[Bonus chapter]

"My lady, the designer is here and so are the decorators. If you could spare some time?" asked Martha as she looked at the young girl with worry.

From the time William, her father had been injured, she was taking care of all the official matters on the behalf of her father. To the surprise of everyone she did not need a single advice from any member of the family yet she handled everything so perfectly as if she had done it all her life.

"Ah! Is there? Ask my mother to choose the dresses for me. I still have a meeting to attend with Viscount Frenix." she read another document forgetting about the presence of the woman who was pressing her lips hard.

"My lady, you need to try on your wedding dress to see if it needs any alteration and you need to try on your shoes and tiara too. The lady can not do it on your behalf. Why do you let the young lord attend the meeting?" asked Martha with a sigh. She was proud that Ana had grown up into such a mature person but at the same time she was worried now.

"Alright, I will be there in half an hour. Send the viscount first." she waved her hands dismissing martha who could only sigh as she walked out.

As the viscount was escorted by a maid inside, Martha walked back to the hall where the lady was having a small chat with the designer. They both raised her head hearing the footsteps but Martha shook her head making the woman sigh.

"I apologize, after the accident of my husband, my daughter is too burdened with handling the work." Ellie smiled as she waved her hands telling she did not mind waiting a bit.

"How about we all check our dresses first till she comes." Diana and Aurelia tried her dresses first and booked a lot of new dresses for Ana when she finally came after two long hours.

"Here you are!" Diana looked relieved when Ana just nodded her head and tried the dress without wasting her time.

"Hmm! I am sure I have already tightened the dress twice, but it looks like it is loose again." She looked at the waist with knitted brows as she was sure the lady had lost a lot of weight this past week. "But that is alright, I will make it perfect one day. Do you want any other changes, my lady?" Ana looked at her mother who sighed.

"No! That would be perfect." Ana ran to change her dress and placed it on the sofa, "if there is nothing, can i leave now?" She had already worn all the accessories and tiara with the dress so her mother nodded her head and Ana left in just a few minutes.

"Now, if you excuse me too, I have to work on the dress again, haha!" Diana also had a lot of preparations so Ellie left soon after exchanging pleasantries.

She was escorted to her shop in the carriage of lord William but when she reached the door, another carriage was already waiting for her.

She looked around, making sure that no one was looking at her, she opened the door and went in.

"So?" The girl looked at Elie with a raised brow when her face shone.

"Your highness, Lady Anastasia looked so dull that I could not believe she was going to marry. She was not even interested in trying on her wedding gown and left as soon as I commented that she had lost weight again.

Her mother looked so worried as if they were preparing for a funeral rather than marriage. The palace looked dull too. The lady made the excuse that she had a meeting to attend but I am sure that she did not want to marry anymore." The words brought a smirk on the face of Madeline who fanned herself hiding her face.

"That is bad! I was worried about my nephew, that is why I am trying to know about the lady. I am afraid that she would not treat my nephew well if Garrison continued to behave coldly with her. Looks like my fear…" she shook her head but the eyes of Ellie had already widened.

"Oh lord! So you mean that the cold attitude of your highness is making the lady wary too." she nodded, everyone knew that the duke loves his first wife so much that he was not able to forget her. The second marriage is only forced by your majesty.

"But even so! She should not treat the child coldly. It is not like he had any mistakes in it." she shook her head but dared not speak further, after that the princess would be angry.

"You are right! I tried to talk to her but she ignored me. I think she did not want me to interfere in her matters." her eyes dimmed and downcasted but it only made Ellie frown further.

More than worry, jealousy and anger filled there. She was also the daughter of the count. But she always needed to bow her head in front of royalties. How could Ana, the mere daughter of a marque, dare to insult a princess!

Even today, she was not even respectful towards her.

"I think it is not about the cold attitude of your highness then. The lady did not seem to be friendly with anyone." she concluded when Maddy smiled feebly.

"I hope that is not the case, my nephew deserves happiness. If only.. Someone else was chosen.." she paused as she met the probing eyes of Ellie. "Oh my! I seem to be lost in my own thoughts. I have already taken a lot of your time, you can leave now lady Elie. I am sure you still need to work on that dress." Elie did not want to leave. But she could not cut the princess, so she nodded her head and walked out of the carriage and it left soon enough.

"Ha! How could a cold woman get the heart of your highness! It is only right that she was abandoned."

[hi, is the story going too dark? please comment and guide me further.]