Life forced me into a hiatus, but I'm finally back. I haven't forgotten about my other stories, but I started writing a lemon for tiickledpink's Carlisle & Esme Summer Citrust Contest, and ended up with a whole new story. It's already completely written and it's going to be divided in approximately 5 chapters.

Thanks to Mackenzie L. for betaing another one of my crazy stories.

To the ones who have never read the Twilight Saga and aren't familiar with all the characters: Renata, Corin, Heidi, Didyme, Sulpicia and Marcus, are members of the Volturi Coven. All characters used in this story belong to Stephenie Meyer.

The storyline is set right after Queen Victoria's dead, this is 1901.

All the places and palaces described in this story are real.

The succession lines of the British Crown and the Imperial House of Austria-Hungary have been twisted to fit the characters of this story.

Prologue

London, England 1902 - Buckingham Palace

Her weak, muffled cry echoed down the corridors of the palace with upsetting intensity. They reached not only his ears but his soul, too. An upsetting sense of anxiety had taken over him since it all began.

Carlisle's fingers touched the border of the crystal glass that had been previously filled with wine and offered to him on a silver tray. But now he couldn't drink. He couldn't think.

Even breathing had become difficult in the spacious room that was his study.

Perhaps it was the eyes of his counselors that were overwhelming him to the point where it was unbearable.

They were all reunited with him, talking to each other, waiting and observing.

Carlisle clenched his teeth, wishing for these hours to be over - for the night to arrive and to find himself again enveloped in the arms of his love like the nights before.

But he feared the night would arrive, and his love wouldn't be there.

"If she dies, his highness is expected to marry Archduchess Renata."

Recalling the words of his Prime Minister made him even tenser and stressed.

And then she cried again.

And Carlisle inevitably lifted his face to look at the men in his study. They rapidly silenced themselves under his gaze. He was used to that kind of reaction from them, yet it was something that bothered him ever since he was a child.

Everyone would watch his moves as if he were a bird in a cage.

Slowly, he paced towards the other side of the room and placed his hands on the top of the exquisite marble fireplace for support. His soul was feeling heavy of sin.

"Your Highness…" His Prime Minister approached him. "Perhaps it would be better if you'd…"

"No." Carlisle's reply was sharp yet serene - the diplomatic tone he always used to let everyone know who was going to be the head of the nation and the household, and that no decision would be taken without his input. He was a natural leader, a much respected one, regarded as one of the wisest sovereigns Great Britain was going to have. From a young age Carlisle was considered an asset to the parliament owed to his deep knowledge on matters of the state and a remarkable intelligence…but he knew that without her, he would be reduced to nothing.

He would be nothing without Esme.

Carlisle despised being taken away from her. He tilted his head down, enough to rest his lips against his hand. He wondered what was happening, how were they carrying it out, or if they were being gentle with her.

He wished he could be by her side, but it was against protocol.

And it would probably be useless. He had already done so much.

Committed so many faults…But all in the name of love.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, his father's hand, but he couldn't even look at him.

He only closed his eyes, recalling…

Chapter I

The Crown Prince and the Archduchess

Corfu, Greece 1901 - The Achilleion Palace

After years of visits and invitations to the most prominent European Royal houses, Carlisle's mother, Queen Didyme, had chosen amid the large list of single women of royal birth in Europe the one he was expected to take in marriage: Archduchess Renata of Austria. She was one of the most stunning, sought-after princesses in Europe. Strictly educated to be the consort of a King, graceful, and with a beauty that surpassed every man's expectations; Renata was the main highlight whenever she arrived to any royal cotillion or ball. Furthermore, as the eldest daughter to the Empress of Austria and Hungary, the young princess possessed a widespread popularity.

Carlisle was expected to court her - it was after all, not only what his mother expected but what the court, the parliament, and the nation looked forward to. Even the Empress of Austria and her court were hoping for the union. She was, in other words, the only one to be chosen.

It was indeed a burden of heavy weight, but a duty Carlisle was already willing to fulfill.

But things took a drastic turn, when on his first diplomatic journey to get acquainted with his future bride, Carlisle found himself meeting someone else.

His mother the Queen and their British diplomatic body had been invited by the Empress of Austria to spend a few weeks at one of the imperial summer palaces in Corfu, Greece: The Achilleion.

