**3rd Person POV**
“I know Lowell's parties can be a bore but I assure you…”
“Lady Francesca, if you do not mind, Prince Harlin is walking me right now. I have had a long day and I would love to reach the palace quickly,” said Charlotte. She had refused any special welcome only that Harlin came to welcome her personally. She hated fancy carriages and guards lining up just because she was coming to see family. It did not mean however that she was okay with a woman flagrantly disrespecting her presence.
“I hope you can make it tonight,” she said the word tonight like it held a promise. When she was gone, Charlotte looked at her cousin with her right eyebrow raised.
“You slept with her,” her tone was playfully accusatory.
“I wasn't thinking with my head,” Harlin admitted. If he had, he would have found out a little more than just her name before agreeing to go ‘upstairs’.
“And if you could go back in time?” quipped Charlotte.
Harlin did not have to think of a response, “I would still do the same thing. It was the best sex ever.”
“You and Reginald ick me, sometimes. Ah! Word has it that Princess Alison is looking for a worthy bride for her nephew. Dear cousin, your philandering days may be over soon,” teased Charlotte.
Harlin scoffed and said, “Never.”
“You will cheat on your wife?”
“I will marry no one except if I deeply love her. I have made that very clear to Aunt Alison,” said Prince Harlin. He hoped the issue of marriage was one he could win against his aunt. He could not bear the thought of being forced to live out his years with someone he could not tolerate.
“On the issue of marriage, how is your betrothed?” asked Harlin and the both of them burst into laughter. Alpha Raphael had gone to great lengths trying to secure a betrothal for his son. He had asked Dagen too and that had almost led to the end of their friendship. Although Raphael had stopped asking for Charlotte's hand on behalf of his son, it did not stop his son from trying to secure her hand himself. He wrote countless letters which the trio read and took turns doing impressions of. They had great laughs over his attempts to court Charlotte.
“Actually, he has stopped his pursuit. I have received no letters this past month but I believe that is because he is rather fond of some other princess at the moment.”
“Do not worry, Charlie. His love for you is unwavering,” teased Harlin and despite her attempt to feign anger, Charlotte found herself laughing.
“If it is not my favourite twin in the world,” Alison had a bright smile on her face. She had stood at the palace gates to welcome Charlotte. Charlotte had not realised they had reached the palace so quickly. It was always that way with Harlin; time always moved quickly when one was having fun.
“Aunt Ali, you must say this in front of Reginald if you want me to believe you,” returned Charlotte as she hugged Alison.
“I think you'll believe me when you see the feast I have prepared for you,” said Alison. The way to Charlotte's heart was through her stomach. They often joked that one could not kill Charlotte in combat but she would joyfully eat poison if it was cooked in a mouth-watering delicacy.
“Aunt Ali, you're simply the best,” Charlotte tightened her hug making Harlin scoff. His aunt was certainly partial to Charlotte. Sometimes, he felt like she loved the twins more than she loved him but then again the twins had that effect on everyone they met.
“And remember those pearls we discussed the last time?” quipped Alison. There was an excitement in Alison's voice that Harlin was all too familiar with. It was the voice of his aunt when she was talking about clothes and shoes and glittery things.
“You have them? Aunt Ali! You cannot be serious!” cried Charlotte. One would think that a girl who loved being in the middle of flying arrows and swishing swords would not care much for frivolities but Charlotte loved pretty things just as much as she enjoyed gore. She had been taught by her mother and great-grandmother that femininity was a powerful tool and over the years she had learnt to channel her femininity to getting the things she wanted.
“I am dead serious, Charlie. You should see the way they glisten. Even the sun would be envious!” It was at this point that Harlin turned off. He knew that they would spend the next hour discussing the latest fashions and trends. When they began like this, Harlin was sometimes tempted to tell Alison to make her own friends and stop stealing Charlotte from him.
****
“Your Royal Highness!” They all looked up to see the intruder. It was Lowell, standing at the door with an irritating smile that stretched his lips. It was the audacity for Harlin; it was like the palace was his home. He needed to have a word with the servants. He needed to ask them if they worked for Lowell or the royal family. He could see that even his gracious aunt was slightly annoyed by this interruption.
“Lord Lowell, what brings you here?” asked Alison, trying to mask the annoyance in her voice.
“I heard that the brave Princess Charlotte had graced us with her presence. I had to come see for myself. Princess…”
“Lord Lowell, this is a private dinner. Please leave,” Alison was very direct. Lowell had a look of surprise on his face for a few seconds but soon recovered. He replaced his surprise with a smile, “Of course. I apologize if I have overstepped my bounds but since I'm here, I would like to extend an invitation to the princess to attend my wife's birthday party celebration tonight.”
“Thanks for the invite, Lord Lowell. You may leave us now.”