14 Royal Chapter 14

"Congratulations, Your Highness. I will be looking forward to your wedding. It would be such a grand event to foresee." Princess Annaliz delightfully said as soon as they all sat down after the cheers.

"I would love to see yours too, Your Highness. I heard you will soon be tying the knot with your fiance within this year," Luana smilingly replied.

"Indeed, what you heard was right. We started doing the preparations since a week ago."

"There is so much to do for my sister's wedding. I get myself involved too," Mirella added.

"The Blanchard princesses sure know how to spend their time wisel," Princess Gwyneth commented with the current topic.

"You are invited, Your Highness. I mean, everyone here are all invited too to my wedding." Annaliz can't stop herself being joyful just by the thought of having marriage to the love of her life.

"You are so thoughtful, Your Highness. I gladly accepted it right away. I can't wait for it to happen!" Eleina exclaimed in excitement, which made Audette smirked at her jolly attitude.

They all said their respective regards and best wishes to the two princesses with their engagements. Eulalie whispered to Annaliz about Hansen being also a tailor and owns the biggest gown and clothing shop in Belgium while having the Viscount title. It is such a perfect timing as Annaliz struggles to find someone who will make her wedding gown because the seamstress in France is not much of her liking.

"Let me ask him," Eulalie whispered. She then called out Hansen right after he said his regards to Luana. "Lord Hansen, I heard you own a clothing shop."

"Yes, Your Highness," Hansen replied.

"My sister would like to appoint you as the person who will create her gown." Hansen face lightens up as he hears Eulalie's announcement.

"Well, yes, Your Highness! It is such an honor. Rest assured you will have your dream wedding gown on your best day." Everyone shared their insights about Hansen's shop.

"I would love to visit your shop at once!" Licillia cheerfully exclaimed.

"You are all welcome there, my ladies!"

The place was surrounded with their glee and back to separate topics with whom is the closest to them until Kadline break the swarm of whispers and talking when she spoke to the quiet Princess Gwyneth.

"I am delighted you actually came, Gwyneth."

"I had no choice but to come," replied with bored voice. She took a sip again in her glass to avoid looking at Kadline.

"Still, it made me happy to finally see you. It has been years since I last saw you." Gwyneth scoffed at the thought of their friendship.

"I am fine, Your Highness. Prioritize on checking yourself first before anyone else."

"Don't worry, I always did. By the way, I heard a rumour that you are finding a husband." That caught everyone's attention.

"What? I don't think---" Gwyneth caught off guard.

'How come that information came all the way here when it was never announced in the first place?' Gwyneth thought.

"Is that true, Your Highness?" Luana questioned. Now everyone are attentive to the topic as some of them are in that phase too, finding a husband and settling down.

"Why would I---" before she even finish her words, Isobel finally joined the conversation.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. There are plenty of beautiful bachelors and men in this country. You might find your liking, Your Highness," she said in her calmly sultry voice.

"Perhaps, a Matias prince could be perfect for you."

They went silent. Nathaly and Kadline frowned at what Isobel is trying to pry. On the other hand, Licillia  just shrugged because her soon-to-be fiance is not a prince. He is excluded and so, she has nothing to worry about.

"If Lucifero still likes me then, who am I to decline?" Gwyneth grinned and Isobel's smiling face swiftly erased. What did she say?

The tension between the princess and the lady started to rise as everyone are watching their next move. Luana calmly enjoying the little show but a one quiet lady didn't like what she is seeing and so, she speaks up in between their stares.

"I don't understand why everyone is so eager to find a husband when men are always disappointing. Could it be the time when we shall refrain being dependent from them?" Millicent, the only child and daughter of Duke of Claes, spoke up with her strong spirit of feminism. She is known for being the epitome of an independent and sophisticated woman in the whole Beaumont.

"I couldn't agree more to Lady…?" Jacqueline, one of the daughter of Duke Hamilton in London. She is a dear friend of Kadline and Licillia.

"My name is Millicent Haven Claes, pleasure to meet everyone," she genuinely smiled to everyone.

"Are you not worried to be alone for the rest of your life, Lady Millicent?" Mirella asked.

"Nothing fears me more than not doing my purpose in this world, and that is helping the people in need."

"You sure talk a lot about independence, Milady." Gwyneth said. Not sure if she is irritated or just plainly disliked her for being the bigger woman in this day.

"Perhaps, I am, Your Highness. I have many reasons on how to deal my problems by myself other than having a husband who will definitely just give me misery after the wedding night," she proudly announced without minding the engaged ladies next to her.

"Woah, how bold is she to say that," Martha whispered to Hadley, two dear friends of Kadline.

"Indeed, and in front of them? She really should have not spoken until the event ends." Hadley agreed and nodded to Martha.

Everyone went even more silent after the brave judgements of Millicent towards the issue. Luana may have liked Millicent but not this time when she was reminded again of her disgust about convincing  herself to cooperate on marrying Prince Dominique. She is trying her best to look as jolly as she supposed to be, as what everyone believes an engaged woman to be, but after hearing Millicent's empowering words, her mind is in chaos again.

While on the other hand, Annaliz felt offended but after reminiscing the moments she had with Prince Arthur, she knew she is marrying him not only because of his capabilities to provide for her needs but also, for love. She is definitely sure they both love each other. And that string of assurance what keeps her hopes up.

Finally, a kind and humble, Eleina breaks the ice before something worse might happen.

"I-I do believe… there is something more with marriage, Lady Millicent." She hesitated first, but after her defense, some of the ladies expressed their agreements too.

