At the Cathedral
As Alexa imagined, the city's noblest and wealthiest Christian families crowded the splendid Kielstadt cathedral. Father Agnello said he would do something to make his protection of her official soon, and let her join Cordelia's little court, as had been Alexa's plan from the start.
The Greek maiden was always intrigued to realize that a mass was something more than a religious office to Westerners. It was also a social event, which many took advantage of, in order to create or strengthen ties, to see and to be seen. Even at a mourning event like this, most people barely disguised that their real intention was to start a business and contacts.
She saw Prince Klaus with an entourage of nobles, of course representing the Donnesmarck family, and also that older woman with the brown-eyed boy, who looked about Alexa's own age. He also dressed like a prince, and Alexa was curious to know who he was but had no one to ask at the moment.
The Greek maiden was aware that many glances were upon her at this time, and was grateful that she was half-hidden under a veil. During the rites, she was respectful and silent, but during the departure, her group of girls and the Prince's best men met in one of the side aisles. As casual as it might be, Alexa very much doubted it had been.
The bride and groom greeted each other with the usual bows, and Alexa realized that Cordelia was the same height as the Prince, who was a tall man himself.
"Lady Cordelia, it was planned by our relatives that we would go see our official residence today. If you're not indisposed, could we stick to the schedule?" he was exceptionally handsome today, his dark stubs shaved, and his hair tied in a kind of short braid. He didn't look at Alexa at any moment, but she felt he was aware of her. A tension that made her uneasy. As her distant cousin Eudoxia taught during her stay at the convent, she had to pay attention to where a man's feet were pointing. And the Prince's feet were turned to her.
Young men and women seemed to want to take advantage of this brief moment so that they could talk and mingle while the elders tolerated this proximity under God's roof. Thus, Alexa just realized that Cordelia had agreed, without even hearing her voice saying so, because a blond man among the Prince's companions came close to her, and with a bow, offered a folded handkerchief.
Was she being courted?!
Alexa did not know what to do; if she took the scarf, what did that mean ?! She hesitated, and that simple moment of hesitation was reason enough for another man to step forward and slap the first man's hand, knocking the handkerchief to the floor. With a flourish, he stepped in front of the Greek damsel, taking off his own handkerchief, and laying it on the floor at her feet,
"You are a saint, an angel on earth! You must not tread the ground that mortals tread!"
After that comment, made aloud and so openly, everyone, including the Prince, stared at them.
The blond man scowled, and said as he pushed the other daring man,
"Lady Saskia won't listen to his vapid sentences. Just allow me, graceful lady, to escort you to the carriage this time. Just a little of your presence and company will be enough for me."
It was a little funny, but also scary. Besides, it was better to make it clear that she was already engaged. Pulling the cord around her neck from the collar of her dress, Alexa showed off her engagement ring, saying nothing as images would tell it better.
"OHHHH!"Recognizing she was taken, for what mattered, the group around her reacted as expected. However, many agreed that it was something that made a lot of sense, that Alexa was at the age of getting married and was very pretty.
The men in front of her apologized, as expected. As the group began to make a lot of noise, the matrons soon separated the groups in the name of good manners, and the noble girls returned to the castle.
In the carriage with Cordelia, Alexa was silent. The maiden was trying to decide whether to stick to her plan to ask for help from Cordelia's family to leave for England, or to keep her word with the devious Florentine Father, hoping that he would get her safe passage to leave the Kingdom.
Her attention, however, turned to the sobs beside her, and when she turned, she saw Cordelia trying to stifle her cough and tears as she held a piece of paper in her hand. Alexa immediately snatched the paper from the other maiden's hand, reading its contents:
THERE IS STILL TIME TO GIVE UP AND SAVE YOUR FAMILY FROM THE SHAME OF BEING REJECTED.
NOT EVEN FOR 6 GOLD VESSELS AND GOLD CHESTS, THIS KINGDOM DESERVES A PRINCESS SO UGLY AS TO BOTCH DONNERSMARCK BLOOD WITH AN UGLY-FACED HEIR.
"Who delivered this? Was it the Prince?"
"I don't know! When I saw it, it was with me."
Of course, they did all that pantomime with the handkerchiefs and that boasting scene to distract them.
Alexa went all the way comforting how the poor humiliated Bride as she could, now knowing how much the Kielstadt Princess position was sold for. Alexa was boiling with anger, in fact. If there was one thing she hated most of all, it was injustice.
She couldn't leave things like that. No one could mistreat such a sweet person just for not having such a cute face.
"Rest assured, Cordelia, that was certainly the work of some desperate, childish woman. Your husband-to-be must have dismissed her, and she wants to plant intrigue and insecurity in your heart… What you need now is to stay warm and healthy. See, you are coughing! We were cold that night, we rode, and you were just wearing your nightgown on that cold night! When we get some rest before we go to see her new pretty home."
The maiden herself was quite inexperienced in matters of the heart, so she felt that her words had no effect as solace. But she had a way of solving it. And she would put her plan into practice today. After all, a few days were left before the wedding.
So later, when the carriage door closed and Prince Klaus reclined in his seat, ready for the half-hour ride, he was taken aback when the Greek maiden appeared under the seat.
"Hello Your Highness, I think we have to talk."