"HOW dare he? Who does he think he is? He is not a duke, a prince, or a king! He has no right to say such things to me!" She walked in circles across her room, shouting. She glanced at the fluffy toy rabbit on her bed, its' delicate eyes looking at her clueless of her rage. "And to speak with such confidence! If I wanted to, I could have his head impaled at the central square of London, displayed to its' own misery!" She shouted grabbing the pushing and squeezing its' neck "If I lay my eyes upon that narcissistic creature again-"

"Your Majesty." A servant interrupted the princess' fury attack while opening the door. Bellatrix turned to them with an icy stare. "It's...um...the new issue of Lady Whistledown's Pamphlet has been published" The small woman showed her the trembling paper in her hands.

Bellatrix mood drastically changed by the news, her fury diseappeared while her curitosity controlled her mind insteas, rushing towards the servant and taking the paper from her hands.

"Why didn't you say it sooner Margaret? Oh, this is just great news!" She giggled and gave little jumps across her gigantic room. "Thank you, you are dismissed."

The servant sighed in relief and escaped before she could listen to more reactions of the dramatic royal child.

Bellatrix' room was her temple, she used to confine hersrlf there often when she needed time to think, and, nowadays, to rest her ankle. The ball interactions last night had drained her in a way she couldn't possibly understand, and Anthony Bridgerton's undertone was stuck inside her mind.

She rushed to the large bed filled with plushies, where she could observe the stars her father painted on the ceiling. She took the paper in her hands, and with an eager smile, promptly started reading.

Meantime, in the Bridgerton's State in London, Eloise Bridgerton would analyze the pamphlet in stern detail when she caught glimpsr of a familiar name on the paper. "Oh my God." She whispered to herself. She was settled in the house's main room, her mother aat the sofa calmly embroidering a fabric, at an armchair, Benedict was lazily sketching nonsense, while Hyacinth played the piano and gregory played with his favorite toy soldier.

"What is it, Eloise?" Violet asked her daughter as she noticed the young one's wide eyes.

"Did Lady Whistledown declare war against the patriarchy?" Benedict mocked his sister.

"Shut up." Eloise rolled her eyes. "Your name is here."

His smile faded quickly as he stood up. "Excuse me?" Eloise pointed to the paper, where his brother quickly looked over her shoulder and accompanied her reading. "Bloody hell...."

"Dearest readers,

It is with immense pleasure that this author may finally speak about the first soireé of the season that happened at Lady Danbury's state last night. With an exclusive sight of the events, I may tell you that this was a night to certainly be remembered.

As we all know, the Danburys have always been great hosts, and this event was no exception, from the decorations, service and buffet, everything was simply immaculate, follwing a kist of excentric and well ranked guests to die for, including no one else than the Queen herself.

Speaking of which, we were graced with the presence of the new Duamond Of The Deason, a diamond that belongs to the royal crown, the princess Bellatrix. Isn't she a jewell indeed? Since her debut, she has been the main topic if the ton and the eye of the bachelors, her beauty and her grace is to die for, and rumors say she has a strong personality just as her mother.

But to our surprise, the diamond did something unusual last night. She only shared two dances, a small apetite if we may say, letting us increasingly hungry for more insight of her well framed appearance. After these two dances, the princess and her court, including Your Majesty The Queen, quickly exited the event. Now, an interesting fact most noticed, the princes sonly shared dances between 2 brothers of a well known family, The Bridgertons.

I've mentioned them before, from their sister, Daphne, who was the diamond of the ton last season, to her brothers' libertine actions and undescribable charm who procedes them. Well, we may establish here that the princess took notice of those charms, isn't it?

The dances took a different turn than expected, the first dance was shared with no one less than the second born Benedict Bridgerton, known for a sweet smile and freeing attitudes granted by the exception of titles. After the dance, which seemed quite friendly due to the princess constant smiles exchanged with Mr.Bridgerton, the viscount himself, Anthony Bridgerton, finally had his own chance to show his charms (oh, and he is looking for a wife this season, according to his mama). The last dance was more serious than tge first one, but we can most certainly agree that it was just as entertaining as the first one.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the first official night of the season already promised to be exciting, but this author can assure you that the best is yet to come, and I do believe it will be especially due to the Bridgertons and the Princess, who knows?