"Like love and affection, I must say," Amanda said.

"We are of one mind," Licillia nodded to Amanda. Well, Licillia believes she wss hit by the Cupid's arrow the day she met Costello. If that is not it, she doesn't know what will.

"Pardon me for this, but I only know money as the foundation," Gwyneth insisted.

"Oh, even a princess is having difficulties with wealth and properties. What a petty act, apologies for the word," Isobel sneered as she can't hide her irritation against Gwyneth. Knowing how this princess may come after to her man, Lucifero, boils her blood. Some gasped to what she just said.

"A lady like you will never know, Lady Isobel. For I know how much you are trying hard to be the---" Isobel got nervous as she realized what was Gwyneth is trying to say. How thankful she is when Kadline involved in between.

"That would be inappropriate enough for honorable women to say such things against each other. If you both do me a favor to stop this argue and just enjoy the rest of the day, shall we?" Kadline reprimanded with authority because this is going out of hand.

Isobel and Gwyneth remained silent and never glances to each other again. Good heavens helped them be reminded the rightful manners and the place where they are. It is true that arguing about little things is not elegant at all. They just hope this ends early while they still can hold their pretending.

"Now, where were we?" Kadline begin asking again. It took a couple of seconds when Luana regained her mood and decided to confront Isobel about what Kadline said the night when she visited her.

"Lady Isobel, how are things with Lucifero? If I am not mistaken, you are engaged with him, right?" Luana asked which made Isobel looks at her.

"Yes, you are right, Luana."

"What? You are engaged with him?!" Gwyneth shockingly expressed. Isobel grinned while ignoring Gwyneth.

"Congratulations, Lady Isobel! I didn't know you are engaged already." Nathaly happily greeted her.

Well, that is the truth for most of them. The engagement between Lucifero and Isobel was kept a secret within the selected important people only before the announcement date, which is supposed to happen by next week but then, Luana ruined it by announcing beforehand on the exact day, today, of her tea party. What a shameful day for Isobel.

"Please remind me to thank you later formally for dragging me here. I never knew it is going to be this interesting," Audette muttered to Mirella. Mirella just giggled and suggests her to keep being quiet and observe of how this will going to end.

Other ladies congratulated Isobel for being engaged to not just a man, but the first prince of the Matias Kingdom. The prince who will have the biggest possibility to be next on the throne. Hansen even assumed she caught a bounty in the sea. He cannot deny how he once dreamed being in the arms of Prince Lucifero Matias.

"It was not the case in the beginning," Isobel disappointingly said.

"What do you mean?" Kadline asked.

"I mean, I never asked for anything---" Isobel was cutted off by Licillia.

"Then why did you ended up with Prince Lucifero if that was not the case in the beginning?" Licillia curiously asked.

"Definitely, the crown," Gwyneth honestly said as she sips her wine and Kadline called her out.

"Don't jump into conclusions, Gwyneth. Let her respond for it." Kadline almost hate herself when she said that, because obviously, her tone of calmness made her not serious about what she said. It sounded more of sarcastic than concerning.

"I don't want to offend you, Lady Isobel, but if it is true, you should have considered being a mistress then in the first place," Eleina ignorantly said. Audette felt embarrassed for her, but Eleina's bravery makes her more curious about her.

Some giggled about it and Millicent whispered to Eleina what she has done. When it all sinks in to her, she apologize immediately to Isobel and she just faked her smile to her.

"I think Lady Isobel is not that kind of woman," Eulalie defends her.

"We may never know," Victoria coldly said and Amanda slightly bump her knee to Victoria's knee under the table to remind her not to interfere with other's businesses.

"What? We all have different personalities. We may never know how Lady Isobel's mind really works," she added.

"Absolutely," Hadley agreed.

"It would be much more comfortable for me if we stop talking about my business, Miladies." Isobel fumed as she heave a deep sigh and drinks her wine.

"As you please, Lady Isobel." Kadline noted it and allowed everyone to talk about different topic then.

"Oh, Princess Kadline, aren't you the second born?" Millicent asked. She accidentally heard from her father's working room when he was talking to the High Ranking Council members that Prince Lucifero declined the offer of being the next in throne. It would be improper and disrespectful if she shares it with everyone here so, she

assumed that if there is such possibility of her being the crowned Queen in the future.

"Yes, why did you asked Millicent?"

"You could be a queen! I am happy for you if that happens---" Millicent halted when Isobel stands up and get their all attention solely to her. She was alarmed by Millicent's statement.

With a fierce and emotionless face, she uttered, "Apologies if I have to ruin this tea party, your highnesses but I remembered I have another important visit to do today."

"Why all of a sudden? Does it have to be at the party's hour when everyone is having fun?" Princess Gwyneth sarcastically said.

'Fun? Are you perhaps pertaining the earlier part when you all are teasing me? How dare you!' She thought. As much as she wanted to speak that out aloud, it would be disrespectful and might give her consequences she is not ready for.

"Unfortunately, yes, Your Highness."

"Who are you visiting?" Luana asked.

"Oh… just my fiance, the FUTURE KING of this kingdom. Please, excuse me. Congratulations for your engagement again, Princess Luana and Princess Annaliz," she grinned, almost obvious it was fake before she curtsied and stepped out of the gazebo.

Meanwhile, Luana and Kadline secretly did a low five under the table the moment Isobel stepped out of the gazebo and they wishes her to greet Lucifero for them.

"Shall we call it a day, my dear ladies?" Kadline offered and when everyone's approved she bid them farewell and lead their way.