The distant chirping of birds mingled with giggles and chattering drifted her back to consciousness. She yawned, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her palm.
The loud trumpeting sounds that echoed from outside the room had Bronwyn straining her ears agonizingly from the noise, followed by a persistent knock on her door. She had begun to grow acquainted with the rays of light that engulfed her room at daybreak, but the screeching sounds outside were something she could never get used to.
Climbing out of bed and dragging her feet to the direction of the door, she pushed it open. Her eyes flew open, and she nearly shouted at the sight of eight maidens gathered outside her door. Memories of the unfortunate events of yesterday flew through her mind like a nightmare. She reclined against the door whilst the maidens fell to their knees.
"Good morning, princess! We're here to serve you."
She scoffed at the absurdity. She hadn't been a spoiled princess who couldn't do without the help of maids in her daily life, even back at Elrandal, she only managed to keep her nanny who had been with her since she was but a child.
She could hardly make out any use for a maid, now they were sending her eight?! What was she to do with them?!
"Good morning to you all. What in the god's name is going on in the palace? And err, where's the prince?"
They gazed at each other, totally confused at her bouts of questions. She was unaware of the Narvan culture and wasn't used to having her morning sleep interrupted by loud trumpeters. She could only hope that they could provide her with an explanation.
One with large doe eyes swallowed hard before speaking, "Prince Nicholai and princess Elana have just arrived. Prince Lucien assigned us to see to your needs."
She mused, nodding her head sagely. Remembering that he did mention having other siblings and how they weren't in the palace at the moment. She was curious to meet them, curious to see what they looked like, and more importantly, she tried to fight off the nervousness she felt at the thought of their arrival.
"Where is Lucien?"
"At the grand chambers."
"Fine! Take me to him."
They hesitated at first, passing each other's sets of wary glances again at her words. She couldn't tell what it was that had them agitated, although she didn't understand Narvan customs, it was never a sin to ask to see one's betrothed.
"Come with us," when the doe-eyed maid finally agreed to take her to him, she sighed in relief, knotting the silk robe she had on tightly around herself, then she followed suit.
As they navigated a path she hadn't even realized existed in the palace, her mouth dropped wide open. If she had thought she'd seen it all, this side of the palace was something entirely otherworldly. The pristine decor was a direct contrast to the one where her room had been situated.
She relished in the royal elegance that screamed wealth and power. It was nothing like she'd ever seen. So, this was what the Blackstone royals enjoyed. She could already find herself fantasizing about life within these walls once she was named the empress.
They halted in front of a regal and majestic teakwood door that stood proudly at the end of the hallway. They motioned their hands at the direction of the room to point her to where the prince was.
Wasting no time, she rushed in the direction, her knuckles rasping frantically as she knocked softly on the door.
"Prince Lu...Lucien!"
She felt the door knob turn and creak open. She pulled it back, jumping into the room. Her eyes widened at the sights in front of her, and she mouthed a gasp.
Lucien strutted out of the bathroom with a towel firmly tied around his waist and water drizzling down his locks unto those mouth-watering pecks and sinews. She just couldn't take her eyes off.
god! How did she get here?! From turning down a sudden betrothal to drooling over how good he looked. There was also no denying that there was a spark that flared to life when they stood face to face, staring into each other's eyes. The kind that made her weak in the knees, too ecstatic to speak.
"My prince! I'm so sorry!". She turned away from him, skin flushing, she nibbled on her fingers, feeling embarrassment creep up.
She blinked frantically to snap out of the haze. Now wasn't the time to fantasize! His hand held hers, and he turned her to face him, lips curled back to reveal sets of pearly dentition as he gave her his most seductive smile. He picked up a little towel to wipe the water from his hair.
"Come on now, Bronwyn. We're engaged. Don't shy away from me,"
She babbled strings of incoherent words, muttering under her breath as she tried to steady her heart that continued to hammer frantically at her chest, the tension rising by the second.
"I...uh.... I didn't mean to intrude."
He chuckled with eyes dancing wildly, amusement floating in his irises, "Hey, it's alright. Okay? This is nothing, we're still going to see a lot of each other. Remember? The Halivaraa."
"Okay," she nodded, trying to get used to seeing him half clothed.
He walked away along the path that led into the closet, reappearing a few seconds later, dressed in casual clothes of breeches that displayed his powerful legs and a shirt that flayed at the wrists.
"Tell me why you've come, princess."
"The maids! I don't want them. What on earth am I supposed to do with eight maids?! I'm doing perfectly fine on my own and do not need any assistance!"
She paced the room determinedly, her hand resting on the hem of her dress, but the prince continued to look at her like she had grown a second head.
"I cannot get rid of them. Mother thought you needed all the help you could get, and assigned them to you. They are the best maids this palace can provide. Are they not to your liking? Tell me this moment and I will go to the best maid houses to get you another."
His brows crinkled, his lips pursed in a grim line. She wondered why anyone would think she deserved to own a train of maids.
"I don't need them, Lucien. I do not want to offend the empress, but having eight maids is too much for me!"
He growled out a sound, nestling himself on the couch in the room. "Fine. I'll have them reduced, but you cannot be without a maid. You're a princess and my woman, nonetheless. I'll get them reduced to two, no more bargain. Go get dressed, we have some people to welcome."