Dinner 1

"So I'm guessing you must have met Adrian..." Sabrina asked Lily enthusiastically. Elena and Eloise had gone to discuss the guests that would be present, leaving Sabrina and Lily alone.

"Um yeah?" Lily answered quite unsure. She had met Adrian, but they'd never really interacted, so she wasn't sure she could fully give Sabrina the answers she needed.

"Is he handsome?" Sabrina looked around to see if anyone was near before she whispered.

As a girl child and a princess of a big kingdom, she had no say in her marriage and would get punished if found speaking against her father's decision on whom her groom would be.

But just like any other woman, she cared about the looks of her husband-to-be. It was one of the things she was most curious about and seeing as Adrian hadn't visited her, she couldn't see for herself but at least, she had Lily to ask.

"If that's what you're worried about, then I suggest you do not worry. All the Maximilian princes are so handsome, especially Adrian and Aziel," Lily blurted. That escalated more than she had expected. And did she just admit that royal princes were handsome? The thought of it brought a bitter taste to her mouth.

Sabrina chuckled embarrassingly, "please don't think of me as a vain woman who only cares about looks. It's just that..." She bit her lips, unsure of what to say to redeem herself.

"Not at all," Lily waved her hand with a slight smile. The more she looked at Sabrina, the more inferior she felt. Sabrina reminded her of all the things she had imagined herself to be. She was pure perfection.

Lily paused after a thought came to her then asked, "You've never met Adrian?"

Sabrina sadly bobbed her head and released a deep sigh. "Everyone tells me that he's busy, but I feel like he doesn't want to meet with me. Do you think he'll like me?"

Lily felt bad for Sabrina. She remembered how uninterested Adrian looked when they were discussing his marriage preparations earlier today. He probably has no intentions of seeing her till the wedding day.

"I'm sure he'll love you. You're so beautiful and lovable, no man would be able to escape your charms, and I'm sure he wouldn't be an exception." Lily reassured.

"Really?" Sabrina's face lit up on hearing what Lily had to say. It wasn't any different from what her mother and Victoria had told her, but it was nice hearing it from someone she just met.

"Yes," Lily smiled warmly. Sabrina returned Lily's gesture with a smile of her own before taking a sip from her tea.

"Do you know I was betrothed to the cursed prince?" Sabrina suddenly said out of the blue successfully gaining Lily's interest.

Lily never knew Aziel was betrothed.

Lily looked at Sabrina waiting to hear more of the story. "Why is it that you're marrying Adrian instead?"

"You see," Sabrina started, "we got betrothed before he was cursed. My parents were scared to have me marry someone like him, so I'm marrying Adrian instead." Sabrina narrated everything she knew.

Sabrina's words put Lily in deep thought. She wondered how Aziel felt when he was first cursed. She wondered what else he had to give up because of his curse.

"I see..." Lily answered thoughtfully.

"It's a shame. He's said to be the most powerful of all the princes." Sabrina sighed.

"What are you girls discussing?" Eloise walked in with Elena and a warm smile on both their faces. "I hope Sabrina isn't disturbing you at all, Lily dear?" Eloise asked and chuckled at her daughter's sullen face.

"Mama!" Sabrina whined with a cute frown.

"Not at all milady," Lily answered with a slight bow.

"Good, good." Eloise nodded.

"It's time for dinner. It would be nice if you join us, Lily." Elena gladly invited Lily.

"I'm sorry I don't think I can. Aziel would get mad," Lily quickly refused. What if she met Devon? It would be a disaster.

"Don't worry about Aziel, I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Elena prodded.

"But..."

"It's settled then. Let's all go down." Eloise said with a clap of her hands.

Lily sighed and accepted her fate. She stood up and walked behind the ladies with her head hung low as she walked behind them.

Their discussions were foreign to her, and she felt so out of place.

They got to the dining and Lily didn't expect the crowd that swarmed the dining room.

The whole Maximilian brothers, except Adrian, were present. She locked eyes with each of them before her eyes went to Devon, who sat on the right-hand side of the man she assumed to be king. The king sat at the head of the table while King Uriah sat at the other far end opposite the king.

Edward sat on the right-hand side of King Uriah while Aziel occupied the left-hand side. Elliott sat next to Edward while Ethan sat next to Elliott. An empty was left next to Ethan, which was for Elena.

The Maximilian brothers sat next to their father according to their ages and despite Elena being other than Ethan, she was still a girl child and so she was always the least close to sitting with their father.

As for Aziel, he and Adrian always sat differently from the rest of their siblings as they didn't have a close relationship. They had different mothers.

Lily had marked the faces of those she knew and was left with the unfamiliar faces that occupied the rest of the seats.

She roughly counted a total of 67 seats, which was lesser than the actual seats present. This wasn't a dinner, it was a party!

"It's you," Devon beamed when he saw Lily as if he didn't know she was going to be present. His assistant did his job and he found out Lily came from Arendell kingdom and was affiliated with the royal, especially the cursed prince. What their relationship was? He was yet to find out.

The dining table was illuminated with lots of candles in the middle of the long table which gave the room a golden glow. The golden glow accentuated Devon's blue eye, and he looked so mesmerizing together with his black shoulder-length hair.

"Do you know Lily, brother?" Sabrina questioned. Everyone around wanted to know as well.

"We've met," Devon said simply without revealing too much.

"Let us save the pleasantries for later and have our seats, shall we?" Eloise said and took her seat on the left-hand side of her husband, the king.

"I would love it if you'd sit next to me," Devon suddenly voiced when Lily was about to go to the other end of the table with Elena.

Everyone present raised their eyebrows at the sudden attention Devon was showering on Lily, including Lily herself.

Lily looked around to see who would oppose but no one was looking at her; instead, they looked at their empty plates in silence.

Her eyes roamed over the dining room and landed on Aziel who had a passive look on his face. His eyes were on her though, observing closely to see what she would do next.

They locked eyes and when Lily saw the relaxed look he wore she was suddenly pushed to do the unthinkable.

Lily pursed her lips and walked over to the table to sit right next to Devon.