Elena''s POV


    I was rxing in thefort of my bed after having a long conversation with Jayden and Zara, feelingpletely exhausted.


    They were very worried about me, which was why I had to make them understand


    that this decision of mine was for the best.


    Hence, after everything was settled, including the manners concerning the marriage, I couldn''t help but feel relieved.


    But all that relief vanished when Jayden knocked on my door a few hourster to say that a messenger from the pce came and handed over a letter


    "What is it about?" I asked, following him downstairs to receive the letter.


    The messenger said he didn''t know what it was about either and simply handed the letter to me.


    Sitting down, I unsealed the envelope to get the letter and unfolded it, but the content of it brought me to utter shock.


    Countless questions ran through my mind.


    "What is it?" Jayden asked in worry upon seeing my reaction, but I felt so speechless that I only handed the letter over to him instead of saying it.


    His eyes browsed the letter before a frown formed on his lips. "This... this doesn''t feel right. Prince Deacon''s mother is known for her sharp tongue. She will never approve of you. What if she humiliates you in the pce?"


    "Duchess Diana wants to see you?" Zara asked in shock as she stepped closer to us, realizing the situation.


    I merely nodded my head as I let out a sigh.


    Crossing her arms on the top of the backrest of the chair Jayden sat on, she voiced out, "Why is she suddenly summoning you? It can''t just be for a polite chat, will it? She''ll surely try to make things difficult for you."


    "Difficult?" I chuckled lightly after recovering from shock


    Why did the royal family keep summoning me? When did my life suddenly turn this chaotic?


    I shook my head and heaved a sigh,pletely calm now. "I''d be disappointed if she didn''t. Don''t worry, you guys, she won''t darey a finger on me, especially not in the pce."


    Shrugging nonchntly, I spoke the truth, "At most, she''ll throw a few insults my way."


    Grumbling, Jayden said, "That''s still uneptable."


    Suddenly reminded of how Deacon warned me about her mother and how I told him I''d fight back if she bullied me, I couldn''t help but let out a smallugh. I just didn''t expect this moment toe this early, which surprised me because I thought it would be after marriage or at least after things got official.


    Knowing Deacon had my back, I smirked, "Rx. Worst case scenario, I''ll smash her residence. That should make us even."


    While Zara and Jaydenughed, we heard a loud gasp followed by the sound of nging trays and shattering sses.


    Following the source of the sound, we found a servant whose face was full of terror. "Please, Princess, don''t say


    such things! That''s the royal pce!"


    Snorting, Zara brushed off her worry, "Rx, with the Queen mother, Queen Liz, on Princess''s side, the Duchess can''t do anything outrageous to her."


    "Exactly." I grinned with confidence. "And besides, I have no intention of backing down and ying the soft girl, anyway. Let''s just get this over with."


    With that, I stood up and went to my room to change clothes, ready for another kind of battle.


    Looking in the mirror, I looked at myself in satisfaction. Since the Duchess was known for being the stereotypical member of the royal family, I took the time to doll up myself. Gone were the warriors, and came in the Luna version of myself.


    I wore a heart-neckline royal blue dress made of a flowy material and used a white crop top jacket to make it more modest. After I put on my white heels and diamond ne and curled my hair, Hooked perfect... like the princess I was newly titled as.


    When I came out of my room and ventured downstairs, I found Zara and Jayden at the bottom of the stairs looking at me,pletely mesmerized, making me smirk in pleasure knowing that my effort was rewarded.


    "You look amazing!" Zaramented.


    Still in a daze, Jayden whispered, "Just like a princess.''


    00


    As I stepped down, I smiled at them. "Thank you, guys. Now, let''s go."


    Stopping halfway through the door, I turned around. "Oh, and Jayden, you don''t need to go with me. You go handle the matters in here. Zara and I can handle it."


    "But-"


    He was about to refuse being left behind out of worry for my safety, but I cut him off, "But nothing. Don''t worry. I can handle it. Besides, if youe there, the Duchess will feel like we''re onto her and see it in a wrong way." With that, Zara and I went outside and got into the car.


    "Here we go," I said with a sigh as we stepped out of the car after a few minutes as we arrived at the pce. It was already dark, and the night breeze was cold, but I had a feeling that the coldness I''d be facingter couldn''t bepared to this.


    212