I hadn’t notice until I reached el Palacio that I didn’t have a shirt on, but I was so happy and honored that I did not really care. The guard gave me a look as if he had seen an Englishman, but I gave him the letter, secretly keeping the green ribbon.

He opened the grand gates and I walked in taking in all the beauty of el jardín principal. The colors of lavender, honeysuckle, gladiolas, and sage flowers all surrounded el Palacio and the fresh smell of them made it seem like I was somewhere else.

I saw a black shadow run past one of the bushes of flowers, la Organización, I assumed. I walked a little more when I saw the Princess smelling the phlox flowers. She did a double-take and smiled.

“Bienvenido,’ She said to me from afar, her yellow dress looked fantastic on her. Before I could bow down to her, Andres walked in through one of the bushes and looked almost surprised to see me there.

“Gabriél, what a lovely surprise!”