The Achilleion was one of the most extraordinary palaces owned by the imperial family on the coast of Greece. The architecture was breathtaking, with its white walls and Greek columns that contrasted the large, leafy green gardens surrounding it. It was a monument to a long lost platonical romanticism. The impressive palace was practically sitting on the pearly sands of the beach, looking at the Mediterranean Sea as if part of a painting.

Carlisle fell in love with the place almost immediately. The warmth of the sun and the view, gave him a great sense of serenity. Induced by the Empress and the Queen the morning after his arrival, he strolled across the magnificent olive green gardens of the palace, followed by two of his servants heading for the imperial stables. He wasn't going to meet Renata until later that day, so Carlisle chose to do what he enjoyed the most: horseback riding.

He chose a black stallion from the horses in the stable. At least he was able to choose his own horse. Carlisle shook his head at the thought, and after assuring his servants that he would be fine alone, he cantered out of the palace towards the seaside.

The rising sun and the deep blue sky promised a perfect day to explore that part of the isle on horseback. He enjoyed riding every morning back in England, and being in a foreign country wouldn't make him want to change his habit. Riding made him feel free from the weighty obligations he had to carry as the heir to the British Crown. The fresh air ruffling his golden hair, flowing into his face and through the white linen shirt he was wearing made him feel like anyone else in the world.

The black horse took him to a path of the palace that opened to the sea, trotting across the long line of trees that divided the beach from the palace grounds. He stood there for a moment, his golden hair reflecting the sun as he admired the magnificent sea wash the shores of the beach with indulgent touch.

But then his attention moved on quickly onto a golden horse that was standing a few gallops away. Leading his horse across the sand towards it, he burrowed his frown at the view of the lonely animal that stood quietly under the shadow of one of the trees. His blue eyes began to search the area, looking for the horse's owner, and that's when he saw her.

A girl a little younger than him was standing in the shore, her feet in the crystalline sea, and her long caramel colored hair flowing freely in the breeze, caressing her slender figure. Her hands were uselessly lifting the skirts of her simple white dress to avoid getting it wet, and her eyes were locked on the water right under her feet.

She groaned in exasperation, looking up at the sky as if begging for help, and then resolutely allowed her skirts to fall into the water, kneeling into it. Her hands shoved into it too, as if looking for something.

Carlisle didn't know why he did it, but he dismounted his horse, tied its reins to the same tree where the other horse stood, and slowly approached the girl in the water.

She was so engrossed in her task that didn't see him coming - not until Carlisle stood just a meter away from her, and she tilted her head up to look at the presence that was suddenly watching her.

Until that moment, Carlisle hadn't seen how strikingly beautiful she was. She was far more beautiful than Renata and any other woman he had ever met. The sun had painted bright highlights on her hair, and her skin was lightly tanned, something that made her honey colored eyes the most gorgeous he had ever seen in his whole life.

He suddenly felt himself shrinking in front of her, and words failed to come out his mouth.

"May…" He paused to avoid stumbling upon his own words. "Did you lose something, Miss?" He finally asked in English, hoping she would understand. By the way she was staring at him, apparently she didn't.

It had been a dumb thing to do considering they were in Greece. Almost immediately his brain began to search for the Greek translation of the question.

The girl just kept looking him, stunned by his handsome appearance and elegant posture. She felt her face burning before composing herself from the shock of having this strange, attractive man suddenly speaking to her in English… and with such beautiful accent. British accent.

"I'm afraid it's lost forever." She sighed deeply, turning to look down at the water.

He smiled, relieved at the sound of her voice. Not only it was beautiful, but her English was flawless.

"May I?" He asked before getting closer to her, not wanting to intrude.

She nodded.

He came closer to her before squatting down into the water. She was watching him, he knew. Carlisle couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by her beauty. He was sure she would catch the eyes of the court if she were a royal.

"What did you lose?" He then looked up at her. Her eyes were truly striking.

"A locket. My locket." She replied, a little mortified. "It's attached to a necklace."

"I see." He looked into the water. "When something falls into the hands of the ocean, you have to look where the current takes it." He said with a soft voice as he nodded towards the waves. "Do you see the waves flowing to the West?"

Her face brightened at the realization. "Therefore I should look for it to my right?"

