MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter THIRTY-SEVEN: The Scheming Prince’s Surprise!

Saturday. 7:00 am Local Time (11.00 pm, GMT or UTC.)

Greta’s Residence, Sir Reinhard Merkel Mansion, Achaia.

28 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Greta Merkel’s Avowal.

It was so early, but my bosom friends have arrived at my Residence to make things easier for me after arriving at midnight. I was not feeling too relaxed, though. Colonel Michelle had entered the kitchen to assist the future wife of the Italian Super Naval Officer who is a chef par-excellence! Breakfast was served, taken, and we surprisingly kept unusually quiet… Chu Celerina is usually the one to break every silence in our midst:

“I hope this is not the usual calm before the storm?” she asked the two of us. “Will the Casino Queen tell us about the latest gist, or we should think that she had a bumpy flight?”

Michelle was as quiet as the night. So, I said, “Since I have got a mini-trial to submit to - this evening - I would have to get all the wisdom I need, Girls… Michelle, my uncle would be coming for the decision-making meeting: Wish me luck!”

Michelle remained quiet. Celerina gave her a crystal-clear glass of water. “Colonel Beautiful, you might be losing your sweetheart today. How I wish you had taken that piece of advice from us: ‘Do something’ just to say goodbye. We assured you that we would not scold you. I am sure that Greta would accept the prince’s love tonight,” she teased Michelle, who took the glass of water, drank like a fish, but maintained her silence.

I observed my bosom friends and felt that Michelle’s silence does not betray any sign of loss. So, I was impressed, and I said: “Blood Sisters, I have a confession to make… It comes with a request… Will you stand by me as I jettison every mischief from this moment, friends?”

“That is cool to hear, Fräuleen Deutschland,” Michelle broke her own silence, without betraying any emotion.

“I still remember Celerina’s advice about the evil of preparing oneself to carry the guilt of losing her true love for the rest of her life. So, I will accept Prince Raymond as my fiancé on one condition… We all love Middleville, but we must not become miserable villains, intentionally sacrificing the one we love for no reasonable cause – Was that not the exact words of the Cat with Nine Lives?!” I grimaced and bowed my head, waiting for reactions.

My friends kept quiet for a while… Then, Celerina came up with a joke: “International Monetary Fund spokeswoman… Are we going to mortgage something good as your conditionality?”

“Only the silent party will?” I responded as both of us turned to face Michelle.

“What is my own, now? Should I send my heart to the slaughter slab just to get the peace at home and pursue nationalism with good rationale!” Michelle said, mimicking Celerina’s lines at our last meeting at the former’s residence. We all laughed out loud.

Celerina started clapping. “Now, the game is all about ‘my words’, right?”

“Michelle,” I called out her name, after which she took a gulp of water again. “You just hit the nail on the head, even if you only paraphrased the saying of our ‘brainbox’! You are the one who deserves this General. I told you before… I will do what my uncle has suggested for my family’s selfish reasons, but you will have to win Raymond’s love for the good guys to win this battle.”

“Is your schizophrenia back, or you are daydreaming again,” the soldier snapped at me after hearing about my arrangement! Celerina was lost, but I remained calm… “As some stimulants’ abusers would say, you need a juice of Schisandra Chinensis now, Greta.”

I replied with a smile: “You are our senior colleague, Michelle. That Chinese herb whose berries are credited with various stimulants with medicinal properties will not work for me as a diagnosis for clinical schizophrenia… Please hear me through.”

But Michelle sprang up and spoke with some strange excitement, “You and I planned how we shall let you have your happiness… while I keep your uncle happy and see what happens after that. Now you are bringing another stress…”

I was able to read a wave of growing anger in Michelle’s voice, and I failed to understand why?

Celerina stood up with me to calm Michelle for a while until she took her seat again. Then, Celerina counselled: “This is an unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation we have in our hands. We have no choice but to plan it through. If we are best friends, then, we must help one another! Wait, Michelle... I know you love Greta, and that will never convince us that you have fallen out of love with your direct boss. Greta was only looking out to save your heart’s condition, even when she is helpless… I know that you want to move on without Raymond and try to find a way around our Monarch. But we all know that the Monarch has his extended maternal family’s vengeance to carry out. He is not ready for heart games, for now: You would be acting to make peace, on an unfamiliar stage…” Michelle drank another glass of water, and started to sweat… I should think I understand why. Hence, I spoke:

