Author's Note – Second chappie's up! I apologize for the first chapter being so incredibly long. It was the first time I'd ever uploaded something onto this site, and I thought I'd be able to separate the whole story into chapters in the editing thing. Please Read and Review, it inspires me to keep writing!
P.S. This story is going to mostly be fluff, considering I'm writing it during a dry-spell from my other novel.
P.P.S. Leo's last name is pronounced Mon-TOR-el-eye. 3 MuseOfLife
Leo entered the drawing room before the guard, attempting to look dignified, but he failed, instead looking sheepishly at his parents as he was given an earful. "Leopold Magnus Daniel Montorelli! Where on earth have you been?" His mother said angrily. "You know that it is dangerous for you to wander about!" Leo rolled his eyes. "Mummy, how dangerous could it possibly be? There is a guard stationed at almost every arm's length in the halls. What could possibly happen to me?" Leo laughed. The queen sighed.
"Of course your right, darling. I'm worrying myself over nothing." Leo nodded and patted his mother's hand, sitting next to her on the sofa, across from his father. "Your mother is right in worrying, Leo. Now that you are Crown Prince, your life is worth even more, so please don't go meandering about." His father said in his strong voice. Leo nodded again, and the queen called for Barsa, an older servant. "Please have one of the kitchen maids bring us some breakfast." The queen paused. "Actually, send for the newest girl, Barsa. I haven't had the chance to meet her yet." Barsa nodded and rushed away to the kitchen.
"WHAT? Oh no, Barsa! I can't possibly wait on the king and queen with my face as it is!" Elmira threw her hands up in despair. Barsa shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. "Her majesty won't take no for an answer, Elmira. You've got to." Barsa said gently. A small tear rolled down Elmira's cheek as she pulled her nicest dress from the wardrobe.
As she carried the sweets to the drawing room, a lump of shame formed in Elmira's throat. She knocked lightly on the door, hoping to receive no answer, and her heart dropped when she heard a strong voice to tell her to enter. Elmira struggled to push the heavy doors open and stared at her feet as she curtsied.
"Your Majesties." She curtsied to the king and queen. "Your Highnesses." She curtsied to the prince brothers. "I've brought the sweets you requested." Willem stared at Elmira. "Your face is so…unique." Willem breathed. Elmira felt her cheeks heat. "I apologize if it offends you, your Highness. I am a rather clumsy girl and brought this upon myself, unfortunately." Elmira's voice was as quiet as the wisps of a spider web blowing in the breeze. "No. It intrigues me-" Willem was cut off by his father. "Willem! Spare the girl's feelings!" The king barked. Elmira could feel the tears welling in her eyes. She placed the sweets gently on a table next to her, curtsied as deeply as she could, then turned and ran. "Miss Elmira!" Leo said, jumping and running after. To hell with the secrecy. He thought as he pushed out into the hall. "Come back!" Elmira halted her steps, but her momentum wouldn't allow it. She began to fall forward, mentally bracing herself for the impact of the floor, closing her eyes tightly. Instead of cold, unforgiving marble, she felt a strong arm around her waist and opened her eyes. Elmira's nose was about an inch from the ground, and she gulped, looking down at the limb around her stomach. She felt herself being lifted, and when she looked up, Leo was smiling kindly at her.
"Why did you run away?" He asked softly, setting her on her feet. Elmira curtsied again and stared at the ground. Prince Willem rushed up behind Leo, panting from the run. "I'm so sorry if I offended you, Miss Elmira! Your face is just so…intricately strange. Lovely, if I may say so. Don't you agree, father?" Willem asked over his shoulder. The king was strolling leisurely down the hall. Elmira felt her cheeks heat again and let her head droop. The king caught up to his sons and nodded. "If you don't mind, Miss Elmira, I would like to paint you. Your face, that is. Would that be alright, father?" Willem asked enthusiastically. His father nodded again.
"I believe that could be arranged. Miss Elmira, what say you?" Elmira's words jumbled in her throat. "Yes, your Highness. Aunt Roana has had me simply patching old clothes, so I have faith that I won't be missed all that much." Willem clapped his hands. "Excellent! We shall start right away!" He grabbed Elmira's arm and hauled her towards the studio, Leo trailing behind them, laughing to himself.
The studio was filled with paintings and drawings of anything and everything. Elmira stood admiring the pictures as Willem excitedly gathered supplies. "Do you like them, Miss Elmira? They aren't the best I've done, though. Those hang in my bed chambers." Willem said arrogantly. Elmira smiled. "Yes, your Highness. These are all so beautiful." "Oh, please, Miss Elmira, during these sessions, you may refer to me as Willem. There's no need for such formalities." Elmira laughed internally at the likeness of the brothers. "Now please come sit in this chair." Elmira perched gracefully on the edge of the seat, allowing Willem to direct her into his desired position. "Perfect. You might prefer to sit back, Elmira. You will tire sitting so straight." Elmira leaned against the luxurious fabric, memorizing its feel. Leo laughed lightly in the corner. A few hours went by, the only sound in the room being the sweet, high chirping of a canary in a golden cage.
