Artemesia, Florence and Julian sat in the outdoor garden, enjoying the tea Florence brought.
"I really like the flavor, and the fragrance is nice too," she said.
Florence beamed, "Thanks, I picked it up for you from the market yesterday."
Artemesia returned her smile, then asked, "But why aren't you two drinking it?"
Julian's spoon stopped mid-air, Florence blinked.
"Oh... Well, I'm allergic to... this type of tea." Florence explained, laughing nervously.
"I don't like the flavor," Julian buried his face in his pastry once again.
Tia looked between them, but then nodded, "Whatever you say."
"Anyways, Tia, when're you going to hold the ceremony?"
"Ceremony? Marriage ceremony?"
"Duh. What other ceremony would I be talking about?"
"I... don't know." she answered truthfully.
"Oh come on, I won't tell anyone!" she probed further.
"No, Florence, I seriously don't know. Mother hasn't set a date, and John can't just marry me off without her."
The redhead pouted, "Seriously? It's your wedding. You'll let them control you even at your wedding?"
"Don't plant wrong ideas in her head, Florence." Julian warned.
"I'm not planting anything, I'm just...asking." she mumbled.
"Anyways, darling, when do you intend to hold the ceremony? We are practically husband and wife now." He laughed, along with Florence, while Artemesia shifted uncomfortably.
"Look, if you want to know so bad, you can ask my Mother when she's back tomorrow. Happy?" she was about to snap.
Julian sensed her irritation flaring, and quickly scooted his chair close to her, "Come on, darling, I'm just joking! No need to get upset."
His hand reached her thigh, squeezing it, as Tia stared wordlessly, trying not to explicitly express disgust.
She forced herself to look back up, but she caught something.
Florence was staring at his hand too. And something was burning in her eyes.
"Florence?" She called.
The woman snapped back, eyes widening momentarily, but then regained her usual cheery expression and reassured her, "He's right,"
"Oh... alright I guess." She tried to pat her fiance's hand away, but he didn't take the hint and instead wrapped a hand around her waist as well.
Artemesia groaned inwardly, but decided to let it go.
. . .
Artemesia walked back to her chambers, after sending off her guests.
She was energized after the tea, ready to jump back into her tasks.
She sat down and spent a few moments observing the paperwork, and started sorting them by priority, making neat little stacks as she worked.
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door.
She looked up, confused. Who could it be?
"Miss? It's me, Simon."
Simon? What was the butler doing at her door in the late afternoon?
She got up, and opened the door herself.
A middle-aged man stood in the doorway, with a neatly trimmed beard and slender build. His forehead was wet with sweat, as his eyes darted nervously at something down the Hall.
"Simon? Is something wrong?" She looked at his expression and began to worry.
"Oh, Lady Tia! I just received word that... the Crown Prince will be visiting the Estate."
Her eyes widened, "Prince Leander?"
He nodded vigorously, unnerved, but Artemesia remained calm.
"Alright, we can prepare tomorrow, right now I have work-"
"No, My Lady. You misunderstand me." he corrected her, "I didn't mean tomorrow. What I mean is, he is on his way."
. . .
Clink.
Leander set his cup down on he saucer.
Artemesia stared.
The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.
"How may I help you, Your Imperial Highness?"
Leander cleared his throat awkwardly, "I-... I'm here to offer an apology."
Artemesia paused, "Pardon? Apology for what?"
He hesitated, "For... behaving in a manner unfitting of how you should be treated."
Artemesia was taken aback. Of all the things she expected him to do, apologizing was not one of them.
Maybe she severely overestimated him.
"It's... alright, Your Highness. After all, I am your loyal servant, and would happily take on any punishment you sentence me."
"I..."
She smiled softly at him, "But I believe that is not what you are here for."
She was right. But how should he explain to her that he was there on a whim? That he, once again, let his emotions get the better of him?
"I heard Princess Thalia has come as well. Why is she not with us today?" she asked politely.
"I- asked for her to stay out for a moment. You can... meet her when we're done."
Of course she'd want to see Thalia instead of him. Thalia didn't insult her, or disrespect her, or push her away. It's natural she'd want to avoid Leander.
"Yet Your Highness cannot say what you came all the way here for," she mentioned quietly.
"Yes, I suppose," he admitted, whispering.
"Please, say it. I don't want to waste your time."
He took a deep breath, and finally made up his mind.
"Artemesia Montclair, what... am I to you, really?"
The Lady was stunned. This is what he wanted to ask so desperately?
"Pardon?"
Leander lowered his gaze, not wanting to meet her eyes, "Do you regard me as a man at all?"
She was silent for a moment, but then she broke into a chuckle.
He looked up, surprised.
"You have quite a good sense of humor, Your Highness," she laughed.
Leander stared, "...What?"
"Well, I would say yes, but every time I look at you, I decide against it." She wiped a tear off her crinkled eye.
He was dumbstruck, "Huh...?"
When the laughing died down, she finally looked at Leander and realized he didn't get it.
"Your Highness, forgive me, but you do remind me far more of a flustered twelve-year-old than a grown man."
His mouth ran dry.
She didn't phrase it like that, but it sounded so cruel and ruthless from her lips.
Suddenly, he sprang up from his seat.
Artemesia raised a brow, "Your Highnes-"
"I'll be taking my leave," he started walking out of the room, his back turned towards her, "Have fun with Thalia."
The woman quickly rose from her seat, reaching out to him, "Prince Le-"
The door slammed shut. Hard.
Artemesia stood there, rooted to the ground.
What was that?
A few seconds later, the door opened again.
Except this time, it was Thalia.
She seemed surprised that Tia was in shock, but it soon washed away, replaced by something else.
"Princess Thalia! I think something happened to-"
"Seriously?" She cut the woman off.
Artemesia blinked, "Huh?"
"Seriously?" Her tone shifted.
In moments like these, the resemblance between the two siblings was almost uncanny.
Their brows furrow, and a vein pops on their left temple. Their sharp eyes narrow, and their lashes cast shadows on their cheeks that seem to flutter with the light.
Except, anger suits neither the Princess, nor the Prince.
"I.. don't quite get what you mean, my Lady-"
"Is it so hard for you to take him seriously?"
"What?"
"Every time he tries to win you, every single time, you brush it off like his feelings are some sort of joke." Her temper had begun to flare, as every syllable sent shivers down Artemesia's spine.
"I never meant it like-"
"Of course you didn't." Thalia ground her teeth, "He reminds you of a child? Seriously? How much more will you ruin my brother?"
"Ruin?" she echoed, terrified.
"Yes, ruin. Destroy even. For once, I was happy that my brother had finally found someone to love and put his trust in. I trusted you. But you? You're so dense that you can't even take a hint."
She stopped, breathing ragged and cheeks flushed.
That was it.
"Your Highness. You have crossed a line. While I can understand your-"
"No, you can't! You can't understand anything!" she cried out angrily. "Leander was always infatuated with you, always respected you, kept his distance, but don't you think even patience has its limits?"
"Princess-"
"And if you have nothing but cruel words on your tongue," she left her with no opportunity to speak, "then I suggest you keep your distance from him."
Those were her parting words, as she spun around and exited the room, slamming the door behind her.