"Theo!" Duke Richard greeted as he and Emilia were shown into one of the many entertainment rooms of the castle. A castle that, in comparison to that of his elder brother's, King Cyrus, was modest, as far as castles go. While Theodore may have been a prince and brother to the King, one could argue that he was not alloted the same luxuries of the first royal family. 

Their living conditions and status were by no means abysmal, but their lives - and their estate - were much quieter in comparison. A fact that prince Theodore rather liked, given that it gave him the ability to frequent his good friends when his schedule allowed.

"Richard!" Theodore boomed as he rose from his seat. Rushing over, he threw his arms around the duke, patting his back with a hearty laugh and a broad smile. "It's been too long! How has the frigid season treated you?" he asked with another solid pat on the back as he took a step back to look him in the eyes.

Emilia's heart raced as she slowed to a stop behind her father, her eyes lingering on prince Benjamin, who was patiently waiting for his turn to greet the duke. She bit gently at her lower lip as she watched him. It had been almost three years since their families had visited one another in a group gathering. Her parents were right - Benjamin had grown into a fine man. 

His body had matured, gifting him a number of bold features fit for a gentleman. A pair of strong shoulders built to carry the weight of the world, should it ever be given to him. A full head of dirty blond hair, which was pulled back to showcase his dazzling blue eyes. And a sharp jawline that was as demanding as it was devious.

"Grateful for the thaw," Richard said with a chuckle of his own as he turned toward the awaiting Benjamin. "And I'm thinking that we're going to have plenty more opportunities to frequent one another," he smiled, grabbing and squeezing Benjamin's shoulder with one hand and throwing his other into a firm handshake. "Good to see you, my boy. You're looking strong."

"Ahah, thank you - you as well," Benjamin chuckled, somewhat jarred by Richard's handshake, the strength behind it catching him off guard. "A-And yes, I certainly hope to see you both more often, considering ..." he sheepishly smiled, casting his gaze toward Emilia, who almost immediately started to blush.

Her breath caught in her throat as Benjamin moved to approach her. How odd a feeling, to be flustered by Ben. Four years her senior, they had practically watched each other grow up, with how close their families had been over the years. And yet, this wasn't little Ben who was standing before her. It wasn't the little trickster who was reaching for her hand.

It was a man.

A man who, as of this moment, was her suitor.

"Emilia," Benjamin greeted as he took her hand in his own, their eyes locking. "Thank you for coming. You ... look as beautiful as ever," he gushed, bowing his head to tenderly kiss the back of her hand.

She gave a nervous smile, watching as his lips brushed her skin, briefly laying a soft blanket of warmth against it. She could feel herself resist the urge to giggle and pull her hand away from him, embarrassment surging through her and painting her cheeks as if they were playing some absurd game of pretend, still bound by the innocence of their youth.

She offered a nod instead, waiting for him to let go. "You're too sweet. You've grown so much since I've last seen you ... I'd hardly recognize you if we weren't standing in your home - your father by your side," she nervously giggled, glancing between him and Theodore with a subtle curtsy.

"He has, hasn't he?" Theodore proudly chimed in, giving Benjamin a pat on his shoulder. "He takes after his mother more and more these days, charm and all. She's raised him well, that woman."

"You mustn't let her take all the credit, father," Benjamin grinned jokingly.

"Speaking of which ... Where is Victoria? Will she not be joining us?" Richard probed, looking around as he adjusted his vest. "Off on the town, perhaps?"

"She's in the garden - insisted on picking roses herself for our dinner," Theodore said with a shake of his head. "Stubborn, that one. I'll have someone fetch her."

"No, no. I'll remind her of the time by surprising her myself," Richard chuckled as he started back toward the lavish double doors of the room. "Let's see if I can't remember how to get to the gardens, hmm?" he smiled with a dismissive wave, leaving Emilia with her mouth partly agape, her nerves spiking at suddenly being left to fend for herself. "Back in a moment!"

"Always lending the helping hand," Theodore nodded in approval. "I'm sure your people adore him so. But! Don't let me keep rambling on. I'll leave you two be," he said, reaching for Emilia's hand, which she allowed, less a few blinks of surprise. Placing a firm kiss atop it, Theodore stood tall a moment later, hovering over her, much like his son. "It really is wonderful to see you. Do your best, Benjamin," He chuckled with a heavy pat to his son's back before walking off to another area of the room to give them a chance to talk amongst themselves.