“Celerina is my witness that when you eventually win Raymond’s heart, I would neither get jealous nor turn against you… My family will not allow me to marry Raymond as the table has turned now, even when I have discovered that I love Raymond back. And it hurts me as it should hurt you. My people’s eyes are still on hindering the Crown Prince from marrying his choice of spouse, but they will mellow down a bit just to get the evidence destroyed. An engagement is just a prelude... Only the truce will ensure that we don’t stop that engagement. But – when the Monarch succeeds in destroying the evidence that he would have made public if he had been in Reynold Chang’s shoes, but the do-good Achaians did not - the next plan will surely rattle the Chang Dynasty! My uncle had wanted me to follow my heart and he would support me, but my banished Uncle – Raymond’s dad’s cousin – flew in from Germany to fan the embers of hatred. So, the cold war will not subside… These people are powerful, and Raymond’s personality and position will never avail him the grace to elope with anyone… That I want to switch camps must be a secret amongst the three of us. To keep us safe, I will support your platonic relationship - with my uncle - to make peace happen… Please help me, Michelle.”

“How long can we keep this fake relationship with General Raymond a secret, Greta? Won’t you feel more hurt?” Celerina asked, and Michelle seems very interested in my answer.

Tears started to roll down my cheeks, and incidentally, I saw Michelle silently weeping too. We mopped each other’s faces with handkerchiefs. I sobbed as I said: “I have always wanted Michelle to be happy. I never knew that I had to pay dearly for this to happen. But I promise never to betray you, my friends… I need to divulge this secret because only my declaration of love for Raymond can save me from prosecution after this evening’s confab. I cannot bear to keep fooling Raymond, now that I know that two bosom friends have fallen in love with him, and one of us must step down… Therefore, since I will lose him eventually, let me give Michelle the chance to win his heart… It will be tough, but it is possible!”

Michelle only wept, but could not contribute anything more to the discussion… How could I let her know that my uncle had no love plan for her, and she should keep her first love? Well, Michelle will have me to thank I future. Now, it is my turn to emphasize my appreciation to my friends: “I respect your selfless love, Fräuleen Michelle, and La nostra sposa Italiana!”

“Fräuleen Deutschland, we’ve got your back! I hope this charade expires soon, so that you won’t lose your chance to fall in love again!” said Chu Celerina, our alter ego who loves us calling her Our Italian Bride (La nostra sposa Italiana!)

“Relax, Colonel Beautiful,” Celerina and I echoed. Then, I assured her again as I had told her before I travelled to Middleville: “I will try to tread with much more caution from now on… And be happy that you won the right to own our lover. We cannot afford to give him to someone else, for he is more valuable than diamonds! It is a triumphant endeavour! God has started to work in your favour!”

Michelle’s Phone started to ring… Behold, it is the crown prince of Achaia. She decided to pick the call in our presence. “Your Highness, Sir,” she greeted her topmost Commander. “I am honoured to receive your call, My Prince…” She listened for what seemed like an eternity, with bated breath! Then she said, “Okay, Sir…” and few seconds later, she mentioned, “No problem… Sir! Permission to move at the double… Sir!” After that, she disconnected the call and frowned!

She had been chosen by the Commander-in-Chief to lead the Royal Brigades in the Queen-Mother’s security. She is billed to be her bodyguard in another neighbouring nation, and her entourage will move in an hour. The Programme’s duration is about 60 minutes, and they should return immediately after the completion of their assignment. Hopefully, she should be able to attend the Security Stakeholders’ Decision-making meeting slated for the Crown Prince’s Conference Hall at 4:00 pm today.

***

Saturday. 4:00 pm Local Time (8.00 am, GMT or UTC.)

Office of the Crown Prince, Imperial Government House, Lagos, Achaia.

28 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Raymond’s Frame of Reference.

The paparazzi that received the Monarch of Middleville to the Seat of Achaia’s Government was not supposed to be, seeing how shameless and heartless he had been. How I wish the people knew the pieces of information that we, in the security and protocol teams, are privy to. That is the beauty of diplomacy: However, I ordered the personnel to allow none of his orderlies to enter the Conference Hall… My crown prince had – about one hour ago – sought to know if I had clearly taken away the Original Copies of the Intelligence Scoops that exposed the Monarch. Of course, we are always a step ahead of the demonic plotters!

It is noteworthy that leaks are being exposed through the Prince of Middleville’s grandstanding: He personally attended the Special Meeting to discuss the truce! As the confab progressed, I privately revealed the office copies of the true videos and records of the kidnap of Alexa to him; I did unveil the audio record of the discussion between Greta and someone called ‘her uncle’; whose voice was matched to the Price of Middleville; and I also put on display, the plot behind the X-Rated Movie… These ‘inside stories’ were laid bare for the monarch to know that he could never be free from the misdeed, but he lent no single word of an argument!