"Yes." He smiled. She was quick. "The current isn't strong; your necklace must be still around here." It only took Carlisle less than a minute to lift his hand out of the water, proudly holding a delicate necklace with an oval silver locket hanging from it.

"Oh my!" The girl's face showed so much emotion, she covered her mouth with her hands before finally shouting in excitement. "Thank you so much!"

Carlisle smiled as he placed the locket in her hand. It felt nice to have been able to help in that particular way. He stood and almost immediately extended his hand in a courteous manner to help her up as well.

"May I ask what is a lady doing down the beach, alone?"

She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "I'm not alone." She gave a soft nod towards her horse.

"Of course not." Carlisle chuckled.

She excused herself before walking out of the water, and he followed her. Her long hair was beautiful, something Carlisle was tempted to touch; it was extremely enticing. "I enjoy riding on the beach." She commented as she approached her horse.

He pressed his lips into a shy smile. They had something in common. "I like riding, too." Carlisle felt like a child trying to befriend a little girl.

She turned to face him, raising one of her eyebrows as she studied him. "I have never seen you before, are you a visitor?"

"I am," Carlisle gave a thought to his answers to avoid revealing too much. "Decided to explore the surroundings before lunch."

"I like riding before lunch, too. " She smiled at him. "It makes me enjoy meals even more."

Carlisle was amused. She talked comfortably to him, with ease and without the etiquette he was used to. She felt so natural and genuine.

"It makes enjoy my meals more, too." Carlisle smiled. "Food tastes even more delicious after exercise." He was suddenly feeling genuine, too.

"Yes." She laughed softly at the exposed similarities in their tastes.

"I agree." He chuckled as he saw her arranging the saddle of her horse. She was stunningly beautiful, he guessed about fifteen or maybe sixteen years old. Probably a daughter of one of the olive farmers in the Island. In awe, he saw her mounting the horse with no help and admirable perfection.

She wasn't wearing gloves, boots or equestrienne tights, yet she seemed a natural amazone.

The girl blushed a little at her boldness of riding astride in front of a man. Modest ladies would use a side-saddle, but she wouldn't stand having to sit aside to ride her horse. If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, sir…?" She suddenly asked, interrupting his thoughts.

He stared at her for a short moment while pondering the idea of revealing his identity. Displaying it would probably intimidate her and make her behavior toward him change. And that was the last thing he wanted. He wanted to appear average before her, with no undesirable special treatments.

"Edward," He replied out of the blue. "My name is Edward." Carlisle wasn't actually lying, as Edward was one of the four names he was christened with.

"Sir Edward." She tilted her face to the side with that lovely smile.

He couldn't avoid smiling, too. "May I ask yours?"

She looked away towards the ocean as if thinking first, to then look back at him. "Esme." Her lips pronounced the most unique name. "My name is Esme."

It was beautiful - as beautiful as she was.

"Thank you for helping me find my necklace, Edward." She gave him another smile before grabbing the reins of her horse.

"Will I see you again, Esme?" The question came so abruptly out of his mouth that it surprised him.

Esme tilted her head again, her locks of long hair falling gracefully to the side.

"Only during my morning rides."

o)O(o

The next day Carlisle made a fool of himself at the hour of breakfast before the wide eyes of his mother, his future mother-in-law, and Renata. His eager desire to go horseback riding again and be able to see the beautiful girl with caramel hair was making him give the quickest, straightforward answers he could whenever included in the conversation.

But sitting at the table for cupcakes and tea with three women (two of them eagerly trying to propitiate a conversation between him and the youngest one) wasn't making things easy. Less when he was far more absorbed with the idea of meeting the farm girl again. Esme had a smile that gave him so much confidence, even when they had met for only a few minutes; she felt so different from the women he'd met at court before. Her striking eyes were like saucers, and her marvelous hair…

Carlisle began to scrutinize Renata's intricate hairstyle. Would it look the same if she would wear it down like Esme?

"Carlisle, dear?" His mother called him as all the ladies in question stared expectantly at him. "Renata asked you a question."

"I beg your pardon." He spoke softly, looking a little disconcerted from his mother to Renata.

"I asked his Highness, if he is finding our summer palace comfortable." Renata asked again, lifting her hand to grab a fan that was lying next to her cup.

