"Men, we have a minor setback in our plan." Joren informed his main cronies Vinson, Garvey and Quinden.
"And that is?" Garvey asked.
"The lovely Lilianne is quite interested in that girly prince from Maren. Therefore, she will no longer be able to aid us in our revenge. However, seems the Princess Lianne is interested in me. She will not be exactly what we need, but what the hell?"
"So you're going to do to her what you were going to do Lilia?" Vinson wondered.
"Yeah, so?"
"Don't you think that's a bit dangerous? Her father is sure to be furious."
"So? He makes me marry her, then I'm a prince and a knight and I have an heir. Or, I can say it isn't even mine! How would they prove it?"
"Whatever you say, Joren."
"Li, I am not in love with him!" I informed Lianne for the 20th time. Yes, I was actually keeping count.
"Uh huh. Sure, and I'm the Mother Goddess. I saw the way he looked at you when you weren't paying attention, as usual."
"Li! If you don't stop teasing me I'm going to tell your father you plan on marrying Joren!" I threatened.
"Fine, Lilia, I'll stop. But, guess who you're coincidentally sitting next to tonight!" she said as we entered the King and Queens' private dinning chamber where an extremely long table was set.
"Li!" I whispered sharply when I caught sight of the name cards on each place setting. On one end of the table the name cards read
Lady Lilianne of Mindelan, Prince Reeve (next to me) Prince Reagan (across from Reeve) Princess Lianne (next to him, across from me) Lady Allyrianne of Hollyrose (next to Lianne) Sir Calder of Mackeis Port (on my other side)
"What? I had absolutely nothing to do with the arrangements!" she smiled innocently.
"So, we meet again Lady Lilianne." A male voice said from behind us, we turned to see Reeve and Regan standing behind us.
"I thought we had agreed on Lilia, your highness," I reminded him.
"So we did," he agreed. "Shall we?" he pulled out my chair. I sat.
In the next few minutes, the other dinner guests arrived, when King Jonathan and Queen Thayet took their seats at the head of the table, the servants began to arrive with the first course. Our end of the table fell into an awkward silence, none of us knowing quite what to say. The adults at the rest of the table included the rulers of all the eastern lands, the prime minister Gareth the Younger of Naxen, and several other prime ministers and advisers. They were speaking of the matter of the war, as was to be expected. Lianne, as the daughter of the host, was mainly responsible for keeping the guests entertained. However, she sat nervously twisting her rings as she usually did when she was worried or upset. As it was clear Lianne wasn't even going to attempt to begin a conversation, it was up to me.
"So, gentlemen, did you have an enjoyable day?" I smiled at the princes and knight.
"Very much, Lady Lillianne. We went to the training courts for a while. The knights and squires of your kingdom are quite a match!" Sir Calder answered me.
"Have you been to the royal menagerie yet?"
"No, Lady Lilllianne. Are we missing something by not going?" Prince Regan joined the conversation.
"Why don't we go and then you may judge for yourself. I'm sure Lianne, Allyrianne and I would be glad to show it to you tomorrow, if that's all right," I suggested, kicking Lianne under the table as I spoke. She started and glared at me.
"Really?" Reeve asked.
"Certainly! We'd be glad to!" Lianne exclaimed.
"That would be most pleasurable, Princess," Regan replied.
"Ally, would you like to accompany us tomorrow as well?" Lianne asked.
Ally, who'd had been fiddling with her glass wine goblet filled with cider, accidentally tipped it over at the surprise of hearing her name. The golden cider splashed all over the table with the sound of shattering glass and screams of surprise. The adults at the other end hushed their conversation to turn and stare at us, as cider dripped off the edges of the table.
"Very graceful," Li murmured angrily to Ally.
"It runs in the family," Ally whispered back. At hearing the commotion, servants had bustled in and began to clean up the mess. It was King Jonathan who spoke first.
"So, what were you saying Arrio?" he said to Reeve's father as he returned to his seat.
"Well, this evening has started off on an interesting note," Li muttered, shaking her head. Once again we fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by us picking at our food.
"So, um, what did you do today ladies?" Reeve worked up the courage to say something.
"I spent the day sewing and reading mostly. I daresay you know what Lilia did this afternoon." Lianne replied.
"I did the same," Ally replied, her cheeks very much red.
Ally is weird. Last night she tripped and fell on her butt in front of the entire court and didn't even flush, but she goes scarlet when she spills her drink. For over two hours Li and I struggled to make conversation, occasionally assisted by Reeve. Ally maintained her stony silence and broke it only when asked a direct question. Finally, after what seemed like an infinite amount of time, the King motioned for us to leave.
"May I escort you to your room Lilia?" Reeve asked me.
"Sure. I've been staying in Lianne's room, kind of a continuous slumber party. But would you mind taking a detour through the courtyard? I left my sewing there this afternoon." I explained, neglecting to mention I had done it on purpose. No! I didn't just say that, it wasn't on purpose!
"Not at all. But you'll have to lead me, I still have no idea where anything is in this place," he grinned.
"I still get lost myself sometimes. This way," I grabbed his hand and pulled him into a shadowy hall lit with torches.
"You sure this is the right way?" he inquired. I giggled.
"Not really. But you trust me, don't you?"
"Well, I did, but now I'm not so sure."
