Free Princess of Athelia: An Unfinished Fairy Tales Novella by Aya Ling Page B

is really like, I feel as if my heart is breaking.
    “You look awfully serious,” Amelie commented, running a brush through my hair. “Are you worried about His Highness?”
    How does she know? Only Edward knows the truth. And Poppy, though she remains skeptical.
    “Don’t worry,” Amelie says briskly. “Lillie Maynard may be scheming to get His Highness, but he will watch out for himself. And even if she does succeed in getting him into a compromising position, he would never agree to marry her. Especially when he announced his choice at the ball.”
    Lillie. It’s obvious that she is head-over-heels in love with Edward. I hate to say this, but I admit I’m jealous. Not just because she’s hot enough to be an A-list actress, but also because of the gardening knowledge she shares with Edward. I can’t get a word into their conversation whenever she comes to talk to him. Although Edward did teach me how to recognize and tend to certain flowers, I can never match his passion for nature.
    Suddenly, Krev’s suggestion about Edward finding another girl—however undesirable it sounds—enters my head. I don’t know anything about the old Katriona, but might it not be a better option if someone like Lillie takes my place when I’m gone? Lillie might not be mature enough in her way of treating me, but compared to the other girls, she is the best candidate for Edward. She’d be a better princess for Athelia. I shiver for a second. I feel as though I’m making a will.
    “But everyone knows that Edward and I are to be engaged.”
    “Doesn’t mean that she won’t try something devious.” Amelie shrugs. “But like I said, you don’t have anything to worry about. His Highness will guard himself well.”
    I picture Lillie with Edward. They’d make a gorgeous couple, even though my heart screams against getting them together. And if the old Katriona is anything like Bianca . . .
    No. I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want someone like Bianca to get him. Bianca only wants him because he never noticed her.
    “Your Highness?” There’s a note of alarm in Amelie’s voice now. I decide it’s best to change the subject.
    “By the way, what do you think about Bertram? I mean, he has a crush on you . . .”
    “What’s a crush?”
    “Oh, sorry. I meant that he seems to really like you, and I just wanted to know if you could give him a chance.”
    Amelie catches a wayward curl and pins it to the back of my head. I wonder if she prefers not to answer my question, until she finally speaks.
    “To tell the truth, I don’t really plan on marrying.”
    Now this is shocking. Very few Athelian women—whether they are noble or common-born—would declare a life of celibacy.
    “Why not?”
    “My sister suffered from a horrible marriage for ten years. Her scum of a husband didn’t work, gambled away her earnings, and hit her in broad daylight, just because she didn’t cook the fish to his liking!” Amelie takes a deep breath. “It took another three years for us to help her obtain a divorce. Father had to put a mortgage on the house.”
    “You can get divorced in Athelia?”
    “Easier for those who can afford to hire a lawyer. I’ve heard that a third of the nobles got divorced.”
    A third! Maybe it shouldn’t be that surprising, since marriages among the rich and powerful are rarely based on love. From my experience in the Season, a lot of men and women meet for a few times and then the man proposes.
    I wonder what the odds are of the prince getting a divorce if the real Katriona doesn’t get along with him.
    Hang on, we’re talking about Bertram here. I have to put in a good word for him, even if Amelie seems determined to stay single.
    “Come on, surely you don’t believe Bertram will treat you that badly? Even if he looks kind of scary when he doesn’t smile, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you. Actually, if anyone were to ask me, I’d say you are more intimidating than him.”
    “My sister’s