Chapter 3

"Hey, Darcy," said Leo, entering the room where the duke was staying during his stay at the castle. "Where so dressed up."

Lucas looked up, seeing his friend plop down on the bed and look at him curiously.

"I sort of have a date with your sister," said the duke finishing adjusting the buttons on his shirt.

The prince was silent for a moment and just looked at the black-haired man.

"I didn't think he would make a move so soon," thought the chestnut absentmindedly. "We were supposed to go to the square today. You know for the materials for the paper lanterns" expressed the prince.

The festival of lights held in Luxembourg at midnight on 8 December was an ancient tradition that served as a tribute to ancestors and to make wishes for good fortune in the coming year. Liana loved the Christmas festivities but especially this festival.

If for the natives the festival reflected the opportunity to connect with their ancestors once again, for the youngest princess that meaning went to another level.

"We'll do it. Later. Your sister wanted pizza so I invited her to the Italian restaurant we used to go to years ago."

Lucas turned to the prince and walked over to the bed where the prince was sitting next to him.

"I feel I must ask, Leonard." the duke began. "Do I still have your blessing to get close to your sister or have you changed your mind?" expressed the red-haired man staring at his friend.

"Pff, as if my opinion matters to you." Replied the prince mockingly. "You guys are crazy about each other, my opinion has no place here. However, to answer your question. Yes. You still have my blessing, as old-fashioned as that sounds."

Lucas smiled and nudged his friend, playing and teasing each other like the young men they had been not so long ago.

"Finally, you know the decision is Ellie's to make. I'm just asking you to take care of her, she's still a baby to me." the prince said standing up and walking towards the exit of the room.

"Ah." Leo turned to look at the duke. "Don't be back late, we really have a lot to prepare for the festival, it's only a couple of weeks away so we'll need to get to the square."

"Understood, captain."

"Goodbye, asshole."

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"Ellie, I don't even understand why you want to talk about this. It's silly." Eloise said to the younger princess with weariness.

"It isn't. I just want to know what you meant, Louie."

"I shouldn't even be the one telling you this, Ellie, it's not my place."

"Well, I can't go to Lucas and ask him. Come on, Louie. It's really simple. You just have to tell me if Lucas had feelings for me or not" Liana expressed with her best puppy dog face trying to move her sister.

"Damn you're heavy, girl. You're almost a genius, Ellie, how can you not know that Lucas has been in love with you since, well, forever."

"I don't know, we never talked much when he came over, he was always playing video games or riding horses with Leo," the younger princess said pouting. "Where do you get that from, to Lucas I look like a younger sister, just that" muttered the younger one with a sad grimace.

To say that Eloise was in awe of her sister's innocence almost ignorance was an understatement, it made her want to laugh and punch Liana at the same time.

"Ellie, I love you and I say this out of love, you're such a dumb," laughed the older girl.

"Hey, don't make fun of me" exclaimed the younger one hitting her with a cushion.

"Fuck, Ellie, it's just to hit you. Lucas followed you on every stupid thing you wanted to do. If you were riding, he was there to make sure you didn't fall off your horse. If you wanted to bake biscuits, he was your assistant" Eloise recounted, "Fuck, he gave you a music box that cost more than a house in downtown Belair."

"You're very clueless, sis" she finished.

"If you put it that way it sounds bad, Eloise" the little girl defended herself, "Besides if he was in love with me why didn't he ever say so".

Eloise was not a violent person but when she heard her younger sister say that she turned her face towards her like the little girl in the movie "The Exorcist" and came at her with a cushion as a weapon.

"Fuck, Louie that hurts," said the little girl trying to defend herself.

They both looked like a knot of arms, legs, and cushions going back and forth.

"You're just so stupid God," exclaimed the older one, giving the younger one a final whack with the cushion.

Then, like a young lady and with her best serious face, she crossed her legs on the bed with the intention of explaining to her sister with plasticine to see if she understood.

"Lucas is four years older than you, Ellie. When you met, he was already of age. Do you think it would have been okay if he had approached you with romantic intentions?" the blonde asked.

Now that she thought about it, Eloise was right. It was morally questionable for Lucas to propose to her or try to have a relationship. Besides, being honest, she was a child, and the experiences Lucas had gone through she was just starting to have. It was impossible.

With that realization in mind and the calmness, her sister was expressing she decided to ask a little more.

"You're right," the black-haired girl said. "But how long have you known, and how come you're so relaxed about it" Liana continued.

"I knew from the first moment. When Lucas came for the first Christmas, he wasn't exactly discreet" the older girl scoffed. "And I knew you weren't in danger around him. Leonard would have killed him if he got a little too close to you," laughed Eloise.

"Besides, I guess I always saw the pure way he saw you, Lucas genuinely loved you so I trusted him. We all did. Mother knew about it too. We always made fun of you both when Lucas was after you like a puppy dog," finished the older princess with a chuckle.

Liana sat in bed processing everything her sister had told her. If I had to describe the state she was in, to say she was shocked would be an understatement, she was catatonic. She'd had a giant crush on the duke and she'd never believed anything romantic could happen between them.

Of course, a crush wasn't the same as loving someone. And although Lia still harbored feelings for the red-haired Englishman, she wasn't sure how far they went. Sure, she felt warm and happy in Lucas's company, she felt safe with him, but she had read enough love stories to have heard of the famous "butterflies in your stomach" you feel when you're with someone. But she didn't feel that with Lucas. What did it mean then, or what was it that she felt?

"Ellie, I'm talking to you."

Her sister's voice brought her back to reality.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to process all of this." the young woman said distractedly. "What were you saying."

