Chapter 3: Engagement Party

Everything was going too fast. She didn't have time to process it. But either way, she was getting dolled up for the engagement party. "You look stunning" Zion waddled to his sister's room. She picked up the little 5-year-old who was wearing the same shade of red as her.

"Can I?" He asked, pointing at her engagement crown. Lauren nodded as the boy picked up the crown and gently dropped it on her hair. "Let's go now" Lauren dropped him and followed him out of her room and into the venue. She counted and there were over a hundred people in the hall.

"Zion, where is our mother?" The boy led her mother and the queen. "Greeting your majesty" Lauren curtsied. "You look beautiful, Darling. I see what my son sees now," the queen said and she replied with a soft smile. Go ahead and sit with your fiance"

Lauren looked to her right and saw the prince. She then looked up and saw the king seated on his throne and her father by his side. A typical royal setting for an event.

She walked over to the king and greeted him. He too complimented her before she went to sit with her fiance, Ezra.

Now that she thinks about it, she never accepted to marry him. Moreover, she had not seen him for years until the annual ball so what mind games is this man playing.

"Darling, have I ever told you that you look drop-dead gorgeous in red?" her cheeks burned given that wasn't used to people calling her sweet names. On the topic of clothing, Lauren to a moment to notice the similarities that their outfits had. It had a scarlet red that stood out. As well as the belt is worn by both of them. The crowns had their similarities and differences.

Wait, I am meant to dislike him. She reminded herself before replying. "No, but I would have noticed from the way your eyes followed me"

"Did you design your dress yourself," he said in a hushed tone, waving and shaking his guest's hand. "credits, Hiba Aziz did that '' she waved with a faux smile on her face. "Tell her to make your wedding dress in navy blue. It's your favourite colour if I am right"

"That is right. I-"

"Ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to my son, your prince's engagement party," the king said and everyone clapped. Ezra slipped his hands into Lauren's hands. "Pleased to have you all here. Do enjoy yourselves," Ezra said, addressing the people this time.

Once the attention deviated from the couple, Ezra offered to take Lauren to a calm area and she followed. He leads her to the balcony of the palace. It has a coffee table and two 2 chairs. the two leaned on the railing stargazing. A warm silence enveloped them. For a split second, Lauren had forgotten that this marriage was of revenge and there was no relation with him beyond it.

"Navy blue was our colour." he mentions clearly referring to the choice of dress "I miss our little dance" he slid his hand into hers, just like he did before. Lauren remained silent, playing along and going with the flow. "Lauren," he called her name, this time looking at her. The sudden eye contact caught her off guard and made her start laughing.

"Your highness, it is time for the royal dance." They headed back to the hall.

Just like we practised. A stand was brought in with a black and red sword. ½ of the sword is given at engagement and the last is on the coronation of the king.

It is customary for the to-be-queen to do the sword dance with her husband. Considering that every queen has to lead a war and be a warrior, it won't be difficult. And it wasn't any different for Lauren. She was perfect for a queen. She is a warrior, a person of high class, is educated and most importantly, she is a blackwood.

The traditional music began to play and the crowd cleared the way for Lauren. She swayed left and right around the royal sword. Ezra then picked it up and passed it on to her. She picked it from his hands and then the dance continued.

Coming to the end of the song, Lauren unsheathed her sword, and then pointed at the prince who was on his knee. This is to show that after marriage, the king is under the queen.

The music ended and the quest clapped. Ezra stood up and walked over to his finance, giving her a hug. Lauren flinches at the sudden affection. He was supposed to hate me, she thought as her heart rate increased, mostly because of the dance.

She glance over his shoulder seeing a particular face that made her smile. "You did amazing darling" he whispered and lead her to the seats. 30 minutes of silence between the two as the guest left the hall. Afterwards, it was just the two families.

"Thank you for hosting us, your majesties." Lauren curtsied and wished. "It's not a problem. I must say, I was wowed by your performance. Do you know, the late queen did the exact dance you did? I saw a lot of you in her."

Hearing that from the outside sounds like a compliment but honestly, the previous king and queen had a horrendous relationship.

"Thank you, your majesty," she said once more. "Oh yes, it slipped my mind, the wedding is in 3 days so you have to move into your side of the palace."

She was being dipped into a cool bath by her maids but her mind was elsewhere. Has she been too quiet with the things going on in her life? Her control was slipping away from her hand. She did not want to marry the prince, that was the last thing she wished for. Things had not ended well with them so his wanting to get married fast was a question.

And then, it clicked.

He is 27 now, old enough to take the throne. His father is 64, too old to keep ruling. Did they ask him to get married to a noble so he can take over? It had to be so.

Her bath was over and she was seated on her bed waiting for her dinner. Seconds turned to minutes and half an hour was gone. Her stomach began to grumble. Frustrated, she headed out of her room and chamber looking for the maids to take care of her.

"Lady Blackwood" a voice called for her. She stopped and turned, watching a young blonde rush towards her. She put both her hands in her sleeves and frowned her eyes.

Jewellery made of perfect gems, a dress made from the best silk, surely she wasn't a maid. "I have been keen to see you, Lady Tamaya. My name is Florence Linderr. I have heard so much about you." she shone her perfect teeth.

"Ms Linderr, lovely meeting you. What are you doing at my Quarters" Lauren got straight to the point catching Florence off-guard. "I-i am just coming back from the prince's Quarters." she stuttered, making Lauren look at her up and down once more, but with more expression written on her face.

"It is late Ms Linderr, head back to the prince's quarters or your home if you wish" she mentions before turning her back. "But I came to see you"

She had to be 6.

With all the puppy eyes and pouting, she was definitely young. Yes, Lauren has heard the rumours that the youngest Linderr lacked class and home training but she had to choose not to believe it because she heard something similar about herself. This proved her wrong.

"Really?" "mhm" "well then, I am about to have a bottle of wine, would you like to have some?" Lauren offered with a smile, wanting to speak more to Linderr. If this was her first interaction with them she would want it to be positive.

—

Lauren watched silently when she saw how Florence served and drank the wine. "I really look up to you." Florence said, making Lauren smile. "I admire how smart you are in many fields. I heard you finished the study of ___ politics in 8 years. And you fought in the war as part of the army on the front line. I heard you own the biggest schools in the kingdom. And that you a talented in art and equestrian. And your beauty was more than what the news said."

Lauren giggled at the gesture of the younger girl. Was she drunk already or was she naturally like this?

"Don't falter me, Ms Linderr"

Florence's smile dropped making Lauren worry.

"Ms Blackwood, I need your help"

There was more to this.