Chapter 33
Leandro and Thomas made their way through the palace gardens, the cool evening air brushing against their skin as they walked toward Federico’s section of the palace. Their conversation was light, but there was an underlying tension as they both recalled the strange events of the past few days. It wasn’t like Federico and Azalea to keep to themselves this much, especially given their usual distant relationship. Yet, the odd shift in their behaviour hadn’t gone unnoticed.
As they approached the parking lot outside Federico’s residence, Leandro’s sharp eyes narrowed. “One of his cars is missing,” he said, pointing toward the empty spot.
Thomas looked over, frowning. “Seems like they’re out,” he muttered, his gaze scanning the quiet grounds.
They continued forward until they spotted Jake, one of Federico’s trusted guards, standing just outside the house. He gave them a polite nod as they approached.
“Evening, Jake,” Leandro greeted casually, though his curiosity was evident in his tone. “Is Federico inside?”
Jake shook his head. “No, Your Highness. Federico is out for dinner, and won’t be back until later.”
Leandro raised an eyebrow. “Dinner?”
“With Azalea?” Thomas added, his voice carrying a hint of surprise.
Jake nodded. “Yes, they went together.”
Just as the words left his mouth, the sound of an approaching vehicle broke the stillness. They all turned to see Federico’s car pulling into the driveway, the sleek black vehicle gliding to a smooth stop in front of them. Gabe stepped out first, quickly making his way around to open the passenger door for Federico and Azalea.
Federico stepped out of the car with his usual air of confidence, his sharp gaze catching sight of Leandro and Thomas waiting for him. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Well, well, looks like my brothers are suddenly very interested in my life,” he said as he approached them, his tone teasing but with an edge of suspicion. “What’s the secret?”
The remark caught them both off guard. Leandro exchanged a glance with Thomas before letting out a light chuckle, though there was no humour in his eyes. “No secret,” he replied, shaking his head. “We were just passing by and thought we’d check in.”
Federico raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the matter. Instead, he waved his hand dismissively. “Sure. Anyway, what brings you both here?”
“We were curious about the preparations for the ball,” Thomas said, his tone more serious now. “We figured you’d have a plan in motion.”
Federico’s eyes flickered with mild impatience. “The ball is in three days. You’ll find out everything in the meeting tomorrow.” His tone was final, signalling the conversation was over.
Leandro and Thomas shared a look before nodding. “Fair enough,” Leandro said, his voice light once again.
With that, Federico turned toward the house, gesturing for Azalea to follow him inside. She moved gracefully, her expression calm as ever, as they entered their residence together. Leandro and Thomas watched them go, lingering for a moment before turning on their heels and walking back toward the palace.
As they walked away, Thomas broke the silence. “Something’s changed,” he said under his breath.
Leandro nodded. “I know.”
—
The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the curtains of the royal bedroom, casting a warm glow over the room. Azalea blinked awake, her eyes adjusting to the light as she stretched slightly in bed. She glanced to the side, unsurprised to find the spot next to her empty. Federico had already left, and she didn’t expect him to linger. Their routine was well established by now.
Without wasting time, Azalea reached for her phone, checking her emails and messages before slipping out of bed. She moved efficiently, her mind already on the day ahead. Vick, ever punctual, arrived a few moments later to help her dress for the morning.
“Good morning, my lady,” Vick greeted as she entered the room, already carrying the day’s chosen attire for Azalea.
“Morning, Vick,” Azalea replied, her voice calm as usual. She allowed Vick to assist her into a sleek, sophisticated outfit, one that was appropriate for the day’s meeting and interactions. Her dark hair was pinned up elegantly, and she carried herself with the same grace that had become second nature to her.
Once dressed, they made their way downstairs to join Federico for breakfast. The dining hall was quiet, and Federico was already seated at the head of the table, sipping his coffee as he reviewed some documents.
Azalea sat down beside him, and Vick stood discreetly in the background, ready to serve if needed. The silence between Federico and Azalea was comfortable, neither of them feeling the need to fill the space with unnecessary chatter.
After a few minutes, Federico folded his papers and set them aside, leaning back in his chair. “The ball is in three days,” he began, his voice steady. “I won’t be back until late tonight. There are final preparations that need to be made, and I need to oversee everything.”
Azalea gave a small nod, not particularly surprised by his statement. “I understand.”
He studied her for a moment, perhaps expecting some reaction, but Azalea remained composed as ever. He finally pushed back his chair, standing up. “I’ll see you later, then.”
“Of course,” she replied.
Federico glanced at her once more before leaving the dining hall, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he made his way out of the palace.
Once he was gone, Azalea turned her attention to Vick, who was still standing quietly by the door. “Vick,” she said, her tone calm but firm, “I need you to check if Maya will be around the meeting area today-the grand hall. And if she’s there, come and let me know.”
Vick nodded immediately. “Yes, my lady.”
Azalea gave her a small nod of approval before rising from her seat. She wasn’t one to waste time or energy on trivial matters, but she knew better than to leave things unchecked. Maya’s presence had become a minor nuisance, and though Azalea had no interest in engaging in pointless rivalries, she wasn’t about to let someone undermine her position so openly.
As she left the dining hall, her mind was already calculating the next steps she would take. The ball was fast approaching, and with it came a slew of responsibilities and interactions that would require her attention. But for now, her focus was on the present, on the subtle games being played around her, and on making sure she stayed one step ahead of everyone involved.
Azalea’s footsteps were silent as she made her way toward the palace gardens, her thoughts calm but clear. No matter what awaited her in the days to come, she was prepared to face it with the same quiet strength she had always possessed.