If the viscount is indeed looking for the perfect mach to fill his difficult requirements list, he will most certainly not be a fool to miss the opportunity to aim for the princess...they would certainly make a beautiful pair, wouldn't they? Now, I wonder, where does Benedict Bridgerton enters in this narrative? Some sort of cupid supporting his brother?

The Queen's ball is on the next 2 weeks and anxiety is a misunderstatement for the ton's feelings now that this exclusive event is approaching, but do not trouble yourselves, hence I will most certainly be eatching closely for all details left unoticed.

Yours truly, Lady Whistledown."

The pamphlet fell from the princess hands, her eyes wide open as she took in the words from her favorite gossiper. All the palace could hear was her raging scream almost breaking the glass windows.

"A cupid?!" Benedict held the pamphlet in his hands in disbelief. "I am never mentioned in her pamphlets and now she calls me a cupid?" He furross his eyebrows.

"At least she did not make assumptions of you marrybg the princess." Violet tried to think on the bright side. "Well...I can't say the same about Anthony."

Benedict scoffed. "Anthony marrying the princess? Don't be ridic-"

The main dooes opened suddenly showing the tall vision of the viscount. "Mother, there you are, I needed to speak to you."

Violet looked at him curiously "Is something wrong, Anthony?"

"Not at all. I just need your engagement ring please." He said hurrying thouhh the house with some documents from the state's administration.

The siblings in the saloon exchanged glances.

"And...why do you need that, son?" Violet asked delicately.

"I've found her. The future viscountess." Anthony quickly finished organizing the papers.

Benedict looked at the paper and then at his brother in almost disbelief. "...the princess?" He asked in an almost frustrated tone.

Anthony looked at him, and his expression twitched as in some sort of anger. "No." He replied closing his large fists for a mere second. "Lady Mellyborn."

"Who?" Eloise furrowed her eyebrows.

"She is the daughter of a baron, they own a small estate, she is...somehow educated and wants to have children." Anthony explained as his mother promptly set off to get her ring.

"You never spoke of her." Benedict said.

Gregory continued to play across the room, Hyancith stopped playing only to hear the gossip, while Eloise still tried to believe this was all some sort of sick joke.

"That is because I've met her last night at the end of the ball." He said adjusting his tie and waiting for his mother to return.

"After...your dance with the princess?" Eloise questioned.

Anthony shot her a deadly glance, almost as if she could see through him. "Why does it matter?"

"It's just...surprising to us brother." Eloise hid her grin. "You said you were going after the diamond, but suddenly settles for some random woman. Have you been rejected?"

Anthony almost choked as he coughed, Eloise let out a laugh.

"Did the princess reject you?" Benedict cackled.

"She did not." The eldest lied as his mother finally came back. "Thank yiu mother" he received the ring in his hands.

Violet glanced at Venedict laughing with Ellise and sighed. She made a festure for them to stay quiet, then turned to her first born, noticing his hidden frustration he always tried to uise.

"Well Anthony, whatever is your decision, I shall support it, I just think that...maybe you should just take some time before making a proposal." She suggested.

"You were the one hushing for me to marry, why hesitate now?" He asked instead. "I've found a viscountess, you should approve it."

"I just thonk you should settle with someone you love, not with someone you feel it's enough to occupy a job position."

"Well marrying Anthony is indeed a difficult job" Benedict mocked and Violet hit him with her elbow "Ouch!"

"Anthony" Violet set her hands above his shoulders. "Let's make a deal, go to the queen's ball in 2 weeks, if after it you are still convinced about your choice, then fine, you may marry Lady Mellyborn."

"But mama-" Eloise teied to interrupt but the Violet silenced her with a subtle hand gesture.

