The weeks went by without a hitch. Elena and Mateo concealed their relationship with much care, acting perfectly friendly towards each other in public and only had dates once a week on different days. The dates themselves were fun and romantic and left the princess feeling as light as air. Everything was perfect in her view.
But, naturally, such a perfect streak could not last forever. Elena returned from her weekly rendezvous with Mateo and had just been dropped off onto her balcony by Luna. The princess thanked the jaquin before slipping into her bedroom and quietly closing the door. She turned around and froze at the sight of Isabel sitting on her bed, who was watching her curiously. Elena swallowed thickly and gave her sister an awkward smile.
"Hey, Isa… What are you doing here?" Elena asked nervously.
"I couldn't sleep so I came to see you. But you weren't here," Isabel replied. "Where were you?"
"Uh…" Elena had no intention to tell her sister that she had spent the evening rowing along Avalor Bay with Mateo. She tried to deflect the question with another.
"You waited here the whole time?" Elena said, hoping she sounded casual.
"No. I was looking for you all over the palace when I happened to look out a window and saw you flying in on Luna's back. You didn't answer the question."
"Um, well… You see, I had to…" Elena began, but she trailed off as Isabel raised an eyebrow. The princess sighed; she could not lie to her sister. She made her way to the bed and sat next to Isabel.
"I'll tell you where I was, but you need to promise that you won't tell anyone," Elena said earnestly.
"I promise. So where were you?" Isabel pressed on.
"I… was out on Avalor Bay. With Mateo."
"What were you both doing over there?"
The princess bit her lip. "We were on a date," she whispered. "Mateo is my boyfriend."
Her sister stared at her with slightly wide eyes. "Mateo is your boyfriend?" Isabel repeated incredulously. "Since when?"
"For about a month now. We've been dating in secret because of that awful law that says we cannot be together."
"Whoa… Well, it definitely takes some guts to go against the law, especially when you're crown princess."
"I normally wouldn't go against a law but this law is wrong: it's punishing innocent people for the actions of one bad apple and I want to do something about it."
"Like what?"
"I haven't exactly figured that part out yet… But I'll find a way to change that law; you can count on that."
Isabel watched Elena for a long moment before speaking. "Do you love him?" she asked.
"I do, Isa. He's such a great guy," Elena replied, unable to keep herself from sighing dreamily as she replayed that night's date in her mind.
"And he loves you? And treats you right?"
"He does. He treats me like a queen."
"Well, if he's making you happy, then I'm all for it," Isabel said, smiling.
Elena sighed in relief and tightly hugged her sister. "Thank you. That means so much to me," she whispered.
"Your happiness is important to me. So, tell me, what's Mateo like as a boyfriend?"
"He's amazing, Isa. He's completely romantic and a perfect gentleman. I couldn't ask for anything better."
"That's good to hear. How did you guys manage to get a boat tonight?"
"Naomi took care of that detail."
"Naomi? She knows about this?"
"Yes, and so does Luna."
Isabel looked a little hurt. "You told Naomi and Luna about your relationship but not me?" she asked.
"That's not how it went… Naomi deduced that Mateo and I are in love with each other and encouraged us to start dating. If it hadn't been for her, we'd still be hiding our feelings. Luna found out by accident: she overheard me and Naomi talking on the night of my very first date with Mateo."
"But why didn't you tell me?"
"Because… the less people who know about it, the better. The secret has more of a chance to get out when more people know about it. Plus, I didn't want abuelo and abuela and Esteban to find out. It's not that I don't trust you, Isa; I honestly do. It's just that the last thing I need is to be accidentally overheard again. I know that you would never divulge any of my secrets."
"Of course not. That wouldn't be a very sisterly thing to do. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
"You have no idea how much I appreciate that. Thank you so much."
Isabel smiled. "You're welcome."
Elena hugged her again and had to stifle a yawn. "We should go to bed," she stated, a little sleepily.
"Can I stay here with you? I don't feel like going all the way back to my room," Isabel said.
"Of course you can. Make yourself comfortable while I change my clothes."
Isabel grinned and slipped under the blankets. Elena wandered to her dresser and changed into her pyjamas before joining her sister in bed.
"Goodnight, Isabel," Elena said.
"Goodnight, Elena," Isabel replied.
The princess smiled before closing her eyes and soon both she and her sister fell into a peaceful sleep.