Blue Blood and Belgium Chocolate

|18| The Birthday Ball

PRINCESS FABIANNE

Going to turn 26 with or without a Birthday Party

I DIDN'T HAVE the mettlesome to let him know why I hadn't invited him. So, I'd managed to slip his invitation out there. It felt like a fantastic idea at the time. I had actually been proud of myself, but now as I sit with my mother over tea. It dawns on me that in-light of recent events that might not have been the best idea.

What was I thinking?

I should have just left him uninvited.

And if I was to contact him now to not come, he'll begin to worry. I couldn't tell him about the break-in either to explain why exactly an Australian billionaire should not be here. 

"So, Fabianne, you really have nothing to worry about your 26th birthday ball," my mother says gleefully keeping the pink file on the table. She picks up a tea cup her blue eyes glinting at me. 

"I'm surprised you want to go with it mother," I say softly, "I thought you'd be the one convincing me why it was a bad idea."

It's why I had planned a series of cards apologizing for the ball to be cancelled.

She laughs. Smiling brightly. "I know, but the security is untouchable, we've even got a facial ID scanner for all the guests!"

It's unlike her. It almost worries me. She's the most paranoid of us all, and only recently had Daegan managed to surpass her in that department. He'd been against the ball early on and unapologetically vocal about it too. 

His points are all valid. 

Hence, why I'd gotten a invitation cancellation done and ready to send out. 

It's not just my personal issue I'm worried about. I didn't want to be caught. I honestly don't want to imagine the repercussions I might face for even dating him. 

No, I care for Lady Arianna's safety. 

She had a gun pointed to her face. 

"I'm just worried with how Lady Arianna would react, it's so soon after the incident."

My mother's eyes turn cold, "Lady Arianna will react with nothing but joy to my daughters birthday ball." 

I swallow. 

"Do you think she will react otherwise?" My mother takes a sip of the earl grey tea. There's an iciness to her tone. It looks like somewhere, somehow, Lady Arianna managed to displease my mother. 

And no one in their right minds would want to displease her.

I reply tentatively, the memory of her holding Laurie and Jasper sharp in my mind. "She's not very..." I hesitate, looking for words, "'stable at the moment."

"She's marrying Adaliz, she needs to learn that her comfort is no longer a priority." My mother puts her teacup down, "You'd think she'd understand this by now with her cousin almost on the throne."

I can tell my mother's going to talk more. So, I sip the earl grey tea quietly waiting for her to speak. The smell of fresh roses wafts over to where we're sitting in the garden. The sun is warm and pleasant on my skin.

I'm right, as always.

"We had an agreement with Greece," Her voice is aggravated, "you were to marry Prince Philip. They conveniently let him forget this and get engaged to that peasant, not even Greek. We don't hear a word till the wedding invitations were sent." My mother shakes her head, her beautiful dark hair bouncing, "So, instead of having my daughter marry the Prince to a kingdom, we're forced to settle with one of theirs on our throne."