Chapter 48 - Cake Testing (1/2)

It turned out I was more tired than I thought. My nap lasted until the ball was almost over and someone frantically burst into the room looking for us so we could stand and look regal while the king gave a speech about how our union would benefit Annalaias.

I brushed the powder off Al's jacket as best I could—it was unbelievable that it all came from my face—and he quickly straightened a few loose pins in my hair before we headed back out.

The inevitable chewing out came the next morning at breakfast but I think we actually got off easy.

A few snide remarks from the queen and Rosenia were the extent of our punishment. It probably would have been a lot worse if we hadn't been found in time for the closing ceremony.

Bridal lessons were over so aside from more dress fittings and having a hairstylist testing different hairdos for the day of the wedding, my schedule was nearly as free as Al's.

Edmund came over nearly every day to spend time with me. Al won him over by pulling the 52 Pick-Up trick on him. My brother thought it was hilarious and declared that he was 'alright for a prince.' Al wisely chose not to reveal that I was the one who taught him that.

With more than two people, my card game options grew and I somehow managed to gloss over where I learned them in front of Edmund, who knew that his sister had never left the earldom before coming to the capital for her debut. I think he was having too much fun to care.

It was nice playing games I thought I might never play again but at the same time I was panicking.

The wedding was a week away and with Edmund visiting we hadn't seen Marcy at all. I hadn't seen Mariela outside of meals either but that was because neither of us was willing to budge on our stances. She was less of a priority though. I needed to get this wedding called off somehow!

”Al, we should show Edmund the kitchens. He never got to have any treats from Carmine's Bakery before their star baker left. I'm sure Marcy would be happy to see us,” I hinted towards the end of a rather long card game that I was losing terribly.

”I could go for a doughnut right now,” he said while stretching. ”I'm not good at this game anyway.”

”What's a do—” I frantically waved my hands in front of me to indicate that Edmund needed to shut up NOW while Al wasn't looking because I had told him doughnuts were from home.

If my brother didn't know what they were, the lie fell apart.

Edmund swept the board with us and we headed off to the kitchens without further ado.

Al told him a bit about various parts of the castle we passed, reminding me of my first day here when he gave me a tour. Had it really only been five weeks? It seemed like years ago. Like sitting through a boring lecture at school, time goes slower when there's not much to do.

”Marcy!” I called from the entrance of the kitchen, waving so she could see us.

She looked around for the source of her name before spotting us and smiling adorably.

”Come on over!” she hollered from clear on the other side of the massive kitchen.

Edmund scanned the room with interest, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. ”This is the biggest kitchen I have ever seen.”

”It does feed a lot of people,” I said dryly.

”Good to see you as always, Your Highnesses,” Marcy said with a curtsy.

”And here I thought you were finally calling me by my name,” I complained.

She still called Al 'Prince Alpheus' but she'd been calling me Katie for some time now. Was it Edmund?

Ah. She didn't know who he was or his rank. The thought of Edmund of all people being intimidating nearly gave me an aneurysm from holding in my laughter.

”Marcy, this is my brother Edmund, the second son of the earl of du Pont. He's a pretty casual person too.”

”Good old Percy is more than stuffy enough for the both of us, thank you very much,” Edmund said cheerfully. ”Nice to meet you!”

Marcy beamed at him, responding naturally to his bright attitude. ”Nice to meet you too! Any friend of Katie's is a friend of mine. She's my number one customer, you know.”

”I can only imagine. Katie's sweet tooth is known for miles back in the countryside.”

”Eddie!” I protested crossly.

There was no way that was true. I had barely lived there for half a year. Unless he was referring to the original Catherine.

Did she like sweets too? If so, she would have loved coming to the capital for her debut and trying pastries from Carmine's Bakery. Suddenly I was a little sad for her loss.

”Why does that not surprise me?” Al grinned. ”Honestly, Katie, you're hopeless.”