Chapter 35 - Shell Come Around (2/2)
”I doubt she thinks so,” Al said glumly. ”And I can't blame her. She never wanted to come to the palace anyway.”
The bakery girl—he suddenly remembered her name was Marcy—put her hands on her h.i.p.s and stared him down.
”That's no way to talk, Prince Alpheus. Even if that were true, she still has you, doesn't she? Weren't you the one who called her your best friend last time? She obviously thinks the same.”
”You really think so?” Al asked a bit desperately.
If Katie really thought of him as an important person in any capacity that meant she would forgive him, right? He knew she didn't love him. He had taken her freedom away, so how could she?
Even knowing that, he wasn't willing to let her go without taking him with her. He could spend the rest of their lives making it up to her once they were free of this place.
Marcy nodded as she dumped glaze onto one of her fried pastries. ”I can tell that you care about her very much. She'll come around.”
He found himself nodding until he realized what had just transpired.
”Hey, I never said she was upset with me! I said she wasn't feeling well!”
With a giggle, Marcy placed the pastry on a plate with the ones covered in sugar.
”You didn't have to. It was pretty obvious the two of you got into a fight because the look on your face.”
Al's ears turned red. It was that obvious to someone he had only met once? Was he an open book or something? He had never thought of himself that way.
Grace, the girl in charge of the hot chocolate, saved him from having to reply by announcing it was ready.
”I've got a whole pot but you only needed one portion, right? I can save the rest to be reheated later,” she addressed Marcy, afraid of meeting a prince's eyes.
”Thank you,” Al said sincerely. ”For the pep talk and the food.”
Marcy's eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. ”You're welcome. Come find me if you need more girl advice. And tell Katie to come say hi next time!”
It looked like Katie had made quite an impression on this girl even though they had only met once. She had that effect on people.
Al, Marcy, the duke of Orla, Princess Mariela…all people who had fallen under her spell right away.
Al nervously carried the tray with the hot chocolate and pastries to Katie's chambers. A maid was blocking the door.
”Lady Catherine is unwell and does not wish to see anyone.”
”I think you can make an exception,” he said, putting on a winning smile. ”These are treats from her favorite pastry chef.”
The maid wavered. The lady had seemed so upset and she did like her sweets…
”Oh alright, but if she asks later, I'm telling her you forced your way in.”
”Thank you!”