"I am, very much indeed." He gave her a smile, something he was sure would make Renata's mother and his own mother extremely happy. Carlisle wasn't engaged to Renata yet, but he knew this visit would be the beginning of a short path that would end up with him asking her hand. He couldn't deny Renata was beautiful, seemed intelligent, and like Queen Didyme said: "She was raised to be a queen." But to him, Renata lacked that special something - something he couldn't even tell.

"Carlisle?" His mother couldn't help but giggle. "Carlisle, I was speaking to you."

"I believe Carlisle needs fresh air." Empress Sulpicia suddenly spoke with a smile, too, lifting her fan from the table as well.

The Empress' words were music to his ears.

"I do believe the same." His mother agreed. "Maybe you can join him for a walk in the gardens, Renata?"

And then the world seemed to fall apart. Why with Renata? Why couldn't he walk alone?

"I would love to." Renata replied to the Queen. "That is, if his Highness would like my company."

Once more the three women were looking expectantly at him. Carlisle suddenly felt like a museum piece. He remained still on his chair. Taking Renata for a walk wasn't going to allow him to see Esme that morning. But he couldn't reject the princess' company. Defeated, he looked at Renata who was suddenly drawing the fan across her lips and looking at him in a very particular, suggestive way.

Dear Lord, she was flirting...

Carlisle suddenly found himself wringing his fingers awkwardly under the table. He felt the most uncomfortable blush burning his face. It was ridiculous. Someone should ban fans from Earth!

"I would be pleased if you would join me." He mumbled timidly while looking down at his cup of tea. Annoyed, his fingers immediately moved to pick it up and take a sip.

Princesses were a real enigma to him; they all wanted to flirt and bat their eyelashes at him.

Perhaps the next day he would be able to see the farm girl.

o)O(o

Carlisle galloped on his horse as fast as he could next morning. The sun of Corfu warmed up his skin and the impish air tousled his hair as he approached the white sands.

He reduced his speed as soon as he spotted the familiar golden horse standing under the shadow of the tree. Esme was there, too, sitting on the sand next to her horse. A lace trimmed handkerchief was opened before her, on which many delicious blueberries had been laid.

She smiled at him as he approached her. Her hair cascaded gorgeously down past her back, her half ponytail was dressed with a subtle ivory ribbon, the same color of the dress she was wearing. It was a simple, unpretentious, and delicate ensemble.

Curiously, she looked like someone who had been painted on a portrait in a palace.

Carlisle dismounted his horse by her side with a smile imprinted on his face. "I thought…" He spoke as he stood before her while tying the reins of his horse around the tree. "I thought I would find you here."

Esme looked away, trying to conceal a smile. It wasn't easy for her to talk to such a handsome stranger. "You thought well."

They both chuckled.

It was bizarre how good Esme made him feel even though they didn't know each other. It was probably her face or her smile. She radiated something; something in her made Carlisle's soul… happy.

"Would you like to sit?" She invited him to join her in her blueberry banquet, and with no indecision, he sat cross-legged to enjoy them.

"Did you pick them alone?" He asked, munching a handful of berries.

Esme nodded and giggled at the new color of Carlisle's lips. "Edward…" She laughed softly, pointing at her own lips until he realized the mess his face was,and with no charm, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"I'm so sorry." Carlisle shrugged, amused. He wasn't used to eating fruits that way.

"Don't be." She smiled. "I don't request any etiquette on my table."

Carlisle laughed, treasuring her modest table already. "Have you always lived here?" He suddenly asked, wanting to know more about her.

"Oh, no, not always." She replied, licking her blueberry sugared lips. "But I love this place."

"It is beautiful." He looked around him. It was indeed a place anyone could easily fall in love with.

She kept staring at him for a moment until he looked at her. "Your accent…" She paused as she gave it a thought. "Are you British?"

Filled with unease from her question, Carlisle pressed his lips into his mouth. "I am."

Esme's fingers went to curl a strand of her long hair. "May I ask what brought you to Greece, Edward?"

His features changed. Carlisle didn't want to continue lying, but she was leaving him no other choice.

"Business. Family business." He looked away, afraid she could see he was lying. Carlisle looked extremely uncomfortable, and Esme noticed it. He looked as if the question had sent him to think on a problem of deep complexity.

"I'm sorry." She quickly tried to amend herself.

"Don't be, please." One of his hands moved to touch hers to reassure her it was fine but quickly moved it away for propriety. "It is just …" Carlisle breathed heavily, as if trying to exhale away all his concerns, gaining Esme's complete attention. "Sometimes I wish I could be someone else."

