Enigma

Florence watched Alice as she slept on the floor, her head on the side of the bed.

Strands of her silver hair fall loosely on her beautiful face, and her bony arms lay calmly over her lap. Florence quietly closes the door.

The instance of a lady staying here for more than a few hours is rare, and not one of them has fallen asleep on the floor by their bed. Nor an instance of begging to be killed or exiled instead of being sent back to cancel the engagement.

It is often because the residence is lacking as a royal residence. Everything the Prince said earlier was right. Those were the most common reasons the brides ran away and refused the marriage. Though, mainly, it was due to the Prince's chronic illness.

They believe as noble ladies, their value is bigger than taking care of a sickly man who is unlikely to become High Alpha. Florence is certain they've also already deduced they won't be having any heirs with him. For some reason, there are rumors around the kingdom about the Prince being infertile.

They've had no chance to prove it, though.

No one has ever gone that close to the Prince.

"She's asleep?"

Florence raises her head to find two pairs of curious eyes.

"Yes. She fell asleep on the floor beside the bed."

"Really?" Vito muses, smirking in disbelief. "She is a lady, right?"

"Yes, by title." Florence nods.

Vito's twin, Dante, curiously peered at the lady's closed door.

"It's too early to form assumptions, but I doubt she was treated like a lady."

Dante's eyes fly to her. "What do you mean?"

"Her dress is ragged, her posture is awful, her self-esteem nowhere to be found, and she went on her knees to beg on her first day here. She has little to no belongings and even fell asleep on the floor. She's far too skinny and ghastly pale to believe it's all for fashion—obviously, she's not being fed enough. Not to mention, she did not come with a single servant. If not for her beauty and unique aura, I would have never thought she was a noble lady. Do you think so too, gentlemen?"

Florence lists down her observations as they walk away from Alice's room.

"Now that you mention it…"

"She's not like any of the ladies that came before." Vito finishes off for Dante.

"But it is still too early to conclude anything."

She nods. "Indeed. Those are my observations as a Zeta who has seen more nobles than common folk. And even among the gentry, she does not speak and act like any noble. It is as if she was never taught how to be one."

Their speculations about the Prince's new fiancée carried on until dinner. She was all too interesting. The enigma surrounding her was interesting enough to form countless theories and assumptions. They were very intrigued—they could not say the same for their Prince, however.

"Are you ill tonight, Your Majesty?"

Florence sets down a steaming cup of jade tea on Sirius's bedside table while he reads documents on the bed, his lower body covered in the blanket. She knew fully well how the Prince's illness worked and it was completely to his advantage.

"I am," he curtly replies, not tearing his eyes off of the papers.

She purses her lips. The image of Alice falling asleep on the floor resurfaces in her mind.

"Tell her I am unable to join dinner due to my illness."

Contrary to his claims, Sirius looks and acts completely fine. He is nonchalant as he skims through pages and pages of reports.

—

Florence lightly shook Alice's shoulders. She was still dozed off on the floor.

A painful muscle ache will surely greet the lady's morning tomorrow, seeing her retain an uncomfortable position for hours.

"My lady, wake up," she whispers.

Alice flinches awake.

Florence was momentarily struck with the vividness of her azure blue eyes, her stunning beauty barely dimmed by the hollowness of her cheeks and dark undereyes.

Alice immediately realizes the situation.

"I-I apologize you had to see me like that—"

"Oh it's nothing to apologize for, my lady," she quickly cuts off. "It is time for dinner, and you must be hungry after your long travel."

Alice avoids her gaze and stands up, but Florence does not miss the wince of the lady as she stretches her strained muscles.

It is the time to test her.

For some reason, Florence anticipates her reaction because it might be different this time.

Everything Lady Alice did today is new and she can't wait to see more.

"Unfortunately, his Highness cannot join us for dinner. His illness usually worsens once the sun falls and tonight is no different."

Alice was a quiet lady with an almost always expressionless face. But hearing the merciful Prince was in pain tonight made her worry.

Florence saw all her microexpressions and secretly smiled.

"Will he be okay?"

"His illness is a battle he faces everyday, but Prince Sirius will never be tired of fighting it."

"…I see." her voice falters.

Lady Alice was undoubtedly worried.

This was a reaction they'd never seen before, and she felt as if Alice proved herself tonight. She was different.

Florence might not send another maiden home anytime soon.