A man suddenly appeared in front of them and startled Alexandra due to his sudden appearance. He was wearing the same uniform as some other knights wear. There was a golden crest on his chest which indicated that he is a royal knight. It feels like her heart leaped out of her chest in that mere second. "A pleasant afternoon, your highness," The knight said and before he was able to bow, he spotted Alexandra who was staring at him. A startled expression displayed across her face. There was a gentle and faint smile on his lips when he saw Alexandra, "A pleasant afternoon to you too, young miss. Pardon me for startling you," He said in a polite tone of voice as he bowed.
"What is it?" Alexander said and he looked at the person standing in front of them. His voice sounded cold as always. "His Majesty, King Raphael, and Prince Julian are going to arrive. I have asked all of the servants and knights to get ready and assemble to greet them when they arrive," The knight said in a polite voice. Alexander nodded as a response. "I see, we're heading there now," Alexander said and the knight just nodded. His eyes darted at Alexandra and he smiled at her before he vanished into thin air.
Reminds her of Harrison who would suddenly appear right in front of her without warning and vanishing into thin air when he needs to leave. Alexandra looked up to her father and saw him looking down on her, "Let's go," Her father said before they began walking once again. He was still holding Alexandra's hand, not intending to let go yet Alexandra paid no mind. Carlos and Lysander just followed behind them.
Come to think of it, I still haven't seen Christian, Alexandra thought to herself and looked around the place, thinking that he will be there knowing that he isn't. Is he not going to greet them? Wouldn't a prince like him normally greet another prince when they come to visit or is he just being shy? She asked herself once again and her father noticed her suddenly looking around the place as if she was looking for a certain someone. "What is it? Who are you looking for? Did you spot something?" Her father suddenly asked out of blue, startling her. "E-Eh? What?" Alexandra stammered and looked up to her father to find him staring at her.
"Are you looking for Christian?" Her father asked. Sharp as always, Alexandra thought to herself before she gave her father a smile and responded, "Yes, it's just that I was thinking why he is not here with us. Is he not going to greet them?" Alexandra asked in a curious tone of voice. Alexander just shook his head before he said, "He is going to greet them. He is just probably busy reading in the library right now besides I wasn't alarmed that you are going to visit even though I canceled our tea party for today. He was probably notified and is on the way to the main entrance of the palace where we are going to greet them right now," Was what he said.
Oh, so that's why Alexandra nodded repeatedly before she averted her gaze and looked straight ahead of her as they walked in silence with a peaceful atmosphere surrounding them.
--
Alexandra arrived at the main entrance of the palace. Almost all of the people working in the palace were all lined up, mostly knights and maids. They looked like they were in the middle of doing something when they were told that the visitors are going to arrive because some of them were sweating and looked tired. They were either sweeping, hanging the clothes and such, doing the laundry, and some other things they would usually do every day. Well, they still look clean and presentable so I guess it's okay.
Christian was also standing near them with Gabriel standing behind him with a stoic expression across his face. Alexander let go of Alexandra's hand, giving her the chance to run towards Christian. There was a wide grin plastered across her face, joy written all over her face as she ran towards him. "Young miss, be careful! You might trip!" She could hear Carlos's worried tone of voice yet she paid no mind. It just fell to deaf ears. When Alexandra just ignored him, Carlos just let out a sigh and followed Alexandra behind.
"Brother Christian!" Alexandra called out to him and grabbed his attention, including the people near them which were the maids and knights standing. They turned their heads towards the direction and spotted Alexandra who was running towards Christian. Ah, it's the young miss and the prince, they thought their selves as they were happy and blessed to see this sight once again. It was like flowers were blooming in their background as they are together.
Well, Alexandra would usually bring Christian with her when she is going to walk around the palace and greet the people and try to have a conversation with them. Eventually, Christian would join in their conversation and helps him improve his relationship with the people working in the palace and to overcome his shyness when speaking to others.
