The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

"Are you busy right now? Can you accompany me to the kitchen now?" Alicia asked hopefully and Susan turned to Williams.

She had been looking forward to seeing what Princess Amber was going to do in the kitchen, and she had even promised to accompany her. How was she going to renege on her promise now?

"You can go. I will come up with an excuse," Williams told her quietly when he sensed her longing to go.

Paulina, who had been staring at Williams discreetly, felt her brows pull together when she noticed that he seemed to be ignoring her as he had yet to even spare her a glance since she stood there. Did she do something?

"Thank you. Let's go then," Susan told Alicia with a wide smile.

"We have to find Tyra first," Alicia reminded Susan.

"Wasn't she with you? Earlier, she said she was coming to your chamber," Susan said, and Alicia shook her head.

"I didn't see her. Let's find her quickly. It's almost time for dinner," Alicia said as she led both Susan and Paulina away.

Paulina turned to look at Williams one last time as they left, and she met his gaze. Relieved that he wasn't totally ignoring her, she gave him a polite bow before hurrying after Alicia and Susan.

When they didn't find Tyra under her favourite tree in the courtyard where she loved to sit and read her novels, they decided to check her chamber.

"Princess Tyra, are you in there?" Alicia asked as she knocked on the door, and Tyra, who was lying on her bed reading a novel, as usual, grunted her response.

Alicia opened the door, and both she and Susan walked into the chamber, while Paulina remained outside.

"I thought you were going to find her earlier?" Susan asked curiously as Tyra sat up on the bed, still holding her novel in hand.

Tyra looked at Alicia closely. It seemed to her that both Harold and Alicia were hiding whatever was happening between them.

"I was at your chamber. I knocked, but there was no response, so I assumed you were not in, and I left." Tyra answered.

She had knocked? Was that when she was inside with Harold? Alicia mused, wondering why she hadn't at least heard her. Or was that the reason Harold had pulled away?

"You did? Sorry about that, I was probably asleep," Alicia lied, confirming Tyra's thoughts that she was trying to keep whatever was happening between her and Harold a secret.

Tyra nodded. "I suppose you are here so that we can go to the kitchen?" She asked with a bright smile as she dropped her book and got off the bed. Although it wasn't a good time to do this, since Amber had Harold's permission already, or at least, he was aware of what his wife was up to, she didn't have any choice.

Alicia nodded. "It's a good thing you remember. Let's go then," she said, and they all walked out together.

"By the way, did you both hear that Princess Luciana is going to be punished and Prince Ivan is going to marry a new wife?" Alicia asked, and Tyra shrugged.

"That is what happens when wives go against their husbands. You shouldn't have gotten involved last night," Tyra said, and Alicia sighed.

"If you were Princess Luciana, wouldn't you have wanted someone to get involved?" Susan countered.

"Susan, we both know how things are done here. Whether or not Prince Ivan was right, Princess Luciana is his wife and she belongs to him. He can do to her whatever he pleases. One day you will be married and become a man's property too, whether or not you accept it," Tyra said bluntly.

Hearing the argument, Alicia recalled her brush with Luciana that morning and what Harold had also told her.

"Princess Luciana also said I shouldn't have gotten involved, so maybe Tyra is right. I really should learn to mind my business around here," Alicia said, making Susan feel sorry for her.

"Yes, you should. If you want to stay out of trouble and keep your husband safe, you should stay away from other people's business," Tyra said a bit more harshly than she intended.

"I still don't think you did anything wrong. Don't mind Tyra," Susan assured her and glared at Tyra, wondering why she was in a foul mood.

Alicia smiled at Susan warmly.

It felt good to know that even in this era where women were treated this way, there was someone like Susan. Now that she thought of it, Susan behaved more like a modern-day woman than someone from this era. Her only flaw was in thinking that Alvin was beneath her, and as such, she couldn't be in a relationship with him.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me," Alicia said with a wide smile before turning to look at Paulina, who had remained silent.

"Make sure you pay attention, alright? I'm going to teach you how to prepare some delicacies, just the way I love them so that you can prepare them when I'm not there," she said, and Tyra looked at her curiously.

"How did you learn to cook if your maid doesn't even know how to prepare the food you like?" Tyra asked reasonably.

Alicia laughed awkwardly once she realized her blunder and even Paulina was also wondering when her mistress learnt to cook and even had a favourite meal. Usually, she was served soups and roasted corn or meats and she accepted them without saying a word.

"Trust me, I came up with this recipe on my own. It's a new one, and she doesn't even know about it. When I'm done, you'll see what I mean," Alicia assured them with a bright smile as she led them into the kitchen.

"I'm still wondering why you were allowed to go into the kitchen in your kingdom. Are princesses not treated specially in your kingdom?" Susan asked, but before Alicia could come up with a response, the chef saw them, and he ran out to greet them. "My lady," he said with a bow, greeting all three women.

"We are here as planned. I understand you have your hands full as a result of the banquet, so don't worry. I won't take your time any longer than is necessary. Just show me to the area I can use, and give me everything I had asked you to help me preserve earlier and we will get out of your way," Alicia said, and the chef bowed to them before leading them inside, while the kitchen servants murmured amongst themselves since they were not comfortable with the presence of the members of the royal family in the kitchen with them.

"Your father is going to be angry when he finds out you are here," Tyra whispered to Susan as they followed Alicia and the chef.

"You're the Princess. You should worry about your mother's reaction," Susan whispered back.

Even though they both knew that this was a bad idea and they were going to get scolded for it, Alicia couldn't be resisted.