Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Collect then select II

"I understand why it's still Charlton you want to marry but you know, he's not the only man in the world. There are other men who might be better suited for you if you just give them, or him, a chance." Serena coaxed.

Annalys shook her head. "How can any man be better than Charlton? He's handsome, kind, a loving son, a successful entrepreneur, the grand duke, talented in music, talented in everything. How can I want to marry any other man when all of them pales to him in comparison? Serena, you have been friends with him in school, right? I mean, yes, his royal highness is also very good, but you should have seen what I'm seeing in him too right?"

Serena's left brow twitched. What can she say to that? There was indeed a time she thought the exact same thing. "Yes, it's true that Charlton is all that. However, it does not automatically mean that he's the one for you. Annalys, you're 22 now. Charlton is in Suffox and he's still in his mourning period. He can't marry for at least a year and a half and by the time that he can you'll be 24. Also, that doesn't necessarily mean that he will marry right away, and…" she paused, the words 'even if he does choose to do so it doesn't mean that it will be you.' At the tip of her tongue.

Annalys knew what Serena intended to say and though it irked her, she could not voice that one out directly. So, she only responded with words she can say. "I've already waited for him for 5 years; I can wait a little more." she resolutely said.

"Annalys, though I admire your persistence, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. I am not saying that you should forget about Charlton or stop waiting for him. However, don't you know the phrase 'collect then select'?" Serena not knowing how to convince Annalys anymore chose to go in a different direction.

Annalys furrowed her brows. "Isn't that the phrase used by rakes? I mean… I heard the term from my brother, not that he's a rake."

Serena smiled. Now they're getting somewhere. "It's not like that but the concept is a bit similar. What I mean to say is, you can entertain suitors, talk to them, get to know them, dance with them during the balls, something like that."

"Won't that cause a misunderstanding?" Annalys asked.

"No! of course not. That's what the Season is for in the first place. Though I was not able to experience it, I always dreamed of being in a situation of such but unfortunately, it did not happen to me." Serena lamented.

"Serena, if you were not engaged to Geoffrey then, I am a hundred percent sure that all the men will line up in front of your doors instead of that songstress Emily!"

On this part, though Annalys was loathe to admit, she was being true. Serena was easily the most beautiful woman not only in the kingdom but the empire. Even now, though she's also confident in her own skin, she still hates standing beside Serena because she doesn't like the feeling of being overshadowed. Serena had hair golden like the sun, skin smoother than a freshly peeled egg, eyes that looked like the sea when the sun was sparkling on it, and well, despite being married and having lost 3 pregnancies, still had a body to die for. However, she would still rather be in her shadow than in Emily's.

Emily Evans, that loathsome impoverished baron's daughter, okay so she did strike gold in the music industry and was now a baroness of her own right, but still. Anyhow, Emily was still a debutant despite her age of 25 and she couldn't help but wonder, was Emily also waiting for Charlton's return? She could still recall how Charlton asked Emily for the dance before the intermission in the Charlotte's ball 4 years ago. Was she the reason why Charlton rejected her father's offer three times? No, he said there were other reasons.

Still, she hated Emily and wanted to get rid of her. In fact, she already tried to do so, but Emily was so well guarded. Once, she sent people to get rid of her, but they failed because apparently, crown prince Geoffrey was her sponsor.

Initially, she thought that there was an affair going on, wanting to play safe, she had someone mention it casually so that rumors would begin.

It did reach the effect she wanted but nothing came out of it. Serena even told everyone that it was by her request that Geoffrey did so. She asked Serena about it later, but Serena even showed proofs that she supported and even instigated the sponsorship. For instance, some of the songs Serena wrote and composed were later sang by Emily.

Annalys could not understand the point because she knew Serena did not like Emily and it was mutual. However, she could not understand how her head worked at times.

Moving on, Emily began seeing her brother Christopher. At that time, she told her brother that she will disown him if he continues to see her. Her brother just laughed at her saying it was just for sport. However, at the end, Emily dumped him first. Though her brother was cool about it, it did not sit well with her. But what can she do? Emily was too well connected that despite the disparity of their positions, she can't simply push Emily to the mud.

TBC