"The fruits you bought are very good, Miss. It is not difficult to process them into jam."
"Is that true David? Thank goodness for that. Mr. Matias helped me pick him out."
"Miss... Miss...!!!" exclaimed Seri who was running around a little from that direction. She approached Nivea in the kitchen of the shop.
"Hey, what's wrong with you, Seri?"
"His... highness the prince came looking for you."
Nivea, David and Clara all looked at Seri in disbelief.
"Hahaha. You're joking!"
"But I'm serious, miss. Please come out, miss. Prince Edmund is coming with a bodyguard."
"So be it. All right!"
Nivea walked away followed by Seri who followed behind her. Seri stopped her steps behind the booking desk. While Nivea was still stepping closer to the prince who was sitting on one of the customer's chairs.
Inside, David and Clara were still wondering about each other.
"What's wrong with His Highness the Prince? Why did he come here?"
"I don't know Clara, maybe he wants to buy some bread from our lady."
"I've heard that Miss Nivea is the only girl in her class, who participated in archery practice in the consulate grounds. And I think they met often back then."
"Ah, that's right Clara! It was because they knew each other that His Highness prince wanted to visit here."
While in the shop front area, Seri occasionally stole a glance. Glancing at her lady who was having a conversation, opposite prince Edmund. The man who had come to escort the prince, was no longer there. The prince had told him to wait outside.
Although Seri's ears could not catch what Nivea and the prince were talking about, but she could clearly read the expressions on the faces of Nivea and the man.
"Has my arrival disturbed you, Miss Nivea?"
"Hmm. A little."
"Ah, I truly apologize if that is the case."
"So, what brings you here, noble prince?"
"I don't know! My heart says I must see you today."
Nivea frowned. "Ah, I see."
"Hmm. Can we talk more casually?"
"You mean, your highness?"
"Can we greet each other by name only?"
"Ah, that. Hahaha. Of course! That can't be, your highness. I'm not used to it. It would sound very strange if I just said your name."
"Then try it, you'll get used to it later."
"No, pardon me your highness."
The prince sighed. "Alright, that's fine. Do you have enough free time?"
"Hmm. I think, I can't leave the shop today, Your Highness."
"Really? So roughly, when can I take you out for a walk?"
"What? Ah, I cannot be sure about that either, Your Highness."
"Would it be okay if I asked for a chance to get to know more about yourself, Miss Nivea?"
Nivea gulped, she hated being faced with this situation.
"I... Forgive me your highness, but I don't think your highness the prince should need to waste your precious time just to get to know me. I am not a girl who deserves to be approached by a son of His Majesty." she said with deliberate modesty.
"What are you saying, Miss Nivea? You are a very attractive girl, you are so talented in many ways. And I really like all that."
"I'm sorry, your highness. I really didn't want to make you expect anything more from me."
And it seemed that Prince Edmund was getting annoyed, so he chose to to end it.
"Hmm. Very well, my lady! I think it is time for me to leave now." as he got up from his seat.
So did Nivea, who also stood up and bowed slightly respectfully before Prince Edmund.
***
The somber look on princess Nicole's face this morning made the Empress questioned why. Personally, she went to see her in the room. Because after breakfast together ended, she did not see her daughter again.
"Nicole, has something been bothering you, child?" Empress Angelina stood behind her daughter's body. Her hands gently rubbed Nicole's shoulders. The girl was sitting on a chair facing out the window. She was lost in thought, looking at every sprig of the trees that swayed gently in the yard.
"Nothing, Mother."
"Are you trying to hide something from me, Nicole?"
"It's just, it's like... I don't know, Mom! I really can't explain what I'm feeling right now."
"You like someone? Was my guess right?"
"Hmm. But, I don't know how to get that boy to like me."
"So, you like someone. Hmm. You have every right to, my dear. But, should you try to open up to the prince from the land on the other side? He who used to play with you when you came here. He also still often asks about you through father."
"Really, Mother? Does Prince George still ask father about me?"
"Of course he does, Nicole! He's in the military at the moment. You know? It's better that you learn to love the one who loves you first. Instead of you, having to work so hard to make someone who doesn't necessarily love you like you love him."
"But, isn't it also very difficult Mom, to get rid of the feeling of love in an instant?"
"May I know, who did you fall in love with?" as she moved in front of her daughter. And looked at Nicole's daughter's sad face.
The girl made a curved corner of her lips, looking at her mother's face.
"No, Mother. You don't need to know who he is. I'll handle it myself."
"Ah, so... it's a secret huh. Hmm. All right! I just don't want to see you moping around, Nicole. Get out of the room, do things that please your heart!"
"Hmm. Yes, Mommy! I'll be out of here soon."
A few hours later, Princess Nicole was in the backyard of the palace. She was seen sitting alone, cross-legged on a garden chair. Both her eyes were fixed on the pages of the book in her hands.
Shaded by the sunny day, Nicole's daughter occasionally took a sip of the green tea in the cup. She was trying to keep herself occupied, trying to forget what that she should forget.
Before long, her gaze shifted from the book to Bella who was picking flowers on one side of the garden. Princess Nicole was interested in to approach her personal maid. Immediately, she put the book down on a chair, scampering over to Bella.
"Did you pick them, Bella?"
"Ah, your highness! I must pick them now, before these flowers fall to the grass and wither."
"That's right, Bella! If the flowers wither, we can't put them as decorations inside. Can you teach me how to pick flowers properly?"
"Ah, please your highness the princess! You can follow the way I pick them."
Quietly in the distance, at one of the windows of a room in the palace, the empress watched her daughter. She could feel more at ease, seeing her daughter was about to come out of the room. She did not want her daughter to feel the same sadness that she had once felt. When had to watch her beloved duke Eduardo marry the duchess Elvira.