Once the heavy stuff was out of the way, Mariela and I chatted for a while. She was a rather insightful person; given the chance, she really would make a terrific diplomat.
My distaste at this world's chauvinistic ways grew the more I learned about her predicant. She would have shone like a star in my world. I could easily see her being one of those influential won that teenage girls idolize on social dia.
She could have beco anything she wanted if she hadn't been born in this fantasyland. Mariela deserved much more than being a decoration.
The duke had wanted for my mind. Did Franz not realize what a sharp one his wife had?
For soone aspiring to be king, he certainly didn't know how to manage his resources. Were all n here so pigheaded?
If he knew anything at all about his wife's holand, he should have realized her potential. Shibatsu sounded like a pretty decent country to live in. It was as good a place as any to escape to once I got out of this restrictive palace.
"Your holand sounds beautiful," I complinted as we continued our walk around the garden.
Hosickness flashed in her eyes and she let out a dainty sigh. "It is. I wish I could show it to you."
"Are you not allowed to visit?"
"I am but only when the summit of allied nations ets there. Each country sends delegates on behalf of their monarchy and takes turns hosting. Since I am from Shibatsu, the next ti they hold the conference Franz and I will go but that is four years away."
I could relate to her obvious yearning. At least she could go ho for a little while soday. As far as I could tell, I was stuck here forever and just had to make the most of it.
There was no way for to visit my world. Ever. An unexpected wave of grief washed over .
I had thought I was over it by now and accepted my fate but sotis my loss still got to . I missed Abby. My dinky little library job. T-shirts and sweatpants. Hamburgers.
More than anything, I missed my freedom and knowing what to expect. All of those monotonous days that blended together sounded like heaven in hindsight.
"I understand," I said simply. Better than anyone else here I understood longing for a place you couldn't go back to.
Mariela gazed at curiously. "Your eyes give it away. You DO understand. But how can that be when your ho is less than a day's ride from here?"
"You wouldn't believe if I told you."
Her soft, tinkling laugh rang out.
"You make it sound so dramatic. Feel free to keep your secrets. I am rely glad soone here can empathize with what I am going through. Rosenia is not the sa. Despite being a foreign princess like , she has never once missed Rowenhilde. She has everything she ever wanted here so she has no reason to."
"Do you not love your husband?" I blurted, unable to help myself.
"Love? I have never dreamt of such a thing. My duty has always been to secure an alliance for my kingdom and I have done so. Franz is young, handso, and treats well. That is more than my sisters have.
"One is married to a man three tis her age. Another is one of many concubines to a barbarous king so far from ho that she rarely even receives letters. I am grateful to my husband but that is not what you an, is it?"
Her thoughts saddened but it wasn't surprising. A political marriage was a political marriage no matter which way you looked at it. Though they were on pleasant terms with each other, Franz was too busy plotting to overthrow the current regi to fulfil his wife's emotional needs. They weren't friends.
Al's ridiculous idea of marrying just to have soone to talk to suddenly seed less farfetched. Being a royal was isolating.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," I said penitently with downcast eyes.
Mariela smiled warmly at and covered my hands with hers.
"I do not mind. It is refreshing having soone to share my true thoughts with. But it was a rather silly question, considering you have already told you do not love your fianc."
I blushed. It really was a dumb question.
"We make quite a pair, don't we? Both of us are stuck here at the whims of princes."
Speaking of, Al would probably be put out if I didn't co find him soon. How he had survived his boredom before I ca along was beyond since he had been very dependent on my company in the few days since my arrival.
"At least we have each other for company," she sighed happily. "I am so glad you are not like Rosenia. I wondered for so ti what kind of woman Alpheus would marry. You are a welco surprise. I look forward to spending more ti with you in the future."
Guilt gnawed at . I was making friends with yet another lonely person I would be leaving behind. Except this ti there was no one I could think of to take my place.
Unless there was a way I could convince Franz to spend more ti with his wife? That was unlikely since I had never even spoken to the man.
I couldn't even recall what he looked like. Had I seen him at all since coming to the capital?
"I do too," I lied. At least for the ti being, it would be nice to be on good terms with soone other than Al.
Mariela linked her arm through mine and we walked as if we were bosom sisters in a Regency Era drama on television. Lonely people ward up to those that showed them the slightest bit of attention alarmingly fast.
Goodness knows I had done the sa thing back ho after Abby went off to college across the country. Any ti soone invited to do sothing I was overwheld with affection for them.
A servant ca to inform us that it was ti for dinner and we continued walking arm in arm back to the enormous dining hall.
Everyone seed surprised at our closeness but I couldn't help but notice that Franz's surprise was of the pleasant variety whereas Al looked aggrieved that I was stolen away.
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