Grunting at the pat, Benjamin almost took an involuntary step forward as he cleared his throat. Emilia held a hand to her lips, holding back a giggle as Benjamin grinned. There was a moment of awkward silence between them before he gestured to a sofa just a few feet behind him, were he and his father had been sitting when awaiting their arrival.

"Would you care to sit while we await our parents' return?"

"I'd love to, thank you," Emilia nodded, following and sitting beside him about a person's width apart, her hands resting somewhat nervously on her lap. And before Benjamin could get another word in, there was a butler beside her, a silver plater holding a tea set in his gloved hand. "Tea, M'lady?" He offered, nearly startling her.

She gave a soft gasp as she turned to speak to him, her hands rising as she spoke. "Oh, no, Oswald, thank you. I'm quite alright."

The servant nodded respectfully, a comforted smile on his face before turning his attention to Benjamin. "M'lord?"

"None for me ..." Benjamin said with a slight smile of his own, staring at Emilia quizzically as the butler walked away.

Hands fidgeting nervously in her lap, Emilia's eyes darted away from the sharp, pale blue one's of the prince. "Is ... something wrong?"

"Oswald?" Benjamin almost laughed. To this, Emilia's brows furrowed, her eyes now meeting his in question.

"I'm sorry?"

"You called him Oswald."

"I ... Yes. It's his name, isn't it?" Emilia countered as if she'd been questioned for calling the sky blue.

Benjamin gave a dismissive gesture, brows arched as he chuckled, his head shaking at a loss. "I ... can't say that I know."

"Ah ..." Emilia's head lowered some in embarrassment, her cheeks warming as she smiled. "Mother always did say it was odd of me."

"Odd of you?"

"To know the staff's names. Unnecessary, most say. My sister use to badger me about it all the time."

"Mm. Well, it's certainly unusual, but ... I was more so impressed that - if Oswald is in fact his name, that you'd managed to remember it. Considering you don't live here - not yet, at least," Benjamin thought aloud, laying on the charm as best he could, and succeeding in making Emilia pause, her cheeks burning a deep shade of scarlet.

She laughed nervously, wringing her hands in her lap to compose herself before responding."Come now, Benjamin. I've been here enough times to warrant it not being too odd, haven't I? As adventurous as I was, I know this estate - and its staff, almost as well as I know my own," she protested, choosing to reminisce about their innocence rather than address the mature reality they were now in.

"Adventurous is what you've chosen to call it, is it?," Benjamin laughed. "You and my sister got into just as much trouble as my brother and I did."

Emilia couldn't help but laugh, as guilty as she was charged. In fact, some could argue that she was just as much of a troublemaker now as she was then.

"Adventurous is what I'm choosing to call it, yes," she giggled, maintaining her confidence. "Poor Edith ... My sister was often like a spare adult, running after us. How are they, by the way? Mabel and William. Are they well? Will hey be joining us?" She asked excitedly as she looked about the room, genuinely happy to see her childhood friends.

A silence lingered between them, Benjamin pausing with slightly furrowed brows. While he hadn't minded entirely chatting about their youth, he couldn't help but now feel ... misplaced. His siblings? Attend their call?

"Ah ... I'm afraid not," Benjamin started, treading carefully. "I had thought it in poor taste for them to be present during our call," he went on, eying her curiously as if to remind her that that was in fact what they were doing.

Emilia's lips parted in a silent gasp, cheeks burning at the reminder. She gave a nervous laugh, again averting her eyes. "Oh ... Right ... That would be in poor taste, wouldn't it?"

"Mm ... But I can assure you, they are in good health."

"Oh, good! Good ... I'm so glad."

Silence fell upon them again, the air growing thick. But before Benjamin could offer a break from the silence, another butler entered the room, calling out.

"Excuse the interruption, but dinner is ready to be served."

"Splendid!" Theodore boomed, getting up from his conversation with one of the servants. "Is Richard back yet? Poor lad. She's probably roped him into gardening right along with her, haha! Go fetch them, would you? Come on, then," Theodore beckoned to the children as he walked toward the double doors. "We'll meet them at the table."

Thank you for reading!

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