"Me, too." The caramel saucers of her eyes were speaking the truth behind those words. "It is quite difficult for me to be who I am." Esme confessed with honesty.

He studied her for a moment. Not only did they have similar hobbies, but they seemed to share the same struggle with life. "Is that so?" He asked.

"It's not easy when everyone is expecting you to behave and do things in a certain way." She spoke. Esme's life wasn't easy either; it was hard for her to submit to the rules society demanded from a girl her age. She had the tendency of disregarding the conventions of her time. Spending time with a strange man like Edward without a chaperone was only one in a large list.

"Exactly." Carlisle was stunned.

"Don't you wish you could be someone else just for a day?" She asked him, looking towards the sea as if her freedom lay there.

"Yes." Carlisle looked at the sea, too. "Do you swim?" He suddenly found himself pulling off his boots.

"What are you doing?" Esme asked, perplexed as he stood shoeless on the sand.

"Being someone else just for a day." He turned to look at her. "Are you coming?" He extended his hand to her, inviting her to join him.

Esme's mouth suddenly hung open. She vacillated. She was already alone, sharing a snack with a man she barely knew. Meeting him alone was the most unacceptable thing, but her heart filled with joy that day when she saw him coming towards her. She didn't know why but she trusted Edward. Almost like a reflex, she leaned forward to pull out the slippers she was wearing, then carelessly tossed them aside. Then she took his hand.

They smiled at their mischief before Carlisle pulled her to walk towards the calm blue sea.

"This is madness." She laughed as they stepped into the water.

Carlisle was beaming. He had never done something like this - daring, fun, childish. He was breaking more than thirty protocol and etiquette rules in that particular moment but he didn't care. He needed to feel free, to feel like any other man. Slowly he allowed the soft waves to sway around his body, his hand still clutching hers.

"My hair!" She suddenly stopped. "I must tie it first."

Daringly, he sprinkled a little water on her.

She stared at him, surprised. "That isn't something a gentleman would do!" She cupped a little water with her other hand to toss it at him.

He laughed, letting Esme's hand go to splash a large amount of water at her, and then all of a sudden, it turned into a water fight. Eventually he immersed himself under it, disappearing before her.

"You!" She laughed like she hadn't done ever since she was a little girl, but her smile faded quickly when she didn't see him coming out almost a minute later. "Edward?" She called him as she swam into the waves, apprehension beginning to build up inside her. "Edward!" She was about to immerse herself in the water when she felt something grabbing her ankle, pulling her down into it. Esme gasped for air before she found herself below the surface. He was swimming around her, his playful smile visible.

She dove after him for revenge. They played like two little children in the crystal waters of the Mediterranean and laughed like they never did before, allowing the sun to tan their faces until the midday arrived and the diversion had to be over.

They had each managed to be someone else for a few hours.

With their hands enfolded like two old friends that had reunited after a long time, they walked out of the water feeling like they had known each other for ages - as if they had always been friends.

Exhausted, she dropped to sit on the sand, and he did the same. Their clothes were a wet mess but the warmth of the weather promised to dry them soon - at least that's what Esme was hoping for.

"You are different from any other women I've met before." He told her.

Esme looked down at her hands, not knowing if his words were good or bad. "I'll take that as a compliment." She smiled a little.

"Oh, it is." Carlisle assured her. Sometimes he didn't know how to praise a girl. He stared at her pensively. "I feel like I have met you before."

Esme only managed to stare into the ocean. "Maybe we have, in another life." She turned to look at him. "Because I feel the same way." Her beautiful face flushed into a soft pink hue.

It was strange to both of them, they had only met two days ago and yet it seemed like they had known each other for a long time. The feelings floating around them were strong, yet puzzling.

Out of the blue, the breeze began to blow stronger as if threatening to divulge hidden secrets.

Esme shuddered. "I must leave." She was about to stand up when he suddenly took her hand, not wanting to let her go.

"Don't leave, please." His blue eyes scrutinized her, trying to decipher the attraction that had him suddenly hooked to her.

Esme only managed to look from his eyes to his hand enveloped around hers. His touch was sending flaming shivers up her arm. It was scary, but desirable too. "I must go, it's getting late."

