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"Being watched? One day, it becomes part of the scenery," he replied with a wry smile.
Before she could ponder his words further, a small figure in a pastel dress, crowned with plastic gems and wielding a toy wand, broke away from her parents' watchful eyes and approached them. Her tiny feet padded across the grass in determined steps until she stood before Eloise, eyes wide with a mixture of bravery and awe.
"Princess Eloise, may I please have a picture with you?" the little girl asked, her voice tinged with the earnestness that only children possess.
"Of course," Eloise beamed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she knelt to the child's level. Bernard took the smartphone the girl had brought, capturing the moment as the girl posed proudly next to Eloise, her smile radiant enough to rival the princess's own.
"Thank you!" The girl curtsied, clumsily mimicking the grace of royalty before taking the phone and scurrying back to the safety of her parents.
"Shall we?" Bernard suggested, tilting his head toward the palace as the shadows grew longer with the setting sun.
"I’m not sure I’m ready for the day to end, but I know Mother is planning a formal dinner while your uncle is here." Eloise agreed, still touched by the encounter.
They meandered back to the palace, their path lined with flowers. As they entered the garden, a secluded haven within the royal grounds, Eloise noticed Bernard's peculiar stride; a rhythmic pacing that seemed more pronounced in the tranquility of their surroundings.
"Are you dancing or walking, Bernard?" Eloise teased, a playful lilt in her voice.
"Ah, the burden of long legs," he said, his mouth twitching upward in amusement. "One must always be cautious not to outpace the company."
"Is that why you're marching in place? To keep in step with me?" she laughed, observing his lovably awkward attempt at adjusting his gait.
"Caught in the act," he confessed with a chuckle. "I am indeed guilty of trying to synchronize my pace with yours. An imperfect science, I'm afraid."
Their laughter mingled with the rustling leaves, creating a symphony of mirth that filled the garden. In this space, removed from the formality of their titles, they were simply two young hearts enjoying the simplicity of each other's company, with the occasional tease to remind them of the day's joyous absurdities—a delicate dance of budding affection, performed in the theater of nature's grandeur.
They parted ways in the garden to ready themselves for dinner, knowing the clothes they wore, though not exactly casual, were not formal enough for supper.
Amid the clinking of fine china and the soft murmur of familial conversation, Eloise found herself in a state of heightened awareness.
Eloise's gaze, often resting on the gilded patterns of her plate or the blooming centerpiece, flickered toward Bernard with an unexpected frequency. Each glimpse captured him in a candid moment: a quiet chuckle at her father's jest, the arch of an eyebrow in thoughtful consideration, or the gentle manner in which he passed the breadbasket. His uncle sat nearby, observing their interplay with a glint of interest in his eyes.
"What did you two find to do today?" inquired James, leaning forward with an elbow propped on the table, a knowing smile playing lightly on his lips as he observed his sister and Prince Bernard.
Her heart skipped a beat at his question, and Eloise felt the warmth of the day's sunlight return to her cheeks. Bernard glanced her way, his eyes alight with shared memories.
"We ventured into the city," she began. "We dined at a quaint cafe where Bernard introduced me to the most delectable sandwich, an homage to our country's finest produce."
"Ah, the roast beef and goat cheese masterpiece," James said with a nod, as if recalling his own encounters with the local delicacy. "A robust choice for a man of equally robust tastes."
"Yes, it was," Bernard replied. "But it was Eloise who taught me the art of Frisbee in the park afterward. A sport I fear I may never quite master."
Laughter rippled through the room at his self-deprecating humor, and Eloise joined in, her eyes sparkling with merriment. "He has many talents, but alas, Frisbee is not one of them. We made quite the spectacle, didn't we?"
"Only the most entertaining kind," Bernard assured her, his gaze lingering with affectionate amusement.
As the meal progressed and conversations ebbed and flowed, Eloise caught herself once more stealing glances at Bernard. There was something about the way he fit so seamlessly into her world, his laughter mingling with hers, that filled her with a sense of hopeful anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, this playful camaraderie could blossom into the tender shoots of love.
King Albert's eyes crinkled at the corners as he watched Eloise recount the day's adventures with an infectious exuberance that seemed to light up the grand dining hall. "And then," she was saying, her voice dancing with laughter, "a little girl, no older than five, came up to us in her finest princess attire, complete with a plastic tiara that sparkled in the sunlight."
"Truly?" King Albert replied, his tone warm and encouraging. "Well, my dear, it is moments like these when you must remember the power of a photograph. Such memories are treasures for both you and the young ones who look up to their princess."
Eloise nodded, her smile unabashed as she imagined the countless little girls who might treasure a moment captured with her. Bernard watched her, a fondness growing in his eyes.
Dinner concluded with a flourish of silverware and crystal, and the royal party began to disband, drifting off into the various wings of the palace. Bernard, seizing the opportunity presented by a lull in the departure, offered his arm to Eloise. "May I escort you to your library?"
She accepted with a grace that seemed second nature, and together they made their way to the wing of the palace she shared with Theodore.
Upon entering the library, Bernard's gaze swept over the towering shelves brimming with leather-bound tomes and paperbacks alike. The scent of aged paper and wood polish hung heavy in the air, a testament to the room's sacred silence. He turned to Eloise, surprise etched on his features. "You truly love this place, don't you?"
