Your chance!

The Crown Prince didn't stay for long, just drank a cup of tea.

"I beg your pardon for asking you this, Your highness, but why did you come?" Vivian asked and Brian smirked.

"I just wanted to visit you. I have a few meetings to attend to and among all that, I had to have a breath of good air. That is why I came here. Did I do the wrong thing? Was I inconvenient?" He asked her, frowning slightly.

"No, no!" Vivian answered nervously. "You were of great aid, Your Highness. And I am both thankful and honored that you thought about me when you needed some relief."

Brian gulped, because he thought she had no idea how that sounded. But of course, she was a lady and of course she was not aware of certain things.

"I must take my leave now. The other lords must be wondering where have I gone." He smiled at her in an accomplice way.

"Oh, please. Don't make them wait more. They'll get worried about your whereabouts, Your Highness!"

"I was here, so I sincerely cannot say I worry about them." He took her hand and kissed it. They were outside and people around them were watching their actions closely. "I believe we will see each other tomorrow night."

"Definitely. Have a good day, Your Highness."

Brian left for the carriage and entered it. Vivian watched as the vehicle turned on the left corner and was smiling, until she looked around her and noticed many stares. Her face became serious and she entered.

Meanwhile, Uriel was fuming. He stayed not so far from there, to see for how long the Crown Prince would stay and he noticed that it was long enough!

He never loved Vivian, but the fact that she was always around him, that beauty, made him too comfortable. He knew she liked him dearly, even though she never made a fool of herself. No, she has always been very contained, but knowing her his whole life, he knew she had deep affections for him.

When his parents told him he would have to marry her, he was furious. He never wanted to have to marry someone not chosen by him. And she… beautiful, polite, well educated, smart, witty. She could sing, she could do embroidery, she could paint. Damn it! The woman had no even one single flaw! She was, in fact, the perfect wife every man would want. If not for one little thing: she was not submissive.

As much as she was following all the social rules, she was not one to bend her head down just to anything. She was one who would stand her ground for what she believed in. Never harsh, never impolitely, but firm.

Vivian Charlotte Astley knew what she wanted and what she didn't. She had her principles and no matter if she liked Uriel, she had never opened herself like Cecil did.

Yes, Cecil was just how he needed it. She was more fragile, more docile, submissive to him. She would always praise him in everything, something Vivian never did! She would criticize whenever she thought necessary, but what she never understood was that Uriel didn't want to to be taught, especially by a woman. He was not seeking her approval.

Everytime Vivian would say 'no', Cecil would tell him 'yes', 'sure' and treat him so nicely that it was impossible for him not to become fond of her. He didn't love her, but he liked to have her around.

After he broke up with Vivian and made it public, even if not with an official announcement, that he was in a relationship with Miss Gilling, she became more… full of herself. More demanding. And it was starting to bother him.

When he arrived home, the servants knew it was better to stay out of his way.

The rest of the day, Vivian couldn't take her mind from Brian. he was such good company! Incredibly, everytime she was around him, she felt… free. He made her feel as if she could tell him anything, but please, he was the Crown Prince!

Vivian had little friends. Most of them were false people, but Brian (that is how she called him when she was alone and there was no need for formalities inside of her head), no. He was not fake. Actually, he was quite too straightforward. But never impolite!

Her mother had gone to one of her friend's tea and left Vivian all alone with the servants. Vivian's father was traveling into other lands to take a look at their properties and that said, she missed him too much.

'At least Brian is around', she thought, smiling. Her mother entered her room at that moment and caught the expression on Vivian's face.

"Are you in love with th Crown Prince?" She asked and Vivian, who was holding a book, let it drop on her face.

"Mother!" She said and Lady Aleena changed her expression, walking to Vivian and holding her face in her hands.

"Don't ruin your face! Tomorrow night you'll have the ball to attend to!" Her tone was quite annoyed. "Vivian, this is your chance!"

Vivian sat on the bed, already frustrated that her mother took her from her daydreaming about Brian.

"Mother, what if he just wants to be my friend?" She asked and Lady Aleena made a dismissive movement with her hand.

"I doubt it. I have heard that the Crown Prince never acts like this with any other woman. He is flirtatious, and that is why I want you to keep an eye on him and on yourself. But also.. he had never given so much attention to one single woman. Vivian, he visits you! he dances with you and only you!"

Vivian felt a little guilty. Her mother was full of hopes, but Vivian knew that there was nothing between her and the Crown Prince. At least, not romantically. Not on his part, anyway. It was a deal and he was playing it perfectly.

"I'll try my best, mother." She said. "But I will not become someone else. Please… "

Her mother clicked her tongue.

"You could become someone else just to catch the man! You don't need to be like that after you marry…"

Vivian squinted at her mother.

"Mama, are you advising me to pretend?" She asked, incredulously. "To pretend to be nice and everything he wanted just to marry and then, after we have made our oaths, I stab him in the back?"

"You won't stab him in the back!"

"I would be lying to him to get what I want and then show my true colors. After he married me, something he won't be able to undo.."

"Enough with this whining!" Lady Aleena said and got up, straightening her dress. "Take care of your skin, of your hair. Tomorrow, I want you to be perfect!"

Vivian let herself sink into the bed and closed her eyes. She just wanted to sleep!

Next morning, she woke up with Lady Aleena shaking her by the shoulders. Vivian didn't go to sleep. In fact, she got back to reading and didn't stop for a very long time. Now, when her mother woke her up, dark circles were under her eyes.

"Oh, mom! Let me sleep a little bit more…" She mumbled, but Lady Aleena just frowned and kept shaking her.

"You have been called to the Palace! Wake up at once!"

Palace? Called to the Palace… Vivian opened her eyes and sat up.

"I am awake!" Her mother let go of her shoulders.

"Good. Now, go wash yourself and get ready!"