Beginning

Chapter 8

Radu sent the children back to their homes, in promise that he won't say a word to their parents about them being outside of the boundary as long as they went straight home and won't come back to this side of the woods. The children were grateful that their prince proved to be as kind as they have heard, and didn't get them in trouble.
    As soon as the children were out of earshot, Radu helped Titania out of the nook between the trees, brushing off any stray strands of pine leaves off her. "Honestly my Princess, I told you those marks were too out in the open. Surprising only these children have found them," Radu's voice sounded a bit drained, yet still soft with her.
    Titania loved that about him. He could never bring himself to be truly upset with her, but not out of fear like others do. People were either hard on Titania due to her being a Romenheart heir, or they were pathetically soft on her for the same reason. They knew this little girl, ages younger them they are, had very ability to destroy them if she wishes to. Unfortunately for Titania, this is the norm when dealing with any Romenheart. With Radu, however, he's soft on her out of love.
"Surprising they were this deep in the forest in the first place to find the marks. It's quite a ways outside of the boundary before you find the first set of markings," Titania eyed Radu playfully, fluttering her eyelashes, as if daring him to say she was wrong. To this he smiled.
"True enough my dear," he took her hand in his and leaned down to kiss it, when she slightly pulled away from him, making him look up at her in concern, "What's the matter? Do you hear others approaching?" He suddenly looked like he was prepared for a battle.
Titania let out a small laugh and shook her head, "No nothing of the sort. Merely I am here on a quest. Sadly I have not come to sneak a moment with you, but I do love running into you." Radu looked distressed.
"If you have not come to see me, then why are you in Trancy?"
"I've come to see your sister of course."

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Radu insteaded on escorting Titania inside the village and to the Trancy Palace. She worried about how it would look if she came alone, but he reassured her by saying that they could always just say her escort placed him in charge as a symbol of peace. Titania laughed at the ridiculous lie, a Romenheart trusting a Trancy.
The Trancy palace, much smaller compared to the palace Titania grew up in, but still a large, solid building, artistically crafted for royalty. Bathed in the colors of the family on the inside, much like the Romenheart palace is bathed in a dark red, the hallways are lined in white and red, banners proudly showcasing the Trancy crest. To Titania, almost all the palaces in the villages are the same, only difference being the family colors that dawn the halls. However, compared to the Romenheart palace, they are all on the small side.
Once Radu had a chat with the guards outside, him and Titania both stepped in. The guards didn't question what their prince was doing with the Romenheart princess, but one of them did raised an eyebrow Titania noticed. Walking behind her love, Titania let Radu led the way to his sister. He said she should be getting ready for rest soon, so they would find her in her art room.
Cornelia always loved the arts, something that has never rubbed off on her best friend. Once Cornelia invited Titania for a painting session, and the evening ended up with one of the guard's helmets on fire. Titania was never one for patients.
As soon as the doors opened, there she was, Princess Cornelia Trancy, perfectly sat in a large chair with a book in her lap. Titania could never get over how beautiful she was. Everyone always says how lucky the Romenhearts were, to have such striking features, with raven hair and midnight blue eyes, but Titania envied the simple beauty her friend possessed, with light brown hair like the mousse she had in France, and deep trusting brown eyes. Possibly why she found Radu so attractive as well.
Cornelia pried her eyes away from her book to see who has come to disturb her reading hour, but what was starting to be a face of annoyance turned into a face of delight. "Oh Titania," she shut her book and stood up, "You should've sent a word ahead of you, I didn't think you would have time to visit."
Titania smiled as Cornelia and held her hands when she reached them, "I hardly thought I would have time either. Barely made it with all my lessons being extra long today"
To this Cornelia scrunched up her nose, "Longer lessons? Sounds like a nightmare, you already spend more than half your day with your studies."
Titania fanned herself with her hand, "Nightmare yes, especially Anna's "lesson" today," using the word lesson, like one would use the word execution.
"Oh that sounds awful dear. Come have a set with me, we'll get you a cup of sage, and you can tell me all about it," Cornelia already started moving around some pillows and servants started to get the a new bottle of sage. Oddly enough as to where Titania can hardly stomach a glass of sage, Cornelia has come to love the dark red drink. Cornelia saw her friend's displeased face and let out a soft giggle, "Or we could go for a walk and get a fresh drink to make it up for your day. Consider it one of your birthday gifts."
This made Titania forget all about Anna and her dreadful cousin. She hasn't had the time to get a fresh drink in ages. Just the thought made her fangs poke at her teeth. Yet a peek at the servants, behind Cornelia, that are starting to close the thick curtain, reminded her of the time.
    Just before Titania was going to decline, Radu, who was still in the room spoke, "You have your cloak on you, and if you wish we could lend you an umbrella to keep the morning rays off." Titania looked at him and saw his warm smile and caring brown eyes, as he continued, "It is your birthday tomorrow, and a special one at that. Please spoil yourself or we'll have to do it for you." When he said we'll Titania could of sworn his eyes said I'll. It made her heart speed up, and the lovers seem to be in their little world now, continuing to start at each other in a way that made Cornelia curious.
    Cornelia did not know about the relationship her best friend and her brother had. No one did. Titania has desperately wanted to tell her friend about it, but Radu has insured that it was for his sister's safety and everyone else's that no one was to know. He told her if they were ever caught, then it would be much better if only he got punished and not others for his doing. It killed Titania that she couldn't tell one of the people she trusted and loved most, but she saw Radu's reasoning for wanting to protect his sister. She, however, did not believe they could get caught. She was too sneaky for that.
    Cornelia eyed her brother and her friend and looked between the two. She let out a cough to grab their attention and they both realize they were staring at each other and turned to look at Cornelia, who had a raised eyebrow, questioning them silently. Radu then spoke to try to dismay anything his sister might be thinking, "Well I've done my part, I shouldn't intrue on both your time together any longer." Titania tried her best to keep her face from giving away that she wanted him to stay when Radu bowed his head and turned to leave.
    Then Titania remembered why'd she came here in the first place. "Ah just a moment Radu. I came to personally invite you both to the ball tomorrow. You'll both be able to attend, won't you?" She looked between the two for their answers.
Cornelia gave off another soft laugh and nodded her head, "Of course, what are friends for if to not attend balls in their friends honor?" Titania smiled and then looked at Radu.
Technically, the other families don't have to attend the ball. It is an important birthday for their princess, but not a big enough deal to have a mandatory representative from each family, such as a coronation would require. On the contrary, the more family members that got invited into these exclusive parties, the better. At times the Tracy or Dalakis families didn't get invited at all. Plus, in all reality, Radu nor Cornelia have to attend, even if invited by the princess herself.
Radu looked at the princess with a kind, loving look in his eyes, that Titania was sure Cornelia couldn't pick up on, and that was meant just for her. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, princess."