She stopped a few steps away from him, still grinning. It was like that was the first time they saw each for months. Alexandra's grin almost reached her ears and the expression that was plastered on her face was bright and blinding.
"Oh, Alexandra. Good afternoon, are you here to greet them too?" Christian said as a smile crept up to his lips, forming a genuine one that suited his gentle and calm expression. "Good afternoon too, brother! And yes, I am also here to greet them," Alexandra said and smiled at her brother. "I see, they are going to arrive soon so better get ready," Christian said and Alexandra nodded as a response before she walked towards his side and turned to face forward or straight ahead. Alexandra smoothened out the wrinkles of her clothes and tried to make herself look comfortable, relaxed, or presentable.
As he was doing so, Carlos leaned down and whispered to her, "You remember what I told you before, young miss?" Carlos asked in a low tone of voice and Alexandra's eyebrows creased. "What is it?" Alexandra asked in a whisper which only he can hear. "About the time when I told you not to tell anyone about your encounter with the prince," Carlos said and Alexandra's mouth shaped into an 'o' before she nodded multiple times. She recalled that event right after the prince left and returned to the party in the palace.
Alexandra wants to go back to the palace now. "Then, if you may, we need to take our leave now and go back inside the palace. Please return to the party, your majesty, your parents and personal knight might be looking for you now," Carlos said in a polite tone of voice and Prince Julian smiled at them as he nodded as a response.
"You're right, I need to go back now. Have a wonderful evening, Miss Alexandra and Sir Carlos. It was nice meeting you here, see you next time" Carlos said before he turned his heel and started walking back to the Diamond Palace where the party is being held. Alexandra heaved a sigh, she's not used to meeting other princes aside from her brothers because her identity might be revealed. Carlos looked down on her and smiled, "Please do tell me where you are going, I was scared when I didn't see you beside me. Aside from that, you also met the prince of the Luminaria Kingdom, thankfully, his family is one of the emperor's trusted people and told them about you, what if it was another person?" Carlos was right because of my reckless or careless action, I might be in danger, she thought to herself.
"I'm sorry…" She muttered and Carlos heaved a sigh before offering his hand. "Let's go back to the palace, shall we?" He said in a gentle tone of voice and Alexandra looked up, meeting his warm gaze. His backlit by the moon's light, she can't clearly see his face because it was dark but Alexandra was sure that he was smiling gently and warmly.
As they were walking back to the palace together with a peaceful yet awkward aura surrounding them, Carlos suddenly spoke almost startling Alexandra who was in a daze and thinking about so many things. "Young miss," He called out to her. "E-Eh? Yes? What is it?" Alexandra responded and turned her head to look at his direction, their eyes met.
"I would like you to keep your encounter with the prince a secret. Please don't tell Miss Diana about it, I even told her that I am not going to lose sight of you. You know what will happen to us if you do," Carlos said in a gentle tone of voice. Alexandra thought about scenarios that might possibly happen if she tells Diana about it, Carlos would be the first one to be scolded and the next one would be her. Diana told her to not leave Carlos's side and if she wants to be alone, I shouldn't walk off that far as something might happen to her but she did. What if it was another person? What if it wasn't the prince? What if it was a bad person and Carlos was late to arrive? Since it was night, there was more danger lurking in the dark waiting for the right time to strike.
"Yes, I know," Alexandra said. "Then this would be a secret between us two, okay?" Carlos said and smiled widely at her, his eyes closing in the process.
Then her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone shout, his voice sounded like a lion's roar. It boomed all over the place and startled Alexandra as she was pulled back to reality. Carlos was also interrupted by what he was about to say and stood still.
"King Raphael and Prince Julian of the Luminaria Kingdom has arrived!" Then there was a carriage, a grand one to be exact, which arrived in front of them. Along with it were two knights and each riding a horse. Those were probably their personal knights and inside the carriage must be them.