The Modern Princess

CHAPTER TEN

“Madame, Duke Henri has arrived” Ava said.

“Where is he?” Why is he here?

“At the living room Madame, he wants to talk with Jeanne” It’s Saturday and in a few minutes he’ll be around. Will I go down? It was his first time to visit us so maybe I should.

“I’ll follow” I said and she closed the door I look through the mirror, brush my hair a little and pour some perfume. I turn around to see if my red long sleeved dress is still well ironed. I do have a lot of everyday dresses, when I say everyday dresses I mean comfortable clothes like tank top and shorts but for the time that I have been here I have never worn any of them. Yes. Even though I will spend my day at home I have never worn any of them.

Walking towards the living room, I heard the two boys’ voices. It wasn’t at the normal tone. I walk fast to see what is happening. Are they fighting this early? Stopping at the back of the door, I listened to them.

“I told you to go to this convention. Do you know how important this is?” Dad said, he’s raising his voice and he is really angry.

“I will just get an update on it” Jeanne said coolly. Maybe they aren’t fighting?

“You must get information by yourself!” His dad shouted. “Why were you not able to go on it?”

“I went out last night. I did not get up early” He did?

I knock on the door and smiled like I just arrived. “Good morning dad” I greeted, I walk towards him to kiss his cheeks. He was standing near the fireplace, arms on the waist and inside his coat. While Jeanne was sitting on the couch and throwing tennis ball up repeatedly.

“Good morning Kathy” he replied but he wasn’t at ease, he didn’t even smile at me. “Have you eaten your breakfast? I asked them to prepare our breakfast” Please, I don’t want to witness a fight this early.

“No need. I’m done. I just have to talk to Jeanne”

“Okay” I smiled at him and sit in front of Jeanne, he stopped throwing the ball and walk to me and kiss me on my cheek. “Morning beautiful” he greeted and walk back to his place.

“I ask John about the important details” he turned to his dad.

“Jeanne, do you know how irresponsible was that?” What is this convention all about? “You are old enough, be mature a little.”

He gave a shot to his father, his brows met in the middle and he clenched his hand holding the tennis ball. “Look. I do not have time to listen to you. Talk to my secretary. I have to go” What did he do? He walked approaching the door. “Jeanne. Jeanne! I am not finished.” His dad shouted and Jeanne slammed the door. What the..

“Dad, dad. I'm sorry for what he has done.” I tried to calm him down. Oh my Gosh. Please help me I think he’s going to have a heart attack.

He shakes his head. “He's really hard headed.” He sighed.

“I’ll talk to him dad. Excuse me” and I exited.

I roam around our home. Where is he? He isn’t in our room, neither in the dining area, of course not in the living room, then I passed by the Veranda. Finally!

“Jeanne” I called him.

“Yes?” he asked, still playing with the tennis ball, throwing it up.

“Let's talk.” I said

He stopped playing with the ball “That’s nothing Kathy.” He smiled.

“Jeanne that’s not nothing. What did you do? Your father was talking and you just turn your back behind like that?”

He gave me a smirk and said.“Kathy that's over, besides I've got what he wants.”

“That was disrespectful” I argued and the smile left his face. His face becomes serious, sharp, with anger.

“I only respect people who deserve to be respected.”

“Jeanne he's your dad.”

“We're fine kathy. You have nothing to worry” he rolled his eyes.

“You must talk to him and apologize.” I commanded.

“No”

“You should. After what you’ve done? What kind of son are you?”

“You do not know what you are talking about! You know what? You must stop getting in between situations, why don't you mind your own business and shut up!” He screamed at my face. Who the hell does he think he is? HE CANNOT SCREAM IN FRONT OF ME LIKE THAT!

“I'm...Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry your highness" I rolled my eyes and I left him, not looking back again.

