6 Racing Thoughts

Neither Maria nor Jason made any comment as they started to jog back to the royal sleeping quarters after they had made it into the hallway.

They managed to make it back to Maria's room without being stopped, and once her bedroom door closed, Maria sighed in relief.

There they found Alexandria who had been pacing back and forth pretty much since Maria had left to meet the suitors.

"My Lady! My Lord! Oh goodness, how was it?" the maid frantically asked, looking between the siblings.

"It was quite alright," Jason replied calmly with a smile to calm the old woman's nerves and give his sister time to catch her breath.

"Yes Alexandria, it was fine. You can be excused for the night; I know this has been stressful for all of us," Maria said as she made her way over to the maid to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Alexandria, wanting to know more but knowing it was not the time to ask, bowed and replied, "Your Highnesses," before she made her way out the door to retire for the evening.

When the door clicked shut, Jason turned to Maria and waited for her to speak first.

They sat there in silence for what Jason felt like was an eternity before Maria finally looked up at him and said, "I have to tell you something but you can't tell anyone!"

Intrigued, Jason turned his head and walked towards his sister before he nodded his head in agreement.

Maria put both hands up to her mouth and exhaled before she dropped her hands in front of her stomach that still had knots in it.

"I met one of those men earlier today," she simply said.

Jason waited for her to continue but when it was clear that she was lost in thought, he encouraged her to say more, "What do you mean?"

"Prince Julien, the younger brother-- I met him at the market this morning. Only, I didn't know he was a prince and I do not think he knew I was a princess".

A slight chuckle escaped Jason's lips as he joked, "Leave it to you to get bamboozled while you're the one trying to do the bamboozling".

Jason was great at making Maria smile even during times when she wanted to cry, and obviously this was no exception.

"I'm shocked that it didn't come out during the introductions or dinner. Do you think he recognized you? I know you like to wear that blonde wig when you go out among the people."

"When we looked at each other, I could tell that he recognized me. He seemed shocked to see me again, and I was definitely shocked to see him. That was not the turn I expected the night to take."

"So what now?" Jason quizzed her, "Are you both going to pretend like your meeting at the market never happened?"

They both stared at each other as Maria attempted to come up with a response before Jason's brow furrowed and he asked her, "What did happen at the market, exactly?"

Maria told Jason about how he made conversation with her, and how they watched the artist until the sun went down.

She even told Jason that she lied and told him that her name was Grace before running away.

What she didn't tell her brother, though, was how her chest seemed to tighten and her limbs went numb when the stranger, now known as Julien, had looked at her.

Or how her heart fluttered when he kissed the back of her hand.

Or how it happened to her again when he held her hand in the dining room.

She suddenly felt the sensation of his thumb grazing the back of her hand again, just from thinking about it, and she instinctively ran her left index finger over the back of her right hand as her face flushed.

Before her brother could notice the obvious change in her, she cleared her throat and turned to look out the glass balcony doors that overlooked the gardens outside.

Jason walked over to where Maria was standing and looked out towards the gardens with her.

"Jason?" Maria asked with tears starting to form in her eyes, "I don't know if I can do this," she said quietly, ashamed.

He let out a sigh, wrapped his arms around his sister who seemed to be half his size despite her being older, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Knowing this was coming was not going to make it any easier, but I will be here with you every step of the way and you will make it through this as you have made it through everything else. You are the strongest person I know, and you will make a great Queen".

Maria felt the tears start to fall as her brother continued speaking.

"And who knows? Maybe you will end up liking one of those men just enough. I don't know about the others yet, but Henri is quite the character and I'm sure he will keep you laughing everyday, if anything," he chuckled.

Maria half smiled at that, not yet convinced, but with appreciation for her brother all the same.

After a couple of minutes of her brother's comforting embrace, Maria pulled away and gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"It's late, I don't want to keep you awake any longer."

"I can stay as long as you need me."

"No, I'll be alright. I'll see you in the morning Jason."

"Love you. Goodnight."

"Love you too," she said while Jason made his way out of her room.

After her brother left, Maria wiggled out of the light blue dress and washed her face to get ready for bed.

She then slipped into her nightgown just as her stomach bombarded her with the reminder that she did not eat anything during dinner.

She decided to sneak down the hall and into the kitchen to see if anything was left over.

Maria tiptoed, barefoot across the cold palace floors until she made it to the empty kitchen.

At least she thought it would be empty at this hour.

When she arrived, however, she noticed a tall man with black, wavy hair was standing over the hot stove, cooking.

She silently turned back towards the door in an effort to make an unnoticed escape before she heard the man say, "Were you hungry, too?"

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