Unexpected Royal Love!

Chapter 3

“Miss, miss?”

“What?” I shouted when someone keeps knocking and calling at my door. It took me a minute to realize that I’m not in my bed but in a Massive Castle surrounded by Royal Family. I jumped out of the bed and open the door.

“Yes?”

“Miss, sorry to bother you, the Queen instructed me to come and see what’s taking so long, everyone is already seated for breakfast.”

“Oh no, thank you, I will be there in a minute.” the server bends her head and closed the door. I cannot believe this. I throw out all the clothes in my suitcase, but can’t seem to find anything suitable for breakfast. I grab a plain T-shirt and a loose skirt. My hair is in a mess, but I quickly put it in a ponytail and run downstairs.

“Morning.” I greeted when entering the room. Everyone kept quiet and stared at their plates. Prince Edward’s eyes drop to his plate with a grin on his face. The Queen looks crucial and the rest of the girls are straddling in silence.

“I mean, Your Majesty, Ma’am”

“Miss Elly” the server called to show me where I’m sitting. Everyone is waiting for me to sit down.

“O yes sorry”

“You may eat now.” the Queen said to me, and that’s the first time I ever heard her speak out loud. I nodded and placed my fork in the wrong hand. The server cleared her throat and showed me with her hands to place the fork in the right hand.

“Thank you,” I whispered. My eyes catch the Queens, where she shook her head in disapproval. I guess I’m going home earlier than I thought. The room is quiet as everyone enjoys their breakfast. I keep staring at the other girls to make sure I follow their lead. The rest of the time everyone was peaceful, and I made sure I finished eating before the Queen.

“You look like a ghost, my lady. Are you sure you slept okay?” Prince Edward whispered while leading forward.

“Dora, may you please show the girls to the garden.” The Queen instructed the lady-in-waiting before I could answer Prince Edward. She escorts us out, while Prince Edward and the Queen remain in their seats.

“I will catch up, I need to get something in my room,” I said before heading upstairs to find a book mother gave me, if we’re going to be in the garden, then I would very much like to read a book. I grab the book from my suitcase before I run downstairs again.

“Give her time mother, she will learn. You chose the farm girls. What did you expect?”

“I expect for her to follow the rules. Clearly her parents didn’t raise her as a proper young lady.”

“You’re being dramatic, let me spent the week with her, and then you can decide?”

I heard the Queen and prince talking, which clearly sounds like they’re talking about me.

“Alright then, I will give it till the end of this week. If I don’t see improvement I’m sending her home.”

“You’re not supposed to listen Miss.”

The lady in wait whispered behind me, and I plummet out of fear.

“I didn’t, I...”

“Come, before they spot you.” she giggles and took my hand.

The garden is beautiful. There are trees and flowers everywhere. The spring air is warm, and the flowers just smell amazing. I miss the Farm. This time of the year, everything is green and beyond beautiful. Daisy would run in the lands for hours until mother calls for supper. Her face would be black from all the mud, she would have the most beautiful smile. I sit in silence while the other girls are having conversations with each other. I don’t fit in here.

“May I join you?” I turn around to see the prince standing behind me.

“We should stop meeting like this.” we both smiled.

“Looks like Emma is seeking your attention, I mean, Your Highness.” he looked towards the other girls, the sun gleaming on his hair. His crystal clear blue eyes glowing like diamonds.

“No need for formality if it’s just the two of us.” He instructed.

“What would your mother say?”

“Well, if she would hear you, your most probably going to get sent back home, but she is not, so no need to be troubled, my dear.”

“What would happen if I insist on going home?”

“Why would you want to go home, my Lady?” he keeps calling me my Lady, and I am no Lady.

“Not to be rude, but I’m not a lady.”

He smiled a warm smile and showed his hand to pull me up from the grass.

“Walk with me?” he asks, and I nodded.

“Why would you wish to go home?”

He asks, his hands behind his back like a proper nobleman.

“I never wished to be part of this. I want to be with my family, with my Mother and Sister. Father made me come.” he looked surprised by my answer.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m sure there are hundreds of other girls that would be honored.”

“But not you?” he asks, disappointed.

“No, sorry. It’s not you, I promise. I don’t want a royal life or any of this. It’s fascinating, but it’s not me.”

“No, need to apologize.” he stuck out his hand to pull me up from the grass onto a ridge, and the lookout is beautiful. The lake in front is enormously huge. Small cabins built around it. I guess the housekeepers are staying there.

“Give it a week. If you still want to go home, then I will tell mother myself.”

“Why do you want me to stay? There are three other beautiful young ladies, that are dying for your attention. Why me?” he started towards the lake.

“You remind me of someone.” he lets out, with clear sadness in his voice. Maybe an old loved one?

“May I ask who, Your Majesty?”

“I had a little sister, not much older than you, my lady. She snuck out into the woods one night and never returned, Mother gave up looking for her after die King died. She could not fit into the royal life.”

“Do you think?”

“If she’s dead, I don’t know. I only knew that my sister rebel against my Mother and Father’s wishes. She was supposed to marry the prince of England this year after she disappeared. England cut partnerships with us, and Mother had to defend this kingdom by herself.”

“That’s why your Mother chose farm girls, she’s scared you will do the same, isn’t she?” Prince Edward kept quiet staring at the Lake, clear memories of his sister flooding his mind.

“Yes, after my father died, it was only me and my Mother, after my sister disappeared she kept me behind closed doors, I’m not allowed to go outside these walls, Mother is scared I will fall in love behind these walls and embarrass the Family name like my sister, so she chose Farm girls, her statement she gives, any poor girl will want to marry a prince.”

“Do you even have a say in who you want to marry? Or is your Mother going to choose between the Four of us?” He kept quiet and by that, he answered my question. I never thought Royal love was this complicated. I thought at least they would have freedom more than what we poor people have.

“I’m sorry you’re going through this, if there is anything I can do?”

“Yes, stay for a week, I know you don’t want to be here, but I promise you, if you still feel the same in one week, then I will make Mother sent you home.” he practically begs me to stay. This was not the plan. The prince was supposed to choose one of the other girls, not me, but I can’t deny the attraction between us. He trusted me with a family secret, and I trusted him by telling him I don’t want this life. I guess one week won’t eradicate me. One week then I can return home and be a big sister and help my mother on the farm, that’s the life I want.

“So, what shall we do today?” he asks with a much more sensational voice than a few minutes ago.

“Today?”

“Yes, if I want you to stay, then I should start early.” he smiles, and I must admit it’s gorgeous.

“You choose,” I guess spending time with the Prince will make it less insufferable to be here. We walked around the lake to the cabins. So many families are living here. Kids running around. I can’t help to notice that when we get closer that they all looked away from the prince, as if they fear him.

“May I ask why everyone looks so scared?” I know they are royal but people should not be scared, in fact, they should feel safe they live on the Royal grounds.

“I have no idea.” the prince looks around the villages.

“You don’t come here often, do you?” I ask.

“No, the last time I was here was when I was a child.” he points his finger to the cottage.

“My best friend lived there. As a child, we used to play together.”

“What happened to him?”

“I don’t know, I asked Mother, but she never told me,” he answered with sadness on his face.