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"Is it not the constant struggle of royalty?" she quipped, but her jest did little to mask the tremor of uncertainty in her voice.
"True," he conceded, "but it is also a very human predicament. To choose with the heart or the mind—often they pull us in opposite directions."
"Yet you seem so certain of our...potential union." Her gaze met his, searching for the conviction behind those blue eyes.
"Because I believe in the strength of alliance, in the unity it can bring to our nations. But beyond that," he paused, stepping closer, "I believe in the possibility of finding unexpected joy in the duties we uphold."
"Joy," Eloise murmured, the word rolling off her tongue like a foreign concept.
"Yes," Prince Bernard continued, his voice low and steady. "I feel like the chance you are giving me can change the future for both of our nations. A chance to court you, properly, without pretense. To win your heart, rather than assume its allegiance due to my title."
She studied his face, noting the way the shadow and light played upon his chiseled features, creating a softness that was seldom seen in the public eye. The humor that so often graced their conversations was absent now, replaced by a sincere plea that resonated within her.
"Courting," Eloise echoed thoughtfully. “I see no other way that I can truly trust you to be a faithful husband.”
"Exactly," he affirmed, a hopeful gleam brightening his eyes. "I’ll do all I can to prove to you that I am of pure intentions."
He extended his hand, palm up, in a quiet invitation. She hesitated for only a heartbeat before placing her own atop his, feeling the warmth of his skin seep into hers.
"Very well, Prince Bernard," she replied, the corners of her mouth lifting in a tentative smile. "I will trust you to court me, not only for the benefit of our countries, but also..." She trailed off, her eyes meeting his with a spark of mischief, "For the sheer curiosity of discovering where this unexpected electricity might lead us."
The corners of his lips twitched upwards. "And may it be one of discovery, laughter, and—if fortune favors us—even love."
As they stepped back inside to rejoin the festivities, Eloise felt a peculiar lightness in her chest. Perhaps it was hope, or maybe it was simply the effect of Prince Bernard's unwavering gaze upon her. Whatever it was, for the first time in a long while, the prospect of tomorrow seemed undeniably romantic.
Her ears picked up fragments of conversations that buzzed like a hive of bees, each one laced with the honeyed weight of courtly intrigue.
"Theron's wheat surplus won't last the winter," an ambassador from Allenia murmured to his companion. "Prince Bernard’s marriage could secure us new trade routes."
"Indeed," the other replied with a conspiratorial arch of the brow, "and imagine if it were a love match—the alliance might be even stronger."
A minister from Theron scoffed quietly nearby, swirling the deep red wine in his glass. "Love? In royal unions? Not possible. But let us not forget the military support we require."
"Ah," said his ally, a shadow of a smile playing on her lips, "but love can inspire armies, can it not?"
Eloise's thoughts pirouetted between their words and the warmth of Prince Bernard's hand still tingling against her own. Apparently people were noticing her and Bernard, and though it seemed farfetched, she hoped it would lead to a union between the two nations.
"Did you see the way Lady Eloise looked at him?" a cluster of young nobles whispered not far off. "She's always been the dreamy sort, but with Prince Bernard, she might just become the storybook princess we've all been hoping for."
"Shh, they'll hear you," another chided, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "But wouldn't it be something? The solemn prince and our bookish Eloise finding true love amidst all this political nonsense?"
Prince Bernard offered her a reassuring nod, as if sensing the weight of the room's expectations upon her shoulders. He was ever the poised figure in public, a master at cloaking his nerves behind a veneer of composure. It left Eloise wondering—what did he truly feel beneath that princely facade?
"Come," he said softly, guiding her with a gentle hand at the small of her back, "let us enjoy the evening."
With every step and turn across the dance floor, a thread of anticipation wove itself into Eloise's heart. She found herself imagining the days ahead, filled not just with duty, but perhaps laughter, shared glances, and the quiet thrill of getting to know the man who might one day be her lifelong companion.
As the final notes of the orchestra faded into applause, the couple paused, their hands lingering together. Around them, the chatter of potential treaties and whispered alliances continued, but for a moment, none of it seemed to reach them.
"Until tomorrow then, Eloise," Prince Bernard said, bowing deeply before her. His voice held a promise, a hint of excitement for what lay ahead.
"Until tomorrow, Bernard," she replied, her heart fluttering with both nerves and hope. She watched him walk away—a prince among men, yet suddenly so very human in her eyes.
Eloise stood alone yet not lonely, her mind alight with possibilities. Could this courtship truly blossom into love? And would their union be strong enough to bridge the gap between two nations on the brink of discord? The questions hung in the air, mingling with the fading laughter and lingering scents of perfume and wax from extinguished candles. The night promised secrets, and the dawn, revelations.
Chapter Four
Bernard sauntered into the sunlit atrium where Eloise was occupied with arranging a vase of freshly cut peonies. The light played off his well-tailored suit, casting an almost regal aura around him as he approached.