"May I see you again tomorrow, Esme?" Carlisle's soul was begging for an affirmative response.

For a second she pondered the hazardous situation she was putting herself into, but he felt so genuine and sincere. He truly wanted to be with her.

"I will be here every morning." She assured him before sprinting towards her horse.

o)O(o

"Where have you…" Queen Didyme looked at her son's appearance, absolutely surprised as the boy arrived at his bedchambers in wet clothes with his hair all tousled and salty. "What on earth happened to you Carlisle?"

He happily went to leave a kiss on her forehead. "I went for a swim, Mother."

"A swim?" The Queen examined him from head to toe. "In your clothes? "

"Yes, Mother, and it was wonderful." He rubbed her shoulders, trying to relax her a little.

The Queen looked at him, absolutely perplexed.

"It was an unplanned swim, Mama." He kissed her on the face again before walking behind a folding screen to change his clothes. Two servant boys approached him with towels and a dry robe in their hands as he pulled his damp shirt off his head. "I went riding, and the sea was inviting."

"You know I don't like it when you do that." The Queen placed her hands on her waist as if about to admonish him but remained in silence. She wasn't angry but worried about her son wandering anywhere alone. Taking a breath, she changed the subject. "Sulpicia has invited us for tea in the garden."

Carlisle walked out from behind the folding screen, adjusting his robe - his joyful countenance changed abruptly into a bored one. "With Renata, I guess?" His tone revealed it all.

Queen Didyme looked at her son in a way only a caring mother would. "I thought you approved of her. We are here for that reason, Carlisle."

"I'm doing this for my people, Mother." He looked towards a beautiful painting that was hung on the wall over the elegant fireplace. Five beautiful little girls of different ages appeared on the painting. His eyes stopped to appreciate one of youngest ones who had a long hair…Just like Esme. His face saddened at the idea of not being able to befriend Esme like any other person would. "It is the duty I've been called to fulfill." He repeated the sentence he had said several times before, then looked down to the carpeted floor beneath him, avoiding seeing his mother.

But a mother always knew. Didyme went to him and held his face like when he was only a child. "I want you to be happy, Carlisle." She smiled a little. "It is my reason to live." Her hands took his. "And if Renata isn't the woman you think…"

"Renata is…fine." He quickly interrupted. "She was raised to be a Queen."

Didyme smiled. "Then court her."

Carlisle took a deep breath. His eyes went again to look at the little girl in the painting; she was leaning against another little one of blonde hair. Her caramel curls were spilled behind her back and her eyes appeared to be observing him. They looked so much like Esme's…

"Very well." Didyme shook her head, smiling. She knew her son so well. "Take your time, but once we go back to England, preparations for the engagement must be done."

o)O(o

Renata sat at the vanity in her parlor to admire her beauty the way she did every three hours a day. She was extremely content; who wouldn't be when the son of the king of England, the heir to the British throne, had placed his eyes on her? Out of all the noble women in Europe, he had chosen her to be his queen.

"I don't see why you are so glad." Her youngest sister approached her with a book in the hand.

"He is wonderful." Renata turned to look at her. "Extremely handsome."

The younger girl rolled her eyes. "He hasn't asked your hand yet."

"Oh, Jane!" Renata laughed. "Like mother says, it will be a matter of time."

Jane's expression remained serious.

"You should smile a little bit more, Jane, you are always looking dreadfully grim." Renata commented as she began to unbraid her hair. "Perhaps, someone will ask your hand, too, if you do."

Jane simply continued staring at her sister with piercing eyes. "I am thirteen." She told her. One of the things Jane detested the most was the size of Renata's brain. It was undisputable that a pea was smarter than her eldest sister. "Besides…" Jane went to sit on an armchair by a window and opened her book. "I prefer to be a queen regnant rather than a queen consort."

The doors to the parlor opened with a blast, and two young girls older than Jane but younger than Renata invaded the room, completely thrilled.

"Did you meet him?" One shrieked as she placed her arms around Renata's shoulders. "Is he handsome?"

"Did he propose?" The other one tugged the ribbon around Renata's waist. "Did he give you a diamond necklace?"

Jane clenched her teeth before raising the book she was reading enough to hide her face behind it. If Renata was brainless, Heidi and Corin were thoughtless and stupid. Whenever her three oldest sisters were reunited in a room, it was like witnessing a dumbness contest…out of which Corin always seemed to win the gold, closely followed by Renata.

