"Do you see them, Béatrice?" André pointed towards Alexander and Louise with a smirk.
Béatrice rolled her eyes.
"Can you not behave yourself?"
André smirked. "Hard to do when you're around, my love."
She glared at him. "I'm not in the mood for your games, André."
André chuckled before snatching her hand.
"Too bad, we gotta look presentable for Louise and Alexander."
Béatrice's arm tensed as her hand was taken.
She quickly masked it with a composed exhale.
"You're insufferable."
"Am I?"
Béatrice ignored him.
Instead, she focused on the young couple just beyond the gate.
Louise and Alexander stood waiting as she and André approached.
Walking past, the royal pathfinders were stationed at the gate.
Béatrice studied them carefully.
Louise was poised and composed.
However, there was a specific stiffness to her, a flicker in her crimson eyes.
Alexander looked exasperated and bland.
There was something off about him.
He looked softer than usual.
The fire and irritation in his eyes were replaced with quiet acceptance.
Could Louise have done that?
Béatrice smiled at the thought.
— — —
Alexander watched as Béatrice and André approached.
He quickly noted the fact they held hands.
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
He was almost sure that when he last saw them, André was on the verge of killing her.
When they finally reached them, André took the lead.
"Louise, Alexander, it's good to see you two."
Alexander nodded. "Likewise, Sir"
André chuckled. "Come on, buddy, you can call me André. I won't kill you like Béatrice would."
Alexander forced a smile as he glanced at Béatrice.
She met his gaze with a cold stare.
"Anyway," André continued, reaching into his coat pocket.
"I've got a few embers to spice up your date."
He pulled out a large roll of silver and copper bills and handed them to Alexander.
Alexander swallowed hard as he accepted the money.
"Thanks." He stammered, "uhm, anything else?"
André chuckled, "Nope unless either of you has an event we should look out for."
Louise glanced at Alexander.
Alexander sighed.
"I have… a dance competition."
He murmured under his breath, shoving the money in his pocket.
André raised an eyebrow. "A what?"
"A dance competition." He murmured again, averting his gaze as sweat rolled down his temple.
André snorted. "Oh?"
Alexander groaned as his cheeks turned pink.
"I didn't wanna dance." Alexander replied, "But the captain said it would build character."
"Smart man, every guy should delve into the softer side."
Alexander remained silent.
"Will you be joining him?" André asked Louise with a smile.
Louise scoffed.
"No, I refuse to embarrass myself in such a farce."
André chuckled dryly.
"I see. Then I wish for you to enjoy the afternoon."
"And Alexander,"
Alexander looked up. "Sir?"
"Treat Louise well, even If she's a little difficult."
André gave Alexander a knowing look before he and Béatrice departed.
Alexander watched them leave, scratching the back of his neck.
He finally spoke when they were out of earshot.
"Is it just me, or have your uncle and mother gotten closer?"
Louise hummed. "I suppose it was my grandfather's doing."
Alexander clenched his jaw.
"Well, no point in standing around."
He glanced at Louise.
"Anything in mind?"
Louise arched an eyebrow.
"Aren't you the man? Handle your obligations."
Alexander raised his eyebrows. "Alright, but you better not complain."
Louise scoffed. "And who's going to stop me?"
Alexander blinked.
Did she just—
Alexander chuckled while leading Louise to the heart of the festival.
"Oh, that was a good one." He said with a glance over his shoulder.
Louise rolled her eyes.
As the two of them weaved through the event, music and laughter wafted in the air.
The aroma of caramel and ham was strong.
Attendees were everywhere, from children stuffing their faces to adults trying to win prizes.
Alexander kept an eye out for something fun.
Eventually, he spotted a booth running a game of balloon pop.
Large stuffed animals hung on display, with a disgruntled senior slouched over the counter.
Perfect!
"Louise," Alexander tugged her hand gently. "Let's play darts."
He gestured his chin in the direction of the booth.
Louise shrugged. "Fine."
Alexander smirked, pulling Louise toward the booth.
A cluster of students milled about close by—some with disgruntled expressions, others with small stuffed animals.
When Alexander reached the booth, the senior barely lifted his head.
"Three darts for a silver Ember." He muttered, pointing a finger down on the counter.
Alexander reached into his pocket to retrieve a silver bill before slapping it on the counter.
Grabbing the bill, the senior pulled out three darts.
"Hit three balloons to win a large animal, two for medium and one for small."