"I was asking if you would try dating Lucas, you know, like in a real relationship" her sister replied.

That was a good question, but Liana didn't have an answer for her.

"I don't know, Louie. I mean, Lucas is cool and I like hanging out with him. He's been my crush for a long time but I'm not sure if I like him that way." she replied calmly.

"You're joking, aren't you?"

"No. Not even a little bit."

"Ellie, you guys look at each other like you're the only thing that exists in the universe. How can you not be sure how you feel about someone you've looked at like they've been putting the stars in the sky for years." Eloise exclaimed frustrated.

"That's right, Louie. You've had boyfriends and dated other people before. For me it's always been whatever's going on with Lucas, nothing else," the younger girl tried to explain herself.

Liana didn't want her sister to misunderstand her, she was just confused.

"Understand me, no one has ever caught my attention besides him. I don't know how much of it is fantasy or reality, Eloise. Don't look at me like I've done something wrong," the black-haired girl finished in a voice on the verge of tears.

Seeing her sister like that, Eloise rushed to hug her and apologize.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie, I really didn't mean to," the young woman murmured, holding her sister who was now crying. "I'm so sorry baby, I guess I left you alone for too long. I didn't think Lucas was the only person you'd ever have those kinds of feelings for," she cuddled her younger sister to calm her down.

Eloise had been used to travelling since she came of age so she had often stopped being present in her little sister's life, and now, watching her cry, the guilt was hitting her hard. Maybe he should have been a little more present for his sister growing up.

"It's not your fault, Louie. I know how much you longed for your freedom and it makes me happy that you found it, it's just that I'm confused by the idea of love that I know with what I'm feeling. I don't want to hurt Lucas or get my hopes up." The younger girl finished by saying as she wiped away her tears.

"You're a great sister, Eloise. The best in the world. I just need time to figure out and understand what I'm feeling right now."

"You have all the time in the world, Ellie. Clear your head and when you feel ready talk to Lucas," the older one said smiling warmly at the little girl. "Also talk to Leo, I think that knowing things from another perspective can help you," she finished.

"I will, I promise" smiled the little princess. "Now I'm a little afraid to go on the date with Lucas" the black-haired girl murmured hesitantly.

"Don't be. It shouldn't be romantic. You guys have been friends for a long time. Take it easy."

"Do you think I should, you know, tell Lucas that I know everything?" she looked at her doubtfully.

"That's not a good idea" Eloise hesitated "You're not ready for that conversation, clear your head first, crybaby."

Liana stuck her tongue out at her sister and stood up heading towards her dressing room.

"You help me pick out my outfit for the date" she yelled from the dressing room.

"Something sexy yet cute, so Lucas can see you're not a girl anymore but still stay true to yourself."

"Wait, wait" Liana returned to the room in shock at her sister's words. "That's exactly what you said yesterday before I picked out my clothes." She opened her eyes even more when the realization hit her.

"You knew, traitor," shouted Liana at her sister, running towards her.

"In my defense it's not my fault you didn't know," said Eloise, running away from her sister.

"How was I supposed to know if no one told me, Eloise."

They were both running back and forth across the room. Liana throwing pillows and cushions at her and Eloise trying to dodge them.

"It was a surprise, little sister. Stop being so clueless."

Eloise tripped and fell to the floor where Liana climbed on top of her to continue hitting her with the pillow.

"You could have told me, sis."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Eloise cried out laughing breathlessly.

"I take it back; you are the worst sister in the world," said Liana getting off her sister's lap. "Your punishment will be to take me with you on your next trip, traitor."

"That is no punishment but I accept my fate, your majesty," replied her sister, making a dramatic gesture. "Come on little one, we need to find you something nice to wear on your date."

"To begin with, where exactly are you going so, I can come up with the perfect outfit?" asked Eloise rummaging through the dresser.

Liana was a princess, soon to be queen, but she was rather simple when it comes to clothing. Her tastes though were elegant but not expensive, in fact, she liked to buy national products to help the country's small businesses.

"We're going to the Italian restaurant downtown; I want something simple but pretty" commented the younger girl as she scrolled through her social media.

"Okay, Italian restaurant then..." muttered Eloise "What do you think of this?" she asked, showing a short sleeveless yellow, white and black checked dress that fitted at the waist but got wider as the cut went down.

The dress was beautiful but it was late November and winter was just around the corner and Liana didn't want to die of hypothermia.

"Are you crazy? I'm going to freeze in that, find something else" denied Liana looking at her sister.

"The cold is psychological, sis" commented Eloise rummaging through more clothes.

"Sure, tell me that when I catch a cold from wearing so few clothes."

Eloise loved her sister but Liana was a drama queen, the dress wasn't even that bare.

As Eloise rummaged around, she found a plain white jumper with long sleeves that complemented the dress perfectly.

"Ready?" said the blonde putting the outfit on the bed. "You put on the jumper and then the dress will look nice and simple and you'll be protected from the cold" smiled the blonde proudly.

Liana looked up from her phone and looked at the outfit and loved it immediately. Her sister had very good taste.

"I love it. Fuck, Eloise, why didn't you study fashion design?"

"Because my tastes are already perfectly refined," the older girl replied, looking at her nails. "Now hurry up and get ready, it's almost noon," she hurried the younger girl.

"Thank you so much, Louie, really" Liana left a kiss on her sister's cheek who lightly pushed her into the bathroom.

"I hope this date is a success, Lucas. I want my sister back by 4."

Eloise sent the message and left the room leaving her sister to get ready. For the moment her work was done, but the mission to get Lucas and Ellie together was just beginning.