Trapped in Royalty

11.

The car windows were tinted black and a mean-looking man sat in the driver's seat driving the car, and he wore a black suit and had dark glasses on.

I turned to the woman who seemed to be in her late twenties and had been observing me quietly, to see that she was also in a black suit, her brown hair tied.

"Who are you?" I squeaked, shrinking in my seat and the woman smiled.

"I_I'm so s_sorry I_I didn't mean to get inside your car," I stammered. "Where are we going? Can you drop me here please? I need to get to work." I gulped.

"It's okay," the woman chuckled. "My name is Darla Lawson, and I am the Queen's personal assistant in terms of publicity and public interest."

"The Queen?" I quirked an eyebrow, not knowing if I should believe her.

"Yes," she nodded. "And I don't think going to your workplace is a good idea. Trust me, I went there first. I'm taking you to the castle right now," she stated, and my forehead creased as I looked at her in disbelief. Is this woman being serious right now? Why would she take me to the Queen? Not that I didn't want to go.

"The castle?" I had to make sure I heard it right. I must appear dumb, repeating one word from her sentences, but that was what got my attention the most.

"Yes," she confirmed. "After what happened between you and the Prince last night, I don't think anywhere will be safe for you."

"The Prince!" I gasped. So last night was real, and I wasn't dreaming.

"And you think you can take me to the castle?"

"The queen requested your presence there," she stated, and my eyes widened in astonishment.

So I woke up thinking last night was just like one of my dreams, and now I'm being taken to the castle to personally meet the Queen.

Okay, this can't get any better, unless.

"Oh no, am I in trouble?" I asked Mrs. Lawson.

"Of course not. "We will be there in a few minutes," she declared, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Having been assured that I was not in trouble, I laid back and relaxed, thinking how weird it is that the Queen would want to to meet anyone who gets involved with her son. And how did anyone know of our little interaction? The Queen has spies maybe?

Or maybe it's like those dramas where the rich mother, or in this case, queen and grandmother, pays the poor girl who got involved with her son a huge sum to leave him and stay away from his life?

Well, if you think I'm going to reject any sum given to me, think again.

The chair felt much more cozy than my bed, especially with the cool air conditioner, and I felt like going back to sleep.

The rest of the ride to the castle was silent, and I felt eager to meet the Queen.

We reached the castle and at the gates was another set of journalists, and they were made to make way for the car as the gates rolled open and the guards made sure none of the journalists sneaked in.

With Darla Lawson and the mean-looking driver there, I maintained my composure and tried not to appear too excited and just stared at the Palace as we passed by until the driver stopped in front of the castle.

It wasn't until I got out of the car, and it rolled away, and I stood in front of the enormous castle that I realized something. I was in my waitress uniform! What a way to present yourself to the Queen. I stared down at the blue knee-length dress, tugging at it and Darla Lawson noticed.

"Hey, it's okay," she said with a small smile as she motioned with her hand for me to follow her and I followed her inside the castle. "The Queen would not mind what you are wearing," she assured as we entered a long hallway, "But don't look her in the eyes when she's talking," she warned. "And as a subject, never talk back. But you can say a 'thank you', and a 'yes your highness' when she asks you something. "And always address her the Queen as your highness, or your majesty," she stated as she stopped in front of a white door. I noticed all the doors we passed by were white and the walls a bright blue with paintings hanging on the walls here and there.

"And should I bow or curtsy?" I asked her.

"You can curtsy. But never ask her majesty any personal questions. We are here now, wait for me, just a minute," she stated and knocked on the door before entering. After a minute, she came out and told me I could enter.

I entered what appeared to be a small library and I froze on the spot, feeling intimidated. Queen Maria sat on a tall chair beside a table with Mrs. Lawson beside her and a man in a black suit with dark glasses on. Looking down at the neat rug that covered the floor, I felt like removing my shoes in order not to stain them, but I don't remember Mrs. Lawson mentioned that rule.

"Oh do come forward, my dear," the Queen said in a soft voice, easing my nerves. I moved forward and stood three feet before the table and curtsied, before taking a quick glance at the Queen. She was in a peach-colored dress with puffed sleeves, her gray hair was in a sleek bun and her golden crown perfectly perched on top.

"This is my personal assistant, Miss Darla Lawson. You have met her. And this is my personal bodyguard," she motioned with her hand at the stiff middle-aged man.

"My name is Jude Aldrich and I don't trust you," he said sternly, making me shiver, but the Queen chuckled.

"So you are the one who's been involved with my grandson?"

"Yes, your majesty." I confirmed, fidgeting with my fingers.

"I know you must wonder why I requested your presence here in the castle, but after everything, I don't think anywhere is safe for you except here. The paparazzi won't let you move or breathe. "The castle hasn't seen Asher for the past months and all of a sudden he is seen having an intimate moment with you, and after that he disappeared to God knows where again," The Queen said, which had me surprised, so Prince Asher didn't go back to the castle after he dropped me off at my place.

"I understand why he would want to keep a pretty young lady like yourself, but now that the secret is out, there's no need to keep hiding. Why don't you take a rest, Darla will show you to your room." the Queen said dismissively as she got up and left with Jude by her side, and I stood there, mouth agape like a fool.

What happened to the part where she offers me money to stay away from her grandson?

*

"Hey, you look a bit confused." Mrs. Lawson observed as soon as we got out of the library.

"I just don't understand why the Queen wants me to stay in the castle just because of my involvement with the prince," I stated. Nothing made sense to me this morning.

"Well, you can't say no to the Queen, and you seem to be undermining the situation a little. Didn't you read the papers this morning? Your whole relationship has been exposed."

Relationship? Am I undermining it? What on earth is going on here that I have no idea about?

"What's on the papers?" I asked her. I did wake up late this morning, so I never got a chance to go over anything.

"Let me show you something." Mrs. Lawson said, she took a right turn in the hallway and I followed. We reached a door and entered what appeared to be a living room.

"Sit." Mrs. Lawson said, after I sat down, she took three magazines from the coffee table and handed them to me before going on to switch the TV. The first look at one of the magazines had my eyes widening. I had no idea it was captured.

It was a picture of me in the dark with Prince Asher last night when he handed me what I knew to be my earrings, but because of the dark background, one could only see something glittering in his hand, and the title said something completely different.

'Prince Asher proposing to the love of his life?' I read the title.

'Prince Asher's love interest is exposed. Finally!' the second magazine said and showed a picture of the moment the Prince kissed me on the cheek, but the picture made it appear like the kiss was on the lips.

'Prince absent from the Queen's birthday for the second time, seen with his girlfriend' I read the title in the third magazine.

"Jacqueline and I are best friends," I heard a familiar voice saying from the TV and I looked up, only to be shocked when I saw Morgan with a cheerful smile talking to a journalist.

The f**k?