"Mother, how do I look?" Alia said, stopping to fidget with her hair.
Jade pulled Alia’s hand out from her hair and looked back at her husband, who was conversing with a friend.
"Stop fidgeting with your hair before you ruin all the hard work that went into making you look so pretty. Do you wish to ruin your appearance before the crown prince gets a look at you?" Jade scolded Alia.
The invitation from the crown prince for Alia to visit the palace was rather abrupt, but despite this, the Prescott family dressed in their best and headed off for the palace.
Alia took her mother’s word that her appearance was perfect.
"I have heard that the crown prince has already decided on who shall be his future queen. Since he has sent an invitation for us to co here, do you think a proposal awaits ?" Alia asked, eager to see a ring on her finger.
"It could be that you are the chosen candidate, but as I have told you, you mustn’t act too fast. Until the ring is on your finger and a date is set for a wedding, you must keep yourself calm," Jade advised Alia.
"Your father grows more restless by the day. He thought you would be engaged by now, and I also shared the sa thought. You must do your best to secure your position," said Jade.
Alia frowned, her mood soured by her mother. She knew just how important this was and didn’t need to be reminded about it.
"He has a way of saying the wrong words when he stands before the prince. We cannot have him at my side, mother. Can you get rid of him? Please?" Alia asked, taking hold of her mother’s hands.
Jade agreed that Ronan didn’t know when to speak and when to be silent. He could not help speaking of himself even at tis when they should only speak about Alia.
"He will find soone to speak with while I escort you around the prince. Rember all that I taught you," Jade said, fixing the necklace Alia wore.
Alia was dressed to show off her wealth. She stood above her peers by having sothing to offer the palace. Money would get the attention of the royals.
"Dear," Jade called to her husband. "We must move or we shall be late."
"Right," Ronan said, rembering what he ca for.
Ronan parted from the man he stumbled upon and joined his family.
"The palace has beco quiet since they dealt with the n in court. I was just becoming well acquainted to the point of doing business with them. I would have gotten to the king. When you marry, I must obtain more land," Ronan said, thinking of the future.
Surely the future king would reward his father-in-law with land and status.
Jade blocked out what her husband spoke of. He needed to keep his greed hidden.
"You can have all the land you want, father. When I am queen, there won’t be anything stopping you from getting all that your heart yearns for. I see him," Alia said, a smile lighting up her face. "And he is with Prince Tyrion. Mother!" Alia panicked, her palms sweating.
"Calm yourself, child. You cannot think it strange to see a prince in the palace. The first prince is said to visit to help the crown prince prepare to take the throne. It is expected that he shall be here," Jade quickly spoke.
"Did you do as I said and get close to Penelope? Since Prince Tyrion is here, it would surely help you if you make ntion that you are friends with his wife," said Jade.
Alia stayed quiet. Her attempt to befriend Penelope went just as she expected it to.
Jade got her answer from Alia’s silence.
"Don’t say anything that will have Prince Tyrion warn his brother to stay away from you. You are lucky that n rarely listen to the troubles their wives face with other won. If he is a good man, he shall get out of the troubles of won. Now, smile," Jade said, forcing her best smile.
Alia smiled as her mother commanded her to.
Not far from where Alia walked with her mother, Teo took notice of Alia.
Teo sighed.
"It is not so awful," said Tyrion.
Teo glared at his brother. "You are asking that I pretend to have so interest in the lady who bothered you. I don’t owe you anything after this. I have a lady whom I wish to propose to. What if she hears word of this?"
"It won’t matter to the lady as long as she gets her ring. You have picked a woman to wed, yet you worry yourself with Rue. Conflicted brother?" Tyrion asked, toying with Teo.
Teo looked at Tyrion. "Has Elijah said sothing to you?"
"No, why? Is there sothing I should know? If you have chosen a bride, stop troubling yourself with Rue and who courts her," said Tyrion.
"Then, you know that Elijah has feelings for her. Is it not strange that of all the ladies who wish to marry him, he is giving his ti to Rue?" Teo asked, only to receive a look of disapproval from Tyrion.
"You say that as if there is sothing wrong with Rue," Tyrion said, though he knew this wasn’t the case.
"No, no. Nothing is wrong with Rue. She is quite lovely," Teo cleared up.
"Then, is it that you think Elijah isn’t good for her?" Tyrion inquired.
"He has many ladies from Lockwood whom he can choose to marry. As his friend, I know that he has slept with soone before-"
"As had many of the n who are seeking wives this season. I urge you not to pick at the little things, brother. There is nothing wrong with Elijah, and you know it. Stop trying to get in his way when Rue isn’t a lady you are courting," Tyrion advised Teo.
"If Rue wanted to be queen, I would have married her. It would help strengthen the truce we have with the border. It would be good for the Callahans and Castros to beco family, but Rue doesn’t want a life here. She will not want to beco a duchess," Teo said with confidence.
"And you are certain of this, how? Has she said it to you? She will have more freedom as the duchess than she will have as the queen. You worry for nothing when those two say there is nothing between them," Tyrion said, his gaze fixed on Alia.
Alia was close now.
"A little word of advice before we must end this. Since you are picking a bride and it is not Rue, leave Rue and Elijah alone. They shall figure it out. Now, focus," said Tyrion.
Reviews
All reviews (0)