8. My mum taught me; she was really good, and I had a passion to learn it." He smiled sadly, remembering.
I found myself saying, "I'm sure she'd be proud of how you play the violin."
The prince turned to me with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Really?" He asked, his tone playful.
I nodded and smiled, looking at him. We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound being our sipping of the banana milk.
Then, out of the blue, he said, "I also know how to play the piano and the lute." He said it mysteriously, his eyes sparkling. "Would you like to hear it?"
I replied, "It would be an honor, Your Highness."
He smiled gleefully, standing up. "Shall we?"
My expression was hesitant, but I shook it off and stood up too. "Of course, Your Highness."
He said, "Prince Cadoc."
I stuttered, "Of course...Prince Cadoc."
â â â
As evening fell, I made my way through the mansion's grounds, heading to Mira's room to help her prepare for the party and hear about her date with the prince. Memories of my time with Prince Cadoc in the singing hall flooded my mind, and I smiled faintly, recalling the childish glow and happiness I felt from him as he played the musical instruments. It seemed like he enjoyed having company while playing, and I wondered if he didn't have anyone to share his music with.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice Magna Evans standing in front of me until he spoke, his voice snapping me back to reality. "Valerie, can we talk?" He asked, his smile sweet but his blue eyes gleaming with malice.
I hesitated, "I'm sorry, but I need to help Mira get ready."
Magna blocked my path, his tone turning cruel. "If I were you, I'd stay. What's going on between you and Prince Nova?" He asked, his suspicions evident.
I was taken aback, "Nothing is goingâ"
Magna cut me off, almost shouting, "Don't lie to me! First, I saw you both alone in the kitchen, doing something I'm not aware of." He emphasized the last part, his eyes narrowing. "Then, I saw you both in the gardens, talking like old friends." He moved closer, his voice menacing. "So, I ask again, Valerie, what is your relationship with the crowned prince?"
I tried to step around him, but he grabbed my wrist, squeezing it. "Don't you dare walk away from me!"
I winced in pain, "Magna, you're hurting me!"
He laughed cruelly, "You say you want to go to Mira, but you're sneaking around with her crush. Does Mira know?" He shouted, ignoring my discomfort.
Just as Magna's grip tightened, a voice intervened, "What's going on here?"
I looked up, surprised to see Prince Nova, his expression a mix of anger and confusion.
Magna released my wrist, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Prince Nova, I'm glad you're here. I have something to say about Valerie."
Prince Nova's face scrunched up in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Magna sneered, "This girl is a two-faced bastard. She is only getting close to you for your wealth."
Prince Nova's eyes blazed with fury, and before I could blink his fist raised to punch Magna, but I intervened, standing between them. "Prince Nova, what do you think you're doing?"
Prince Nova's green eyes showed shock and hurt, his features twisted in pain. He just stood there, frozen, as if unable to process what was happening.
I felt guilty but forced myself to continue, not wanting him to get involved on my behalf. "I'll handle this, I don't need your help."
I turned to drag Magna away, his evil laughter echoing behind us. I didn't look back, fearing I might falter if I saw Prince Nova's hurt expression.
After dragging Magna towards the servant's quarters for a few seconds, he roughly pulled his hand out of my grasp. "Don't touch me, bitch," he sneered.
I glared at him, my anger boiling. "I hope you're done?"
Magna smirked. "No, I'm not done, Val." He looked back, as if still seeing Prince Nova, though he was already out of sight. "What a stuck-up bastard, thinking he could punch me. All royals are the same, they want to step over everyone... that son of aâ"
I screamed, surprising both Magna and myself. "Magna!!!" I couldn't believe I'd raised my voice so loudly. Magna flinched, taken aback by my outburst. "You can say anything about me, but don't you dare say anything about Prince Nova when you barely know him!" I continued, my voice firm.
Magna's smile turned malicious. "So I was right, you are sleeping with Prince Nova."
Without thinking, I slapped him hard across his face. The sound echoed through the grounds. "You're so disgusting! How did I date a piece of shit like you?" I laughed without humor, my eyes blazing with anger. "I'm glad you broke up with me. If not, I would have broken up with you later. You piece of trash!"
Magna looked surprised and furious, his face red with rage. This was the first time I'd snapped at him, and I couldn't take it anymore.
I grabbed his collar with both hands, my grip tight. "Prince Nova is my friend. He has a heart of gold and will make a good king. I'm glad to be associated with him. And yes, I will tell Mira everything because I have nothing to hide," I let go of his collar and cleaned my hands on my maid's outfit. "You're pathetic, Magna."
Magna's expression was livid, his eyes bulging with anger, as I stood tall, my fury evident.
I walked away from him and pulled out my phone and texted Mira, "Hey, I can't make it, something came up." I couldn't possibly face her in this furious condition.
