Serena saw the look on her father's face and quickly replied "Lord Daniel, we are not in school now, but some people may misinterpret. Mother, Father, in school, we all call each other by first name, so please do not misunderstand."

"I don't see anything wrong with that. But I didn't know that you two have already met. Please sit Charlton, I hope you do not mind me calling you by your name, you may also address me as Aunt Celine and my husband as Uncle Simoun."

"Thank you, Aunt Celine." Charlton replied while smiling as he sat on the sit between Leonard and Serena. He quickly reached for Serena's hand under the table and gave it a light squeeze.

"So, Charlton, if I am not mistaken, your father is Duke Charles, right? How has he been these days?" Celine started the conversation.

Simoun's face turned sour in an instant. Who wouldn't? His wife even had the gall to ask about another man when he was just sitting beside her. Even worse, she's already in her 50's and is still acting like a young maiden in love.

"I believe that he's doing fine... I'm sorry, but last time we were together, he was quite busy with his new venture which he didn't really tell me much about of." Charlton who didn't really know what to say about his father replied. He's not that close with him compared to his mother, but he has no doubt in his mind that his father loved him. It was just that his father was always busy and that he himself is usually at school.

"Oh… anyway, do tell me about how you met my children." Celine who saw her husband's expression changed the topic.

"Well, I met Leonard in Alighieri when we were but young children of 7. He was quite the shy lad, but even then, I knew that he would be doing great things someday. We did not really become friends instantly, but after a while, I guess like magnets we were bound to become close. Aside from being classmates, we were also dormmates living under the same roof. Including the fact that we both hailed from Windsor, it just suddenly clicked and then we became friends." Charlton explained, not forgetting to insert some flattery. "I would also like to include that I look up to him, as an only child myself, he is like a brother to me. Thus, when I received your invite, I immediately had to accept, for I have always wanted to meet his parents who groomed him to become such a fine man."

Leonard can only cough awkwardly as he said "I had no idea that you saw me that way..."

Serena wanted to face palm. Is Charlton for real?

The duke and the duchess, well, they were both flattered and pleased. Which parents would not like to hear praises being sang about their child and themselves?

"Oh you and your glib tongue…" Celine mock scolded as she blushed happily.

"No Aunt, I swear, I am saying nothing but the truth!"

"Well then, do pray tell this time how you met my dear daughter?" Celine had to ask.

"I met her one fine day by chance. She was dining in a restaurant with Leonard at that time. We were introduced that day." Charlton wanted to say more but stopped himself. He was afraid that he won't be able to stop and then accidentally confess all his love and adoration for her.

"Oh, but you seem to know her enough to call her by name given that you just met that time." Simoun couldn't help but comment. He was not blind not to see the look Charlton gave his daughter when he looked at her.

"Actually, Uncle Simoun, we have been better acquainted since our music class where she sang a song she composed herself. I remember that everyone had to laud her for her brilliance. Our teacher, Sir Felix Brahms, who was also my tutor and one of the leading musicians of our time, called her a musical genius." Charlton continued his flattery, albeit more sincerely this time. "She was awe inspiring enough that Sir Felix instantly commissioned her to play that song on his niece's wedding as a favor. It is through this that we became… friends, for although I am not even half as brilliant, I was assigned to be her partner."

"I see…" Simoun commented as he and Celine looked at Serena surprised "I didn't know my daughter can compose"

"I suddenly had the inspiration in school." Serena answered lamely.

"you must play for us when we get home... I always knew that my daughter is the most talented girl in the whole empire" Celine proudly said with a smile.

"I completely agree with you Aunt Celine, she truly is amazing. You raised such fine children that when the time comes for me to get married, I wish I would be as lucky as Uncle Simoun and find someone who is as beautiful, kind, and as wonderful of a mother as you are."

Celine was so happy with Charlton's words that her ears were clapping. Well, figuratively that is.

Their conversation was halted when the food arrived.

--

"What else do you want me to do?" Geoffrey exclaimed as he threw his violin bow away. He was already at the last vestiges of his patience when Emily, who has been trying him over and over, stopped playing the piano to tell him that this, whatever they have and doing, was not working.

"I never asked you to do anything. I just don't want to be your... what do you call a girl like me? Your lover? I am not even that. But I do know that you have an intended and whatever this is… is wrong. This, whatever we're having is a relationship that is doomed to fail even before it starts. So please, let us stop this while it is still not too late…"

Geoffrey breathed deeply, when he felt that he was composed enough, he replied, "Emily, listen to yourself. Alright, I will make this clear. I do have feelings for you and that is why I'm here. However, let me correct whatever presumptions you have. I never took advantage of you. I never even took liberties with you. I have treated you with utmost respect and never once have thought of you as a woman who's willing to be a lover of a man who is bound to be married to another. "

"Then, what do you want from me? You said all those things, but at the end of the day, you belong to another. What will become of me? Your lover at the side who will just come at your beck and call? You know what my position is. I am just a daughter of an impoverished baron. My whole family is relying on me to find myself a suitable husband. My father had to bury himself with debts just to send me in this school for that purpose. So, you tell me if you were in my shoes, what will you do?" Emily bellowed, tears flowing.

Geoffrey felt his chest tighten. "My engagement is purely political. You know that it has nothing to do with love. Please understand that as a prince, I have certain obligations which I can not escape. I already bared my heart in front of you. If you are worried about your family, I am willing to support you and them for the rest of your lives. I apologize, because as of now, these are the only things I can give you."

"Is that all? So, what will you do if I were to tell you that those are not enough?"

"I have nothing else to offer, Emily. I can not promise you everything, but what I can give, I will."

"You do know that Serena is perfect right? I can't even compare. She is beautiful, smart, and everyone likes her. She is also the only biological daughter of one of the most prosperous dukedoms in the whole empire. I doubt that you won't grow to have feelings for her."

Geoffrey sighed. He can not deny that what Emily said was true. He can feel a certain attraction towards his fiancée even when he always admonishes her in his mind. Though he will never tell Emily that. These past few days, he has been reflecting on his self and his feelings. Honestly, he is a little fed up with Emily's attitude. She was quite different from her letters and she always act like he wronged her gravely, when he has not tried so much as to kiss her. However, he also felt a certain guilt towards her and her pitiful plight in life. He could not even understand it himself. She has been pushing him away then pulling him back. But perhaps this time, he should walk away. It's not good anymore when he is already second guessing himself.

"I apologize, I agree with you. This is not working. Don't worry about Sir Felix, I will explain to him that it is my fault that we will not be able to perform on the 28th." Geoffrey said as he calmed his mind. He placed his violin back in its case and moved to pick his violin bow.

Emily saw Geoffrey move. She wondered if she pushed him too hard this time. When she saw him about to exit the door, she could not help but panic. And so, she quickly moved to hug him from behind.

"What are you doing?"

"Please don't go… I… I just love you too much…"

"I can't do this anymore Emily. If it is your reputation you are worried about, then don't. We have not engaged in anything scandalous that will put you in a precarious position." Geoffrey said as he tried to remove her hands.

Emily was not stupid, she knew that if she let him walk out of that door now, he is never turning back. So, she quickly moved to stand in front of him, pull him down so that they were face to face, and kissed him on his mouth.

--

TBC