Once Upon Royals

Royal Chapter 2

Dining Hall, The Palace [Matias Kingdom, Beaumont, Belgium]

"The Dining Hall was already packed of people that finally arrived at The Palace, Your Highness. Would you like to go down now?" I turned to face my maid, Marie, who just entered my room.

"Thank you for the information, Marie, but it's good to be a little late about five minutes. I want to be noticed at the Grand Dinner." I giggled and look back at myself in the mirror. Olivia is currently brushing my long blonde hair. I requested to braid it and clip it up around my head that it will look like a crown.

I glanced at my navy-blue gown. My maids made it for me. It has sequences and sparkling beads all over the gown making it look more stunning. I look charming and gorgeous and I think I'm good enough for a new impression of the new ones and an expectation to old friends.

Someone knocked on the door. Daisy opened it and surprisingly, my brother Costello stepped inside my room. I looked at him with confused eyes. What is he doing here?

"You might be asking of what am I doing here. I'm here to escort you dear sister to the Grand Dinner."

"Who told you to do this? I think you should escort Kadline first before me or you can just go yourself since I'm a grown-up lady. I can take care of myself." I slightly smiled at him. He sighed and look at me like saying that I shouldn't complain because we both don't have a choice.

"Even if I want to walk alone, Mother said that I should accompany you and look after you also" So my dear Mother ordered him. I didn't expect that. I thought she'll send Alfie as usual. She's up to something again.

"Wait for me outside a minute, I'll get ready." Then he went out of the room and I let my maid do my final look before I go out of my room.

I look at my dear brother. I'm not comfortable with him at this moment. He's my brother but I don't know him. I don't know how his mind works and what his personality is. I'm starting to think that my Mother is using me to get Costello a lot of attention tonight.

We're walking in silence. I almost thanked the gods when we finally reached the door to Dining Hall. I thought I'll be deaf because of silence. He's not a talkative person, I see. The guards opened the door for us and announced our names. As expected, there are only limited families that are invited to the Grand Dinner. The huge Dining Hall was only half packed with people. I can see that this will be one of those boring parties I've ever attended but I still hope it's not.

People stopped what they're doing and faced us. We curtsied first before starting to walk downstairs in the long staircase. Aside from silence, you can hear whispers. I can't blame them. They've seen a new face inside the palace. I wonder what are they whispering about. Whether it's good or bad, be sure I won't hear it.

When we reach the Dining Hall's ground, I let go of my hold in my brother's arm. I turn to face him. "I'll see you around brother."

I am about to walk towards my friends when he stopped me and whispered, "Can you keep me company for a bit? I'm not familiar with all these people. I don't even know them." I raised my eyebrows thinking if I should do it.

"Sure, I'll introduce you to my friends first until when Lucifero comes." I walk to the direction of where my dearest friends standing talking about something. When Eulalie gaze at us, they all turned their heads to face us and smiled. I greeted them with a kiss on their cheeks.

"Ladies, meet my brother, Costello Porello. He arrived this morning from Sicily, Italy." I introduced him to them.

Eulalie extends her hand and said, "I'm Eulalie Blanchard, the second daughter of King Armond Blanchard. I guess you've heard my family name before." Costello accepted her hand and they shook hands. He smiled at her.

"Of course, Ma'am. I remember that your father visited our royal highness in Italy."

I just rolled my eyes upwards when Eulalie looked at me. She didn't even let me introduce them to him. I can sense something from you, girl. She just gave me a wide grin.

"I am Licillia Veronica Cantrelle, daughter of Duke Henry Cantrelle. I guess you're my next mistake." instead of a handshake, Licillia gave Costello a kiss on his cheek leaving my brother in shock.

"Can you not Licillia? Don't add my brother to your long list of Princes. Even Kadline wouldn't like that too." I said as I rolled my eyes upwards for the second time.

"I'm not! Don't worry my dear Ana, I was just kidding, right?" She laughed as she shot a look at Costello. I can feel the uneasiness on him. This is what you asked for a brother, now bear with them.

"I'm Nathaly Isabel Giulia Marchand, the only daughter of Duke Mevron Marchand." They didn't do a handshake or anything because Alfonso butted in.

"Can we take Costello for the whole evening ladies?" he said with a bright smile on his face. He put his arm around Costello's shoulder. Look at this fool, feeling like he's close to Costello while earlier they can't even talk straight or maybe something happened while I'm away? I need answers from my sister. Where is she exactly?

"Oh yes you can, Alfie. Nice meeting you, Costello," said Nathaly. My brother thanked them and winked before leaving, taking Costello with him.

