Punish me?
He looked surprised and Evie giggled.
“Yes.” Join her. The challenge, albeit bold, was a fun one. Even princes were allowed to have fun, surely?
He pulled off his coat and that was a wonderful sight to behold. Even through his jacket, one could easily deduce that he was athletically built. Now, with the jacket off, it became all the more apparent and for a split second, Evie could feel herself blush.
She looked away and this unfortunately meant that she missed out on his little climb. However, as he sat down next to her on the branch, the good news were that her flush had decreased somewhat and hopefully wouldn’t shine brought through the dark of night.
Evie allowed her arm to touch on his and she gave him yet another smile.
“Punish me?” There was no fear behind her words. Whatever punishment he had in mind, she felt sure that it would be enjoyable. “I suppose that is fair, my prince. After all, a lady like myself should know better than to challenge a prince.”
It had been a gamble, as had her demand that they play a game and her refusal to grant him the win. Still, she could not bring herself to regret it because she was actually having kind of… Fun.
"I will gracefully accept whatever punishment you deem fit, my prince."
He glanced at his father who did not seem particularly impressed. He stood there with a face hard and cold as stone and Luca even took notice of a slight eyeroll before Lucian Romano turned and received a glass of wine from one of the servants touring the ballroom, making sure no hand lacked a glass and no glass was left empty for long.
“You do realize that my sister would make a terrible queen?” Luca whispered to his father as he was about to take a sip. At first, Lucian said nothing. He focused on his wine and only when he lowered his glass did he bother to look at his only son.
“Which sister?”
Now Luca was the one to roll his eyes. His father was a smart man, one of the smartest, but his question had been exceptionally dumb.
“I am aware.” He said when Luca did not give an answer. “But my intention is not for her to be queen. She would drain the kingdom of both money and class.”
Alongside her king, then. Luca looked towards them, dancing around without a care in the world. He felt thankful that the queen had left early because this would have been awful for her to witness. Not to mention the humiliation she would have been forced to suffer through.
“Your other sister, on the other hand…” Lucian continued and Luca had to keep from sighing. Yes, yes. Evie would make a marvelous queen and she was the epitome of joy and grace and beauty and what not. He had heard it all before – since the very day she had been born. He had spent countless of years attempting to hate her, but the hate had never prevailed. Evie was the joy in his life, too.
“I should go mingle.” Luca said and his father nodded.
“Indeed. You look terribly glum, standing here all alone. It is embarrassing.”
Lovely.
Luca forced a smile and then walked away.
