'What is she cooking this time...' I studied the girl in front of me.

With her lips gaping slightly and her eyes dazed, Lady Heliard blankly stood there.

"Pardon me, but can you say that again?" Asked her, placing her falling hair on the back of her ear.

'She's cooking something, this girl...' I winced slightly in doubt.

I just knew by the smell of it. And I knew trouble when I smelled one.

"I said, we've met before. Don't you remember me?" I repeated myself.

"Impossible. I can't believe we've had the opportunity to meet before. Believe me, my Prince...I wouldn't miss you for my dear life..." Said her, stepping closer. "Can you spell your name slowly? Forgive me, but the surrounding disturbance must've rendered my ears useless."

'...Is she for real?'

Blushing red as a cooked lobster, she was within my arm's reach.

Should I humor her regarding the issue with her hearing capability, or should I blatantly ignore her in front of all these people? I was genuinely confused. And if that was her ploy, I sure as heck didn't know where she was going with it...

Either way, I just wish we could settle whatever this was at the most appropriate distance between us. You know...a meter or two apart...

Then again, I didn't need to wonder for long.

Helena, my savior, was there with me.

"You heard him just fine. Now take your cunning claws off my fiance and piss off!" Spat Helena harshly.

"Why, crude as ever, aren't you, Princess?" Responded Lady Heliard with an awkward gesture as if she was holding a fan.

The girl then frowned, disgruntled due to her late realization that she had, in fact, lost it.

"Only to some. Now, back off. You're not welcome here." Scoffed Helena in ridicule.

"Given it is your birthday party, I understand you might think everything is about you, feeling like you have all the power and the world would turn at your beck and call." Swiftly, her hand slid to the side, swiping her hair.

'Beck and call? The heck is she talking about?' I shook my head internally.

"But that doesn't mean you can slight me in this way. If you would excuse me...I still have some unfinished business with this fine gentleman, and you are intruding, Fifth Princess." Added her with a stone-cold expression, seemingly impatient enough to drop her goody-two-shoes facade.

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"I am intruding nothing. He is my fiancee. If nothing, you're the intruder here." Stated Helena sharp, not backing down.

"Fiancee? No, he's not." Denied the former.

"Yes, he is." Nodded the latter.

"No, he is not."

"Yes, he is!"

They go back and forth, just like that...and being in the middle of it was so tiring...

"No, he is not, fifth Princess. I know what your dear fiance looks like, and I know for sure that he couldn't get anywhere near this...gentleman...even if he wanted to..." Argued the girl in disdain.

'Did she just roast and praise me at the same time...?' I lamented, muttering softly, "Alexander Von Dawson...The name's Alexander Von Dawson..."

"Why do you keep on saying his name, sir? Are you trying to pull a prank on me to lighten the mood of our first meeting? How sweet~" Giggled Lady Heliard, hands on her cheeks.

"Like hell it is! Get the hell away from Alex, you vixen!" Growled Helena angrily, putting herself between us.

Lady Heliard's face contorted in annoyance at Helena's sudden move. All the more so when she saw me tugging Helena's arm to have her calm down.

"Look here, Lady Heliard," I called.

"Yes, my Prince! Say what you want to say." Eyes beaming like the brightest stars, Lady Heliard smiled sweetly toward me.

I was speechless at her expectant gaze, caught a bit off-guard. 'Ha...Why do I keep meeting weirdos after weirdos...'

Nevertheless, I sounded once again. "My name is Alexander Von Dawson. You might remember me if I ever decide to put on some weight again, but-"

"No!" Cut Helena, hissing.

'Like...I'm trying to make a point here!?' I eyed the girl, baffled.

Helena pouted in return, throwing her gaze away to avoid mine.

Rolling my eyes, I continued. "As I was saying...You might not recognize me due to the difference, but all the major clues are there if you think about it. My family? The wheelchair...? And this insignia I'm wearing...You know...Dawson's insignia? You know we can't fake these out and in here of all places, right?" I flashed the barrel cuff and pointed at the Lion markings on the wheelchair's armrest.

At first, the girl just tilted her head in confusion, still with her selective hearing and thinking, unable to process my words. But as she saw the insignia and the expressions on my family's faces and gave herself some good moments to let everything sink in, her smile gradually melted before her breath grew faster and rougher, and she totally panicked.

"Are you really Alexander Von Dawson...?" Squeaky and weak was her tone.

"In the flesh." I spread my arm.

She trembled like a leaf. Her face ventured from a look of disbelief, horror, and, oddly enough...content at the end.

Before I could even wrap my head around what had just happened and tried to guess her train of thought, she had moved. Lady Heliard corrected her posture yet again, realigning her spine elegantly like that of a proud swan.

And with the warmest smile ever, she locked her eyes with mine.

I swore to god I could feel the cold air running in my back when I saw her looking at me like that. I could tell that trouble was brewing, and it would soon arrive before me. And believe me...I knew trouble when I saw one...

"So this is what Jennifer meant by from hate, came my love..." Mumbled her. "As the wise said...Love triumphs all, my love, Alexander..."

'Fuck me...'

Yeah, I was fucked...Big time...