Long ago

The evening cookies with Alexander became more and more frequent to about two to three times a week. The chefs caught on and started to always have a batch of peanut butter cookies ready for when Alexander came down. And luckily no one had started to figure anything out. At least I hoped so. But Lord Merrick was still intend on sticking about for a couple more days to take in the culture of the big city while a few small festivities were going about creating a few parades and festivals to break into the dawn air. Of course this also meant that I had to also had to keep up on all of my appearances to make sure that I don't even look bad or at least that is what my mother is saying. Not that I would assume that Lord Merrick would care all that much if I didn't look like a porcelain doll seeing as he was a decent human being. He was a kind heart, always wanting to tag along in my day to day activities. He even put up with me wanting to spend hours each day just lying down in the grass and reading a stack of books. In fact, he would join in on most occasions. He was good company like Alexander. But unlike with Alexander, I couldn't get him to shake the formalities to the extent that I wanted him to. But he was decent to be around. **** The night before the Summer solstice is always one the most important nights to prep for one if the biggest festivals of the year. So that meant sewing and fitting my dress to perfect and to the early hours of the morning. This night called for about three trays of cookies set up to the room. "Anne Maria, do you reallly expect for this fitting to go well and quicker if you keep on shoving cookies in your face?" Lisa said while pinned parts of my hem while I sat on my bed with Alex in my dressing gown and the under dress of tomorrows dress. "I blame Alex. He is the one that keeps on ordering the trays of cookies. Sometimes we really shouldn't have all night chefs." I said shyly hiding partly behind a pillow. "Well, then we are just going to have to sweat it all out of tonight while you sleep. That means we need to break out the winter blankets for extra heat tonight. Alex, would you mind getting them from the closet?" He nodded and slid off the bed. Halfway to the closet, there was a little knock on the door. It must of not really crossed his mind, but redirected his path to the door and opened it. And the lovely person to be greeted on the other side was none other than Lord Merrick. This was joy to explain, thank god for a quick wit. I got off the bed quickly and acted like I was leading him out. "Oh thank you Alexander for coming up at this late hour to make sure that we are all prepared for bed and the festival tomorrow. Now I must insist that you go and get some sleep for yourself. If you are going to assist me, then you should have your energy. Oh Lord Merrick, to what do we owe this occasion of you visiting us?" I asked if it was the first time I saw him tonight. "I was just coming to wish you goodnight and goodbye. I must attend to my own festivities back home. I hope that you come to understand me sorrow for not being able to escort you. But I will be back as soon as time and my agenda permits it. Until then, all the best of wishes." He said very tersly, which was uncommon of him. I wonder if have Alex up in my room made him upset. I can't see why, it was purely harmless. He would always slip his head into my pillows when we went outnof the room to change. "Oh course. Give your people my best and wish them a great rest of the year from me personally. I do love knowing that all of the towns are good and loyal people. Goodnight and goodbye, Lord Merrick." I said smiling. "Oh come on now. I think that we can go by first names now. I insist that you call me Zachary from now on. That is if it is okay with you?" "Oh course it is, Zachary. I wish you the best of travels." My smile shrank a bit but gained even more meaning. "I wish you all the same Anne Maria. I will see you again soon." He backed down the hallway and I shut the door with that smile still on my lips. "So whens the wedding? And if you say next month, I'm going to choke you. You can't expect for this costume dress and then a full wedding dress in less than a month." Lisa said when she saw my face. "Oh shut up. Like I would ever do something that cruel to you and marry someone in months when I have barely even known him for that long. Knowing my parents, it will be a month and a half or two months. So I would start sketching if I were you." Alexander POV My heart dropped when I opened that door. I should of let one of the girls do it. Had I of just gotten the blankets, then I would of had to heard those two. And the lie of me and Anne's friendship. Was she embarrassed to have a sevant for a friend? But the fact that he was still using formalities ubtil now is astonishing. And why did it make her face light up so much when he used just her name? Wouldn't it do the exact same just with princess in front of it? Two months, that was the time that I had left with her. It's unfair that he can keep her for as long as he wants when he should let me have her for a bit. Wait, what am I talking about? There is no possible way that a princess and a servent could ever have that kind of relationship. And it isn't like she would want the megar salary that I collect to live off of, she was uedd to anything and everything. Well, two months is still a nice amount of time.

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