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Elle watched as the prince immersed himself in work She quietly poured another cup of tea and added cream to it before she unobtrusively stood and placed it by his plate--adding another cookie to it while she was standing

Elle smiled in victory when some minutes later Severin mindlessly reached for the tea cup and drank from it He set it down and continued with his work

Elle quietly crunched on treats and drank her tea Although Emele would probably be surprised to see Elle’s attempt to prod Severin froy rather than a conventional one She never did anything by halves She told Emele she would do her best, and she would The best way to befriend His Illegitihness Prince Severin, Elle decided based on his personality and her observations, was to be as inconspicuous as possible as she steadily invaded his life

The prince wouldn’t notice her complete invasion until it had already passed

Elle smiled like a pleased feline as she leaned back in her chair and watched Severin sip his tea

"Brother, you are a sight for sore eyes," Lucien greeted Severin at their nextto his half brother

"Father’s been a regular pain He wants ement would be entirely unnecessary if we invaded the country and took it over He disagreed Violently," Lucien complained as he draped hireeing with His Majesty," Severin said, unpacking a saddle pack

"You would," Lucien complained "However, you don’t know the princess Her seven brothers dote on her but she’s not even a real princess The royal family adopted her She’s a dreadful bore I’m told she reads books, tours her lands, and is involved with Arcainia’s finance department"

"Most would mark those as ad a map

"But in a woman?" Lucien co to find yourself regretful in your old age," Severin advised, growling when he opened the last of his saddle bags He pulled out a long stee blossom

Lucien raised his eyebrows at the flower "Is one of your servants trying to subtly let you know you need to bathe uest," Lucien recalled "You haven’t kicked her out yet?"

Severin eyed the flower, able to pick out the flat spot where Elle had, no doubt, rubbed the petal between her fingers "Duval claih she is able to hobble around the chateau with crutches"