"I do think it is still a waste of time." Anthony said while adjusting his suit. "But the ring is yours, so I'll accept your conditions." He returned the jewel to his mother.

Violet sighed a bit more relieved. It is true, she trusted her son's decisions, since his father death Anthony has done an exceptional work in taking his duty, but she was rather concerned more aboyt his emotional side.

As she saw his oldest son take a newspaper and sit at the large sofa, pratically shoving Benedict, who was previously lied on it, away from his spot, all she could think about was how much her son suffered in means of love. Anthony was very known for his libertine actions, that was, but she also knew the sweet, respectful, and loyal boy he was. In her eyes, he would always be her baby, and she needdd to make sure that the world wouldn't destroy him, that the hard times could be dealt with, and that someone would be by his side just as she had Edmund's in the past.

Anthony, unaware of his mothers concerns as she continued to sew, glanced at the paper in Benedict's hands.

"What is that?" The oldest asked as Benedict rapidly glanced at Eloise exchanging subtle unspoken messages. "What have you done?" He said in a more serious tone.

"Why do you assume we did something?" Benedict replied defensively.

"Because you always make that face when you do something wrong. Just as that time you lied about Eloise joining that small servant riot at the Cowpers residence, by saying she was having tea with Cressida." He recalled as the two went silent again. He saw Benedict's hands holding tight to the paper, and just then he took a glimpse of the logo on it. "Is that the Whistledown's latest issue?"

"...No?" Benedict said and Eloise facepalmed instantly.

"Is out about Lady Danbury's soireé last night?...Am I on it?" The artist avoided his gaze. "Give me it." He demanded while standing his arms and tried to take it from his hands.

Benedict leaned at ghe opposite direction, standing his arms away from his brother so he couldn't reach it, while Anthony pulled him.

"Benedict your fool give me that sh-"

"Boys!" Violet called them out.

Gregory and Hyacinth laughed at a corner, while Eloise rolled her eyes at the scene that repepated itself since she was born. That's how Anthony and Benedict were, always fighting but loving each other in their own way.

"Stop being childish and give me that paper." Anthony ordered once again.

Benedict sighed. "Fine." He made a pause, and when he was just about to give it, he held the paper, crumpled it, and tried to eat it, opening wide his mouth.

"BENEDICT!" Anthony's yell crossed the entire house as he held his brother's arms in a pathetic situation.

"Oh God." Violet sighed exhausted and didn't even attempt to get between them.

With some great effort, Anthony finally managed to take the pamphlet from him, and after adjusting it on his hands, he could finally begin to read it.

All Eloise could see, were his brother's eyes widening at the lines and a nitid reacytion as he stood up and cursed as a fisherman loudly enough so the whole neighborhood to hear.

⚜️

"You and the Viscouunt of Bridgerton, who would've known?" Ernest teased his sister once again as they playes croquet by the yard.

As Augusta made a perfect score with her ball, the others also followed in a boring well settled competion, Bellatrix remained by her mother's side sitting beneath the tents, trying to heal her ankle. Brimsley of course, just next to them, also almost yawning at the game.

"Shut up, Ernest." The young princess growled as her brother missed once again. Charlotte chuckled. "You deserved it."

"Isn't the Viscount of a certain...reputation?" Sophia made a face as she watched Adolphus attempt to cheat by setting his ball closer to a wicket. "Don't you dare."

"Oh, I would." He chuckled. "Just as Lord Bridgerton always dares to spend the night with a whore at the club."

"Adolphus!" Sophia and Augusta yelled at him.

"Yes, Adolphus spare your poor old virgin sisters of Lord Bridgerton's trespassing tales." Charlotte criticized them all indirectely as she read the Whistledown's pamphlets with attention.

"I just mean that Trixie is still young, she shouldn't marry someone so..."Sophia fanned herself delicately as she felt her cheeks grow red. "...predatory." She delicately striked the ball with her mallet, and it barely moved. "Damn it."

The day was pleasing, bit some signs of rain were evident by clouds that approached near. As Bellatrix avoided the talk, she wondered where her horse could have settled to in that stormy weather ghat day, wondered about how she met the viscount previously, and how much her blood boiled by his treatment at the ball.

