Einar lifted the back of her hand to his mouth, kissing it lightly. “I miss the bakery too,” he said in a more hushed tone, not for sake of being overheard, but because of its wistful nature. “It was simpler then. When I was just a boy, and you just a girl,” he said, a sad smile on his face. “But I am happy now too, my love. Where we can be together not just for a fleeting moment, but forever.” Einar planned on finishing the negotiations for that particular facet as soon as possible. As this was a peace summit, and he had already shown his courting of Hettie before the entirety of the Court and foreign royalty, he only hoped it could move towards an alliance that sealed their love.
“I, personally, have never gotten used to the attention either,” he said in a murmur. “I do not frequent Court while I am in Sweden, as this is the royal residence where my mamma and fader live. My own private residence is not even a half days ride from here, at Drottningholm,” he explained. “Perhaps some time during this summit, if I can find a moment to escape while in meetings, we can go there for a day,” he said, his eyes lighting up at the prospect. Drottningholm would be their residence when they were married, and Einar planned to keep it as their private getaway even upon the assumption of the Crown. He could not handle the constant rabble of Tre Kronor, and the nobles in and out of its doors every day.
It had been wonderful. Many times she had wondered if things would have been definitely had they met in a royal gathering, with so many rules and pretences. It had been the freedom of not knowing each other's identities what had given them the opportunity to truly see the other for who they were and not what they were. Henriette would be eternally grateful for both their wild spirits and desire to explore the world without the pressure of being a royal. "I am happy, very much so." She remembered them having a discussion about which city was more beautiful, if Florence or Paris, only to realize that she would choose Stockholm if it meant to be with him. "Forever," she echoed, unable to hide her smile.
It was a scary thought, one she would one day share with him if the moment ever came. Henriette was so used to live in the shadow, leaving the spotlight to her siblings. If everything went well and, God willing, they wed soon, she would become the Crown Princess and future Queen of Sweden. It was intimidating, terrifying even. But he, of course, brought another smile to her lips. Oh, she wished they could do just that. But she doubted her father would ever allow her to visit his private residence without then being wed yet, and she respected that. "I guess a day would not hurt anyone." Her ladies would be with her, even her sister if her father was so inclined. "You know, this is last country my mother visited. I would not call it fate, but she was pregnant with me and I cannot help but think that she would be very happy for us. Your mother visited our court months ago and told me my mother had been very happy here. I suppose I was as well, for I already feel at home."
