Beatrice's Point of View

"Lady Winterbell?"

I stare up at my unexpected guest. Is it ironic that I said no one would come by other than Clovis less than 24 hours ago?

I didn't think Clovis would go and tell Louise himself.

Louise, being rather tall for a lady, stares down at me with a cautious look. Much like you'd give a venomous spider on your hand, that you're terrified will bite if you make a move.

"Did his Highness stay here last night?"

Straight to the point.

I smile a bit, and lean against the edge of the front door, putting my head on the hand I was holding the door barely open with.

"And why would he do that, Louise?"

Louise, stares down at my chemise. Chovis averted his eyes, but Louise has no reason to. Her gaze says enough.

"If I did seduce him, what blame would there be on me after what Delia has done? And I'm technically still his fiancé."

Louise looks dissatisfied with my words.

"I'd be a fool if I wasn't suspicious after seeing you on the balcony watching us, and now finding you alone in your mansion, after Clovis disappeared last night."

Certainly.

I sigh and open the door further to invite her in.

Louise steps in confidently in her usual military walk, and after closing the door I guide her to the reception room, where we finally sit down across from one another.

"I do have an agreement with Clovis. However, it is merely that he and little miss flower head has a little trial period. I have no intention of interferring further than that."

She stares at me and answers bluntly.

"If that was the case, then you wouldn't be observing the situation like this. You look more like someone waiting for their relationship to fall apart. Arrogance like that is why you lost him in the first place."

I lean back in the cough, unable to hide my knowing smile.

"Quite the opposite. If anything, the fact that I am doing nothing is a sign of respect towards Delia's way of manipulating people."

Louise's confidence wavers.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if that girl does it on purpose or if it's subconsious, but she's very good at pushing blame for things onto others. If I was in the palace, she'd find a way to turn the blame for all their relationship issues onto me, regardless of whether it is true or not."

Louise thinks my words over, but then shakes her head.

"She can take responsibility. She really doesn't like hurting people-"

"She just thought Clovis had thrown her away after seeing you two together, and made a mistake while in sorrow," I cut Louise off and finish her sentence, much to Louise's displeasure, but she doesn't correct me either.

"You really were spying."

I lean my head to the smile, and snap my fan open.

"Judging by how little fuss has been made during the day, and by the fact I haven't been called to the palace, I suppose they've made up though, so what are you worried about?"

Louise doesn't look like she wants to answer, and the hints of guilt in her expression, shows how uncomfortable she is with the topic.

"...Delia is still crying. She was crying all day. Clovis forgave her but she still can't stop."

I cover my lips with the fan and hold in a huff of laughter.

"He hasn't forgiven her. Just like she probably hasn't apologized properly."

Louise frowns at me, like my words were an insult.

"No he definitely forgave her."

I sit up properly and cross my legs, watching Louise's expression as she works through what I assume is whatever happened when Clovis returned.

"If he really had forgiven her, she wouldn't be crying. There are only three things that can soothe her crying, and his highness hasn't done any of them."

Louise looks at me hopefully.

"Which?"

She probably thinks that these are things that will just make the situation go back to normal, and that is partly true. However, either of those three things have a price. More specifically on Clovis' heart. Each thing is just abandoning his own feelings about the matter.

"I'm not you. Delia is the one that made the mistake. His Highness has the right not to forgive her."

Louise frowns, but doesn't argue.

"This is a lesson for him to chose his partner more carefully. He got tempted by a freedom from his role as a prince that he can't have, and chose someone stupid and innocent enough not to know that."

Louise presses her lips together, looking unhappy with my words, but it's not like she can't relate. A lot of people with betrothals have wondered at least once, if marrying for love would be possible. If they could just be themselves and not the role they were given.

It's not that strange that Clovis hoped he could be himself instead of just a prince with Delia.

But Delia lives in a fairytale.

"And what, you think you'd make a better partner? To begin with, one of the biggest reasons he can't stand you is because you've always looked down on him."

She defends her friend's choice, and likely still feels that I'm dangerous in some way.

It's probably true though. I might be overbearing.

It's hard not to be.

"If he would grow up and fulfill the role as my fiancé properly, that would likely cease to be a problem."

Louise sighs.

"Beatrix. How do I fix this? I can't help but to feel like this happened because of me."

She brings the topic back to fixing the situation. Or at least tries to.

"You can't. I've already placed a curse on their relationship. A curse that makes his highness unable to do what he needs to do. Probably."

Louise's horror speaks wonders.

"Beatrix!"

I laugh softly.

When a heroine and her female lead argue like this, there are three general things that can be done to fix it.

The first would have been for Clovis to apologize even though it wasn't his fault. However, the apology would have been that he made her lonely. Our agreement states that he cannot apologize for having to do his work.

Secondly, he could have told her he loved her.

Finally, he could have kissed her lips.

Without one of those, Delia won't believe he loves her, no matter what else he says or does.

Until she gets one of those, she'll keep crying like an abandoned child with no confidence.

I snap the fan closed and stand up.

"Don't worry, Louise. Even if it wasn't you, it would have been something else. Just be a good friend, and then you'll have done everything you could for his Highness."

I calmly begin to walk towards the front door to send Louise home.

"By the way. Is Delia sick today?"

Plot wise it would be suitable, considering Clovis hasn't forgiven her. Make sure she's sick so she looks even more pitiful.

I glance to Louise and see her frown.

"No. However her feet are injured from broken blisters as running over some branches."

I almost let out a laugh.

"My condolences. I'm sure the 15 minute walk to the offices in high heels must have been tough on her untrained feet."

Louise probably notices my lack of sincerity, but it's just that I can see how the plot would have had Clovis tending to her feet with a loving gaze.