The first minute he was sweet…the next one he’s a monster. How dare he scream at me like that? I was asking him to do what is right! I go to my room, the room I had before we start sleeping together, and locked it. “I hate you f*****g Prince!” and I threw the pillows. No one screams at my face like that!

I get my headphones and plugged it on my phone to listen to Classical Music. Relax Katherine, he’s not worth your wrinkles. I played five songs and felt better then I walk out of my room and tried to avoid seeing him. This place is huge right?

“Mademoiselle” Ava bowed meeting me at the alley.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Your Majesty, Queen Victoria of Lourland has arrived” Oh my God. What is she doing here? Queen Victoria, Jeanne’s one and only living grandmother. I haven’t talked to hear really.

“Where is Jeanne?”

“He’s at the living room Madame. I’m sorry but he’s mad and…he doesn’t want anyone to go in…”

“I get it. Favor please? Bring my clothes in my previous room Ava”I said and walk to the living room. I opened the door, chin up and stiff.

“Mom...yes? Mom if you are going to lecture me about dad then save it." He said.

“What do you want me to do? Mom trust me I will not do that. I don't want to listen mom. I have to go. I love you.” He continued.

Right after he end the called he glared at me. “What? You're here to tell me what to do again?

“The hell I care about what you do. I am here to tell you that your granny's here and she's looking for you, maybe you want to pretend that we are fine. Just go downstairs.” and I walk out and shut the door. I heard it open and I hear his footsteps behind me.

When we were near the dining area, where The Queen is in, he held me on my waist and we walked together. I rolled my eyes on him.

As we get inside the dining room, I tensed. How will I talk to her? A white-haired still beautiful, and a no-doubt-she’s-a-European woman was standing and giving us a warm, welcoming smile. I smiled, for the first time, feeling relieved.

“Oh my beautiful and young granny. Why are you here?” He left my side to kiss his granny.

“Hello my handsome grandson.” She kissed him and turned to me. “Hello my beautiful granddaughter.” She said but before she kiss me, she looked at me from head to toe. “It seems like you're not getting fat? I can't wait for my great grandchild.” She turned to the monster. “Jeanne, what does this mean?”

“Working on it granny.”

“You told me you're a shooter.” Is she really a Queen? I expected her to be strict and uptight.

“Granny.” He rolled his eyes.

She laughed. “I want to see my great grandson”

“You said no pressure granny”

“Well I’m just wishing out loud” and he shake his head.

“I'm sorry Kathy. So how's everything here? Do you love the place Kathy?”

“Very much…granny. Thank you.” Shall I call her granny?

“Why are you here granny? Missed your favorite and most handsome grandson?" And most boastful and arrogant and monstrous.

“I was at your parent's house awhile ago.” He looked away.

“I know where you're getting into granny.”

“Son, I told you to always obey your father”

“Granny I know where this is heading, and yes I'm going to ask for apology. I always do anyway,” he said “For you” He accentuated.

“Do it on your own, not because of me. I'm old, I will die anytime now.”

“Granny" he warned. "You haven't seen your great grandkids"

"Well I know if he's a boy, he'll be a handsome kid who's always curious and always picks flowers for his granny just like you"

“Say sorry to your mom and dad.”

“I will, I promise” he kissed her forehead.

“Enough of the talking. Can you show me around? I want to see the renovations, plus the master’s bedroom." Oh s**t. I hope she will not see my room. I just asked Ava to bring my stuffs in my room. I don’t want to go to bed beside a devil.

Seven o’clock time for dinner but I told Ava I do not want to eat. Granny roam around the Chateau, looked at the renovations, the garden and veranda and after awhile she went home. I walked inside my room right after that and since then I haven’t walked out of it yet.

Then there was a knock on the door. The monster. Still in his work suit, hands on his side.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“You're asking me? Didn't you just tell me awhile ago to mind my own business?”

“Hey…Sorry for being grumpy all day.” He said softly walking towards me, now he’s few inches away.

