Page 44 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
I will patiently await your response.
Yours,
Crown Prince Torin Phillippe Henry Sada
I wrinkled up my nose. “I don’t know if this is polite or pushy.”
“What did he say, my lady?” Bella asked, her eyes sparkling.
I looked up, only to see Annie looking at me with the same excited, expectant look on her face. I motioned for them both to come closer, and when they leant in, I whispered, “He’s invited me to the palace for tea on Friday.”
They both squealed, and I winced as the sound threatened my poor eardrums.
“Bella, Annie, please!”
“What is that dreadful noise?” Sophia demanded from the doorway. “Can’t you control your maids, Alicia?”
I swiftly stuffed the letter and the envelope under my skirt. “We were just discussing Lady Vivian’s upcoming nuptials. I do apologise if they disturbed you at all.”
She sniffed. “Isn’t she marrying that viscount’s son?”
“She is.”
“Such a low-ranking gentleman for someone from such a highly regarded family.”
“Perhaps, but when Lord Ivan succeeds Duke Trelawney as the head of the Magic Tower, he will receive at least the title of marquess, per Imperial law,” I replied. “And he’s exceptionally talented in magic.”
Sophia’s lip curled. “It’s very convenient that Duke Trelawney chose the man his daughter fell for to succeed him, don’t you think?”
“Oh no, Lady Sophia,” Annie said. “Lord Ivan was chosen as the successor three years ago before he ever met Lady Vivian, according to my friend who works at the Trelawney estate.”
“There you have it, then.” I picked up my teacup and sipped.
Sophia glared at me. “Is it a habit of yours to allow your maids to be so impudent? I wasn’t speaking to her.”
With a sigh, I set my teacup back down. “Sophia, how I converse with my maids is my business. If you remember, you are the one who inserted yourself into our conversation. If you don’t like the freedom with which my maids are allowed to speak, you’re more than welcome to excuse yourself again.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line, and her face flushed bright red.
Honestly, she looked like that little angry red guy from that Pixar movie.
She stormed off without saying another word to us, and I looked at Annie. “Make sure she’s actually gone, would you?”
Annie shuffled over there and stuck her head out of the door. “All clear, my lady.”
“What are you going to do about His Highness?” Bella asked quietly. “Are you going to attend?”
“I’m not sure I can,” I answered, pulling the letter back out. “Friday is five days after Sunday, isn’t it? My brain isn’t working.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I will have to decline. I have a prior engagement.” I scanned the letter again.
“Ooh, isn’t that the young master of the Alansia household coming to visit you?” Annie asked, clasping her hands together at her chest as she beamed at me. “Oh, my lady! You have quite the collection of suitors!”
Aw.
It was nice that someone was excited about the harem I seemed to be accidentally building.
