Chapter 26 Arrival (b)

"Oh, I would love to," Mother replied as I stepped forward beside her. "I ve heard that your kingdom makes the most delicious tea in all the kingdoms of this realm." Mother slowly turned to me, "Would you like to join us, Robert?" "If you don t mind me saying this, Your Majesty," I faced Queen Marta, keeping my head down. "I would love to meet Princess Lorain." As I spoke those words, I could feel a bit of tension between Queen Marta and me. My mother also looked at me with shock. "I understand that you don t want us to meet until the formal engagement, Your Majesty," I began my explanation. "However, I do believe that as her future husband, I think it s only appropriate that we meet each other now that I am here. Since I ll be spending a long time here in your kingdom, I would like to have good relations with the princess," I continued. "With your permission, of course." A moment of silence