Chapter 25: A Princess

The next evening, Keitel called for Lucia to join him at dinner. Lucia entered the dining room wearing a demure green dress. She sat across from Keitel with a look of suspicion and anticipation. Lucia observed he looked somewhat different than usual. He was in formal evening wear. He donned a brocade red and gold suit. His blue eyes flashed hesitantly toward her.

Keitel clasped his hands together and leaned on his elbows.  A widespread of extravagant dining food was laid out in front of them. Neither made a move. They both sat in silence for a period of time. Keitel looked anxiously towards Lucia.

To Lucia, Keitel's expression appeared the same as usual. Although his eyes were more intense than usual.

"You don't like the food?" Keitel questioned. Lucia flinched after the break in silence. She looked down quickly over the food.

"It looks nice," She answered. Her eyes shot back up. Keitel was still staring at her. She took the silver fork in her slender fingers and bent her wrist to the bowl in front of her. She took a sip of the soup.

"Yes. It's delicious," She added with a strained voice.

Keitel began to eat. The pair continued in awkward silence. At the end of the evening, Lucia rose to leave.

"This," Keitel began. "We should do it regularly,"

Lucia raised an eyebrow. She quickly composed herself and nodded. She quietly took her leave.

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Having dinner in a separate dining room across from them, Leila and Laurance began to supper.

"This is the first time in years that brother hasn't joined me for dinner," Leila complained.

Laurence put down his fork annoyed. "I'm also your older brother. But I don't get half the reverence you show Keitel. Why is that? I'm the one who's here, after all, Leila."

Leila took a sip of wine. Her fragile wrist but down the glass. Her blue eyes tapered.

"Don't whine, Laurence. It doesn't suit you." She remarked sharply. "I don't recall inviting you in the first place."

Laurence feigned a blow to the heart. His lips warped into a grin. "What a sharp tongue, little sister!"

He played with the food, pushing it around the plate.

"I wonder what the ladies of the court would think if they heard such words from their delicate little Princess?" Laurence chuckled.

Leila clenched her jaw. She set her eyes back on her wine.

"I thought you'd be a bit more grateful," Laurence continued. "I told you about the fight didn't I?"

Leila scoffed. "Brother, you never do anything without expecting something in return. Why don't you just tell me what you want?"

Laurence smirked. 

"I want the same thing you do dear sister - for our brother to open his eyes and see what a deceitful woman he's married."

"You don't think he already knows? I've told him as much. " Leila grimaced. She tilted her head back as she took another sip of wine. Her black locks cascaded from her spine.

"He can't do anything to that woman. She's a foreign dignitary."

"It's true that we can't be seen to do anything," Laurence smiled coyly. "But what if something happened? Tragedies happen every day. Not even, the royal family is beyond suffering." A wicked look took hold of his features.

Leila looked at her brother curious and repulsed. She didn't like the idea of killing her brother's wife. However, she abhorred the idea of that woman living off her Brother's charity.  She thought about it seriously for a moment. After a few seconds passed, she set her wine glass down.

"Is there no other way?" Leila asked.

"Come now, Leila. Now's not the time to be soft-hearted. Father and Brother's hands are tied. Besides, isn't that woman too arrogant? Wouldn't it be hilarious to teach her a lesson?"

"I agree that she needs to learn her place. But still, your approach is too strong-handed." Leila reproached.

Laurence slumped back in his chair. "I guarantee it won't be traced back to us," He implored.

"I don't understand why you're even asking me. Surely, you can arrange this by yourself?" Leila replied sternly.

"I could," Laurence shrugged. "But, Brother will be suspicious of any move I make. You, on the other hand, that's another matter,"

"I'm still not sure," Leila hesitated.

"I already know just what to do," Laurence soothed. "Trust me for once, little sister. Sometimes elder siblings know best," 

Leila eyed him warily. "It must not be traced back here." She warned.

Laurence smiled. "I promise."

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A number of weeks elapsed. Lucia continued to have dinner with Keitel. Little by little, the conversation began to grow. Before Lucia knew it, they were talking again. It was like time had gone back to before they were married. Keitel never mentioned what he expected from Lucia in exchange for winning the fight. 

Lucia in turn didn't bring up the door again. She felt resigned in the present. The marriage had happened. It couldn't be undone now. No word came about any movement on the door. Lucia began to relax into life in the palace. 