However, the prince of Middleville requested that the on-going matters be treated as a family’s love squabbles that need not hurt anyone. He went on to request – in the spirit of the truce - that we should especially invite him to the traditional wedding, in Africa, between Princess Alexa and Prince Reynold. The monarch advised her niece, without reservation, to verbally express her love for Raymond or deny same, as that would give them the opportunity to remain one family, protecting the union, as well as maintaining the true unity between the nations.

Greta acceded to her uncle’s request and blithely moved to the middle of the Conference Hall where I stood, as the moderator. She slid her soft hand under my arm, around my waist and called out… “Attention, Your Excellencies and Patriots of Achaia… And – respectfully - the Monarch of Middleville.” She turned to face me, and I got disturbed in my mind. What more embarrassment will Greta give to me this day…

“My beloved General and Prince of Achaia,” she had started. Then, her eyes suddenly became tear-filled as she openly confessed: “My Prince Charming, I wondered why I never knew that all my life – I had only waited for your grand entrance into my life… Please, forgive me for relentlessly chasing after your brother, believing that I had only been attracted to him when you have always been my armour and my shield! It would be wrong to ask for you to marry me after I had wronged your heart for so long…” She paused and the members of the meeting all looked around, wondering what is coming up… The Prince of Middleville had ‘melancholy’ written across his face. He must be shocked!

Then, the beauty queen looked straight into my eyes, ran her sleek hands around my neck – drawing me closer – and planted a kiss on my lips. I could not respond till she gently pulled away and continued her speech…

“But I could not even move near to your brother, and he never touched me… Then, I got angry, and the X-Rated Movie expressed what I wanted. It never happened, so, I wanted to publish it… But, what importance will that blackmail be, when I only love you and do have your love…?”

The mood in the hall changed, as a few members were smiling and tete-a-tete started. It was just as if some romantic drama was taking place… I responded:

“Dear Miss Greta, what do you want me to do for you, now?”

“Give me the chance to prove my love to you… You have shown me the kind of love no one could give me. You gave your life to save mine, many times. You sought my heart. Though I failed you, I still allowed you to ravish my body but refused to make you glad in love. Now, that I am sure I love you back, let the music play on. If you agree later, we shall call these respectable people to celebrate our love… But if you disagree, I will gladly let you go…” She suddenly went on her knee and brushed her ear to produce a very expensive ring… She raised it to me and said, “With this ring, I do propose that we begin our relationship afresh. I will not hold you captive, but our love will show us the way… If you had ever loved me, please say YES, my prince.”

She caged me and gave me many rooms for escape, “what is this Casino Queen up to?” I had the cause to think… But this is in front of a set of people that believed that I had passionately loved her… While I pondered what to do in a jiffy, the audience started the applause. Does that mean I should agree? What would I tell Colonel Michelle Guan? O Yes, let us placate the crowd, first, and we shall discuss the modality later. To Greta, I should say YES so that the Chang dynasty may continue to exist… I know the prankful family that is up against us!

“What are you doing, allowing my knees to hurt?” Greta whispered as she pinched my knee, playfully. So, I allowed her to slip the ring on the third finger of my left hand before I raised her from the floor – straight into my arms!

The entertainment stewards chose the time to enter the Conference Hall to share glasses of Champagne as the VIP celebrated “our love” …A Rhythm and Blues’ love music seeped through the hall, and I wondered who must have planned this!

“Thank You, Greta, for responding to my love after a long time. I hope our love shall be proved right… To find riches is a pauper’s dream, but to find love is the dream of Kings,” I responded to her as I accepted the long kiss that followed. I declared a short break, where we all took light refreshments and drinks, and interacted, for about ten minutes before we resumed the meeting.

Immediately the meeting commenced, the Prince of Middleville personally released his own copy of the X-Rated video and demanded that the original copies of the incriminating evidence against him be released to him to concretise the veracity of the intention behind the truce. In appealing that the errors of the past should be buried, Miss Greta Merkel also presented her own copy, while calling for Princess Alexa George-Orji to submit her copy. The house received the documents through the doyen of the Achaian Diplomatic Corps, with a lot of happy felicitations.

The Crown Prince of Achaia consented to the friendly request, as he asked General Raymond to present the documents as demanded by the Monarch of Middleville. He officially invited the visiting Prince to the traditional wedding – in Africa - between him and Princess Alexa. The monarch also personally handed over seven artistically designed copies of his birthday invitations to the crown prince.

While Princess Alexa was a quiet member, Colonel Michelle could not attend the meeting due to an impromptu mission she had to attend.

The cold war, will it end soon? Is Greta’s love for Raymond enough for this national unity plea?