"You sure you don't want me to accompany you?" Geoffrey asked as Serena straightened the lapels of his minister's uniform.

"I'm not a child Geoffrey. Anyhow, it's just meeting with your mother. What are you getting so worked up for?" Serena answered.

Geoffrey sighed. He himself didn't enjoy talking to his mother nowadays. What more his pregnant wife? "I just worry about you. You're pregnant and I don't want you to be upset in anyway."

Serena could not help her lips from tilting upwards. "What would I be upset about?"

"My mother can be overbearing at times, pardon, most of the time. She likes to focus on the things one did not do well on, rather than lavish praises.. Very different from your mother." He explained.

"Hmm… is that the pot calling the kettle black?" Serena teased.

Geoffrey chuckled as he shook his head. Why does he even worry for the simplest of things? Serena has always had a strong personality. "If my mother gets too much…"

Serena held Geoffrey's face with her two hands, then she kissed his lips. "If she gets too much, I will just chant in my head that she has birthed the most excellent man who by some miracle became my husband like a mantra. Now, let's go down before you run late. It's 15 minutes past 8 already."

--

"Your majesty." Serena greeted as she gave a curtsy to the queen, Geoffrey's mother, Loretta. Yesterday afternoon, a call came from the palace to inform her that the queen was inviting her for tea. Thus, there she was today.

Loretta did not correct her form of address, "Come, sit down. We have a lot to discuss."

Serena rose to thank her and took the seat in front of her.

Loretta gave Serena another once over. Indeed, she was beautiful. Must be why Geoffrey was very much taken by her. "You have been engaged to Geoffrey for 4 years before marrying him, correct?"

 Serena wondered why she was asking when she knew the answer quite well. However, she just smiled and answered, "Yes, Mother."

"Then tell me, do you not know your duties as the crown princess? Or are you just purposely ignoring them?" the queen asked straight on.

Serena tried to maintain a neutral face. What duties could she be pertaining to? As far as she knew, she has been attending to them quite well. Then, she recalled the invites where she only responded with apologies. Now knowing where she was coming from. She answered, "Mother, I have not accepted any of the invites to social gatherings for I did not want to show outright favor to anyone. However, I will be hosting a party this 28th to make up for it." She explained. Although she dislikes her, she was still Geoffrey's mother, and if there's one thing that is for certain, she was on Geoffrey's side.

Loretta thought Serena's words over and found that it did make sense. She wanted to point her inadequacies through that, but her answer just blocked the myriad of things she wanted to say. Anyhow, scrapping that, she went ahead with the main subject she wanted to broach on that day. "Have you selected your lady-in-waiting?" she asked.

Serena has contemplated over that matter a lot. After her conversation with her mother, she thought that one way for her to gather allies was through the careful selection of her ladies in waiting. Now, since the queen asked about it, did she want to suggest some ladies? If Loretta was not Geoffrey's birth mother, she would think that she's going to plant spies, but since she was, perhaps she's wanting to help his son expand his connections through this?

"I have been contemplating about it. However, I have not been able to find someone suitable yet. Mother, do you have anyone in mind?" Serena asked.

Loretta smiled, at least Serena was not dumb to just get any lady for the role.

--

Now, let it be known that Queen Loretta, was also once an innocent princess in love. She has been engaged to then Prince Edward at the tender age of 14, fell in love with him at first sight when she saw him at 15, and married him at 19. Although it must have been scary for a princess to marry to a foreign land, it did not scare her. It was the norm, and she loved him, so she looked forward to their marriage.

When she arrived in Windsor, it was for their wedding day which was to happen 3 days later. They have only ever talked through a few exchanges of letters, but she has been looking forward to that day for 4 years. Besides, it was everything she lived for. Her purpose in life was to marry him and become the queen of Windsor. Nothing else mattered.

She placed all her trust in him, loved him, cherished him. When he suggested some ladies to become her ladies-in-waiting in addition to those she brought along, she thought that he worried about her and wanted her to have some companions from his own kingdom to help her. Thus, she treated them all well, and welcomed them with open arms.

Lady Floresca Geralt, the daughter of duke Geralt was one of them. She had no idea then that she was Edward's former lover. So, like an idiot, she became her favorite as their stature were most similar given that she also grew up like a princess only without royal blood. Besides, she knew many people and was popular with them too. Whenever she attended any party, she would bring her along so that she will know who's who without having to ask anyone else.

It was like a fairytale. From the moment she married Edward, to when gave birth to Geoffrey. But one day, reality came slapping her left and right. Visiting Edward's room, she saw him and Floresca engaging in an activity she thought Edward only did with her. She was so angry that she pulled floresca's hair and drag her down the bed.

--

TBC

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