Alexander took the cool black darts, rolling them through his fingers.
He smirked at Louise.
"Whatcha think, go all out?"
Louise crossed her arms. "That's if you can hit one."
Alexander chuckled, turning towards the balloon board.
Four rows of six.
After taking a breath and steadying his grip.
Alexander let the first dart fly.
Pop!
Louise scoffed. "A lucky shot."
Alexander let the second dart fly.
Pop!
Louise hummed.
"Too bad you won't finish."
Pop!
Three less yellow balloons.
Alexander smirked, both hands on his hips as he looked at Louise.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of me winning!
Louise frowned. "Tch— please, even an animal could've done that."
"Congratulations, kid, you win."
The senior muttered before plopping down a large stuffed animal on the counter.
A black and white windwalker.
Alexander picked up his prize with a grin before turning to Louise. "Here, for you."
Louise studied the plush with a glare before looking away. "I don't want it."
"Fine, maybe I'll just give it to someone else."
"Elizabeth, perhaps."
Louise snatched the plushy without hesitation.
"Don't be a fool." Louise hissed, hugging the Windwalker. "She'd never appreciate it."
Her arm was wrapped around its neck so tightly that Alexander swore he saw it gasping.
Louise averted her gaze under Alexander's knowing gaze.
Her cheeks were pink as her jaw tightened.
"I'm hungry, " she finally grumbled. Do us a favor and find something edible."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Us? Does that mean I'm eating, too?"
Louise didn't dignify his teasing with a reply.
A smirk spread across Alexander's lips. "Fine, come on."
He reached out his hand for her to grab.
Louise hesitated for a moment, her fingers twitching.
She then tightened her hand into a fist.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Alexander withdrew his hand.
"Funny."
"Is it?"
Alexander rolled his shoulders with a shrug before leading the way into the heart of the festival.
As they passed dozens of booths and people, Alexander couldn't help but steal a few glances from Louise.
She trailed behind him like a lost puppy.
Still guarded and still glaring with narrowed eyes.
But there was undoubtedly something softer about her.
She's not so bad when she isn't hounding me.
Alexander finally stopped at a booth that was selling pork skewers.
They were cooked over an iron grill. The meat's glazed skin shimmered under the lantern light.
"Are you looking for something a little spicy or something sweet?" The vendor asked with a grin.
Alexander nodded. "I'll take one of each."
"Two silvers." The vendor said with a grin before grabbing two skewers off the grill.
As Alexander exchanged the money, he was given two skewers.
One with blue wood and the other with red.
Alexander gave a final nod before leading Louise aside.
Finding a quiet spot, he reached out both skewers. "Which one?"
"Guess, idiot."
Alexander smirked. "Hmmm, I think you'll take the spicy one."
Louise narrowed her eyes. "Shows how much you know." She snatched the blue skewer from his hand.
Alexander chuckled.
"huh, guess I don't know you as well as I thought."
"Because you never pay attention. That's something you should fix; it could be your downfall."
Alexander chuckled.
"Woah, okay. Any other life advice? Or just more insults?"
"Yes," Louise replied, taking a bite of her skewer.
Alexander didn't reply.
He allowed the silence to permeate between them.
The sounds of the festival faded in the background as they shared each other's company.
He eventually broke the silence.
"How's your skewer?"
"It's acceptable," Louise stated dryly.
"High praise from you, Louise."
Louise finally stared at Alexander directly.
"Do you ever stop talking?"
Alexander laughed. "Only when you leave me alone. Which, as of recently, is never."
Louise scoffed. "I'm only trying to help; you should be grateful."
"That's rich. How does arguing with me help anything?"
"Because I know what's best for you," Louise stated confidently. "It's not Elizabeth; she'll use and manipulate you, and you'll be none the wiser."
Alexander sighed. "Here we go again."
"See, this is your problem." Louise continued, "You run from confrontation. From the truth. You'd rather pretend everything is fine than push her away."
Alexander clenched his jaw.
"I'm not doing this."
Louise laughed bitterly.
"Of course you won't. It's why you always run to Elizabeth. Because you'd rather be comfortable than challenged."
Alexander gritted his teeth, biting back his tongue.
There was so much he wanted to say, so much he tried to correct her on.
But she never listened.
"That's it. I'm taking you back to your mother." Alexander finally said, his voice firm and final.
Louise blinked, her eyes widening.
"What?"
"I said I'm taking you to your mother."
