The Princess and The Knight

Arrival Of The Guests

Dinner was not extravagant but well-chosen for guests that had arrived for the princess’s coronation. The Royals were not habitual to a profligate lifestyle and took concern towards their people’s interest and were by no means inclined to spending their taxes on their own merriment. Cousin Margaret was inclined to pout and was subdued by a glance from the Queen herself and meekly took her place beside the princess. She regarded the food set before her as a matter of indifference but as she was famished from her long journey to the castle she did justice to the first course partaking of every dish and just as the second course was brought she got up from her seat but was held down by Princess Angela.

“Do not do that Margaret, mom and dad won’t like it if you leave the table now. All guests are still having their food.”

“Oh shush Angel, what am I suppose to do? Watch everyone chew their food?” she replied in an exaggerated tone.

“Just stay!”

Which she eventually did when she caught one of Sir James enquiring eyes. The two girls had been reared in very contrasting ways. Since childhood, Margaret had an inclination of being rebellious, she was an unruly child who would cause Angela to fall into scrapes one after the other and the latter would be held accountable for their defiance. She was Sir James niece but both the Queen and her husband knew how bad her influence was on their daughter but unfortunately the princess held her close and enjoyed her several escapades with her cousin. Though it was hoped that this time around things would be different and the two of them were old enough to be considered responsible girls.

Once the dinner was over, the two girls excused themselves and walked towards their bed chambers. Angela was talking animatedly to Margaret that she didn’t see Christopher, the Earl of Windower coming from the opposite side and banged into him.

“Oh excuse me.” Angela placed a hand on her chest.

“Well well, if it isn’t the future queen herself. Please accept my heart felt felicitations, as always you look beautiful Angela.” He took her hand giving it a lingering kiss. Angela’s stomach churned and she immediately took it away.

“How do you do Christopher? I hope your stay here is comfortable?” Her manner was slightly reserved not encouraging him to remain with them.

“Oh yes, it is. Who is the pretty lady beside you?” Angela turned around introducing him to Margaret who addressed himself to her with such good manners that anyone who didn’t know him well could easily be fooled. He wasn’t yet out of earshot when Margaret told Angela,

“I think he is the most delightful and amusing man I have met in a while. He is a complete gentleman with lively eyes and so hot, I’m really looking forward to enjoying my time here.”

“He is known as a rake, never missing a chance to flirt with a girl and the tabloids are often after him catching him with one of his beauties or the other.”

“Ahh my dear Angela but the tabloids can be wrong too. You see, I don’t need to give any explanations to you but an eligible bachelor like me also with a title will always be under their radar.” Christopher had come up behind them describing himself as a victim.

“It’s quite understandable.” Margaret pitched in.

“Thank you Margaret!” Christopher replied with ill-suppressed mirth, “I knew I might depend on you to establish my character with the future queen” raising his eyes at Angela.

“Lets leave the character building aside! You have come to the castle at great personal inconvenience for my coronation. We are having a post dinner party which you can join or there’s also a movie night in one of the castle halls, you could join that too along with the other guests.”

“A party is always better, won’t you be joining me?”

Before Angela could answer Margaret replied, “Of course we will, what a bad hostess she will be if Angela doesn’t come.” Margaret looked at her cousin who was eyeing her sternly.

As she had no other choice, Angela attended the party which was in full swing. Drinks, dances, laughter, guests were busy enjoying all forms of gaiety. As the musicians struck a slow number, Christopher took Angela by the arm guiding her on to the dance floor.

“Let’s dance.”

“I don’t feel like dancing Christopher, really.”

“Please don’t say no because once you become the queen I will hardly get a chance to dance with you.” Christopher continued.

“But tonight I am playing the duties of a hostess so I should be looking after my guests.”

“And as a hostess you cannot deny your guests request.”

“Fine, I agree with that.” She bowed her head to his request and started dancing. Although, Angela was a head strong girl who enjoyed no girlish fancies but no one could call her impolite or churlish. She knew Christopher was not at all romantically inclined towards her and was taken over by his ambitious so she meant to keep his advances at bay.

His perfume seemed toxic to her, making her head swirl and the smell of tobacco lingered around him. Whereas, Christopher seemed to be enjoying himself, dancing with the future queen had made him the center of attention, exactly what he had in mind all along. People looked at them, admiring their couple and how they looked perfect together. Too bad no photographers were allowed or they would have made the headlines of every possible magazine and newspaper across the country. Christopher smiled, sorry princess but you are great for my image, he thought to himself.

“Thank you Angela, no one can deny that you are a wonderful hostess. I would now like to retire for the night.”

“Already? But there’s a line of ladies wanting to dance with you starting from Margaret. I’m sure you won’t deny your hostess’s request.” Angela asked with a twinkle in her eyes and an innocent smile on her face.

Angela looked around and found her parents busy talking to several of their guests. She didn’t want to disturb them so she decided to leave the party quietly. Before leaving she looked back and saw Margaret still in Christopher’s arms dancing happily with him. Contented, she walked towards her chamber, changed into more comfortable clothes and left the castle without anyone noticing. She used a secret staircase which was thought to be closed and sealed but only Angela had its keys. This staircase was in a tower which was old and rusty not at all used. Only when Angela felt like she had too much going on and wanted some peace and quiet, she would escape from the castle doors and leave its premises from this tower as it was never guarded by dogs or guards.

She wore plain jeans with a hoodie covering her hair so as to be unrecognizable once on the streets of the city. She marveled how carefree people walked about not in the least concerned of being known or followed or clicked by any one. She was walking past a café when a group of men started calling after her.

“Hey babe, you lonely wanna stick with me?” One of them asked in a gruff voice wearing only a vest and jeans and a mean stubble grew on his face.

“You have some nice flesh there, come to papa.” Another one said curtly while spitting on the floor. Angela turned around looking hard at them.

“Which one of you really wants me?” she asked folding her arms in front of her while tapping her foot.

The one with the gruff voice stood up with a sly grin and started walking towards her. When he was only inches away from her, she slapped him tight across the face catching him off guard and kicked him in the groin. He laid on the floor clutching himself and groaning. Angela raised her eyebrows challenging the other guy who took one look at his buddy, realized what his fate might be and ran away.

Angela dusted her hands putting them back in her pockets, continued her walk peacefully. It was after an hour when she finally reached back the castle, passed the corridors and finally entered her bed chamber. As she opened the lights, she was met by Margaret who gave her a questioning look.

“Where have you been? I thought you had gone to sleep.” She scanned her attire critically, “And why are you wearing that?”

“I was out walking, needed some fresh air. It was getting too congested inside.” Angela walked into her room taking off her hoodie.

“Gosh you’re sweating, were you running?”

“Yeah kind of.” Angela smiled sheepishly.

Margaret looked at her nails and tossed her hair to a side, “I could never do something like that, too tiring. Might as well walk on a tread mill.”

“Yeah and I could never do that,” Angela tried to imitate her cousin and failed making the two girls laugh out loud.