In one of the private rooms of the Hofburg Palace

“Father…I…I…I…” Sophie stuttered as she tries to formulate her excuse, her face flushed red with shame. She’s in a very awkward situation right now. She’s sitting with her sister who is brushing her back with a hand. Across her was the imperial prince of the Ruthenia Empire, Alexander Romanoff, who watched them in silence. Her father is also present and looking at her with a disappointed look.

“Sophie, why did you sneak out of the palace?” Her father scolded her. “And you even brought along that trash painting materials of yours! Did you secretly bring it along with you when we left? Didn’t I tell you that you’re forbidden to paint?”

Sophie just nodded her head, not daring to argue with her father. She felt very dizzy right now and this situation is just adding on the top of it.

“Father, that’s enough,” Sophie’s sister, Louis, stood up and blocked her father from lashing out at her.

“Who gave you permission to speak? Didn’t I also tell you to keep an eye on her because we are expecting to meet his Imperial Prince? Now that His Highness saw her perform things that are unbefitting of a princess, what do you think will happen?” He argued as he gritted his teeth and returned his gaze back to Sophie. “You’re so useless,”

Upon saying those words, tears escaped from Sophie’s eyes and streamed down her face.

At this moment, Alexander knew he couldn’t stand idly. He has to step in.

“With all due respect, Royal Highness. I think it’s a bit harsh of you to say things like that to your own daughter.”

Alexander’s words caught the attention of Sophie’s father and he turned his gaze to him.

When her father faced Alexander, he suddenly dropped his cold demeanor and talked to him politely. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m just scolding my daughter after she’s done something so disgraceful.”

“Disgraceful? At what for painting?” Alexander asked in confusion, his tone demanding an answer but soft enough so that it won’t offend him.

“No, it’s for having the Imperial Prince of Ruthenia Empire see her like that.”

“But I don’t have a problem with it,” Alexander said. “Why would you consider painting to be so disgraceful? So much that you have to tell her she’s useless,” Alexander sighed, unbelieve that such trivial matters would lead to the harshest of words a father can give to his daughter. “Can you give us some room, please? I want to talk with Sophie.”

Sophie’s father hesitated for a moment then silently walked out of the room, her sister walking alongside him, leaving the two alone.-.

Alexander turned to Sophie, who was clutching tightly to her dress, her face staring down and sniffling. He then walked towards her.

“Here,” Alexander offered a handkerchief. Sophie slowly turned her head and met his gaze, her blue eyes shining with tears.

“…Thank…you,” Sophie took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. She then looked back down again, not daring to look at him, especially in her current state.

“I don’t speak Ruthenia too much so please forgive me if I make a mistake…”

“It’s okay, we can with a language we are both comfortable with. How about English?”

“English is fine.”

Alexander sighed and sat back in his seat. He picked up the canvas Sophie used to draw. He got it from Rolan, whom he ordered to get it for him from where Sophie dropped and left it.

Seeing that Alexander is perusing her painting, Sophie tried to stop him. “…You mustn’t,” but it was too late as Alexander saw the entire drawing.

Alexander looked at her with a blank face. His gaze was staring right at her.

“Your Highness…” Sophie called. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have…”

“…You’re good,” Alexander said in a soft voice looking at the painting in his hand. “Your drawing is amazing.”Sophie felt herself going redder as Alexander complimented her work. It was the first time she had ever gotten praise from a boy and let alone a prince of a country.

“Thank…thank you…” she said, with an awkward smile. She looked down and stared at her lap.

“Why are you so shy?” Alexander asked in a gentle voice. “I saw you in the courtyard. Your face was not like this. The first time I saw your face, it was lively and vibrant. A girl who loves what she’s doing.”

“…” Sophie’s gaze fell down, her lips curled into a frown and her hands are starting to tremble. “Lively and vibrant?” She asked in a whisper. “You noticed it huh…?” she trailed off.

She knew that her father didn’t like her passion. He wants her to become a lady, which means he wants her to be well-mannered, quiet, decent, and elegant. He wanted her to be a lady that would suit the prince he told her she was going to marry. Which is the man in front of her. It was her only purpose after all.

But she is different. She’s just a girl who loves to paint and draw. A girl who even wished that she hadn’t been born in nobility so that she can do whatever the things she like. She doesn’t like being forced into something she doesn’t like but she can’t escape her fate, as it was already preordained since her birth.

“Why did you ask my father and sister to leave the room?”

Sophie was snapped out of her thoughts. She turned her gaze up and is surprised to see Alexander already facing her.

“To talk to each other,” Alexander replied simply. “Can we have an honest talk with each other?”

Sophie’s lips curled into a smile. “T-talk…?” she repeated like a parrot, not understanding what he means.

“Let’s just talk at one another. Whatever the topic, I’m down.” Alexander suggested. “I figured this is a chance for us to know each other. Don’t you agree?”

Sophie nodded her head. She wanted to know him too.

“Okay, I’ll start,” Alexander began by picking up another canvas that was drawn by Sophie. The drawing is about two lovely Pardalotus Punctatus snuggling together.

The wholesomeness and beauty of the drawing made him smile. It was professionally drawn, something out of passion.

“I like this drawing the most,” Alexander shared. “It’s very lovely. Did you draw it by yourself while you were in the courtyard earlier?”

