“The life outside the Dressrious Salon may be boring, but not for Lady Bella. Since she back, her schedule was packed full: hanging out with friends, partying with classmates, meeting with business partners, having dinners with investors, coffee chatting with influencers, a good number of charity galas arranged by the Duke or the Duchess. And none of these even in the same state. Let’s just say, she contributed a lot of carbon dioxide to our dear Earth. Guilty, B. Yes, even video meeting with your employees in Rome still cost large energy and created pollution. But sorry to my fans, we still don’t know who is the mystery fiancé. My sources gave me three candidates: Prince Commodus, the second son of Augustus, also her school mate in Imperial College in Rome; Prince Suleiman, the 19th son of the Sultan, who spent three months with her in Istanbul; Wilhelm Waldemar, her equestrian instructor, also a former Olympic champion, and heir to Lord Bayern. However, none of this is today’s issue! We have a scoop: Lady Bella was invited by the Queen to the White Palace today. What gonna happen when two rival queens facing each other first time since that tragedy in high school? Stay tuned. xoxo Gossip News”
Lady Bella sat in her limousine, watching the gate of the White Palace open slowly. She never bothered by tabloids; in fact, she often leaked information intentionally—like today’s meeting with the Queen. Unlike her media-averse father, she ran a jewelry brand and needed to attend functions and remain under the spotlight.
The invitation had initially surprised her, but she was eager to find out what Regina was planning. She had picked out today’s outfit two weeks ago using the Dressrious app. She wanted to surpass the Queen, but without appearing too purposeful. She selected the Sunshine vibe, and after a few modifications, she finalized a goldenrod pegged dress, a pair of red stilettos, and a red silk hairband. The best part: she could match it with the ruby-flower golden earrings she designed herself. She logged the schedule within the app, too, making sure everything was as planned.
The White Palace had changed significantly since she was last here. Since Queen Regina moved in, the place was adorned with flamboyant gold, unlike the simple and modest style favored by former monarchs. The construction noise from the demolition of the East Wing also destroyed the serenity. Rumors claimed that since the Queen attended the Soirée at the Dressrious Salon, she wanted to build a ballroom bigger than the Salon’s party hall in the East Wing.
She was brought into the Red Room. A few minutes later, Queen Regina arrived. She wore a deep violet suit with pants—a professional, powerful woman style that felt conservative compared to her high school attire.
“Hope you are not waiting too long, my dear Bella,” Regina strode into the room, stretching out her hands as if expecting a hug. “Isn’t it customary for friends in Rome to kiss cheeks for greeting?”
Bella smiled but only took Regina’s right hand and kissed it. “Your Majesty, to salute a monarch, only kissing the hand is the proper way.”
“Don’t take it too official. It’s just a small chat between two old friends,” Regina gestured for Bella to sit. “Please. What would you like to drink? They shall serve dessert soon, especially prepared Roman desserts for you.”
“Black tea, please. I’m still a Fairylander, I just live in Rome for a long time.”
“That’s wonderful. I heard you made great success with your jewelry business in Rome. I always knew you were the best among us.”
“Well, I cannot compare to the Queen of the United Fairylands, can I?”
Two servers brought tea and desserts. When they left, Regina said, “Being an elected Queen isn’t easy. I have no time for social activities anymore. I heard you met Jenny, Diana, and held a party with many schoolmates.”
“Oh, we both thought you might be busy with state affairs.”
“Busy, indeed. But I’m sure I still can squeeze in time for old friends, especially for you, Bella. Weren’t we the closest?”
“Hmm… like you held a party to celebrate my leaving?”
“Did Jenny tell you that? She must twist everything. I was only celebrating gaining the title of Queen of the School. I actually tried to contact you several times, but you ghosted me.” (This was true; Bella ghosted everyone except her nanny for half a year after that night she left.) “I hope you don’t believe rumors like I ordered Trevor to ruin your heels.”
“Well, before that, you stole my ex-boyfriend.”
“You mean Baron Warren? I just wanted you to know he didn’t deserve you.”
“You also disrupted my model casting once.”
“I just wanted you to know you deserved a better career, like running your own business.”
Regina’s transparent excuses left Bella momentarily speechless, but that wasn’t the point. What did Regina want? “That’s all past now. We’ve grown up; we shouldn’t argue about those things anymore.”
“Yes, all past now.” Regina sipped her tea, trying to ease the tension. “Try this cannoli. Very delicious. I’m sure it’s the same as in Rome.”
“Mmm, it’s good.” Bella took a bite. She decided to finish the cannoli, waiting for Regina to state her intention.