â â â
Prince Nova's POV:
"Your Highness?" Lord Ryder Blackwood, the Governor of Eldrida, addressed me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
My mind had drifted away from the conversation, consumed by Valerie and the hurt I felt when she rejected my help. Dammit, I just wanted to assist her, to protect her from that bothersome man.
The Governor, a middle-aged man with a chubby face, a thick beard, and a receding hairline, asked again, "How do you think we can solve the issue of the trade route being blocked by the rebels, Your Highness?"
My expression turned efficient, my mind snapping back to the conversation. "I believe we need to negotiate with the rebels, find out their demands, and see if we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement. Perhaps we can offer them a compromise, a share in the trade route's profits in exchange for their cooperation."
My father, the King, looked proud, a small smile on his face. The Governor and the Mayor of Willowdale- a slender man with a kind face, nodded in agreement, smiling.
"I wonder why we didn't think of that, thank you, Your Highness," the Mayor said, his voice filled with gratitude.
I replied politely, "It's my duty to serve Eldrida, gentlemen. I'm glad I could help."
I scanned the room, and my eyes landed on the Governor's wife, Lady Vivian Blackwood, a woman in her late 40s with a stern expression, her dark hair styled in a tight bun. She was accompanied by her two daughters, Lady Aurora and Lady Charlotte. Lady Aurora, the younger one, wore a revealing dress, her cleavage on full display, and heavy makeup. Her shoes were high heels, and she gazed at me invitingly, making my skin crawl. I tried to ignore her stares.
On the other hand, Lady Charlotte, the older sister, wore a decent, long-sleeved dress, her dark hair styled neatly, and glasses perched on her nose. She looked pretty and radiated an air of decency.
Mira was engaged in a conversation with my brother, Cadoc, laughing and smiling, and I felt happy to see him so carefree.
Evie looked uninterested, her expression sulky, and had been drinking a bit too much. Before I could approach her, she dropped her drink on the table and left the room with an angry expression. I sighed, worried about my sister and unsure how to help her.
Mira's parents were playing host and hostess to the invited guests, making sure the evening was a success.
I searched the room for Valerie, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but wasn't surprised not to find her among the waiters. I decided to continue with the conversation, focusing on the matters at hand.
Sometime in the evening I decided to have a little chat. I approached Lady Charlotte, and I couldn't help but notice how tall she was, and I liked that about her. She was bold and confident, and I admired that. She curtsied gracefully, her eyes meeting mine. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice sweet and melodious.
"Enjoying the party, Lady Charlotte?" I asked, my tone polite and courteous.
She nodded, her smile radiant. "Yes, Your Highness."
Just then, my brother began playing the piano at the center of the room, drawing everyone's attention. My eyes watched as his hands flew over the keys, the music filling the room with beauty and passion. I could feel Lady Aurora glaring at us, her disapproval palpable.
Lady Charlotte spoke up, her voice clear and confident. "I'm sorry if you got it wrong, Your Highness, but I'm not participating in the race to get your hand in marriage."
My expression was surprised, my eyes locked on hers. "Oh?"
She continued, her voice gentle but firm. "There's someone I love, and I won't compromise on that."
I smiled, relieved. "That's a relief, Lady Charlotte. I understand."
I thought about the "competition" in Calonia, where I was forced to meet ladies who wanted to be my queen. I had to choose one before my 21st birthday, or my father, the King, would choose for me. I longed to marry for love, just like my father.
Lady Charlotte asked thoughtfully, "Hmm, is there someone you like, Your Highness?"
Someone I like? I smiled internally, knowing the answer. "There is someone," I said, my voice low and gentle.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Does she have a high rank in society?"
I shook my head, my expression wistful. "No, she doesn't."
Lady Charlotte's expression turned sad, her voice filled with empathy. "That's a tough one, Your Highness."
I asked her the same question she had asked me, my curiosity genuine. "And the person you love, do they have a rank in society?"
She shook her head, her smile faint. "Father doesn't know, and I'd like to keep it that way for now."
I nodded understandingly, my heart going out to her. "For people like us, our lives are already decided," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. She continued, her eyes shining with determination. "I know I'm doing the right thing. In my heart, that's the best thing I could do for myself."
I turned to look at her intently, her happiness infectious. "I'm really happy, Your Highness," she said, her smile radiant. She turned to me with hope and faith in her eyes. "I'm sure that if you did follow your heart, you would be really happy too."
I paused, my mind reeling through her words. Suddenly, my mind was made up. "Thank you, Lady Charlotte," I said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
She smiled, seemingly knowing what I was about to do. "It's my pleasure, Your Majesty."
I excused myself, heading to meet my father as the music came to an end. The conversation with Lady Charlotte had sparked something within me, and I knew what I had to do.
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