Nivea and Duke Eduardo

His Majesty sighed, "Edmund should have approached the girl first. Why is he so confident, saying such things in front of all of us?" The tall, well-built man was still pacing back and forth in front of his wife. Now both of them were in the reading room palace.

"Will you please calm down, Jacob? I've seen you can't keep still. Sit down!"

He ignored the queen's words and was still pacing back and forth with his hands linked behind his back.

"I deeply regret Lady Nivea's behavior. As a king, honestly my pride is hurt. But I, can't look at this from just one side. I must see it too, from the girl's point of view. I understand she was shocked by everything Edmund said. It's just that, Miss Nivea... She can't seem to help herself. She really can't lie, the child seems so honest. She flatly refused when Edmund said he would propose to her."

"Edmund has had a crush on Miss Nivea since they started archery training together three years ago."

"What? So Edmund has had a crush on her ever since?"

"Yes. You also know that she's the only girl who takes part in the archery practice in the courtyard of the consulate."

"Right! I remember. She was a girl who always wanted to do something out of her way. Duke Eduardo once told me, too, of the time when his daughter had the ambition to open a bakery and wanted to run it alone."

"I think Edmund likes Miss Nivea because... Yes, she is a cheerful girl and just the way she is."

"So, why didn't Edmund approach her a long time ago?"

"That girl is very difficult to approach."

"Has Edmund really tried to approach her?"

"Of course! And of course it didn't work."

"And Edmund used my position as king to lure the girl? Oh my, how could your son be so cunning?"

"Edmund is your son too, Jacob!"

"In this I am disappointed in him. Where did I go wrong in educating him as a man?" he shook his head in wonderment asking himself.

Meanwhile, in a different room in the palace.

"What is it Nicole?"

"You see brother, how that girl has brought down your pride? Who does she think she is? She's just the daughter of a duke. And she dares to humiliate you in front of all of us. As your younger brother, I feel stepped on."

Apparently, a princess was stoking the flames of anger in her brother's bosom. Before going to bed, princess Nicole had the chance to approached Prince Edmund in his room. The blonde-haired girl was looking for support for the thoughts that had been choking her chest since dinner together today.

"Hmm! Let it go Nicole. We'll see what happens next."

"Are you up to something, Brother?"

Prince Edmund shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know! For now I haven't think about it."

"You still like her, even though she has insulted you?"

"Yes. To me, Nivea has always been an interesting girl. She's very unique and she was quite difficult to have. She also made me into someone who stupid-looking."

"Nope, we'd better have a girls' party soon to choose a suitable companion for you. I've had it with that girl of yours." with a puffed up chest, Nicole's daughter stomped out of her brother's room.

***

"What do you mean by preserving my dignity before His Majesty, Nivea? You did attend the invitation but you still humiliated me and your mother. I regret your decision to come with us, without thinking about it a thousand times."

"Are you ashamed to have a daughter like me, Father?"

"That's not it my child!" duchess Elvira refuted the question.

"You'd better stay out of this, Elvira!"

The woman sitting on the long sofa immediately pressed her lips together, looking weakly at her daughter.

"Fine! Now what do you want me to do, Father? So that you'll at least forgive me."

Duke Eduardo shook his head, then propped his head with both hands on his desk. He looked down for a moment not wanting to look at Nivea who was still standing in front of him.

"Go away Nivea! Just go to your room!" he said flatly without looking up to Nivea.

Nivea sighed there, "Alright Dad! I really apologize to you and you Mom. This is just how I am. I hope you can understand."

"Does that child realize that she has hurt the feelings of many people? Even her behavior earlier was tantamount to stepping on my head." the father opened his mouth when Nivea had closed the door to the room from the outside.

"You're overreacting Eduardo!"

"You're always defending her, Elvira!"

"I gave birth to her. If I don't defend her, who should she turn to for protection?"

"And you defend your daughter who committed a faux pas?"

Duchess Elvira swallowed, thinking for a few seconds to answer that question.

"I don't think it was recklessness. Your daughter is a girl who is very honest. She doesn't even know how to lie. And I think, she's just honestly trying to tell the truth. About what she felt. Although in a way... Yes, I know she has humiliated Prince Edmund in front of all of us. But if only earlier, the prince had not discussed the proposal. I'm sure Nivea, too, wouldn't have behaved like that in front of everyone. I'm also sure she was trying to hold herself back, until she was surprised when the prince said the word proposal."

"I understand Elvira. You understand her much better than I do. Sometimes I miss my sweet, obedient little girl."

Then the woman approached her husband, put her arm around him and gently rubbed his shoulder. Hoping that the touch would give him some peace of mind.

"Rest my husband! You'll get a headache if you keep thinking about what happened earlier. I think His Majesty can think wisely about the incident."

As the night wore on, Nivea was still soaking in the warm water of her bathtub. In fact, Seri had called out to her several times to get out of the bathroom. But it was useless, Nivea kept answering "in a minute" when she heard Seri's call.

Her personal maid was so faithful in waiting for her, that when Nivea was seen coming out of there, she rushed to the kitchen to make her lady a cup of warm chamomile tea. Before long, Seri was back in front of her.

"I hope you didn't break the teaspoon again, miss." as she set down the wooden tray she was carrying onto the nightstand.

"Huh, take it easy Seri! Didn't you say we still have plenty of supply of spoons?"

"Of course, Miss! But that doesn't mean that the spoons reserved for you are broken."

"Hahaha. You're really smart Seri! Get some rest! I'll be going to sleep after finishing this tea."

"Alright miss. Good night."

After finishing her cup of tea, Nivea naturally tried to forget about all of today's events. So that she could fall asleep easily, without having to struggle to close her eyes.