The most surprising change for Lucia was Princess Lady. A week after the fight, an apology came by way of a letter. Lucia was welcomed to the court. Though the ladies seemed to still be apprehensive of her, she became a regular at social gatherings. Even Mary and the other servants began to warm to Lucia. Keitel's sudden change in behaviour had had an influence on the whole palace.

After the strange meeting they last had, Clover disappeared for a while. Receiving no letter, Lucia assumed Clover was on official business. A mage was a rare thing indeed. Word had already spread around the court. 

Despite becoming more and more familiar with the court, Lucia still felt restless. She missed holding a sword. She missed being a knight. It hadn't at all been like her past life. A knight in the Empire was a noble person. They were admired and loved. Sometimes, Lucia would look down from the palace at the knight's barracks. Although she couldn't make out one person from another, she imagined she could see Michael and DB.

Petals yearly festival was approaching. Keitel had asked Lucia to accompany him to the ceremony. It would be their first public appearance together. At first, Lucia had been pleased. However, as the day neared, she felt nervous. The knight's escort would be there. This meant potentially seeing Michael and DB. Not to mention the rest of the knights. What if they recognised her?

As she paced her room anxiously, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. This was who she was now. She couldn't hide it. She felt sick to her stomach. How did she overcome her anxiety before? In her past life, she had been a general. Everything other than the battlefield was trivial. Regardless of how she felt, she would have marched on. 

Why was she so different now. Not just outside but inside. She had all these emotions she had never felt in the past. Lucia hastily called Mary in to review the schedule again. The outfits had been planned. The route was laid. All she had to do was play the part.

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Petals festival fell in the midst of the darkest days of the year. Petal was the god of winter. His festival was said to ensure the next year came. It was considered one of the most important holidays in the Empire. Everyone would be in attendance. This was partly due to the public's fascination with the royal family. They all wanted to catch a glimpse of the new Princess. 

The streets were flooded as far back as the alleys with eager people vying to catch a glimpse. The knight's precession was followed by the  Royal family. Astride an open chariot, two figures came into view.

Coated in gold and white furs, the figures waved to the crowd. The audience called out ecstatically.

"Is that her?" A child asked her father. She pointed to the woman. The woman's flaming red hair fluttered against the dazzling white fur. She stood firm with a hand on her husband. Her green eyes lit up. She was a picture of regality and refinement. Her husband stood beside her. He had a commanding air. His jet back hair was slick back against his pale skin. 

"Yep. That's her alright. You wouldn't see anyone like that in the Empire," the father chuckled. "She looks like a princess alright, what do you think?"

The child nodded enthusiastically.

The royal procession continued up the slopes to the royal palace. All of the dregs of high society were pooling into the grand hall. As the announcement came that the Crown Prince and Princess had arrived, all eyes turned to the doors. The doorman called out their names. The crowd bent their heads.

Lucia and Keitel made their way down the stairs. The sisters came to perform the final ceremony. The audience watched as they brought out the great golden branch. Everyone turned in reverence to shimmering leaves. It was placed at the centrepiece of the hall. Keitel turned to the guests.

"Let us meet next year in Petal's grace," He said eloquently. With that, the festivities began. A live orchestra played music. Everyone in attendance was dressed in white. Only, the Prince and Princess glowed in regal gold. Keitel held his hand out to Lucia.

They stepped onto the dance floor. Keitel's hand caressed Lucia's waist as his other had interlocked with hers. As he pulled her to spin, Lucia's head fell against Keitel's broad shoulders. She looked up at him. His eyes were already on her. 

"How is your first time celebrating Petel's festival?" Keitel whispered into her ear. His hand pressed tightly against the small of her back. 

"It's beautiful," Lucia recalled the charming gold decoration throughout the snow-swept city. "I don't want it to end." She sighed.

Keitel pulled her in closer. Lucia's heart began to race. He smiled and said nothing more.

They twirled around the dance floor until the song ended. The crowd clapped. Gradually, the rest pooled onto the floor and began to dance.

As Keitel made the rounds, Lucia ventured into the cold gardens. It was a bitterly cold night. She instantly regretted coming out. Even, though she was wrapped in her furs, the cold was still biting. She didn't know what had drawn her out there. The full moon reigned majestically in the sky. Lucia turned to go back inside, she heard a rustle.

"They told me it was you. I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes."

Lucia's eyes drifted down the long balcony passage. The voice came from the other side of the wall. Lucia leaned over and looked down. 

"Michael?" Lucia called out startled.