Lisa led Erna to the drawing room, where she came face to face with Leonid and Louise. She never even imagined she would see there faces again.
Louise greeted Erna with a warm smile on her trembling lips. It was a smile that Erna recognised all too well and after giving a polite bow in greeting, she turned to the man standing next to Louise.
His platinum hair was neatly combed, framing his face, and eyes were a piercing shade of cold gray.. Erna was taken aback by his dignified appearance, just like…
“Ah…Hello Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Erna greeted Leonid before he had a chance to explain, but even without his glasses, he was still easily distinguishable from Bjorn.
Facing Louise again, Erna smiled quietly, “Princess, long time no see.”
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“I’m so sorry, Grand Duchess,” Leonid said, trying to add a hint of familiarity to the meeting.
They sat and Lisa brought refreshments and without any preamble, Leonid decided to explain the what had happened between Lars and Lechen and the pact that was made in secret. Erna did her best to understand.
She could fully comprehend what it was that Bjorn wanted to get in return for protecting the alliance between the Royal Families. However, these matters of state were no longer of any concern to Erna and did not touch her in a meaningful way.
“It’s okay, Your Highness, you don’t have to keep apologising,” Erna faced Leonid with a smile on her face. “It was a secret agreement between two countries and the safety of the monarchy was at stake. I do understand.”
“It was Bjorn’s idea, to protect the Princess. He took the lead in the negotiations and finalised the agreement. I can’t help but feel he took on too much responsibility without properly considering the long term affects.”
“I understand,” Erna said, remaining aloof.
Leonid turned to Louise with a blank expression and Louise simply sighed, as if there were no sharp edges left to file down. Erna was completely different to how they expected, so different they couldn’t be sure this was the real Erna.
“Louise,” Leonid called his sister as he struggle with the awkwardness.
The awkwardness was getting severe and Louise set down her teacup. She let out another sigh, before raising head to face the others.
“I am aware that my words and actions have done you great harm,” Louise said confidently, “and rightly so, for they were intended to be so. I could say that it was because I didn’t know the truth about Gladys, but that would just be an excuse. The truth is that if it hadn’t been for Gladys, I would never have harboured such feelings in the first place.” Louise looked at Erna with indifference. “At some point, I thought you were not good enough for the Grand Duke, even thought my brother had become a problematic prince. It was unfair for me to judge you by malicious rumours and unproven reputation. I was too weak of will to look for the truth for myself.”
Leonid frowned at his sister, wondering if her words were genuine or more closer to irony. Despite her promise to apologise, he couldn’t tell if she was being sincere.
“I did not know anything of Gladys’ actions and only wished for my friend to return to her position. I believed we were as close as sisters and I despised you for taking her place. Upon discovering the truth, I have realised that it was just an excuse to behave in a less than respectable manner.” Louise’s mood darkened as she continued talking, “I harbour resentment toward my brother for keeping this from me, no doubt you do too, and I also feel regretful for being deceived, like how I imagine you must feel also. We both must find it in ourselves to forgive my brother and understand his position, but know that I will not continually bring it up to compel your forgiveness.”
Louise stood with her head held high, as if basking in the afternoon sun.
“I wrongfully used Gladys as an excuse to harass you, causing an indelible wound that I deeply regret.”
“Princess…” Erna started, with a smile.
“I am sorry, Grand Duchess, for my arrogance and carelessness. I would understand if you do not wish to forgive me and I will respect your decision. I will refrain from interfering with your affairs and only ask that you return, as Grand Duchess.” Louise fixed Erna with her clear gaze, eyes pleading, “my brother misses you dearly and he’s waiting for you.”
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
The Prince loves his wife. The notion was an established belief, with the altercation at the party on Harbour Street serving as a poignant reminder of this fact.
“It’s not his fault,” people were saying when they heard the rumours.
“The son of the Heinz family has always been a problem and the Prince was only responding to defend his wife’s honour.”
The news of the fight had made it to the front of all of the days tabloids, the Grand Duke was living up to the disgraceful nick name, The Problematic Prince Strikes Again. Only this time, the moniker was used to exonerate Bjorn as a white knight coming to the defence of his Princess.
The Heinz family remained silent on the matter, unwilling to make any statement in the face of this disgrace. Or maybe they feel the justification as Bjorn had done, Robin Heinz had been a source of contempt to the Grand Duchess and had spread vile rumours. Most concluded the likely hood that Robin had been excommunicated from the Heinz family roster.
There was even an anonymous bit about someone who had over heard Bjorn calling out the name of his wife as he beat Robin Heinz. It was like something from a beautiful love poem.
“Is it my turn?” A young maid said, snatching the newspaper.
“They said you might get neurosis from the Prince,” Karen said with a laugh when she caught a maid cutting out a picture of the Prince.
“Photography doesn’t annoy me,” the maid replied.
The call bell rang out, announcing the Prince’s return and all the maids and servants scurried for the front door, straightening out their uniform as they went. Just as they got lined up, the carriage pulled up.
The Prince stepped down from the carriage with a gentle smile on his lips. His mood had been noticeably better this week, no doubt from the satisfaction of avenging his wife.
As the Prince made his way through the halls with graceful strides, the servants all stole a glance of the handsome Prince. No matter who had said it first, the truth was undeniable, the Prince loved his wife.
It was a love story that was cherished by the whole city and had taken root within the Palace of Schuber.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Bjorn did his best to not think about Erna as he sat at his desk. Mrs Fitz presented the daily report in her usual fashion. With the festive season upon them, there were numerous invitations to various social gatherings and parties.
“Please decline all these invitations that are safe to do so,” Bjorn said.
Mrs Fits was surprised for a second, she felt sure that he was going to at least accept some of the invitations, given light of his recent habits.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Through the sudden change in habits, Mrs Fitz could do nothing but accept the Princes’ orders. There was no need to cause any unnecessary friction.
“I am also thinking of going on a trip soon,” Bjorn said.
“A trip?”
“Yes, a trip,” Bjorn answered calmly, keeping his eyes on the portrait above the fireplace. “The exact schedule is to be confirmed, but I estimate some time next week.”
Bjorn had wanted to say more, but that would mean uttering her name. The idea of spending her birthday somewhere in the south, amongst the flowers that bloomed all year round, seemed a delightful prospect. It would certainly erase the disaster of last year’s birthday.
While it might be a lot of work to get the arrangements made in time and cause a rather hectic start to the new year, it was a small price to pay. The biggest issue was making sure that the egregious debtor was in her rightful place.
“I need to work out the details a little more, but I will let you know in due course.”
Bjorn lit a cigar. Recently he had only been smoking about half his usual lot. Perhaps because of the security he felt from partially returning to normalcy. In this state, he felt ready to welcome back his wife.
Just as he felt himself falling back into melancholy as he stared up at the portrait once more, a servant came with a message.
“Your Highness, the Duchess Heine has come to visit.”