After they leave, we catch up on our lives. Talking about how our lives those days when we didn't see each other. We may live in different countries but it didn't stop us to be the best of friends since we're young. Eulalie lives in the United Kingdom, Licillia in France and, Nathaly in Italy. We met at my 7th birthday party in our kingdom. We had fun playing and we continued to visit each other's home just to play or have a tea party and send exchanging letters.

We stopped giggling when we heard Lucifero's voice. We found him in the middle of the Dining Hall together with Mother, Father, and Costello. While we, the other siblings, spread on the crowd. I finally found Kadline in the right corner with her friends. Gonna talk to her later when I got a chance.

"Greetings to all the people who were able to come to this Grand Dinner. We all know what's this for. It's for the welcoming of our brother, Costello Porello." He said as he patted Costello's shoulder. People began whispering about what Lucifero said but he kept them silenced.

"Yes, he's my brother from my Mother only but that doesn't mean we can't accept him in the family. That's why we did this tonight to let everyone know that he's a good man and he'll start to live with us here in Belgium starting today." someone handed him a glass of wine from a butler that passing by holding a tray of glasses of wine. Everyone got one too including us.

"Have a good evening to everyone, enjoy the food for tonight. Cheers for Costello!" Everybody said cheers and raised their glasses. Then clinking of glass to another filled the room. After that welcoming, people are back to their businesses. Foods are getting served on every table and I finally got a chance to talk to my sister.

I excused myself from the ladies and went to the table surrounded by my other siblings. They're already talking about something, laughing and seems comfortable. Surprisingly to see that Costello and Merovecho are now talking with each other. They seem okay now though I can still feel like there's a little distance in between. I sat between Kadline and Lothair.

"You look lovely tonight, Kad. I love your gown." I said as I kiss her cheek. She gave me one too on my left cheek. She's wearing a maroon tube gown. She looks fiery.

"You too, Ana"

"How about me?" I turned to Lothair. He placed his glass of wine on the table after he took a sip. He's on his normal look tonight but a little highlighted of his hair. His hair combed to the right making him look more manly than usual.

"I don't care about you Tier. You always look good."

"Well it's not my fault, thank you by the way." he grins then foods arrived on our table. We started eating while talking about what we'll do tomorrow. I'm still missing something why they're all in good terms now.

---

After we ate, I went to the balcony to breathe some fresh air. The night breeze is cold. I forgot to bring a coat. I can't find my friends so, I end up alone here. I look up to where the stars are. They all shine so brightly. Sparkling little dots in the sky.

"Night's beautiful right?" I startled when I heard a voice. I turn around only to see Kadline walking towards me holding a glass of wine.

"Oh, it's you. Come join me, sister. You owe me a story." She stands beside me and we both lean on the balcony railing.

"If you mean what happened earlier after you left then it's not worth to tell."

"Why? What happened? Is there some misunderstanding?" She took a sip of her wine before answering me.

"Lucifero threatened them to behave and do nothing disgraceful for the family. All agreed and they talk about what happened to Erov and Coste's first meeting." Thoughts about them hurting each other vanished from my mind. Good to hear.

"I'm really curious about their first meeting. Can you tell me?"

"You didn't know? Alright, let me tell you."

She finished her wine first before telling me. The first meeting didn't end up well as Kadline said. It was when Lucifero and Merovecho went to Italy just to visit our rumored brother and they found him easily because of an organization he was in. They found him in a bar that happened to be owned by Lucifero's friend.

Costello didn't want to talk to them first and he's avoiding them but Lucifero's consistent on wanting to talk to him privately. When finally he agreed, they went to a private room and asked that if he's our brother. They confirmed it through his face. His face is similar to our Mother. I also agreed to that. We even have the same eyes which we get from Mother's. Things are going smoothly. They're talking when Costello offended Merovecho.

"That's all I've heard so far. I still don't know if this is true. I think it was devised." I look at her confused. What does she mean?

"That it was a lie?"

"I just think so. I hope nothing bad happened."

"Sorry for interrupting your moment but Kad, someone's here for you." We both turn around and found Erov on the balcony doorway. He's with a tall man. I'm guessing he isn't just a son of a Duke or any high-ranking families. He looks like a prince.

"Yes? Anything I can do for you?" Kad said with a smile. Oh, she doesn't know him too. The Prince smiled widely that made him look more handsome in my sight. Green eyes, brown hair, tanned skin, tall, muscular body, it's like he just came out from a book.

They went somewhere to talk privately. Then I'm left alone again. I think my friends can't enjoy the night since they're with their parents. Must be introducing them to everyone who is their parents' friends. I wonder how will our family life for the next days, now that we have another one added to our family. I wonder, when will he leave this place and go back to Italy?