"Hey Serena, what do you think of Geoffrey and Emily coming together in music class? It has already happened three times, if they enter together again later, that would be the fourth time." Gizel asked with concern. Although her friend was seeing Charlton, Geoffrey was still her fiance.

"Ugh… yes, and that Emily is like rubbing it on everyone's faces. That she's very close with the crown prince. Don't you notice her acting all high and mighty in class? It's so irritating to see her face! I just want to… URGGGHHHHHH!!!! It's not like she will be the future queen. Doesn't she feel ashamed!?" Milly seconded.

Serena just smiled as she lied on the pool side bed facing the fencing club. They were currently on break and she was looking at her man from afar. He was sweating, his white tunic sticking to his body making her see the fine outline of his sculpted physique. She felt her mouth salivate while thinking that her lover was drool worthy indeed.

Gizel and Milly followed where her eyes were glued to and saw Charlton practicing with Kylo. Ah… they both blushed. Who can blame Serena to be so absent minded? 

Finally having her fill, Serena looked at her two friends and started giggling. Obviously, they figured what she was staring at and followed her lead. Now, they were all red and their mouths agape.

"What were the two of you saying?" she asked.

Milly was first to recover. "What do you think of Emily and Geoffrey going together in music class? They even talk to each other even when everyone is looking!"

"Then good for them, I don't mind."

"how could you not? You're his intended!" Gizel exclaimed, causing the other people minding their own business to look at them. She covered her mouth, her face red.

"You do know that I'm seeing Charlton. So, I was hoping for something like this to happen. It would be better if Geoffrey would just fall in love with her and break our engagement."

"But…. that's Emily. I don't want her to be the future queen. Huhu!!!!" Milly exaggeratedly started wiping her imaginary tears while Gizel seeing her do that followed.

Serena laughed at her two friends, "It's not like the two of you are citizens of Windsor…."

"But how about you? Does that mean that you will have to curtsy to her in the future? Not only that, if she visits our kingdom, we will have to curtsy too. Plus, Windsor is the most prosperous and powerful kingdom in our empire, and Emily would get to be its queen? It's like she will be the most influential woman in the empire. I am not reconciled." Gizel said.

Serena raised her brows, not because of what Gizel was implying. She was more surprised that her friend's vocabulary can be so extensive whenever Emily is involved in their conversation. 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Gizel asked.

"Well, you just sounded so smart…" Serena replied while grinning sheepishly.

Gizel frowned while Milly just laughed.

--

"Ugh…. Can we stop now?" Kylo asked. He was getting tired of being Charlton's sparring partner while his friend was just busy trying to impress his girlfriend. They were currently on the platform facing the window where the people below can see them without obstruction.

Charlton feeling that he has flexed his muscles enough grinned. "Did she look at me? What was her expression like?"

"She's too far for me to see. Why don't you see for yourself? She's busy talking to her friends."

"Impossible. I felt her eyes on me."

Kylo shook his head as he rolled his eyes exasperated. "Whatever. I'm tired." Then he slumped down. The other club members already left, or were in the shower room, as they have been dismissed early. 

Charlton laughed, he turned to look at Serena and saw her busy chatting with her friends. Not wanting to disrupt her, he went to get two bottles of water for himself and Kylo. 

Kylo received the bottle from Charlton as he asked, "Hey, have you noticed how Geoffrey has been acting as of late?"

"Ah… what about it?"

"aren't you concerned? Seems to me that he's been eyeing your lover, who I may I remind you is his intended."

"I don't think so. Don't you think that things are going swell between him and that girl, Emily?"

"I'm not sure. They seem to be friendly. The first time I was grouped with them, I thought that she was his lover, but now, I don't know. Doesn't seem that way to me the second time."

"My sources told me otherwise."

Kylo raised his brow. Since when did Charlton have better sources than him?

Seeing Kylo's expression, Charlton explained, "Remember Isabel?"

"Oh, the girl from the group date who seems to want to kiss the ground you walk on? What about her?"

 "Don't remind me, but yes, her. She's Emily's best friend, and she told me that Geoffrey plans to break his engagement with Serena soon."

Kylo shook his head, "That doesn't seem like a reliable source to me. I say stop while you're still ahead. If Geoffrey finds out, things could, would, get ugly."

"He told me himself that he's seeing Emily." Charlton finally said, trying to defend his cause.

"Really? I don't see sparks flying between them though."

"Can't you just be happy for me?"

"How can I be when I know that you're committing the biggest mistake in your life? Come on. Will you really let the familial ties, and even the friendship that's been going for over a decade, you have with Geoffrey get ruined just because you fell in love? Besides, it's been what? 3 months since you got into that relationship? What made you so sure that what you're feeling is not just something in the passing?"

Charlton not knowing how to respond kept his silence. He could not tell Kylo that he has long decided that between his cousin and his lover, her would choose Serena any day. 

"Don't even think for one second that if Geoffrey finds out, he will forgive you. We have been friends for so long and you know how he is." 

"I know…" 

Kylo seeing Charlton being melancholic sighed. "Anyway, what you both have right now is time. The marriage won't be happening in at least 3 years, so just enjoy everything while you still can and don't get caught. If you do, you're on your own. I do not want to get broiled down with the fight between you and geoffry, if, rather WHEN it erupts. This is the best I can do for you. You do know that Geoffrey is my blood related cousin too, right?"

Charlton nodded his head. "I understand. Thank you."

"don't thank me, although I can also see why you like Leonard's sister so much, I cannot condone her actions if it means that it will be the death of you."

"Hey, don't exaggerate! You're giving me the chills!"

"I'm telling you, how a future monarch thinks is very, and I mean very, different from people like us. I have no doubt that my brother will kill me if he becomes suspicious about me vying for the crown." 

"Are you?"

"of course not! Why would I do that? I'm just giving you that example!"

Charlton laughed, "Kylo, I'm not even qualified to vie for the crown, I just want Serena. I will even help Geoffrey in the future."

Kylo just shook his head. Whatever he says will not get through Charlton's head. He knew that his friend has already been too blinded by love. He could only hope that by some miracle, everything would turn out for the best. 

--

After taking a shower, Charlton and Kylo went down to wait for the girls. The five of them have been having lunch together from time to time. 

When they reached the canteen, they sat together on a long table, Serena in between the two girls, Charlton and Kylo in front of them.

"By the way, the ball is fast approaching! It's now the first of December! Serena, we should go shopping for our gown!" Gizel began.

"Yes, then Serena, I would also like your help… remember you said that you will help me alter it… please????" Milly requested with her puppy dog eyes.

"I think the more important issue at hand is if you girls already have a date." Kylo, ever the lady's man suggested as he wiggled his brows.

The two girls have long since thrown away any feeling of infatuation for him. Although they were friends, he was such a sexist and felt like all the girls would fall for him just because he's slightly good looking and was a prince. Rolling their eyes, they ignored him.

 "Serena, does your brother have a date already?" Milly asked with a red face.

"No way!!! Serena, you should like me better! I want to be your real sister, so please help me ask him out!" Gizel who was sitting beside Serena said as looped her arm her.

Serena laughed at the two. She knew that Leonard was a fine catch, so it did not come as a surprise that her friends liked him.

"What's so good about Leonard? He's always so serious and…" Kylo could not continue seeing Leonard walking towards them along with Via. Seeing his tall and slightly muscular friend approaching, he had to admit with some reluctance that he had been defeated.

--

TBC