"He is beautiful." Renata entwined her hands on her chest as if thanking God for his future fiancé's looks. "His hair is gold like the sun."

"Golden." Jane corrected her from the armchair, her face still behind the book.

"He looks like a Greek god, like Zeus younger brother." Renata sighed, ignoring Jane's correction, who was trying hard not to snort at Renata's ridiculous comment. "And he is so considerate and refined."

"And he is the King of England!" Corin squealed, delighted, something at which Heidi clapped excitedly.

"He is the heir to the British crown." Jane spoke slowly, as if she were talking to mentally disabled persons. "Not the king of England."

"Who cares?" Heidi shrugged. "It's the same thing."

"Mother says Queen Didyme told her that the engagement party will be a superb ball in London, and Royal houses from all Europe will be invited! Can you imagine?" Renata's tone of voice was suddenly out of control. "He will ask my hand there, in front of all of them."

Corin and Heidi were suddenly screaming in excitement and anticipation since this ball would be the most perfect opportunity to catch the eye of a future husband.

"And then we will get married, and he will love me…" Renata sighed. "It will be a fairytale!"

"There is no such thing as fairytale in real life." Jane suddenly dropped the book she was reading onto her lap. "He will marry you but that isn't going to mean that he is going to love you. In fact, he is probably going to take a mistress."

The sound of the word mistress made the three oldest girls look taken a back. Heidi gasped and Renata covered her mouth in shock.

"Jane, you are horrible!" Corin barked.

"Me?" Jane raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen yourself in a mirror?"

Empress Sulpicia suddenly walked into the room followed by two maids. "Everything is developing wonderfully, Renata." She said delighted. "Dydime is pleased with you and so is the Crown Prince."

"I'm very pleased with him, too, Mother." Renata turned to look at her mother with adoration written in her eyes.

"I'm glad." The Empress smiled. "I must remind you that tea will be served at five with no delay and you should know that it is the prince's favorite part of the day."

"Oh, Mother!" Corin cried, running to clasp her mother's arm. "Why can't we meet him yet?"

Jane looked up at the ceiling. Even though Corin was seventeen years old, she acted like an infant.

"It is not the appropriate time, Corin." Sulpicia shook her head. "Your sister and the prince must spend time together alone with no distractions."

"I cannot wait to visit the British court, Mama!" Heidi shrieked. Her eagerness to be the next to be married was something that bit her inside - after all, she was the second oldest after Renata.

Sulpicia smiled. She was sure that once Renata married Carlisle, the future of her household would be safely ensured. The most important part was that the diplomatic relationships between Austria-Hungary and England would improve their position before the detractors, and her struggling Crown would flourish one more time. She was lucky that all her daughters were extremely beautiful and obedient as she was determined to marry them all with the heads of the most powerful monarchies. Though surely one was going to give Sulpicia a hard time…Her penultimate daughter.

She looked around the room with a frown before asking. "Where is Esme?"

"She must be straddling that horrid horse of hers." Heidi said with an accusatory tone looking straight towards Jane. Renata and Corin glared at Jane too.

"She is the drawing room." Jane lied to cover the whereabouts of her favorite sister. The girl's face didn't show a glimpse of worry or discomfort at the white lie. "She is finishing her geography lessons."

Because Sulpicia always believed Jane, she didn't question her anymore. "Very well." The Empress turned her attention to her eldest one more time. "Renata, be sure to be at the White Room for tea at five." She said as she walked out of the room, leaving her daughters alone.

And in that exact moment, the climbing plant outside the balcony began to shake.

"Wasn't she studying geography?" Corin asked angrily as Jane left her book on the armchair and stormed out to the balcony.

After reaching the balcony's level by climbing the intricate plant, Esme stepped into it. She was soaking wet and her fine slippers were a mix of salty sand and mud. The young princess looked as if she had engaged in a fight against a mythical creature.

"You are…" Jane looked at her sister in shock. "…soaking."

"It's a long story." Esme walked into the parlor where the rest of her sisters were sitting.

"I don't want to hear it." Jane followed her.

"I wasn't planning to tell." Esme gave her sister a wide smile and just then, one of the corners of Jane's mouth twisted a little as if forming a smile. Out of all of her sisters, Esme was the only one who could pull out a genuine smile from her.