“We had many wonderful times when we worked together: helping each other during those dreadful early equestrian lessons, getting on the cover of Móda, holding our own charity gala for our sweet sixteen. We always covered each other’s backs in the past. We should work together again.”
“What do you mean?” Bella stopped eating, curious about Regina’s offer.
“Have you considered a diplomatic posting? In Rome, Istanbul, or Paris? It would benefit your business, too.”
“For real?”
“Yes, why not? I’m sure the Duke and Duchess would agree too.”
That was it. Bella understood Regina’s intention now. There were disagreements between the Duke and the Queen about several policies. Regina must have heard rumors that the Duke was forming a new political party to challenge her in the Congress. She wanted to appease the Duke by offering his daughter a prestigious position, letting him put off the idea of opposition, knowing they still had common interests.
“Quite an attractive offer. I will consider it.” Bella didn’t want to get dragged into any political game, but you never turn down an offer unless you are one hundred percent sure there’s no benefit in it.
Regina was pleased she didn’t have to push harder, so she changed the topic. “I’ve heard you are engaged. May I ask who the lucky guy is?”
“Oh, so many people want to know. Just be patient. You will know when I send the invitation.”
“Does that mean I’ve been invited?”
“Of course.” In fact, even if Bella didn’t want to invite Regina, the Duke still would. It was tradition to invite powerful noble families to a wedding like this, besides their families were related through some ancestors.
“That’s great. We may have more time to chat.”
They both smiled, and the barriers between them seemed to break down. They drank tea and ate desserts like old friends again. Bella showed Regina her jewelry products she added in the Dressrious app and her dresses as well. They discussed fashion and clothes, just like in high school.
“You still have good taste. I’m so jealous. You know what, when I heard someone say you were close to Trevor, I was totally shocked. How could a fashion queen be close to a guy with no taste in anything? Rumors even say you were dating once.”
“What? That’s totally ridiculous!” Bella made a disgusted look. She was surprised Regina suspected her and Trevor’s relationship. “But I heard you dated him.”
“Oh, forget about it. That was after you left. I was bored and wanted a servant to use. He had a terrible taste and was obsessed with programming in college—a total nerd. So I dumped him.”
“Yeah, he’s bad in style.” Bella suddenly realized she shouldn’t have said that.
“So you do know him? I never thought you two had anything in common.”
“No, he always wore cheap clothes. We laughed at him a lot.”
“I’m more surprised you still remember him so well. I bet you don’t even remember other pretty boys in our class.”
“Alright, please don’t laugh at me. After you stole Warren, I just needed a companion, so I dated him for a while. Don’t look at me like that! I didn’t want anyone to know—it felt like a shame. He was poor, wore cheap and ugly clothes, had no taste, never went to a proper restaurant, only shopped online because he was afraid of the price. I couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so I dumped him.”
“Oh, we have so much in common. Cheers.” Regina toasted with her teacup.
“Cheers.” Bella smiled and toasted.
They laughed at Trevor later. Then, Regina checked her watch. “Well, thank you for coming. It’s great to meet you, and we’ve made up as before. But I have another appointment soon. You told me you have a reading meeting later in the City, right?”
“Yes, my college professor’s book signing, in the Dressrious Salon. I should go now.”
“I’ll let Lisa lead you out. Cura ut valeas,” Regina said. “Am I right?”
“You speak well in Latin. Di te ament—May the gods love you.”
They kissed cheeks for goodbye, Roman style. Bella left with Lisa. When she exited the building, she saw a guy in a full black face mask and a black uniform entering. What was unusual about the guy was his uniform was completely black, with no shoulder insignia or any marks—just pure black everywhere. The rumor was true: the Queen had her own agents—not FBI, FIA, or Queen’s Agents, as those were part of the government—but her own private force, the Queen’s Man.
The guy entered the room Bella just left. Regina checked the Dressrious app on her phone, scanning her wardrobe, without looking at the guy, she said: “I read your report. Pretty well. Now that we have the goods on the Headmaster, we shall push him to sign the agreement to limit international students on campus. But I still don’t trust him, so you still need to find a replacement to guarantee absolute loyalty.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guy spoke in a perfect Fairylander accent.
“As for the other thing I assigned you, how is it going?”
“Still in progress. I already gained his trust.”
“Keep working.”
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, he looks quite ordinary. I’m not sure…”
Regina made a gesture to stop him. “You obey me, not question me.”
“My apologies.”
“I know both of them pretty well, and yet they both managed to hide this secret from me. I’m sure it must be huge. Since Lady B is back now, we shall have more chance to dig it out.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Now, dismiss.”
The guy exited the room. Regina continued to look at her clothes in the app, then suddenly, she deleted them all. A new season was coming; she needed to buy new clothing now.