Gwendolyn Graham is just like every other student at Charles University. Except that her best friends happen to all be crown princes from six neighboring kingdoms. It's not always easy being the grounding force between her friends but it is almost always interesting. One afternoon Princes Roberto & Edward approach Gwen asking her to act as a cultural liaison between the six union kingdoms and an outside kingdom, Cordonia. Would Gwen have agreed to attend the gala if she'd known she would fall in love with Cordonia's dashing and charming King Liam?
Twenty-five-year-old Gwendolyn Graham blinked several times as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. She'd just stepped outside of her university's history and social sciences building. It had been a long morning hopping from class to class and the glowing fluorescent lights inside were no match for the crisp natural sun streaming through the courtyard that afternoon. Gwen began walking towards the gates of the school grounds where she knew a car would be waiting to take her back home.
"Hey, Gwendolyn?" One of the guys from her last class tried to get her attention. Gwen turned to him, indicating she was listening. "Those guys over there are looking for you. Do you know them?" He pointed over to the school's gates.
"Gwen! Hey Gwen!" Shouting her name and waving wildly was her friend Roberto. It looked like Roberto had brought along another of their friends, Edward. Edward and Rob stood out from the rest of the university crowd milling around the school grounds partially because they weren't students at Gwendolyn's school, but mostly because they were Crown Princes of their respective countries.
"Yeah." Gwen adjusted her backpack on her shoulders uncomfortably. "That's my housemate and his friend." She answered vaguely before running off. It wasn't exactly a lie, she was currently living at Villa Altaria, Prince Roberto's palace.
"Roberto, you're drawing quite a lot of attention." Edward, the more dignified of the two, quietly commented. "That was not part of our plan."
"Aw c'mon Ed!" Roberto chuckled loudly, even though he knew Edward was not a fan of nicknames. "I haven't seen Gwen in forever! I'm just excited." Edward didn't ask how it was possible to live in the same palace as someone but never see them. He knew all too well how busy the life of a crown prince could be and he knew exactly how much preparation it required to clear even an hour or two out of ones schedule.
Trying to avoid drawing more unwanted attention Gwen quickly made her way over to her friends. She noticed even from a distance that they were both dressed as casually as princes could. For Edward that meant cool grey slacks, a white button up shirt and a navy and white striped a Cardigan. He stood straight and regal next to Roberto who'd taken to leaning on a nearby gate pole. Rob wore a pair of fitted dark blue trousers, a white t-shirt, a blue silk ascot tie, and a chocolate brown blazer that complimented his eyes. The pair of them were quite a sight.
She noticed even from a distance that they were both dressed as casually as princes could. For Edward that meant cool grey slacks, a white button up shirt and a navy and white striped a Cardigan. He stood straight and regal next to Roberto who'd taken to leaning on a nearby gate pole. Rob wore a pair of fitted dark blue trousers, a white t-shirt, a blue silk ascot tie, and a chocolate brown blazer that complimented his eyes. The pair of them were quite a sight.
"Prince Edward, Prince Roberto." Gwen greeted each of them with a respectful nod in place of the traditional bow or curtsy. "What brings the two of you all the way out here?"
Gwen knew from their casual state of dress that the Princes weren't at the school for official business, so she could only assume they were there to see her. She noted the careful expression on Edward's face and the never wavering smile on Roberto's as she waited for her friends to explain themselves.
"We wanted to extend you an invitation." Roberto explained, seemingly unaware of the attention they'd gathered around.
"Perhaps we could discuss things over tea?" Edward suggested. Unlike Roberto he was very much aware of all the eyes on their small group and the hushed conversations happening around them. "That is if you're free to travel with us Miss Gwendolyn?"
"I've already finished my classes for the day." Gwen supplied. "Plus, I've made it a rule to never turn down tea at Edward's secret garden."
"Then our chariot awaits!" With a flourish of his hand Edward gestured towards a limousine on the other side of the university gates.
Gwen noticed the flags of Altaria, Roberto's kingdom, posted at the front of the limo, so the car belonged to Roberto. Two figures stood by the car. Roberto's Butler, Alberto, was waiting outside of the car impatiently. He stared at his watch painstaking visualizing the seconds tick by. Alberto was the type of person who appreciated efficiency and timeliness, neither was something that Roberto held much stake in. Edward's Butler, Louis, was also standing outside of the car. He kept a watchful on their surroundings as two Princes and their friend walked towards the car.
"Miss Gwendolyn, lovely to see you again." Louis commented when she was close enough to the car that he didn't need to shout the friendly greeting. Alberto looked up from his watch at the mention of their newest guest.
"Yes, hello. Into to car if you wouldn't mind, Miss Gwendolyn. We have a tight schedule to keep." Alberto opened the back door of the limo and waited expectantly. Gwendolyn nodded to show that she understood. She quickly removed her backpack and climbed into the limo. Roberto and Edward soon slid in after her. Alberto got behind the steering wheel and Louis sat in the passenger's seat beside him. One of the butlers pulled up the partition separating them from their passengers.
"As always, it's nice to see both of you." Gwen told her friends with a smile. "I'm sorry that I haven't been available lately. School's been a bit much."
"It's understandable." Edward commented. "No one could fault you for valuing your education and our own schedules haven't been easy to manage either, have they Roberto?"
"That's right." Rob nodded. "Ed and I have been busy with official Prince duties." He frowned. "And the parties aren't nearly as fun without you."
"Well, the semester is nearly over. Maybe I can make time for a party or two soon." Gwen propositioned hopefully. "Now are you really going to make me wait till we get to the palace before you tell me what's going on? Like I said I'm thrilled to see you both but neither of you come to meet me at the school very often. Usually when that happens you've either got bad news or you're planning a party. So, which is it?"
"We're almost at the palace." Edward announced. "I think it would be much better to discuss matters surrounded by the sweet delicate scent of flowers and the warmth of the sun on our faces."
Edward was right, they were almost at his palace. Edward was the crowned Prince of Charles Kingdom, the very same Kingdom where Gwen was a student. So it was a very short car ride before the enchanting Charles Palace came into view from inside the limo. Of the castles that she'd been lucky enough to visit, Gwen thought that Charles Palace reminded her the most of a fairytale. With the exterior being constructed mostly of limestone, the palace featured several towers topped with twisted spires. Large banners bearing the Levaincois family crest were proudly displayed at the front gates of the castle.
Alberto drove the limo along a stonework driveway. An intricate zig-zag pattern of limestone that had been laid down centuries ago. The driveway was lined on both sides with rose bushes. Gwendolyn tried to name each variety as their vehicle cruised by. She inhaled deeply, believing she could smell the flowers despite all the windows on the limo being seated up tightly. The car came to a stop at the end of the driveway. Louis opened the door and the three friends piled out of the car. While Alberto drove the limo off, Louis guided the group to Edward's secret garden.