Chapter 7: Meeting Duchess Bella

Oh! Its morning. I should get up and get ready. Sasha and I will be going back to our place. For Sasha still needs to sign some papers and I will be having lunch with Bella today. *Knock, Knock* Oh! someone is knocking.

“Come in,” I responded. Afterwards a maid came in and told me that Sasha was waiting for me. I finished getting dressed and went straight outside.

“Did you not sleep well Eugene? You’re the one who usually wakes up earlier,” She asked while seeing how worried she was. I just replied “everything was fine and we should get going.” In the car we talked about how her life will be changing. She looked so happy in reminiscing in our childhood memories was just like yesterday.

The times where the three of us would just play. My older brother, Michael, is usually “It” when we play tag. He was the slowest in running so it was easy to tag him despite that fact he knows the good hiding spots. He was really smart since young.

We were so busy with our conversation that we didn’t release that we have arrived at my house. My brother who was outside ready to welcome Sasha had a smile extending ear to ear. Subsequently I found my girl, she was behind my brother. Calling her “My girl” has always felt special. She was waiting for my return too. My girl is so pretty that men are blinded by it. She was perfect. She loved me and I loved her. She was not meek but quite enough to listen to your problems. She was not overly confident, she takes everyone opinions and weigh them which can be the best option.

“Hi! How are you? I’m sorry we haven’t met for a week,” I say to her while I hug her.

“It’s nothing. I understand. I missed you thou,” her reply while I held her hand as we get inside. The four of us had breakfast together. Mother and Father are away for a business trip abroad. They will be coming back in the afternoon. The breakfast was not noisy rather quite. Sasha and Michael just went on how the wedding is coming together smoothly. Of course knowing my brother, he was a well-organized person. He did everything according to plan.

Me and Bella just ate and did not speak. I think she knows I was too tired for a conversation. After breakfast I went to my room to rest. Bella followed me and said she will be continuing her work inside my room so we can spend more time together. Her maid brought all the work she needed to face that day. Thou being a Duchess where she shouldn’t be doing work and be likely just attend parties. She prefers to do the paperwork of her family. She usually bring some of her work at my room to maximize the time. For her home and mine were far away from each other. If we travel every day to see each other it wouldn’t be convenient. I slept soundly the minute my back hit the bed.

I woke up feeling that my arm was slightly heavy. I opened my eyes to see that Bella was asleep. I hugged her and continued to sleep. We are usually like this. Every time we hang out, it was mostly both of us hugging each other and telling how our day went. Sometimes we watch the movies she picked. As we the movie played she picked I was not looking at the movie. I was busy looking at her. How her eyes sparkle as she explains the plot of the movie. Rather than watching the movie I preferred looking and listening to her. I loved her. I loved everything. Her good side and bad sides. Sometimes we fight because of our difference opinions but it did need not made me love her less. In fact I loved her even more, the way she holds her ground and admits she was wrong whole heartedly. What is wrong with me? Thinking of another girl when I clearly have Bella.

As the sun went up, the warm breeze came from the window and woke both of us. It was the sign that is was noon. I kissed her forehead and said “hello beautiful.” she was so embarrassed that she buried her face in my chest. I rubbed her head and said it was time to get up and eat. She stood up with a face blushing. Seeing her red face reminded me of Freya. It was wrong of me. Thinking of another woman when Bella was in front of me. Before meeting her, I was too focused in school and being the good son I was for the last 17 years.

We met in the Kings Birthday ball. She was with her mother. At first I didn’t care who the beauty of the Monies Kingdom was. Fortunately, in the ball I had the chance to dance with her. Actually other than chance, I threatened the men that wanted to approach her that night. Why? For the moment she went inside the palace everyone had their eyes on her so I couldn’t help but also look. She was an angel. No, she was a goddess. Wearing a beautiful ivory ball gown. Embellished with diamonds and as the light hit it they looked like the stars fell from the sky then twinkled in her dress. The dress she was wearing had ¾ sleeves and a neckline right below her collar bone. For this reason she looked innocent yet charming. I had a goal that night. Which was to get her heart. I didn’t believe at love first sight before but I guess it was true. When the music started I ask her to give me her first dance. It was not only the dance I asked but confessed my feelings too. It was an unwritten tradition in Monies Kingdom where men confess their love to a maiden if one were to ask them to give them their first dance. It was nerve racking thankfully she agreed with a smile which it melted my heart away. I don’t know why but when we danced me couldn’t looked straight at her face without having my blood rush resulted to me with a tomato face.

After the ball, we met quite more often.  I don’t know if I was just busy looking at other women for I did not notice her presence before. Now we bump into each other more. Well I don’t attend parties often. I couldn’t stop thinking about her since then so at the 4rth time I met her I asked her for a date. She agreed while covering her face with a fan.

Our first day was at the capital in the newly opened restaurant of our family. She wore a beautiful red plain checkered dress. The color on her made her fair skin look like glass. While we eat, we talked about various things like favorite food, color and the names of our family. Until the chef interrupted us saying a problem occurred. I guess my faced lost its color when the chef came in with a bad news that she suddenly stopped eating and spoke.

“What is the problem? Maybe I can help?” she asked

“Well the chef says that coconut milk we are supposed to serve later in the birthday celebration of a customer has gone bad. I think we will have to replace it with a juice. I’ll call them later,” I said with a composed face to seem I was not fazed and handled everything perfect.