"What about the brother? Was that serious?" Adolphus asked.

"Let's be fair, as insane as our sister is, she still wouldn't fall for a second born. Whistledown probably saw a polite smile of hers and created fiction to amuse her readers." Edward thought for a minute as he attempted to distract Ernest to miss the target. "I say we should let Trixie breathe and choose her suitor wisely."

"Um...thank you?" Bellatrix foind strange the sudden caring never showed by her brother.

"Of course sister, anything so that you can get married and pregnant soon, so we don't have to." He finally showed his true motives and she gave up on it.

Trixie sighed and avoided staring at the match, the weight of duty was noticeable on her shoulders, but all she could do was take a deep breath and act strong. At least try to.

⚜️

"You're allowing me to go to Kew?" Her smile was wide across her face as the servants packed her belongings.

Charlotte reuinted with the princess at her room, declaring about her trip and now ordered the staff with smoith hand gestures and glances like they could pratically read her mind already. Her expression was serious, determines but not yet angry, a fortune to Bellatrix honestly.

"It'll be just for 2 weeks while you recover. But keep in mind: this is not a vacation." The queen said clearly for her to listen. The girl nodded. "While you're in there I want you to take a look in the portraits and list of suitors that Brimsley prepared. I'll also have a personal servant prepared to assist you."

"My own personal servant?" The princess looked at her. "Or a baby sitter?" Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I don't need someone breathing on my shoulder."

"That won't be the case since they will be 5 foot behind." Charlotte said as she realized the preparatives were done. "While you're there, do not disturb your father much."

"Then why are you sending me there?"

"I need to prepare the decorations for the ball, and also your siblings are such a bad influence when it comes to courting...i can't let their advices come through." Charlotte sighed and adjusted her immaculate wig.

"The carriage is ready, your Majesty." Brimsley said politely.

Charlotte looked back at her daughter and cleared her throat, she cleared insvisible dust from the girl's shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes.

"I'll see you in 2 weeks at the ball, and I expect nothing less than perfection." She adviced at last.

Bellatrix nodded and bowed in respect, she followed the staff outside, entering the carriage and waving goodbyes to her siblings. And while her soul was loosen to take a break from the pressure, Charlotte still kept her hopes high above.

"You didn't need to send her away, your Majesty. The palace is big enough, she could've moved to a different area and avoided her siblings...why did you insist for her to go to Kew?" Brimsley asked carefully trying not to strike a nerve.

The queen stared at the window, watching as the carriage disappeared in the horizon, and somehow, her voice trembled just a tiny bit with sadness.

"Because she needs to learn how to do this on her own." Charlotte's eyes watered. "And I know she can do this on her own."

⚜️

"What are you sketching?" Hyacinth tried to look over his shoulder, Benedict quickly hided it.

"Nature." Benedict's cheeks flushed as he held tight to the sketchbook on his large trembling hands. "Don't you have piano classes to attend?"

"Don't you have anything else better to do besides staring at the window and drawing all day?"

"I have bussiness tonight to attend."

"Having a drink at the pub doesn't count"

There was a long pause in silence at the bridgerton residence.

"Stop bothering me or I'll tell mama you're ditching class." He blackmailed the young girl.

Hyacinth sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. "Fine...jobless." He widened his eyes but didn't have time to respond.

Benedict looked back at the busy london oitsude, carriages and people passing by as the aftertnoon sun set lower in the sky, the lightning soaking his paper as he visualized the thin lines made of coal that shaped a delicate face with string features and a strong personality.

Benedict smiled softly, finding silly the idea that he could not find any other better subject of study than that. But for now, it was sweet, a sweet secret he would keep it to himself. And no one else would know about it.

⚜️

Her foot landed at Kew at night. The smile across her face was bright and excited. And a familiar face made her even more happy. "Reynolds!" Bellatrix ran into the old servant's arms.

"Oh, your highness" he chuckled softly and pat her back.

