The Long-Awaited Invitation

"Charlotte," Baroness Riverion asked, "are you truly not thinking about marriage?"

Charlotte, that had been laughing at Victoria's silly flower crown, was too stunned to speak. She was too preoccupied by her funny 12-year-old sister.

"It's not like that, Mother," Charlotte tried to ease her mother worries.

Charlotte understood her mother's worries. She was 23 years old without a lover nor fiancé. Some of her peers were already married, planning their wedding, or even had their first baby. And Charlotte? Still busy helping the family business.

"I will get married, but maybe not now. Surely, you understand we need to stabilize our family finances first, before thinking of marriage."

"I'm just afraid you are too busy with work that you cannot meet other people," Baroness Riverion held her daughter's hand and spoke seriously. She understood the family closed many businesses, but the trading still gave them a great deal of income. Closing business was only to prevent more losses in the future.

"Mother," Charlotte raised her voice, not disrespectful toward her mother, but more in jest, "your daughter is beautiful and smart. Men waited in line just to meet me. I will take my time to choose and give you the best son-in-law."

"Alright, I believe you are wise enough to choose your own spouse," Baroness Riverion let Charlotte's hand go to smell the daisy on the side.

"Charlotte, my dear," Baroness Riverion called again.

"Yes, Mother?"

"Just a piece of advice. Don't cook for any men that court you."

"Mother!" Charlotte protested.

Charlotte took her mother's right arm and linked it with her own. She practically dragged her mother to continue their walk and pleaded not to make fun of her cooking. She was fully aware that she was a bad cook and almost poisoned Emma with it.

After lunch, Charlotte began creating plan to compensate the workers. She calculated everything needed to help them. She noticed that this was a hard time for everybody. She wished this compensation could help people who had worked hard on the Riverion business.

Although being kind, Charlotte also worked on the plan to punish people that harmed her father. At first, she intended to punish them by law. However, her father disagreed because paying fine would be very hard on them. Instead, Mr. John discussed with them, and chose to settle on the punishment of getting their severance pay cut.

When her proposal to add some compensation was finished, she planned on getting Mr. John's opinion on this. She put the documents in a brown envelope, then called Emma.

"Emma, could you please call Will..., I mean, Sir Wilson?"

Charlotte had been so used to calling Wilson informally that sometimes she had a slip of tongue. She always corrected herself in respect of her childhood friend hard-earned title.

"I am sorry, Miss Charlotte, but Sir Wilson took a leave today," Emma answered.

"A leave? Wilson, the workaholic, who always work even on weekend?" Charlotte was extremely stunned that the envelope in her hand fell to the table.

"Yes," Emma nodded, "As far as I know, Sir Wilson had been going out often."

"Do you possibly know where he had gone?" Charlotte's curiosity now peaked up. Did her childhood friend somehow get a lover?

"I don't know exactly, but I noticed he always gone every Wednesday night. I heard from another knight that he saw Sir Wilson going to tavern."

Emma's stories make Charlotte even more confused. Going to tavern every week when he hated even the smell of alcohol. For sure, Wilson didn't go out to meet the love of his life. Whatever! Charlotte didn't wish to work his friend to death, he could have his own life too.

"Then, please call for Sir Jacob. I have an errand for him."

"Alright," Emma answered.

"Oh, Emma," Charlotte called right before Emma exited her study room.

"Yes Miss?" Emma turned around.

"Would it be possible if I ask you to bring me more paper?" Charlotte laughed a little.

"Of course, Miss Charlotte. I will bring Sir Jacob and the paper too."

Charlotte didn't know if Emma was joking with her or not. Several minutes later, Sir Jacob came to the study room bringing a stack of papers. Even Sir Jacob was questioning whether Charlotte asked him to bring papers. Charlotte had a good laugh before ordering Sir Jacob to send the brown envelope to Mr. John.

"Send this right now?" Sir Jacob asked.

"Yes," Charlotte nodded.

"Anything else, Miss?"

"No...," Charlotte paused.

Sensing she still had other orders, Jacob stayed.

"Are you busy?"

Jacob eyes enlarged, "My work is as usual."

"Would it be alright if I asked for another favor?"

"Of course, Miss."

"A secret favor that cannot be known to anyone else."

Jacob swallowed his saliva and nodded confidently.

The Riverion family dinner was noisy as usual. The head of the family always had lunch and dinner together, albeit not breakfast. After dinner, the whole family was enjoying Victoria's piano play. Victoria had a huge musical talent that her parents wished to send her to a good music school overseas.

Charlotte went to her bedroom after she had a good time enjoying Victoria's performance. She sat at her table and finally tidied it up after leaving it for almost a month. She picked up the book she was reading. It was The History of Gallene. She had been reading it in the hope of talking about it with Prince Logan.

"Emma," Charlotte asked, "Could you please bring me a glass of warm water?"

"Will do, Miss Charlotte."

Emma put down the letters the brought from downstairs. When she noticed the golden royal seal on one of the letters, she immediately informed her mistress, "Miss Charlotte, I think you need to see this."

"Thank you, Emma."

Charlotte took the letter from Emma's hand. Afterwards, Emma went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare some warm water.

Charlotte face lit up right on the moment she saw the letter. However, she tried to calm herself down. She had a feeling that this letter might be the letter she had been waiting for since last week.

She was right. It was from Prince Logan. Did he really send her an invitation to the Palace East Garden? Did he? She hoped he did.

Her heart was beating loudly. She didn't know which was louder, her heart or the clock above the table. From the left drawer, Charlotte grabbed a silver paper knife. She opened the letter and took out the paper. However, Charlotte spent another minute calming herself before unfolding the letter.

Dear Miss Charlotte Riverion,

Along with this letter, I would like to invite you to visit the Palace East Garden the day after tomorrow at 3 PM for tea. I would be grateful to hear your response.

Best regards,

Logan Conrad Pazgallene

It was a very short and concise letter. Nothing more than stating the business. Well, she expected it like that knowing the Prince's personality.

Charlotte was extremely delighted that Logan did fulfill his promise to invite her to the Palace East Garden. Nevertheless, she had hoped he wrote a little more than the invitation itself. Still, she was grateful for the invitation.

With the paper Sir Jacob had brought her, Charlotte wrote a response letter. She answered the royal invitation as how she would to Margaret's usual invitation.

Dear Prince Logan Conrad Pazgallene,

I am delightful to receive Your Highness invitation. It is my honor to be invited by Your Highness. I do not dare to decline Your Highness invitation and very much anticipated the teatime the day after tomorrow.

Sincerely yours,

Charlotte Flora Riverion

Charlotte wanted to write more things in the letter. Regardless, she stopped and only wrote the necessary part. Why? Because she thought answering longer than the invitation itself might be unpleasant to the recipient.

"Emma," Charlotte called again when Emma brought her the warm water.

"Please send this letter early in the morning."

"Alright, anything else, Miss?"

Charlotte was thinking for a while, "Please prepare my green dress for the day after tomorrow."

"Are you going out?"

"Yes, I am going to a very important meeting."