Chapter 8: The Royal Tea Party
She followed Marta out of the room, her mind racing with possibilities. Fluffy floated next to her, its small, fuzzy body bouncing in the air as it whispered in her mind. "Stay alert, Princess. But don’t let them see you’re suspicious. Smile!"
Evelisse forced herself to smile, even though her heart was thudding in her chest. ’Got it. I’ll act clueless.’
As they reached the corridor, Evelisse found herself surrounded by her seven brothers, all dressed in their best formal attire. Each one seemed to be competing for the title of "Most Handsome Prince," and the sight was almost enough to make Evelisse forget her worries—almost.
Lucien was the first to approach, offering his hand. His formal black coat with golden embroidery made his shoulders look even broader, and his deep blue eyes softened when he saw her.
"You look beautiful, Eve," he said with a rare, gentle smile.
Felix, standing on her other side, practically beamed, his blonde curls bouncing as he tried to peek at her face. "You’re like a little sunbeam!" he chirped, clearly pleased.
Jared, leaning casually against the doorframe, gave a cheeky wink. "Don’t let the servants swoon too hard."
Callum, more reserved as always, nodded approvingly. "It suits you," he muttered, trying to hide his faint smile.
Leo and Lance, the twins, exchanged matching grins before chiming in unison, "You look adorable!"
Marcus, always serious, stepped forward to adjust her ribbon slightly. "Perfect," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Evelisse blushed under their collective praise, squeezing both Lucien’s and Felix’s hands. "Thank you, everyone. I can’t wait to have tea with all of you."