"Umm, I think it's this way," I turned down another dim hallway.
"And you've lived in the palace for how long?" he queried.
"A month. Ah! See, I was right." I pushed open the door at the end of the hallway. It opened grudgingly to reveal the courtyard.
"So you were. Where's your sewing?"
"It should be on one of these benches," I answered.
"Here's the one we were sitting on this afternoon," he sat on the stone bench. "I don't see your sewing though."
"Me neither. Maybe someone picked it up."
"I think you owe me payback," he said as I sat down next to him.
"For what?"
"I bored you half to death telling you my life story this afternoon. Don't you think I should suffer the same fate?" He actually wanted to hear about me? He is too good to be true!
"Are you sure? I wanted you to talk to me."
"Why else would I bring it up?"
"What do you want to know?" I asked.
"You didn't say anything about your childhood at Mindelan, or what your future plans are."
"Umm, okay. I didn't really live at Mindelan for more than a few months at a time. I spent most of my time at Seabeth and Seajen. My grandfather was teaching me all the languages spoken in the Eastern lands and the native language of the Copper Isles. My grandmother taught me court manners and stuff. I didn't like being at Mindelan, still don't in fact. It's always so crowded, with my nieces, nephews, and sisters-in-law. I loved being at Seabeth and Seajen. It's so beautiful and peaceful. I hate having so many siblings too."
"Why?"
"Because that's all people see me as! The girl squire's little sister, the Sir Anders little sister, or Sir Inness's or Sir Conal's! Or Patricine's, or Adalia's, or Oranie's, or Demadry's! That's all I am at this court, someone's little sister! No one sees me as Lilia, or the girl who helped maintain peace in the Copper Isles, or the girl who was taken prisoner, or an heiress or just plain old me."
"Well, this may not make you feel any better, but I can guarantee one person sees you as only you."
I smiled. "Maybe it's because you don't know any of my siblings."
"Maybe it's because I know you."
Awwwwww! How is this possible!? There is no way this guy is so sweet and he's still human!
"And when you look at me, how do you see "only me" as?" I wanted to know.
"How do I see you? I see you as smart, clever, talented, brave, loyal, kind, sweet, charming, graceful, caring, very pretty. Shall I continue?" he concluded.
"I'm sorry, were you describing me? Sounded like someone else."
"Yes, I was. Do you see me as only a prince?"
"Of course not!" I exclaimed.
"How do you see me?" he asked.
"Too good to be true! Smart, funny, sweet, caring, brave, and really handsome! I'm afraid there's a catch like, you're attracted to men or something."
As soon as he heard my last sentence, he leaned over and kissed me on the lips.
"I promise, I'm not attracted to men," he whispered.
"Then what's the catch?" I asked as he pulled away.
"I probably have to marry a princess, remember?" he reminded me. I sighed.
"Yeah. I had better be getting back. Li will wonder where I am." Suddenly, I heard a high-pitched giggle. I looked up to see an open window; I had forgotten that Li's room looked out on the courtyard. There came another giggle, than:
"Li! Shut-up, they'll hear you!" from Ally.
"I have a weird feeling she won't," Reeve laughed quietly. "Play along," he whispered. "Oh Lilia, I don't know what I'll do if I can't have you!" he cried loudly. I grinned and stifled a laugh.
"Oh Reeve! Don't say such when you know it can't be!" I said with feeling.
"I can't help myself! Whenever I see you I want to take you in my arms!" he howled.
"Reeve, I feel the same! But the more attached we become, the harder it will be when we must part!" I wailed.
"But must we? We can run away and get married! We'll never have to come back, ever!" he grabbed my hand.
"Reeve, no! We cannot, and you know that as well as I do." I pretended to sob. "I must go now!" I yanked my hand from his and fled.
When I burst into Liannes' room, the window was closed and locked with the drapes drawn. Ally and Lianne were sitting on the bed flipping through a large book. They didn't meet my eyes as I entered but instead looked at each other guiltily.
"What's wrong guys?," I asked.
"Umm, nothing Lilia. So, where were you?"
"Oh, Reeve and I went through the courtyard. I lost my sewing, I thought I left it there this afternoon."
"So, did Reeve say anything of interest?" Ally asked.
"No, why?" I asked, sitting in the window seat.
Ally shrugged. "No reason."
"You didn't have an argument or anything, did you?" Lianne asked passively. I turned quickly to stare at her.
"NO! Of course not, why would we? We're just friends! That's all, nothing happened!" I said quickly, nervously quickly.
"Lilia, is there something you want to tell us? Anything at all, you're not planning to do anything stupid, are you?" Lianne looked very serious when she asked this. I could take it no more and burst out laughing.
"Lilia, please don't cry! There are other fish in the sea!" Ally cried.
"You two are so gullible! I knew you two were listening at the window, we were just joking and you fell for it!" I managed between reels of laughs.
"What? You mean you and Reeve aren't really going to run away and get married?" Li asked.
"No! Honestly, I can't believe you fell for it."
"That wasn't funny!" Li punched me on the arm.
"Hey, I was just teaching you not to listen to other peoples conversations."
"Ha ha ha. Okay, we've learned our lesson. No more listening to others conversations." Li said.
"Yeah, I believe that!" I said sarcastically.