Chapter 26: The Princess's manner

Maria's POV

I managed to sleep just before the dawn of day. I spent the last couple of days locked up and going through meetings upon meetings, contrary to being curled up in bed as Zia and Ursula imagined. I had received project and financial reports on all of my companies, and from what I saw, we were doing relatively okay.

For this reason, I closed my eyes to sleep a little more for a few minutes. However, minutes soon turned into hours, and the next time I opened my eyes, it was already mid-day.

Stretching luxuriously after that blessed sleep I just had, I yawned. My stomach rumbled rhythmically. Whatever Ursula gave me last night had successfully opened the floodgates of my appetite. I stepped out of bed and into my shower. After my bath, I came out feeling good. There was this need to appear sexier than usual today. I didn't know why, but I was feeling naughty.

I wondered if it had anything to do with the date with Roy tonight. Indeed, he didn't give me that feeling. I paused to scour my mind. With a sigh of relief, I breathed out again slowly. Of course, it had nothing to do with Roy. I could never be attracted to him.

Perhaps it had something to do with my resolution to get closer to someone. I laughed and shook my head. Of course not. Vincenzo didn't make me want to wear short dresses that showed my long legs. If anything, he made me want to strike him on the head with an iron bar.

I shrugged, failing to pinpoint my mood. I decided to go with it.

Finally, I stepped out on a short flowery gown. It reminded me of gardens and desires. Ursula would be both shocked and impressed. It was a deviation from my usual black first.

"This is a welcome surprise," I heard and chuckled slightly. I was right, I thought, staring at Ursula, who was looking at me in fascination.

"Someone is happy today," she continued, and I ignored her teasing remarks.

"What's for breakfast?" I asked, changing the topic.

"More like lunch. Zia went up to your room to check up on you, but you were fast asleep," she said, tossing me fresh salads. I looked at the plate and scrunched my face in disgust.

"I want meat, not this," I said, pushing it away.

"What type?" Ursula asked. I was going to answer earnestly when I noticed the mischief in her voice.

"Ursula!" I screamed, unable to control myself.

"What? You're putting on hot gowns and asking for meat. Just saying?" She shrugged, and I shook my head in morbid fascination at how dirty her mind could be.

It wasn't delusional. It had been quite a while since I had the meat she was talking about.

"It's been a while if we're being honest," she lowered her voice and said.

I sighed in defeat. There was no way to escape this conversation.

"It has. Almost a year already," I said. We stared at ourselves pitifully.

"You may have some action soon, though. Lucky you" she suddenly hung her face.

"What is it?" I asked, settling for the salads since no other food was probably coming my way anytime soon.

"I waited like a fool for his call last night, but he didn't?"

"Okay," I shrugged. "Why didn't you call him?"

"Oh, Marie. I didn't collect his number. He did mine," she said exhaustively. I allowed the silence to stretch slightly, not knowing exactly how to comfort her. "What if he never calls again? Is fate going to give me a third chance?"

"Nonsense! Don't say that. He is going to call. He's probably trying to tease you a bit. Make you desperate for his attention. You know, normal male behavior," I finally said.

"In that case, he should be warned. I'm a German princess. Not someone he can toy with," she said, stabbing the poor cabbage on her plate with her fork.

"He'll call," I finalized.

"So what about your date?" She asked, changing the topic again.

"What about it?"

"Have you picked out a dress yet?" She asked.

"I have something in mind. In the spirit of feeling sexy, I may have just the exact dress I need."

"Oooooo! Now I'm intrigued. Maria is going to put effort into her appearance. Roy is such a lucky man," she clapped excitedly.

"Calm down; it's not for him. I'm just in a mood. I've been scratching my head since I woke up to figure out its trigger. Perhaps, it has something to do with the food you gave me yesterday" I raised my head and looked at her suspiciously. She only laughed.

"You amaze me, Marie. Maybe you're just horny. It's not like it's something weird."

"Maybe," I agreed but paused when it fully hit me.

"If I am horny like you said. Should I be going on a date with anyone" I said apprehensively.

"You're Maria. It took you an essay to finally and not even fully admit the possibility of being horny. You're not going to act on it?"

"What does that even mean?" I asked, feigning annoyance.

"It means you're stone cold and impassive. Nothing can move you except you want it to. And honestly, I don't think Roy is someone you can get attracted to," she said, that disgusting look returning.

"He is hot, though. We can't deny that," I said absentmindedly.

"Maria, Maria, Maria, if you keep talking so carelessly and unguarded, which is highly unlike you, I may just be afraid for you at the dinner tonight," she teased and rolled her eyes. She was right about something, and I wasn't attracted to Roy.

Maybe if he was less of an ass and used his head, there could have been a possibility. He was fine enough. He was just annoying. Just then, Zia Benedetta walked in, and I sighed with relief.

"Zia! Ursula was about to kill me with this awful salad," I complained, pouting.

"You ungrateful human" She dropped her fork in disbelief. "I was about to kill you, but you're almost done with the salad," she accused.

"I was too hungry, Zia. I didn't have any choice" I ignored her and focused on Zia, all smiles.

"Why didn't you call one of the maids to make something for you. Or cook something yourself?" She asked in amusement.

"The maids nor I have your magic hands," I replied in the cutest voice. Ursula rolled her eyes so hard I could see its internal parts.

"I'll make something urgently for you now, my dear," Zia said, getting to work. I brought out my tongue mockingly at Ursula, who snatched my bowl of salad away.

"Why?"

"Almost killed you?" She scoffed. "You don't deserve this beautiful work of my hands," she said, pouring it into hers.

"Well, you could have made it tastier. Maybe it would have been edible then."

"At least I whipped up something myself instead of whining like a little girl," she retorted.

"Cut it off, girls, and come help me slice some things," Zia said, and we both readily obeyed.

Zia Benedetta shook her head as she watched us fight for who would slice the onions.

"I'm going on a date. I can't have the smell of onions sticking on me."

"I'm going on a date. I can't have the smell of onions sticking on me," she mimicked. "It's almost like you'll be going from the kitchen straight to the date," she mocked.

"Zia Benedetta! Tell Ursula to stop attacking me."

"She started it, Zia Benedetta."

"Alright! I have had enough with you. Go out, and I'll do everything myself. I'll rather do this in peace than live through one more moment of your constant bickering."

"Fine!" We both walked away without much talk.

"It worked!" Ursula whispered as we got out of the kitchen.

"It's been quite a while since we've pulled off that trick. Glad it is still effective," I whispered back to her, and we laughed silent enough not to alert Zia.

"What do you suggest we do, my lady, before the food arrives" I bowed, beginning our little role-play.

"Perhaps, we could engage in some entertainment," she replied.

"Of what sort? I suggest we look through clothes. It is always fun to play dress-up."

"This is so, my dear. Lead the way then. We mustn't waste any more time." She said.

"My lady," I bowed and walked, and she followed me. We got into my room and, as if on cue, burst into laughter.

"So show me what you're wearing for dinner," she asked, and I obliged.

"Marie!" She screamed on seeing it. "This is some sexy piece of clothing."

"It is," I replied. "Wait until I'm ready tonight. If I'm not in the news tomorrow for causing a storm, then I'll be well and truly disappointed," I declared with a hint of finality, and Ursula made a cheering sign in agreement.