When The Cat Is Away...

It was all intentional and calculated, but from an outside perspective, that's not what it looked like. 

Princess Marie had been seeing more of Ian, Alix's older brother and heir to the Sadiv dukedom, ever since the day he had offered her his handkerchief when she was crying on a balcony. It seemed obvious to her why he was suddenly hanging around more after the words she heard him utter about being a tease. 

Whenever they met each other in a hallway or courtyard, he tried to stop her but she always insisted she had something she should be doing. Normally that was the truth but her schedule wasn't all that packed. She had days to finish things that would hardly take an hour. A lot of times her father and brother underestimated her capabilities. 

With his insistence, she started slowly giving in and allowing him to join her on walks. She felt it was the least she could do for all the trouble he was going through in order to gain her attention.