I wished I could find some common ground with them. Marie likely could have related the most to my predicament, commoners often married for love. Yet she seemed the most confused by my relationship. I looked to Victoria. Her teacup clinked as she set it down. Her arm jittered in surprise. I rattled her confidence somehow. Maybe she’d understand being the only other one at the table in an arranged marriage. Surely her experience was better seeing as her blush was always evident when my brother was in the room. They were awkward teens, who struggled to show their affection but it was there in their little glaces, pink cheeks, and affectionate smiles.  

“Come on Vicky, help me out here,” I begged. “Eddy takes you on dates? He flirts right? Compliments you?”

Victoria stared down at her teacup in silence. No…. No! For fucks sake! I hit my head with my palm in frustration. “He hasn’t taken you on a single date?” I asked in disbelief. It’s been a few years since their engagement and he hasn’t taken her out once.

I looked around the tea room for something else I could grasp onto but it was useless. There were luxurious decorations around them. I groaned at the reminders. A good number of them were gifts from his highness. The beautiful ocean scene depicted in the painting behind Marie had been given to me on my thirteenth birthday. He promised to take me to the sea after his graduation. The vase on their table was filled with magnolias from the royal palace which he sent every week ever since my first visit. My home was filled with our memories together.

But still I could only attach the joys of childhood to them, not romance, maybe love like I had for my family. It just pissed me off that he couldn’t have had a conversation with me about his feelings before it came to this. Was he planning to finally tell me he loved me on our wedding day? Would he have expected me to be happy about that?

I caught the perfect outlet for my anger out of the corner of my eye. Out the window I saw two familiar faces below us. My brother walked with Ozwald, the heir to the Noules Duchy. Oswald had been staying with our family since I had revealed his unfortunate home situation when we were children. He was tall, dark, and handsome, like you’d expect from one of the male leads. He was meant to be the mysterious type in the novel but since he didn’t grow up in tragedy he became more of a playboy. He didn’t matter though I was more interested in Edward beside him. I couldn’t believe someone who looked exactly like me could disgrace me so badly. I ran to the window abandoning the tea party. I swung the window open letting in the heat from the summer sun. 

“Eddy! Get up here,” I hollered down at them.

They both looked up at me, surprised. Edward’s face went pale when he saw my angered expression. Oswald began laughing. I watched them rush inside and within a moment there was a knock at the door and I was back sitting in my seat with the ladies. Juilette stared at me with amused expectation. 

“Aurora, is this necessary?” Victoria asked, she’d become much more sheepish in the face of her own relationship. 

“Of course,” I said, cheerfully. 

Marie looked around still confused. Despite going to school with nobles she didn’t know much about the inner workings of our lives. “I’m just scolding my dimwitted brother for being an idiot, nothing else,” I assured them.

“Oh, just come in already,” Juliette said loud enough for the boys to hear outside. They timidly opened the door. Edward crept in first, Oswald sautered inside after him ready for the show.

“Aurora is everything alright?” Edward asked.

“Take your fiance on a date,” I demanded.

“What?”

“Take her on a date and treat her like you're in a freaking relationship.”

Oswald stifled his laughter behind his hand very unsuccessfully.

“I do. I think.”

“You don’t. Trust me, you don’t. So take her on a date and shower her with affection.” I turned to Victoria. “Don’t think you're getting out of this either. You could ask him out too.”

Blush covered her face. “Aurora!” She said bewildered by the thought.

I looked back and forth between their faces that mirrored each other in pinkness. “Well I’m waiting,” I said. 

“Now,” Edward asked. He really was slow with these things; I knew if he didn’t do it now he’d put it off until he forgot. 

I crossed my legs and stared deep into his oblivious soul. “Yes, now.”

“Uh.. Victoria,” he stammered out. He could barely look her in the eyes. Maybe their relationship was doomed. “Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?”

I smiled satisfied. Victoria stood up. “Of course,” she said. “I need to get ready. Good afternoon ladies.” She left in the biggest rush I had ever seen.

My attention drifted back to Edward. His blush was finally settling down, but I wouldn’t let him off that easy. “Well, go after her,” I said. “You didn’t say goodbye.”

He looked at me like a light bulb had just gone off in his head. “Right!” He ran after her. He needed all the help he could get if this was going to work out. Victoria was innocent to these sorts of things but she was smart. Eventually she’d figure out what type of relationship she wanted and Edward would then need to find out how to provide it.

As soon as he left the room Ozwald burstout in laughter. Juliette soon joined him in the mockery. “Was that necessary,” Marie asked. 

“Yes it was,” Juliette concluded for her. “Ozzy boy won’t you join us. We seemed to have lost one of our party.”

“Gladly ladies.” He sat without question. Though he was underdressed in comparison to us ladies, his simple attire would do in our company at least.

“So what is this battle meeting about,” he asked as he helped himself to our desserts.

“Oh you know, Aurora didn’t like her kiss with my dear brother.” Juliette smirked. 

Oswald laughed even harder. “Was it that bad!”

“I didn’t say that! Can we go back to Vicky’s relationship problems? Please,” I begged. 

Oswald shoved desserts into his face. “No way this is so much better,” he said between bites. “Does this mean your free game, cause…”

“Nope,” I shut him down real quick. I’d seen his work with the ladies. We all have. I wanted no part in his heartbreaks. He treated ladies like they were expendable just because they found him attractive.

“Oh so you do love princy? You got my hopes up for a second,” he said.

“I didn’t say that either. I…. I just don’t know what I want,” I admitted.

“That's okay Aurora, you can figure it out. It’s not like you're getting married right now. You still have time,” Marie reassured her. She really was a saint. “And if you ever need to talk about it, we're here. Right, everyone.”

She looked around hopefully at the others. “As if I’m going to pass this up, please come to me to complain about my brother. It really makes my day.”

“Thanks, that's so supportive.” I said in my most monotone voice.

I took a strawberry shortcake before Oswald ate them all. I picked at the cake, eating only the sweet strawberries on top. Marie was right. I needed to find out how I felt about Leon, and I could take my time doing it.