The Problematic Prince - Side Story 16 - The Beautiful Fool

Erna heard Bjorn return, right on time for the next lesson. She straightened when he came into their room without knocking.

Erna had been in conference with Mrs Fitz, going over the orders for the decoration of the garden during the festival.

“Well,” Mrs Fitz said, “we can go over the rest after dinner.”

Mrs Fitz could feel the tension building and excused herself as fast as she couple politely do so. Bjorn nodded his appreciation for his old nannies quick witted insight. Once the door was closed, only the Ducal couple remained.

“Why did you come in without permission?”

Bjorn didn’t reply immediately, he strode across the room and stood at the table beside her, while Erna pretended to be bust with adjusting the ribbons in her hair. He was already in his riding clothes.

“Why don’t you say anything?” Erna said, feeling the frustration rise in her gut already. Bjorn was glad he came.

Erna wasn’t really angry with Bjorn and while it was true she felt his words were inappropriate. She could understand that Bjorn was doing his best for her, to keep his promises. Bjorn always made time for her, even in his busy schedule, which is more than she could say for herself.

Although he does lack consideration and patience, he was doing his best to teach her how to ride a horse. It was love, unmistakeably so. She no longer doubted his sincerity, she just wished he was a little more affectionate. So if he came forward and apologized like this, she would accept it.

Bjorn held out his hand. “Stop going to class.” He looked at Erna and smiled. He was calm, as if he had completely forgotten about yesterday. “Let’s make it as if yesterday never happened.”

“Aren’t you here to apologise?” Erna said, grabbing the hem of her dress to stop herself from taking his hand.

“Apologise? Me?”

“I thought you were here to apologise for the way you treated your wife yesterday.”

“Oh, I was not trying to belittle you, you jumped to conclusions. I was just trying to point out that Dorothea has more experience with new riders than you do. It was an objective truth.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Horses are not stupid animals, Erna, if I wanted to compare you to a fool, I would not compare you to a horse.” Bjorn ploughed on with his explanation, a frown on his brow like it was all so obvious.

Rather than apologising, he came to her like he wanted to fight again, but even in the midst of that, he remained so frustratingly calm. It made Erna even more upset.

“So, what? Not only is Dorothea a better rider than me, but she is also smarter than me too, is that right?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what?”

“I am trying to correct your misunderstanding, while also trying to show you that I understand you, but you don’t seem to understand me.” Bjorn’s smile felt patronising.

Erna felt like she could finally understand what Bjorn had been trying to say. This was his attempt to reconcile, it might be more prudent to say that he thought he could resolve this if he forgave her.

Now who was dumber than a horse? A banker, so well renowned for his intellect and quickly became king of the financial realm, had no knack, or brains, for romance.

Erna looked at the intelligent fool. She stood up from her work and slowly took him in. She started from his highly polished riding boots, up his long, slender legs and past the red jacket. She stopped at his handsome face, that smiled at her.

She looked at him with new wonder. His handsome face gave her joy and that joy quenched her anger, it gave her the patience she had never known before.

“You’re under a lot of pressure because you’re clinging to, and obsessing over, useless things that you don’t have to manage yourself. I am trying to be supportive, am I not?”

Erna looked at him without saying anything, put her hands together and smiled politely.

“Could you please leave my room?” That was all Erna wanted to say to this beautiful fool.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Leonid Dniester was the chief celebrity for this years Summer Festival. Even though he was not participating in this years rowing competition, the interest about him poured over was more fervent than any of the previous years.

The crowd was filled with anticipation, waiting for the Crown Prince to arrive and when he finally showed himself, no one knew what to say, as he arrived with a beautiful young lady on his arm.

Leonid had put up with a lot of speculations and rumours leading up to this point, as he had never been seen with a lady before. Some even speculated that he was either monotheist or even gay.

Seeing him with a lady for the first time, everyone was filled with wonder and questions, who was this lady? Some thought that she must have been a foreign royal, not recognising her from any of the social circles. Some hoped the Prince would not be so brazen as to bring another foreign royal into the fold after what happened with Princess Gladys.

As the soft whispers formed into a huge crashing wave of rumour, the king, who had wrapped up his opening speech, put the Crown Prince at the centre of attention. The woman was dazzling as the summer sun poured over her.

She was introduced as Rosette Preve as the Crown Prince announced his engagement. The name was muttered on everyone’s lips.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“So, how does it feel to be engaged?”

Leonid had been taking some shade under a tree in the corner of the garden, looking to catch his breath when Bjorn found him. The waters now dyed with the colours of a setting sun.

The twins stood side beside, distinguished only by their fine garments, Leonids slightly finer, being the Crown Prince. The light from the glass lanterns hanging from the tree cast the brothers in a warm glow.

“Why are you still wearing those glasses?” It was rare to see the Crown Prince wearing his gold rimmed glasses, perched on his nose, guarding his face.

“Rosie likes them, its more familiar to her.”

“Rosie?” Bjorn sighed at the unfamiliar form of Rosette Preve’s name. “You crazy bastard.” It was the only thing Bjorn could think to say.

“Rosie seems to be getting on with the Grand Duchess.” Leonid said, pushing up his glasses.

Bjorn nodded, considering his brothers statement. The Grand Duchess of Schuber and the newly announced Crown Princess, were chatting away under an apple tree, still sat at the table where Leonid and Bjorn had left them. Throughout the course of their dinner, Erna and Rosette had complete control of the conversation.

“The Grand Duchess is a good person, Bjorn.” Leonid’s expression was serious, Bjorn nodded as he looked at his wife.

Erna had certainly done her best today. From the decoration of the flowers, the food and the seating arrangements, she had taken care of every little detail. She even spent the day hovering around the Crown Princess, almost like her shadow, caring for her and paying attention to her smallest needs.

She is a kind woman. There was no better way of describing his wife. It was a stark contrast to the fierce and snarky manner she took with her husband.

“Did you two have a fight?” The Crown Prince’s comment caught Bjorn off guard. “You should make up now, before there is too much misfortune, like last winter.”

Bjorn couldn’t quite make out what Leonid’s intentions were, when he placed particular emphasis on ‘last winter.’

“Shut up, Leo,” Bjorn smiled, cursing that terrible nightmare once again.

After a slight bow, Leonid left to be with his fiancee, who had just finished talking to Erna. Bjorn watched him leave with uncharacteristicly detached madness and laughed as if singing. Leonid never changed.

Bjorn concluded that there was no point in worrying about the Crown Prince and turned his attention to Erna, now sat under the apple tree all alone. She was admiring the glass lanterns in the apple tree, her whole face turned upward and accepting the warm glow from the lights. She looked so gentle and innocent.

“That’s why I am always the problematic Prince.” Bjorn laughed to himself, feeling a little despondent.

After being turned down a notch or two, he no longer sought reconciliation. The anger that had risen to his mind faded quickly. He would never be able to find the means to reverse the relationship. Erna was still distracted when he decided to commit to his job as a devoted husband. In that moment, their eyes met across the stretch of the garden, where their cold war played out.