“We don't care about each other. You mind your own business and I will mind mine.” I said and turn to the book I’m reading.

“I'm sorry?” he said.

“You heard it Jeanne.” If he’s not angry then I am!

“Look, I'm asking for your acceptance of my apology and that's what you tell me?” raising his voice a little.

I put the book away and said “Make sure you mean your apology first before saying it.”

“Look, I did apologize didn't I?”

“Yes, you apologized from your nose. Please…if you want to go then go now and stop pissing me off. You told me to shut the f**k up right?”

“Am I pissing you off?” he said and bend down to sit beside me. He’s getting nearer and nearer, invading my personal space. I didn’t slouch back. He will see that I am intimidated if I did

“Check your distance Jeanne.” I said angrily and he pushed me on the bed. He held me my wrist and pinned me on the bed, not removing his eyes off me. I can feel my breathing doubled. I did not remove my eyes off him.

“Artice 2861 violence against women law states that when the husband forced the wife to have s*x with him without her consent, of which counts as non-consensual s*x, can be sued r**e by his wife.” I stated. Do not be nervous. I said to myself.

He smirked and said “You're strong personality sadly is your defense mechanism, you're easily intimidated.”

“And you think you've intimidated me with what you are doing?”

“I know you were.” His smile wasn’t removed from his face when he get up.

He started walking out of the room. “Basic law school tricks: 1. Know how many articles a law of a country has 2. Choose a number 3. Invent your own law" s**t. He knows. Or is he tricking me?”

"Really? That's a big accusation, libelous statement” I tried to stay angry. Does he know I’m inventing a law?

He chuckled. “You will not surrender will you? Laws of Lexumbia Article 2861 states that ‘Impossible conditions, those contrary to goods customs or public policy and those prohibited by law shall annul the obligation which depends upon them’ I’ll go out tonight. See you tomorrow Katherine. Good night.” And he locked the door. I lay on my bed and put my hands on my face. “s**t! Does he really know?!” I blinked several times.

“f**k! Did I choose his favorite article in law? Or is he just tricking me?” I checked on the internet and looked for the article. I scrolled down to look for it. He's right. That was the real content of Art. 2861. “f**k that” I said. That was something I learned from Tessa. We used to do that when we were younger.

I went down to the kitchen. I’m stressed about this, and my stress reliever? Coffee. I found Lila in the kitchen when I came in.

“Kathy, why are you awake?” Lila asked.

“Nothing really” I said.

“Milk?” she asked.

“Coffee please?” I said and she did a coffee for me.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes” and she placed the cup in front of me.

“How long have you been working with the Royal Family?”

“About two and half decades now, the family’s great on taking care of their employees”

That long. The Royal Family must be really great. Where did he get his genes?

“Why did you asked?”

“I just want to know…Is Jeanne not in good terms with Dad?”

She shook her head. “He isn’t”

“Why?” I asked.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to tell you the story Kathy.” She hesitated.

“Please? No one would tell me if not you” I asked sweetly.

“Please?”

She sighed. “Well, they weren’t in good terms since he was a kid but just recently they’d been, when he had…a relationship with…Pauline.”

“Who is she?”

She paused. “His long time girlfriend.” Oooh. The stubborn prince’s weakness.

“They became fine?”

“Yes they did. Like nothing happened.”

“How long have they been together?”

“Five years” Seriously, how did she control her temper for that long? I shake my head. Love of course. Getting back to what we’re talking I asked. “And why did Jeanne become like that? I mean, if they’re fine then, why they weren’t now?”

“We don’t know really. One day he just came from work like that, that was days after they broke up”.

“When did they broke up?” “Three years ago.” So he’s twenty six back then? I nodded in reply, not wanting to ask why and I don’t think I’d care about that.

I finished my coffee and proceed to my room again. I barely sit on the bed when I saw the door a little open. I looked through it and saw a monster.

“Why are you peeking at my room?” I growled.