"Maddie, this is Prince Theodor."

The girl merely glances at the prince, unimpressed. "If you did not introduce him, Lena I would probably have pegged him as one of the stable boys," she comments off-handedly, continuing to shove eggs into her maw of a mouth.

Theodor's face burns passionately like there is no tomorrow.

Louisa stifles a laugh at Madeleine's comment, passing it off as a cough. "Maybe after this you will dress like a prince," she mutters under her breath, bringing her cup of tea to her lips.

"Oh, shush," he hissed at his sister, turning his eyes back to Madeleine and Elena. "I'm sorry for mistaking you for a servant girl -"

"I was pretty insulted."

"-but no one was supposed to be in that library."

"Library?" Louisa and Elena repeats in unison.

"Which library?" Louisa asks them, her grey eyes flitting from her brother to Madeleine.

"The King's library," Theodor replies.

"What were you doing in that library?" Elena turns to her cousin, horrified.

"Snooping," Madeleine mutters, keeping her eyes to her plate.

"Madeleine!" Elena says sharply, disapproval on her angelic face. "I'm sure Grandpapa would be very displeased if he hears about this."

Madeleine grins, a dimple making an appearance at the side of her mouth. "If he hears about it."

"Maddie," Elena sighs, "remember what you promised Uncle Nicholas."

The other girl's grin immediately turns into a pout at the mention of her father. "Very well, then," she mumbles begrudgingly.

"I am very sorry for my cousin's behaviour. Part of my grandfather's headaches are due to her antics," she says, smiling softly at her cousin.

"Part of our father's headaches are due to his antics," Louisa giggles, glancing at Theodor. "My, we better keep a watchful eye on these two. Who knows what mischief they could create."

The sound of scraping chairs against marble catches the young royals' attention. King Louis and Crown Prince Henrik are on their feet, Prince Albert hastily stuffing his last piece of toast before following suit.

"I would really love to stay but I have a council to attend," Theodor says to the ladies, quickly getting to his feet. "Louisa, Elena," he bows at them, be for turning to the last girl. "Lady Madeleine, it is a pleasure of making your acquaintance. I do so hope we wouldn't be stumbling across each other's path in such fashion after this."

"As do I, my lord," she nods.