Reyonds was her father's most loyal confident, after her mother, he was the one most present in the king's life. He dedicated his whole existence to him, his duty, his work was his soul.

Maybe that us why he was so distant. At first, when George was present in events, Reynolds would accompany him, but now, the king was secluded to Kew, and so was Reynolds. Bellatrix would only see him when she'd meet her father, and still, she wouldn't have much time with him either hence he was always occupied. It was quite sad sometimes.

"It is a pleasure to receive you, princess." Reynolds smiled. He was around Brimsley's age, an already middled aged man with sparkling blue eyes and blonde to white hair, some wrinkles here and there, and some discrete smiles only when necessary. "Your usual room is already prepared, I'll have the servants take your bags."

"Thank you very much, Reynolds." She smiled.

"It is no trouble, your highness. Please follow me." He said as he entered the palace. As she walked with him, she could already feel at home. "So, debut season...how are you feeling about it all?"

"Honestely? Some sort of feeling between terrified and excited, but also with some anger."

"Anger?" He lifted one eyebrow.

"Some suitors can be quite exhausting."

He almost laughed. "Are they exhausting or are you too demanding, your highness?" He mocked.

"I see your attitude hasn't changed."

"I acquired it while you grew up, I needed to keep up with yours." The two exchanged nostalgic laughs and memories of a young Bellatrix running with diapers across the palace with Brimsley and Reynolds after her. "I am sure your debut will be quite memorable and you'll find a good husband."

"Amen to that, let's just hope I don't commit homicide in the meantime."

The two made a turn upstairs and finally arrived at the princess chambers, where a young woman same age as the princess was established. By the apron and the attire she wore, that redheaded and nervous presenve was the servant her mother assigned to her, she assumed.

"Princess, this is Miss Yvette Soyet, she will be your new valet." Reynolds showed the woman. "Miss Soyet, this is Princess Bellatrix."

Yvette bowed immediatly with enthusiasm. "It is an honor to serve you, your highness. I promise to do my very best!" She exclaimed fiercely.

"Thank you, Miss Soyet." Bellatrix nodded but couldn't help but feel suprised at her prompt energy.

"Well, I'll let you get settled and rest." Reynolds said kindly. "Have a good evening, your highmess." He excused himself.

Bellatrix took a deep breath and lied on the bed lazily, as Yvette quickly organized the princess' dresses at her wardrobe, even without beibg asked to.

"I can do that, don't worry." Bella said.

"Oh no, I insist, your highness." Yvette quickly organized the wardrobe and finished within minutes. "May I assist you in anything else? Would you like me to prepare you a warm bath?"

Bella furrowed her eyebrows. She was of course used to royal treatment, but having a valet for her own was quite...strange still.

"Um...no, thank you." She replied. "I think I'll just rest now."

"As you wish, your highness." She smiled and bowed. "If you need anything, just ring the bell by your bed, I promise to come as quick as lightning." Bella felt very tempted to test that impossible statement but contained herself. "Good night, princess."

"Good night."

Once the door finally closed, Bella let out a sigh and stared at the ceiling. Her mother wasn't kidding when she said she'd have work to do, now she'd have someone following and registering her every move, it creeped her out honestely.

But still, she needed to be strong, she had to.

At the side of the bed, on a chest for drawers, there was a candle lightning the room, the bell, and a small envelope. She took it carefully in her hands, recognizing immediatly the perfect caligraphy "Brimsley" she thought.

Once she got thevthe content from inside, there it was, the list of bachelors of the season, hand picked by the most suited ones to her purpose.

Didn't cared to read for long enough and put the list aside, just then, she almost jumped as she caught the glimpse of the first small portrait of the men there.

The viscount's insolent smile haunted her even through ink, it made her blood boil. "Never." She took the candle in her hands and withought thinking twice, burned the small image of the libertine.

Relieved as she watched the paper burn, she set all the stuff aside and lied on the bed again.

Finding a good husband within such imbeciles unworthy of her presence... That would be a hard challenge.