Louise stared at Alexander, her lips parting slightly.
"Are you serious?" She asked in disbelief.
"Dead serious."
Alexander turned on his heel and began walking.
His shoulders were stiff, and his pace brisk.
Louise stood there for a moment.
The taste in her mouth soured as her jaw clenched.
"This isn't fair!" Louise snapped, feet stomping against the cool grass as she marched after him.
"You can't dictate when I'm done."
Alexander didn't slow.
"Maybe, but you can't dictate when I'm done either."
Louise marched beside him, her plush bouncing against her arm. "So you'd rather I sit back and let you fall into Elizabeth's trap?"
Alexander turned sharply, stopping on a dime.
His eyes locked with hers, holding a ferocity Louise rarely saw.
"I'm not an idiot, Louise. I know Elizabeth likes me. I know she's trying to get with me."
He then jabbed a finger at her.
"I don't need you pointing that out. I don't need your jealousy and envy pulling me down."
Louise flinched as she looked away.
"You're an idiot." She muttered, gripping her plush.
Alexander exhaled through his nose.
"Still stubborn to the end. Typical."
Louise said nothing.
Alexander continued forward.
Louise loosely followed behind him.
The silence was deafening.
No bickering, no jokes, and no conversation.
They just walked.
Eventually, Alexander spotted André and Béatrice conversing near a picture booth.
"Come on, just one picture," André asked while eating out of a cup. It looked to be shredded cheese.
"I'm not wasting my time with such foolishness."
Béatrice averted her gaze toward the crowd.
Where she saw Alexander and Louise walking one behind the other.
Alexander had an expression of cold frustration.
Louise trailed behind him, her arms wrapped tightly around her plush as her jaw clenched.
It was almost comical how out of place it was.
"Oh no…" André sighed softly as he stepped forward.
Béatrice narrowed her eyes as she followed behind him.
The four of them met in the middle, neither of them speaking first.
Eventually, Alexander spoke up. "I'm dropping Louise off with you. Is that okay?"
"Maybe, depends on why," André replied.
Alexander scratched behind his ear. "I don't want to deal with her right now. I can't."
André's expression softened as his eyes filled with sympathy.
"Mind if I tell you something?"
Alexander shook his head. "I don't want to be convinced. I'm tired, André."
"It'll be quick, I promise," André said with a gesture away from Louise and Béatrice.
With a groan, Alexander dropped his head, "okay…" he grumbled.
André led him a few steps away, just enough so their voices didn't carry.
He looked over his shoulder once before stepping in front of Alexander and squatting.
"How are you doing, buddy?"
His voice was soft and kind.
Alexander frowned. "I don't know."
"Louise got under your skin?" André asked, "Called you a bunch of names, insulted your intelligence, then made it seem like your problem?"
Alexander bit back a laugh. "You make it sound like you were there."
André chuckled. "In a way, I was. Louise is just like her mother. Stubborn, difficult, hostile."
Alexander looked up.
"I've been meaning to ask you about that."
André smirked. "Yeah, I'm still in the dog house, buddy. But I have realized something."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"They aren't difficult for show, you know that, right?"
Alexander shook his head.
"Don't tell me it's because they secretly care."
André chuckled softly. "No, not entirely; they're difficult because they've been raised as heirs first and women second.
They will never be easy; it's not in their nature.
It took me a minute to realize that, you know, after my brother died, I think Béatrice took it hard.
I know they only married for political reasons, but she must've loved him in some capacity."
André then sighed, "Basically, I had to learn not to take Béatrice seriously. The things she said and did weren't because she hated me.
It was because she couldn't talk to me.
I mean, how do you handle marrying your brother-in-law? Right?"
Alexander chuckled. "I don't get what you're saying, André. This isn't a short conversation like you promised."
"Got me there." André joked. "I'll make it quick then.
I'm not forcing you to take Louise out.
She'll stay with us if you want, but I'd like you to consider why Louise is difficult.
Because I promise you, it isn't because she hates you."
Alexander folded his arms.
"She makes it hard to believe that."
"Oh yeah?" André smiled knowingly, "She doesn't seem to hate her plush."
He stood up, brushing his coat as Alexander met Louise's gaze.
And indeed, she was still holding that Windwalker like it was a lifeline.
Alexander huffed as he averted his gaze.
"Dang it, you planned this, didn't you?"
André shrugged.
"More like played the cards I was given."