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"Good morning, Eloise," he said, the corners of his lips curving into a warm smile.
"Bernard," she replied, her tone a careful blend of princess-like poise and the bubbling excitement that rose within her chest. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"I was wondering," he started, pausing ever so slightly as if to pique her interest, "if you would honor me with your company for lunch in the city? Just the two of us, getting to know one another beyond the palace walls. There’s too much formality here. We need to be able to be real with one another."
The words danced through the air, weaving a possibility Eloise had only dared to dream of until now. Her heart fluttered like the wings of the butterflies in the palace gardens, and she set down the peonies gently, worried her trembling hands would betray her feelings.
"Nothing would please me more," she answered, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I'm rather curious to see which charming locale you have in mind."
"Excellent!" Bernard's voice carried a note of happiness. "Prepare yourself for an adventure, then. Your kingdom's capital hides many delightful surprises."
As they strolled side by side toward the palace’s main entrance, Eloise allowed herself to bask in the idea of an afternoon spent with Bernard. With each step, she felt more hopeful, both for herself and her country. She imagined laughter shared simple things, conversations that taught them about each other, and perhaps even the tender touch of hands reaching across the table.
"Shall we take a car or indulge in the novelty of public transport?" Bernard inquired, a playful glint in his eye.
"Let's be adventurous," Eloise said, embracing the light-hearted spirit of the day. "Public transport it is. It might afford us a semblance of anonymity."
"Of course," he chuckled. "We shall be just like everyone else."
Their laughter echoed through the marbled halls, setting a tone of easy camaraderie.
"Today feels like the first page of a new chapter," Eloise mused aloud.
"Then we will do all we can to write the chapter perfectly," Bernard replied, his hand lightly touching her elbow as they descended the palace steps.
When he told her the café he wanted to go to, she suggested they walk instead of bothering with public transportation. “It’s only a short walk.”
“You know your country better than I,” he said, smiling at her. He loved the idea of walking through the city, two anonymous people who were hungry and looking for their lunch.
The clink of porcelain and the murmur of voices enveloped Bernard and Eloise as they settled into a cozy corner of the city's quaintest café. The wafting aroma of freshly baked bread and rich, roasted coffee was an ode to the senses. Eloise perused the menu with an air of contemplation before selecting a soup and a salad.
"Is the soup to your liking?" Bernard inquired, his eyes tracing the delicate curve of her smile.
"Delicious," she affirmed. "And your sandwich? It looks quite formidable."
"Ah, yes," he chuckled, eyeing the towering layers of roast beef and goat cheese, ingredients that were a hallmark of their land's unique cuisine. "It is a beast best tackled with strategy and finesse." And thus, he embarked on the humorous battle between man and meal, making Eloise laugh with his exaggerated expressions of determination.
Their lunch was a symphony of shared glances and light-hearted banter, where each bite seemed to draw them closer.
Once satiated, they found themselves amidst the verdant sprawl of the town's largest park. Children's delighted squeals punctuated the air, couples strolled hand in hand, and the world itself seemed to hum with the vigor of spring.
"Care for a game?" Bernard suggested, producing a frisbee from behind a bench with a magician's flair.
"Only if you're prepared to meet your match," Eloise retorted, accepting the challenge with a spark in her eyes.
They took positions, the frisbee sailing through the air with each throw, a pendulum marking the rhythm of their laughter. When the disc veered off course, landing among a patch of daffodils, Eloise pointed an accusing finger at him. "Clearly, your royal training did not include the art of frisbee throwing."
"Ah, but your highness forgets, it is the fault of the wind, not the arm," Bernard jested, bowing dramatically before retrieving the errant frisbee.
Back and forth they went, the afternoon sun casting long shadows that tangled with their feet. The game was less about keeping score and more about the sheer joy of playfulness that bubbled between them—a reminder that even royals could find freedom in the simplest of acts.
"Truce?" Bernard finally proposed, panting slightly from exertion and mirth.
"Truce," Eloise agreed, her laughter still echoing as the frisbee came to rest at their feet.
As they rested on the emerald expanse of the park, Eloise felt a curious sensation, like sunbeams being focused through a magnifying glass. She knew that sensation well—it was the weight of many eyes. She glanced up and caught the sidelong stares of passersby who tried to disguise their curiosity.
"I wish it was easier for me,” she whispered to Bernard, whose own gaze met hers with understanding.
