"I have already stated the price you can buy it back for and you have failed each time to accept it. Since the palace wishes to look frugal and cannot afford to buy it, you must let it go. The former queen sold it so my family was right to claim it for the right price," said Scarlet.

Scarlet had always noticed a greediness in Madilyn from the time she entered the palace. Madilyn wanted things important to the Castro family to be removed and her name plastered all over the walls.

Madilyn was left disappointed as no one wanted to remove what had a history all for a queen who had not done anything worth mentioning as yet.

Madilyn wanted the finest jewels someone wore and expected that as the queen they would be so ready to hand everything she liked to her.

If Scarlet wanted to please Madilyn, she would be left with nothing on her back as Madilyn seemed to like everything that she owned. It must have been a rude awakening for Madilyn that she could not get everything she wanted.

For the way Scarlet was treating her, Madilyn didn’t think there was any reason for her to play nice anymore. "You are quite bold to come here after all that is going around about him using you and having another woman. If you had been nicer to everyone, we would find it easy to reach out to you. Two men have cheated on you. How do you sleep at night?"

Scarlet smiled as she knew that rumour was coming. "For that, you would need to speak with my head maid Florence as she is the only one to know my sleeping routine. I prefer that you are not worried about me and to help with that I will let you know that Ian did not cheat on me."

Scarlet continued, "Still, the town will think whatever it wants so do as you want and think what you will. I shall stay beside him until I see any reason not to. You mustn’t listen to every rumour and believe it so easily. Shall I show you why?"

Madilyn frowned as she didn’t think Scarlet would be so calm about this. Her husband’s affair was a big scandal that was still being talked about. It happened again that the man around Scarlet might have another woman so many started to wonder what was wrong with Scarlet for these men to not respect her.

How could Scarlet attend this party with Ian on her arm?

Madilyn smiled as she concluded that Scarlet was just putting up with Ian to save face. Scarlet cared a lot about what was being said about her just like everyone else in town. To end the rumours about having a second man cheating, Scarlet had shown up here with him.

Madilyn pulled on Luke’s hand to get him to walk away with her. They only had to sit and wait for when Scarlet’s plan would fail. While the Collins could help them with conflict, the palace could help Scarlet with putting an end to gossip. Scarlet was going to regret not bowing to them when she had a chance.

"I am worried," Alana said as Madilyn laughed like she had something up her sleeve. "This will not end here."

"Of course, it will not. Luke will not stop until I have bowed to him and returned you. Madilyn will not stop until she gets to wear my things. Ignore them and focus on finding yourself a husband," said Scarlet.

Alana looked down at the floor, not feeling in the mood to search for a husband with those two here. She didn’t want to let Scarlet know of her feelings since she was the only reason Scarlet and Ian were attending the party.

"If you don’t mind, I want to freshen up a little. Alone," Alana added just as Scarlet tried to join her. "I am fine. I only want to get back into the spirit of enjoying the party and Dawson will be right by my side so you have nothing to worry about."

"Fine," Scarlet agreed. "We will be right here when you are ready to return. Do not be afraid to order Dawson to get anyone out of your way. That is what I pay him for and he quite likes it."

"I will," Alana responded. She looked to Dawson to be sure he was listening and then led the way. She knew her way around thanks to attending parties here in the past. She knew where to hide when the party became overwhelming. "Did you think that I should have jumped to help Scarlet then?"

Alana looked over her shoulder after not getting a response from Dawson. Normally he would have told her to use her title of princess to speak. "Now that we are at a party you cannot speak to me? You were quite mouthy when we were at the estate."

"I am working," Dawson replied. He was thinking of her status now that they were before a crowd.

These were the kind of people who had time to start rumours. Most of them didn’t address their servants or guards so to see the princess speaking so freely to a guard would be strange in their eyes.

Rather than think Alana was kind they might start rumours that there was something between them and ruin Alana’s chances of finding a good husband.

Alana wished he would be like he normally was and share what was on his mind. She could use having someone to vent to or someone who could offer her advice. Anyone but Scarlet since Scarlet had just spoken a lot on her behalf.

Alana just wanted to speak to Dawson and then return to Scarlet’s side but now to save face, she had to go to the bathroom to freshen up like she had told Scarlet. It might have been a mistake for her to come here tonight.

Dawson knew that she needed someone to talk to but keeping her reputation intact was more important.

"Princess Alana."

Alana looked away from the floor when she heard her name. "Oh, Jeremy. What a surprise. I didn’t know you were in town."

"Well, you haven’t been in the palace for me to tell you of my arrival. I have joined my father in the court so I must do a bit of travelling to the palace and back home. I heard interesting news that you are looking for a husband," Jeremy said, looking over Alana at the servant who needed to vanish. "I never thought I would see the day."

"It is time that I start having a family of my own. Don’t worry as I will not be married by next week. I plan to make this a very slow process. Luke is near if you have not seen him. I must continue on my way," Alana said, stepping to the right to go around Jeremy.

Unfortunately, Jeremy was one of Luke’s friends so Alana would not consider him for courting.

Jeremy blocked her path. "I am not worried about speaking to Luke while you are present. There is much for us to speak about. You can send the guard away and join me for a moment. I can protect you."

"Over my dead body," Dawson said, getting in the middle of Alana and Jeremy.