Andres Francia observed the familiar lady standing before him. Confused, many different thoughts crossed his mind.
She was Princess Ophelia Arille?!
But the Princess was supposed to reach only now while he met her for the first time a week ago.
Back then, she said that she came here with her brother.
Did the Crown Prince stay here all those times too?
But why?
While his mind was filled with questions, the Princess curtsey before him. "I'm glad that we finally got to meet, Your Highness. I'm Ophelia Arille, the Princess of Aederin."
He was tight-lipped and all he did was staring at her with a confused face while everyone there thought that he was taken aback by the enchanting beauty of his bride-to-be.. It went on for so long that Orius had to come forward and nudged him to snap him out of his stupor.
Finally back to his sense, the Crown Prince awkwardly composed himself. "I apologize for that," he muttered, meeting her gaze that hinted at amusement.
Was she amused by how blown away he was?
She resembled a witch who smiled to celebrate the success of her spell.
"I'm Andres Francia, the Crown Prince of Cedore." He managed to introduce himself. "Welcome to Cedore, Princess Ophelia." He slightly bent his hand to plant a kiss on the back of her hand and the Princess flashed a small smile.
"I've heard a lot about you, Your Highness. But I think you're more charming than what I heard." Shaking her head, she added, "Those rumors don't do you justice at all."
The Princess's frank comment drew a smile from the lips of almost everyone standing there. Even her brother, Crown Prince Augustus almost blinked at her comment.
He never knew that she was capable of saying that! They often had famous Princes or Crown Princes as guests but... she never once compliment any of them.
Andres was never the type to be very open and forward when it comes to women and... it seemed like he had met his match.
When his son struggled to respond, Kalos Francia quickly walked forward. "You must be tired from the long journey. Let us walk inside first."
Crown Prince Augustus nodded and led his sister inside the palace.
Soon, all the royals settled in one chamber and the conversation began.
"We only heard today that you will be escorting the Princess here," Emperor Kalos pointed out with his gaze on the Crown Prince of Aederin. "We're glad to have you here, Crown Prince Augustus."
"The journey from Aederin to Cedore took almost a week. I can't let her travel alone for such an important matter, Your Majesty," Augustus Arille formally replied. "My father and my wife will also be here in five days."
"I'm glad to hear that," the Emperor remarked and shifted his gaze to the Princess. "With her family here, Princess Ophelia will also feel less lonely on the day of the wedding."
"I think she will be completely fine even if we're not here," Crown Prince Augustus pointed out jokingly, almost making his sister glared at him. "She is a bit spoiled and she never really need us. I hope you can be a bit patient with her, Your Majesty. She's a fast learner and she will adapt to life here very soon."
Looking at each other, the Emperor and Empress chuckled.
"I heard that Princess Ophelia is very lively," Empress Amina pointed out. "I bet she will be a perfect match for Andres."
"I'm glad that you look it that way, Your Majesty," the Aederin Crown Prince promptly said with a little smile and turned to Crown Prince Andres. "I'm sure that you will hear this from my father many times once he arrives but as Ophel's only sibling, I want to ask you to take good care of her.
"It won't be easy at first but if you can be a bit patient with her, I'm sure that everything will work out, Your Highness."
"I will remember that," Andres Francia replied with a little smile. Though he was trying hard to act normal, it was hard as his past encounters with this lady who turned out to be the Princess of Aederin crossed his mind repeatedly.
While he was feeling more and more confused, what she said that day crossed his mind.
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ Later.
Was this what she meant?
He glanced around and noticed the same guard who was with her that day.
She knew his identity all along!
But why did she feigned ignorance?
Why didn't she just tell him that she was his fiancee?
He couldn't understand.
The chat goes on for a while and finally, everyone left, hoping to give Andres and Ophelia some time to interact with each other. Though they were the only ones in the huge room, it was very quiet for a while.
If he had never met her before, it will surely be easier for him to strike up a conversation.
"I can see that you have many questions," Ophelia Arille finally said to him. "Did I surprise you that much, Your Highness?"
"You were already at Cedore even a week ago," he pointed out. "You already know who I am. Why didn't you tell me your identity?"
"I was just curious," Princess Ophelia replied and added, "Curious of what my future husband is like."
Her response only made him felt even more lost.
"That means the alliance marriage was proposed while you don't even know me," he muttered. He was also well aware of the fact that Aederin didn't need an alliance marriage. "Then why?" he asked. "Why did you choose me?"
Everyone would know that the Emperor won't send his golden daughter to an alliance marriage out of her will. That means the Princess was the one who wanted this. He didn't understand why she wanted to marry him.
Besides, it was quite obvious that she was confident. She was sure that he would accept. She was already here in Cedore the day the envoy was informed of his decision.
"Then let me also ask you a question, Your Highness," Ophelia Arille said and asked, "You don't even know me either. Why did you accept the alliance marriage?"
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