Chapter 25 - Prince Charming

Curious Loulou sat next to Lily on the royal blue baroque sofa. In her right hand she held a rosé wine with raspberries and a sprig of rosemary. Her right hand she had put around Lily's shoulder and grinned challenging at her brother, who poured himself a glass cognac.

Loulou was cool and funny. She somehow had the charisma of these power women in her old world. If women in this world had more rights and could work, then Loulou would surely be a CEO who could hold a candle to Alexandre. Lily was sure.

But now they lived in a patriarchal world. In which no female revolution existed, no suffragettes who had fought for the rights of women and no feminism.

She lived in a Europe that was not marked by two world wars. And democracy had prevailed only in very few countries. Most of the countries were ruled by a monarchy or dictatorship, as was the Archduchy of Bourgogne. Bourgogne was ruled by a king who was firmly convinced of ancient traditions.

In this world, mankind had technically arrived in the twenty-first century, though they were not quite as advanced as in Lily's old universe, but far enough to have invented the Internet, the computer, and, of course, the first versions of game consoles.

Although Lily regretted that there were no smartphones. But after all, the phones already had integrated cameras with which photos could be sent. And so Lily desperately waited for someone, who would invent the smartphone over the next five years.

Sometimes she even prayed for it.

But she did not only miss her smartphone, she even missed Alexa and her PS4 with VR. She had first realized how comfortable and free her life was in her other universe, after she had lost it.

Now life was harder. It was harder to really be free as women. Being able to decide for yourself, because there was always someone who could decide for her.

She lived in a golden cage.

Ladies of the upper class lived all the more like in a golden cage.

Louise leaned forward. "You have to tell me how you made this ice block melt." She obviously could not wait for it. She had recognized immediately how happy her brother was in her presence.

"All people in Dijon knows how we met."

"I need the details, sweetheart. Every detail! That's gold value." She winked at Lily profusely.

Suddenly the door opened and a fairy-tale prince entered the room. He was a few inches shorter than Alexandre, but at least as good looking as him. Nevertheless, you could not compare the two men, because they were of different types. Alexandre was more of the dark, daring type. The perfect rogue. While this man definitely belonged to the category Prince Charming. Clearly. He had this charm paired with the sunny boy look. With his slightly longer golden hair, the warm chocolate brown, Lily assigned him to the category daring prince.

"Phips!" Loulou cried with a touch of dander, yet the affection in her undertone was unmistakable.

Phillipe de Louvois stood at the threshold and received his fiancée kindly and gently in his arms. "I probably arrived later than Alec."

"That's no great artistry." Alexandre replied dryly.

"Maybe now, but I can still remember a time when you were practically stuck to your desk chair." Louise winked at Lily. Lily's cheeks soon began to colour. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Alexandre twisting his eyes in annoyance.

Another pair of eyes stuck on Adrien and Lily. Friendly eyes and a heartwarming smile which a showed fine laugh lines around his eyes. Lily also answered him with a smile, although she was a little nervous.

"Lillian de Clermont, nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine."

"And who is the little man?"

"My son, Adrien." Alexandre retorted as he panned his glass of cognac and watched the golden liquid.

"Your son?" In vain, Phillipe tried to hide the shock in his voice with a serene expression.

Loulou clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Now that everyone is there, we should go slowly to the dining room."

"Would you please go ahead with Lillian and our little guest?" Phillipe asks his fiancée and tried to keep his composure. It was difficult for him to keep his peace. Suddenly there were those questions in his mind that he did not want to express when ladies were present. But he would still throw the book at Alexandre.