Chapter 43: The Lady and Her Sister (1)

'Congratulations on your engagement, Amber,' Leticia said with a lovely smile to Amber.

Leticia looked a lovely picture in a pale yellow evening gown

'Thank you, Sister.' Amber replied flatly.

'Even so, you have been rude, Amber.' Ever ignorant of her sister's feelings, Leticia barrelled down. Her cheeks were puffed out trying to stir up compassion. (Zuben: Wrong audience love)

Amber inwardly prepared herself.

'That night, I had been set to find you a husband. You surprised me!'

'I'm sorry...but I don't think now is the right time.'

Even though Ernest was right there beside her, Leticia still wanted to talk about her interests without considering the situation.

'You shocked me. I had wanted to introduce you to the Duke Braunfels and Earl Cosette, I had been looking for you only to find you being proposed to by the King!'

Amber was silent.

Leticia smiled innocently. As expected, she had roped the most popular gentlemen into her plan, gentlemen who had once proposed to Leticia. On top of that, these very same men had ridiculed and deplored Amber, especially after Leticia had told them of their arguments.

Leticia's insensitivity, despite the years of argument over it, left Amber at a loss for words.

'But now, you will be crowned Queen in February. That's great, Amber! Congratulations!'

For Leticia, there was nothing wrong with what she had said; she was purely stating what she thought. This made Amber feel complicated. Matthias patted Leticia's honey-colored hair and said,

'Letty, let's not talk about that ball anymore.'

'Oh? Why?' she asked in a childlike manner. She leaned closer to Matthias reminiscent of a small animal.

'I'm sure you understand this party is celebrating Amber engagement to his Majesty.'

'Yes, of course.'

'Very good, Letty. But don't you think it is a problem to talk about Amber being married to another man?'

'Is it?' Leticia asked blinking her lovely green eyes, as she usually did.

Amber could never understand why Matthias loved her insipid sister. Matthias hugged her closer, his expression full of love and sweetness.

'Yes, the King is a very jealous person rather the opposite of his handsome gentle appearance. So, he might run amok just on the idea that Amber might have been married to another man.'

'I understand, Leticia.' Amber replied as she usually did.

Matthias was a really good man. He was good at handling Leticia. Even in cases where Amber would have retorted full of irritation, Matthias wrapped Leticia in affection thick as sugar syrup.

But Amber was well aware that her black-bellied brother in law's love did not consist of only perfect pretty and sweet things.

The thought made Amber shiver involuntarily. She had long ago concluded that it was best to pretend not to notice. (Zuben: I am now curious of his black-bellied love, but I'm sure it is something most mundane)