"So, Elmira. Have you and Leo met before?" Willem asked, not looking from his art. Elmira's cheeks flushed. "Yes. I have had the pleasure of meeting his Highness." Leo grinned behind Willem and Elmira bit her lip, trying to suppress her own smile. "You may stop pretending. I already know that Leo caused your face to turn this way. The ruse was easily seen through." Willem said. Elmira's mouth fell open as she stared incredulously at Leo. "I-I may have come to Willem for some moral support after I struck you, my dear Ellie." Leo said, sheepishly rubbing his neck. Elmira bristled. "Well. I suppose you also told him about our little rendezvous this morning, then?" Elmira asked. Leo gulped.
"He did not." Willem said, glancing back at his brother, who hung his head shamefully. "And what, pray tell, occurred during this meeting?" Willem asked teasingly. Leo's head hung lower, and Elmira felt herself growing angry. "I'm not very comfortable speaking of it, Willem." Leo said. "He came into my bedroom to apologize. Then he told me he would like to get to know me better – while I was on bed-rest – where no one would suspect us. Then he sat in my wardrobe while I bathed and dressed. After, he confessed his undying love for me and…well…kissed me." Elmira said huffily. Leo stared at her in panic. Willem chuckled, earning a glare from Elmira.
"Oh, Miss Elmira. Leo must truly love you, for never has he visited a girl he was infatuated with while she was on bed rest." The older prince said happily. "I must say that it was rather inappropriate for you to kiss her, though, little brother." "So you believe that I really do love her?" Leo asked. Willem nodded. Leo raised his fist in triumph. He shot a guilty look at Elmira, smiling sheepishly and forming a heart with his index fingers and thumbs. In spite of herself, Elmira bit her lip and looked at her lap, blushing fiercely.
"That's good, Leo. Keep making her blush. She looks quite becoming that way." Willem said, hurrying to match the color of Elmira's cheeks to her painted doppelganger's. Willem heard his name being called and put his palette down to see who it was. When he returned, there was a look of irritation on his face. "What's wrong, Willem?" Leo asked. Willem clenched his fists. "Mommy dearest has arranged for Princess Heidi of Germaine to stay in the east wing, the wing containing our bed chambers, of the palace during her visit to Montorellia." Prince Willem despised Princess Heidi. Ever since her first visit when they were small, she'd thrown herself all over Willem, vying for his every attention. She was a complete air-head and Willem had a taste for women who knew what they were talking about. Willem sighed in disgust and put his face in his hands. Elmira giggled.
Willem's head snapped up and he stared at her. "What is so funny, miss?" He asked defensively. Elmira laughed harder and covered her mouth. "Please excuse my bold choice of words, Willem, but I've met Princess Heidi and she is not…well, she is not the shiniest spoon in the drawer, to use a scullery maid's joke." Elmira laughed some more, and a grin crept over Willem's face. He was soon laughing as hard as Elmira and Leo looked at them incredulously. "Stop that this instant, both of you! She may be stupid, but she is still to be treated with respect!" Leo said angrily. Elmira and Willem looked at him, and Elmira, due to her upbringing, curtsied deeply. "I do apologize, your Highness." She said mechanically. "'Twas rather simple-minded of me to make fun of someone as high of status as she." Elmira looked at her feet shamefully and Leo took her face in his hands.
"I told you, Ellie. No more of this 'your Highness' business. Do you understand me?" Leo asked quietly. He pulled her lips to his, earning a small squeak from Elmira's throat. She struggled against him. Elmira's brow furrowed when she heard Leo chuckle, and the next thing he knew, his arm was twisted painfully behind his back. He felt his dignity slip through his fingers as he squealed in pain, and Elmira smirked.
"I advise you not to take advantage of me like that again, Leo. Bernard and Berenice have trained me in the self-defense style of their homeland, and I am not one to be fooled with." She said seductively into his ear. Leo cried out when she twisted his arm further. "Yes, mistress." He said weakly. Elmira released his arm and Leo rubbed his shoulder. "I believe we are finished with painting for now, Miss Elmira." Willem said, trying to catch his breath after his most recent fit of laughter. "Yes, your highness." Elmira teased. She blew a kiss to Leo, who was still pitifully rubbing his arm. He hated himself for it, but he smiled. Elmira curtsied and left the brothers alone. "She's got you flogged, Leo. Flogged." Willem said, chuckling. Leo threw a cushion, which hit his brother square in the face.
"We should have a celebration for the men soon, your Majesty. The women had their tea last week, so I believe there should be something similar to that for the men." The Duke of Feravel said. The king nodded. "I agree. We shall arrange it as soon as possible. There shall be alcohol, women, dancing and music. All who agree say 'Aye'" The king said. The whole meeting of men agreed and soon there were plans for a party to be held that night. "Bring all of the young, foreign, female servants, scullery maids and kitchen girls." The Duke of Feravel said to a servant. The scruffy man nodded and rushed out.
Read and Review! No flames please!
MuseOfLife