Sophie nodded in reply. “Yes…I haven’t done coloring it but I’m glad you liked it, Your Highness.” She said, beaming with happiness. His words made her gradually feel comfortable around him.

“Hmm… I would love to try?”

Sophie is taken aback by Alexander’s words. She has never expected he would say those words.

“Do you perhaps know how to draw, Your Highness?”

“Please call me by my name,” Alexander said, giving her a warm smile. “Call me Alexander.”

Hearing his name left her feeling lightheaded and she blushed. “I-I’m Sophie.”

They chuckled at each other. Alexander then picked a blank canvas and a pencil and started copying Sophie’s bird artwork.

Sophie watched from her side as Alexander’s hand flitted across the canvas. Curious, she stood and walked over to his side to have a better view of his drawing.

There, she saw something unexpected.

Alexander’s drawing was superb, intricate, and detailed. His hands were steady and firm but delicate and soft. He just started seconds ago and now he’s closer to finishing it.

Sophie watched in awe of his drawing. She couldn’t help but admire the beauty of his drawing, so much that she let out a gasp inadvertently. Alexander didn’t mind her closely watching him.

Three minutes later, he finished the product. He handed the canvas to Sophie who then remarked “So~cute! You’re so talented!”

She was surprised, who knew a prince would be so good at drawing?

“You think? I still have a lot more to go,” Alexander humbly said. Drawing has never been hard for him. After all, in his past life, it’s been his work as an engineer. He loves to draw on A3 paper with schematics and diagrams.“Why don’t you try it too? I’ll watch.” Alexander handed him a blank canvas.

“Eh…really? Right now?”

“Yes.”

“It’s…erhm difficult to draw with someone watching…or to be more exact, it’s terribly embarrassing…” Sophie mumbled, covering her reddened face with a white canvas.

“I’m not going to laugh. I promise. I’ll be very silent. Just give it a try,” Alexander said in a reassuring tone.

“Okay,” Sophie then nervously sat down in front of a blank canvas and picked a pencil. She then started sketching the outline of the bird, and within five minutes, she finished her own drawing.

Alexander leaned over and looked at her drawing. Then…he giggled.

Seeing him do that, Sophie pouted. “You said you’re not gonna laugh…!”

“I’m not laughing. It’s just cute.”

“C-cute?” Sophie stuttered bashfully.

“You drew it from a different angle as compared to my drawing. It’s very…unique.” Alexander commented.

Sophie’s ears turned red. “Stop calling it cute…”

“Sorry…I just find it endearing to see you draw with a livelier expression.”

“Huh…” Sophie’s heart fluttered when she heard his comment.action

“When I was watching you draw, I see a person who is passionate, a person who loves what she’s doing.”

“…” Sophie’s cheeks turned brighter as she kept on listening to Alexander talk. Her eyes are staring down at her lap, trying to hide her blush.

“We’re pretty much the same, aren’t we?”

The air around them instantly turned solemn as Alexander changed the topic.

Sophie looked up at him and noticed his somber eyes.

“I was born from a royal family of Romanoff. I’m the only boy of the five children. Of course, as a man I have huge responsibility ahead to inherit the throne, thus needs a lot of preparations…where my father forced me to study politics and history, forced me to study math and science…even though I don’t like it, it’s not like I have a choice. I can’t do things that I liked such as fencing, playing musical instruments, going out…My fate is sealed from the moment I was born…”

Alexander’s voice is quiet and solemn. Sophie could feel his sadness and also his bitterness. She can relate to his situation.

To lighten up the mood, Alexander shared a funny story. “There was a time when I sneak out of the palace. I was 15 years old back then. It was night and I entered an establishment for adults. I gambled, drank wine, have fun with the ladies…it was fun. But when my father found out, I was grounded for a month and I wasn’t allowed to leave my room.”

Sophie laughed at his story. She can imagine the expression of his father, angry and fuming over his son for disobeying him. It was the first time she openly let her laugh sincerely, sharing what she feels inside.

“I have a lot of embarrassing stories I wish to share with you but when I do, you’ll probably see me in a new light.”

That’s right, something like Alexander bringing girls into the palace.

“We’re pretty much the same Sophie. We didn’t choose this life god did. As much as we want to escape our responsibility, we can’t simply do so. Our life has been set, like we’re supposed to marry each other even though we don’t want to.”

Sophie’s pupils dilated when the topic of marriage was brought up.

“I’m not going to force you to marry me, Sophie,” Alexander said genuinely. “I will respect your decision. If you don’t like the idea of arranged marriage I can just talk to your father and call it off. It’s not like we’re bound to do what we’re told right?”

Sophie brought her hands together, silently pondering the outcome of her decision if she were to make one. At first, she didn’t like the idea of marrying someone she doesn’t love… but after spending a brief time together alone, it changed. Alexander was the first person to like her hobby. He is kind and never called her out for doing what she likes to do. He is not like others who would force her to do what they want; instead, he tries to encourage her to do what she likes to do, and that is admirable to her.

“Well, you don’t have to rush your decision…” Alexander broke her train of thoughts. “The night is still young, how about we join the others?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

Alexander stood and walked over in front of her. He held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“I never knew Alexander’s behavior and backstory could help me develop a relationship with Sophie,” Thomas commented inwardly.