Poul swallowed hard, his heart was suddenly heavy with the realization of the turmoil he and Sara had unwittingly become entangled in. Though the depth of their feelings for one another was undeniable, he couldn't ignore the consequences their love had brought upon them. Despite the challenges they faced, however, Poul was determined to honor the promise they had made to one another: to be together, no matter the cost. For now, though, he intended to keep their true identities concealed.
"I find it difficult to believe that Lady Ascart and I could have met before, as I have never left Avalonia since my birth," Poul said thoughtfully. "I presume the same is true for Lady Ascart, as her recent trip to Avalonia was her first?"
The Prime Minister nodded, his stern eyes watching Poul closely. "Indeed, that was her first time setting foot in your country."
Poul furrowed his brow, genuinely perplexed by the Crown Prince's accusations. "In that case, I struggle to understand the logic behind the Crown Prince's assertion that I am the reason Lady Ascart has refused his hand in marriage. I harbor no ill will towards the Crown Prince, and I have no personal stake in whether or not he and Lady Ascart become betrothed. After all, who am I to hold such an opinion?"
Though Poul's words rang true, a small part of him recoiled at the very thought of Penelope - or Sara, as he knew her - becoming romantically involved with Prince Alexander. He quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing on the matter at hand.The Prime Minister leaned forward, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "So you maintain that the Crown Prince is mistaken?"
Poul met the Prime Minister's gaze unflinchingly. "There is no doubt in my mind, sir. It is most peculiar, as during our negotiations for the acquisition of the AN-M1 rifles, the Crown Prince demonstrated a keen intellect and a sound capacity for logical reasoning. I cannot fathom why he would implicate me in such a matter, particularly on the very day the King intended to formalize their engagement," Poul explained, his voice steady and resolute.
The Prime Minister leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled before him as he considered Poul's words. Seconds later, he spoke.
"Very well, Mr. Nielsen, I shall take your explanation into account. It is quite possible that the Crown Prince has made an error in judgment. However, I must admit that this situation has created quite a stir within the royal family and the nation as a whole."
Poul nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the situation. "I apologize for any inconvenience my presence may have caused, sir. I assure you, my only intention in coming here was to discuss the implementation of the air brake system within the British Empire's railway network."
That is another lie as well, Poul wanted to see Sara badly.
The Prime Minister regarded Poul for a moment, his gaze searching, before finally nodding. "I understand, Mr. Nielsen. I trust that you will be available for further discussions if necessary?""Of course, sir. I am at your disposal," Poul replied with a respectful nod.
"Excellent. Then, unless you have any other matters to discuss, I believe we have covered everything for now," the Prime Minister said, his tone implying that their meeting was drawing to a close.
As they were about to formally end the meeting, there was a voice and a knock on the door.
"Father, may I come in?"
The voice was feminine, Poul and the Prime Minister knew who it belonged to. It was from Penelope.
"I'm currently talking to a guest here, Penelope. I'll talk to you later."
"Sir, is it possible for me to talk to Lady Ascart?" Poul asked.
And the moment he did so, the Prime Minister glared at Poul.
"To what purpose? There's nothing for you to talk about."
"I apologize if my request seems inappropriate, sir," Poul said, attempting to maintain his composure under the Prime Minister's intense gaze. "However, given the current situation and the accusations made by the Crown Prince, I believe it may be beneficial for Lady Ascart and me to clear up any misunderstandings directly. It is my hope that such a conversation may help to resolve the discord within the royal family and ease the concerns of the nation."
The Prime Minister's eyes narrowed as he considered Poul's request. A tense silence filled the room, the crackling of the fireplace and the ticking of the grandfather clock the only sounds punctuating the heavy atmosphere.
Finally, the Prime Minister sighed, his stern expression softening ever so slightly. "Very well, Mr. Nielsen," he acquiesced. "I will allow you to speak with Lady Ascart. But please, remember that she is a member of the royal family, and you are to treat her with the utmost respect."
"Of course, sir," Poul replied, grateful for the opportunity, his heart pounding in anticipation.
The Prime Minister called out to his daughter. "Penelope, you may enter."
The door to the drawing room opened slowly, and there she stood: Lady Penelope Ascart, or Sara, as Poul knew her. Her eyes locked onto Poul's, and he could see a mixture of relief and trepidation in her gaze. She crossed the room with grace and poise, stopping just a few feet away from him."
"Sir Nielsen, I didn't expect to see you here," Penelope said.
"Lady Ascart,"
Poul replied, bowing his head slightly. "I apologize for the unexpected visit. I thought it was important for us to discuss the recent accusations made by the Crown Prince."
Penelope nodded in agreement. "Yes, it seems our situation has become more complicated than we initially thought."
As they spoke, Poul could see the worry in Sara's eyes, but he couldn't help but feel a spark of joy in seeing her again. It had been too long since their last encounter, and his heart ached for her.
"I must admit, I find it difficult to understand the Crown Prince's claims," Poul continued, trying to focus on the matter at hand. "As I explained to your father, I have never left Avalonia, and your recent trip was your first time visiting my country. It seems impossible that we could have met under the circumstances the Crown Prince has described."
Sara sighed, her delicate brow furrowing in concern. "Indeed, it is puzzling. I can only assume that there has been some sort of misunderstanding. Perhaps the Crown Prince has been misled by someone, or he is simply mistaken."
Poul nodded, "Regardless of the cause, we must find a way to resolve this situation, for both our sakes and the well-being of our respective countries. Uhm. Sir, if I may ask, can I talk to her in private?"
"You have five minutes," the Prime Minister said as he left.
And the moment they were alone in the room, the facade that they had been showing to the Prime Minister vanished. Poul and Sara immediately embraced each other, the warmth of their connection providing them with a brief respite from the stress and uncertainty that surrounded them.