"Esme, you look hideous!" Heidi scolded her the way she always did.

"You can't do this all the time, Esme!" Corin followed Heidi. "You simply can't go out like a filthy peasant and do as you if someone finds out? It would be dishonorable! I'm telling Mother."

"You won't be telling Mother." Jane stood before Esme as if shielding her. "Because it is even more dishonorable to flirt with the Chancellor, Corin."

"Jane!" Renata immediately stood from her place as Corin's face turned crimson red from embarrassment. "I think it would be better if you go to get changed, Esme, and you…" She stared at Jane.

"Don't …" Jane shook her head as she followed Esme into their bedchamber. "Don't try to act all maternal and devoted with me."

As soon as Jane closed the doors to the bedchamber she shared with Esme, she turned around to face her sister.

"You are late." Jane leaned back on the doors.

"I'm sorry, Jane." Esme quickly began to unbutton her dampened dress. "I lost track of time." She allowed the wet dress fall onto the floor

"You left me alone with those mentals." Jane went to help her untie the corset. "I developed a rash from only having to hear them."

Esme laughed softly. She knew very well how much Jane disliked to be alone with their older sisters. Renata, Heidi and Corin were quite special. "What was it about this time?"

"Renata is about to be engaged to the heir of the king of England." Jane went towards her desk to grab another book.

"That's good news." Esme pulled a nightgown over her head before sitting on the bed.

"No it's not. She is stupid." Jane went to sit on her bed with a book in hand. "England will have a stupid queen, and they don't deserve such thing."

"Jane…" Esme shook her head in disapproval. "Sometimes I think you are too harsh on all of them."

Jane shrugged as she opened her book. She couldn't care less. Out of all her four sisters, Jane only cared for Esme, as Esme was the only one who wasn't shallow and self-absorbed. Esme was natural, unpretentious, and although sometimes audacious and stubborn, Jane considered her as intelligent as she was.

"I brought berries." Esme unexpectedly sang, moving a tied lace trimmed handkerchief in the air for Jane to see, and even though Jane hardly ever smiled, one corner of her lips twisted again a little in a signal of excitement. She immediately went to sit by Esme's side as her sister opened the tissue that carried the most delicious blueberries she had also shared with Edward that day.

"Do you think someone will want to marry me someday?" Esme suddenly found herself asking as she placed a blueberry on her lips. She knew what her sisters thought about it - none of them believed she was suitable enough to be a good wife, but this boy at the beach had unexpectedly made her wonder if she could possibly be.

"If you continue to act like commoner and being as impulsive and passionate as only you could be…" Jane chewed a handful of blueberries. "...chances are small, unless mother gives a very generous dowry in your name. Anyone would marry you for money."

Esme loved Jane's straightforwardness. It was true, chances were small, and to be honest, she didn't want to marry someone without love or just for the sake of being married. She wanted love and passion like in the novels Corin used to read out loud whenever they were all alone. The good thing was that her mother would never offer Esme in marriage given that she was the least suitable of her daughters to be wed with a royal due to her conduct…

Buried in deep thought, Esme popped another blueberry into her mouth.

"Do you think Renata knows what her future husband hides in his trousers?" Jane raised an eyebrow at Esme, the book she was holding was opened in her hands.

Esme frowned at the question. "Excuse me?"

Jane swiftly turned the book for her sister to look. Printed on the pages was the perfectly drawn anatomy of a man.

Esme giggled, and her face turned all red before her modesty made her place her palm on the printed image to avoid looking more. "You must stop taking books from the restricted area of the library, Jane, they are not proper to your someone your age."

"I didn't take it for me." Jane turned the pages to see more illustrations with impudence. "I took it for Renata." She said in a snobbish tone.

Esme pursed her lips to avoid smiling. Poor Renata would faint at those illustrations.

"Should I leave it opened on her bed?" Jane relished on the idea.

"No, Jane," Esme shook her head disapproving the plan. "Not only on Renata's bed. You must also leave a few pages on Corin and Heidi's as well." She tumbled back onto the pillows, giggling, imagining the look on their sister's faces when they'd find the pictures as Jane's lips finally showed a complete sign of pleasure.

What do you think about Edward? What is going to happen now that they are hiding their identities from each other?

Your comments are always deeply appreciated! Thanks so much for reading!