“What if we contact Mr. Lan if he has some coconuts you can use? How many do you need?” She replied with a straight face while holding her phone

“Who is Mr. Lan? And we need 150 coconuts. I think he wouldn’t have that many for an urgent matter. Thank you for the suggestion thou,” I tell her it was okay.

“I think we should call him first. I’ll call him and ask,” she said and stood up. She went at the door for better reception. After a minute she came back with smile.

“Mr. Lan said he has 150 coconuts and would happy to send them now if you want. What do you say?” she asked me with a smile looking like she won the lottery for a million dorrie. I replied with a nod and said thank you. Since then I grew more interested in her other than her impeccable face. She had a talent in the business world too. I did fell for her looks at first but now I see more than that. She was an independent, righteous and understanding woman. She was my woman.

The longer we were together, the more I knew how such a person could be extraordinary. I stopped seeing other women which my father choose to be my fiancé with a promise I have met the woman I will spend this lifetime until my last breath. I planned a small dinner at a restaurant with just the two of us. It looked like any casual dinner we had before but I specifically asked the chef to put the words “Will you marry me?” in a plate written in chocolate when dessert was about to be serve. Then it was time, I asked her for to be my wife. I wanted to make a big party and ask for her hand to let the whole world I loved her but no, I love her enough to understand she is not a fan of big attention and loves intimacy. We are now engage for two years. I still don’t know a lot of things about her nonetheless I am willing to invest the rest of my life to know all of her. She has taught me love in the most beautiful way.

*Eating lunch with Duke Michael and Duchess Sasha. April 28, 2025*

The four of us went to the dining table at the same time. We greeted each other and smiled. My brother asked Bella and said “How is the East doing?”

 “Everything is okay. We also expanded our market to the Bubhe Country recently,” she said with a genuine smile. For she was the one who made it work thou the Bubhe was a difficult country to do business with.

“I wouldn’t be surprise because the East has a one of a kind leader,” he said.

“You flatter me too much, Duke Michael. Thank you,” she replied. We continued to talk about on who is the Souths’ candidate to be king. It was mostly a brother of Duchess Sofie. The Duchess had two younger brothers, Simon and Arthur. My guess it would Arthur being the eldest son but I can’t forget the talent and skills of Simon. My brother thinks it is Arthur too for recently he was making his businesses bigger for the last month. At the end of the day, No matter who was the chosen one from the South? All candidates fought with their own strength and weakness.

After lunch we went to our own rooms. Bella went back to her work while I keep myself busy in reading a book. She remained silent and kept focus on her task at hand. When she starts to work she just go to work mode. Lately she has been extra busy because of her expanding business. I wasn’t lonely because I was also busy with accompanying my future sister in law. After sometime, I fell asleep again.

I ask myself “where am I?” as I look around the room. Seem that I am attending to what appears a ball. The King and Queen are having the first dance. As always they look amazing. The king looks different as well as the Queen. Maybe it’s because of the weird clothes they are wearing. All of the guest are. People are wearing 18^th century styled clothes. People wore the latest fashion trend in balls but seeing them like this is surreal.

From the crowd of women, I spot a beautiful woman in blue. She was wearing a blue ball gown. Neckline was decorated with pearls and beads that follows her curves. She wasn’t wearing the prettiest dress or have the kind of beauty that men could kill for, rather beauty was in her eyes. Her eyes that sparkled from the joy in seeing the romance between the King and Queen. She must be thirsty for love too.  The dance of the Queen and King was about to end. I looked at the woman in blue as I observe her to see if any man will ask her. The dance of the royal couple ended and none approached her.  The orchestra played Claire the blue. Unknowingly, my feet moved on its own. I approached her and asked.

“Lady, would you mind to give me your first dance?” I said.

“Well I am not a good dancer but I would love too,” she said. We went to the center of the ball and started to dance the waltz. I appreciate her honesty saying she is not a good dancer. She has stepped on my foot quite a lot but I didn’t complain instead I was too mesmerized by her existence. Looking up close she was truly a beauty.  I look into her golden eyes. It was good that it was night time for the sun would be ashamed to even try outshine the light in her eyes. Neither the moon nor stars can come close to compare how her skin was glowing.   Her black hair didn’t represent the dark rather reminded me of a rare black diamond. Precious yet strong and invincible. The way she tried to follow my rhythm was as cute as she gets more steps wrong. She looked like a cute puppy. If she was from here I would know her and so I asked her.

“Lady, May I ask what is your name? This is my first time seeing you,” I said.

“I am Lady Freya. I am a visitor so this is my first time,” she said.

“For beginners you are doing amazing. Until now you just stepped on my foot for at least five times already,” I said. I gave her a smile to comfort her that everything was all right.  Thou my toes were hurt from the frequent stepping but it didn’t matter. It was fine for she was the one who caused it.

“I told you. I am not a good dancer so who’s’ fault is it do you think?” she said. We danced through the whole song. Locking our eyes with each other gazes. I bet other people would have already noticed how sweet we looked at each other.

The song ended and the orchestra started to play Nocturne in E flat major. We walked back to where she was standing before. I waited for her to sit down and ask.

 “Can I join you through the party Lady Freya?” I said. She opened her mouth and I was sure she was saying something. I move closer to try hear what she was saying. Then a butler bumped in to me and I opened my eyes. I was back in my room and Bella was still working. Should I tell her? Why was the girls name the same as Freya?