Princess Iris
CHAPTER 46

TWO DAYS LATER

It seems my favorite time of each day is following Princess Catherine into the forests. It is nice to get away from the preparation of the ball and surround yourself with nature. I always take Veronica and Bridgette with me so that they can make my hair. Such days are short-lived since the meetings on how to deal with the pirates started.

"Your Majesty," I turn to Princess Catherine chasing behind me. "You are back," Princess Catherine says.

"Yes, I am," I say.

"I thought the meeting was going to take time," Princess Catherine asks.

"Yes, I so thought too. but King Leonard was surprisingly cooperating unlike the last meeting," I say.

"He didn't quarrel with Prince Jeffery today?" Princess Catherine asks.

"No, I was able to make a full sentence without the both of them getting on each other's necks," I say.

"Frederick told me you and King Leonard couldn't stand each other when you were little," Princess Catherine says.

"Surprisingly that was true and that was also the good old days," I say.

"The meeting concluded well today?" Princess Catherine asks.

"If things go according to plan, we will be able to take back our seas without a fight but if it doesn't, I am afraid a fight cannot be avoided," I say.

"I wonder what that is all about," Princess Catherine says.

I turn to what she is looking at and replace King Frederick and King Leonard in what seems like a heated discussion. I watch them for a while. King Leonard says something to King Frederick and takes a few steps away from him.

Just then King Frederick turns our way and replaces us staring at them. I look at King Leonard and he is looking at me. He says something to King Frederick and walks away.

"What do you think that was all about?" Princess Catherine asks.

"I wish I knew," I say watching King Leonard walking away.

"Your Majesty,"

I turn to Veronica standing outside the sailor.

"The royal seamstress is here," Veronica says.

"Will you be joining me, Catherine?" I ask.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Princess Catherine says.

After much fittings, Princess Catherine and I take a tea break to discuss how the ball tomorrow is going to turn out. Just Bridgette enters the sailor.

"Your Majesty, you have two letters from Filamonda and Duchess Juliana is here too. She requests an audience with you," Bridgette says giving me the letter.

"Juliana is here? I wonder what she wants just few days to her wedding," I say.

I take the letter from her. One is from mother and the other is from Duke Richard.

"Have the guards escort her over here," I say.

Bridgette curtsies and leaves the sailor.

I open the letter and begin reading. It appears mother and father won't be coming to the ball after all. The weather seems to be getting more terrible with each passing day and father has to stay back to oversee shipments.

Thanks to Leonard's spy, Duke Richard was able to infuriate the South End. He says he will begin scouting first thing in the morning the next day. I look at the date the letter was written. "He already started today," I say to myself.

"Your Majesty."

I look up and replace Juliana.

"Juliana, what a surprise," I say standing up to hug her.

"I am sorry for coming unannounced Your Majesty, I felt you may need a familiar face to talk to. Preparing for a ball in your own honor can't be easy," Duchess Juliana says as I release her. "Yes indeed, it is not easy but I have Catherine. She has been very helpful," I say, guiding Juliana to s chair.

Two servants enter into the sailor and serves us tea.

"So, how is the wedding preparation coming along?" I ask.

"So far it has been a wonderful experience but I did replace seating for a portrait very stressful," Duchess Juliana says.

"I have never known you to like seating for a portrait. I remember Ri giving you a lecture about one when you ruined our Siders graduation portrait that year," I say.

"She was very angry at me. I can still remember that lecture till date," Duchess Juliana says.

I smile warmly at her.

"So tell me, how has your stay here being and with you know who," Duchess Juliana says teasingly.

"Well so far it was being wonderful. Jeffery never lets me out of his sight. The other night we rode our horses through the forest where we had a picnic. It was very beautiful. He played his violin for me. It was very special," I say. "I can't believe you both have gone this far in getting to know each other much better," Duchess Juliana says.

"I guess I have Queen Fiona to thank for that. If she didn't invite me over to Divimon, I and Jeffery won't be this close," I say.

"How do you feel about Prince Jeffery? Oh, please do tell me how he makes you feel," Duchess Juliana says.

"Feel? What do you mean?" I ask.

"You know, the way you feel when you like someone. For me, Williams makes me feel safe, whenever I am stay away from him for too long, I miss him so much that I can't breathe. He takes my breathe away whenever he walks into a room, he makes the butterflies in my tummy stir up a riot, He makes me smile and laugh," Duchess Juliana says.

I watch her eyes as her describes her love for King Williams. And then it hits me.

"Juliana, does Williams make you feel warm?" I as.

"Warm? What do you mean?" Duchess Juliana asks.

"I don't know," I say taking a hand to chest and thinking of King Leonard. "I just know that my heart is always warm when I am around him," I say.

"Wow, that is very beautiful and I know Prince Jeffery feels the same way," Duchess Juliana says.

I look at her confused.

"I guess he does," I say.