Grooming For Prince Charming

Trouble

“What the hell…”

“I am sorry” I quickly recited and hurriedly closed the door but before I did, I caught a glimpse of the cloth the lady was putting on and I could tell she was a maid cause that was the cloth the maids were putting on. She quickly covered herself but I had caught a glimpse of her face, I could recognize her if I ever see her again. I could feel the bile filling up my throat. What a shameful act! A prince to a common maid? What disrespect to the royal lineage? A prince making out with a common maid.

Maybe, I wasn’t of royal blood myself but I still had some dignity in me. I was deeply ashamed of him and for him. I shook my head and pitied his mother who gave birth to such a son, I pitied myself more for being his soon-to-be wife. I deserved better.

“Mother” I cursed under my breath.

“Your Royal Highness, the Queen requests to see you” A maid bowed right in front of me.

Wait! Did she just address me as ‘your royal highness?’ A pleasing smile settled on my face. I quickly had to keep a straight face.

“Where is she?” I questioned and tried to play royalty but my voice failed me as my spirit laughed at the drama I was displaying.

“In her room, Your Highness” She bowed.

“Thank you” I smiled and proceeded as one of the maids led me to the Queen’s room. “Is there anything I can do for you, your highness?” Another maid questioned.

“Of course” I smiled at her. “Prepare a room for me”

“As you wish, your highness” She bowed and left. I followed the maid to the Queen’s room. I had believed the exterior view of the palace was the prettiest place I have seen but the Queen’s room was another definition of beauty.

It defeated the exterior view a million times and for once, my heart blessed mother for sending me here; a greener pasture. There were about seven big mirrors in the room, different sizes of wardrobes, and artworks amongst others. The room was such a beauty to behold.

“Come in” The Queen smiled at me as I stood in awe watching the works of perfection of men, the display of talented artistry in the room.

“Yes, your highness” I bowed and entered the room. I was tensed and scared as I walked in. The room was very large and spacious. How on earth could this be a room! Our entire house would be the same size as the room, if not smaller.

“Sit” She ordered and I thought I heard wrongly when the maids bowed and moved out immediately. “Sit” She ordered again and I knew I heard right. At first, I thought the ‘sit’ I knew meant ‘leave' to them. I sat beside her, maintaining a distance so she would not hear the racing beat of my heart threatening to explode.

“Move nearer. Are you scared?” She questioned calmly with a smile.

“Not at all” I lied and moved closer to her.

“You might be wondering why I called for you. You might also be wondering why you were chosen to get married to my son, Tristan. By the way, have you seen him?” She questioned as she crossed her legs.

“Well, not really” I looked away from the Queen.

“Not really?” She questioned, looking at me intensely.

“Yes, your highness. We would see later” I turned to her again.

“Tell me” She held my face. “What happened?” She asked calmly.

“Nothing much your highness. Everything would be fine” I assured with a smile.

“He was with another woman, wasn’t he?” The Queen questioned. A strong feeling of shock enveloped me. I tried to move my mouth but it refused to move. After a few seconds, I regained my senses.

“How do you know this, your Majesty?” I questioned.

“Tristan is my son, I wished he could be like his brother” She sighed.

“Brother? Does he have a brother? “I questioned.

“His late brother, Xavier”

“Oh, I am sorry for your loss”

Xavier was the Queen’s oldest son. We heard he was an ugly prince, I had never seen him before but those who had seen him told us how bad and disfigured he looked after his birth. We heard stories of him every day and one day, we heard he stabbed himself to death. He was just 8 years at that time. Tristan became the next heir to the throne of Roshni.

“It’s fine” The Queen smiled. “I am happy he is free from the torment of people, from their critics. Despite him being a prince, many insulted him for his physical appearance. They called him all sorts of names and I think those words stored in his head blocked his reasoning. Even his father never wanted him. He cursed him every day. My son was a good boy with a beautiful heart, he was always there for everyone even as little as he was but all they saw was his physical experience.

My boy couldn’t see the love I had for him but I can't blame him. His father never showed him love and my love was not enough to suffice as a father and mother's love for him and I believe that was why he killed himself”

“I am sorry” I felt the urge to hug her and comfort her. I might not have had the experience of a mother but I have felt the pain of losing a loved one, someone so dear to your heart. I also felt Xavier’s pain as I have experienced being treated like a plague, it hurts. It feels like your heart is being fried and your flesh is being pierced with a thousand needles and your blood is placed on a very hot n***d fire while it cooks it even in your body. It feels like your soul and spirit are being ripped even when they can't be held.

“I can't even have a photograph of my son. Everything was burnt the day he died” She wiped the tears falling from her eyes. I gave in to my urge and embraced the Queen. I don’t care if she pushes me off, I just wanted to calm her down. Surprisingly, she embraced me too and wept for a while then she was quiet. Slowly, she raised her head and wiped her face.

“Tell this to no one” She ordered. I nodded in agreement.

“You are getting married to Tristan the day after the next. Your wedding preparations are in process. Tonight, you will join us for dinner and that way, I can introduce you to the remaining members of our family.” She smiled at me.

“Your highness, can I ask a question?” I asked.

“Go on, feel free to address me like you address your mother. I am your mother now” She smiled. I smiled too.

No, you wouldn’t. You would not want me to address you like I address my mother. You deserve better.

Just like she read my mind, she said “You can see me as a good mother”.

That’s better

“Why did you choose our family?” I questioned. She paused for a while before giving me an answer.

“Well, your mother Darcy was a very good friend of mine. When I was younger, the King's mother wanted a wife for her son who is now the king. Your mother was a professional cook and the Queen at that time wanted a woman who could cook as a wife.

She wanted a woman who could cook to save her life. Till today, I don’t know her reasons for requesting such as I have never cooked since I got married to the king. Your mother being so beautiful and had a good cooking prowess had so many suitors trailing her parent's house for her hand in marriage. I, on the other hand, wasn't so pretty and wasn’t that skilled in cooking. The number of suitors I had in a year was the number of suitors your mother had in half of a day.

When we got to know that the Queen wanted a wife who could cook for her son, your mother jumped for joy and saw it as an opportunity. I wanted to be the Queen but I wasn’t up to the standard. I could not defeat your mother in the cooking aspect.

Your mother knew about the ‘suitors' issue that was bothering me. I was of marriageable age but good suitors weren't forthcoming. I pleaded with your mother to give me this chance. Your mother being of good heart decided to let me have the opportunity. She taught me all the cooking steps she knew. On the day of the competition, your mother tried not to participate but it was compulsory for all the females of marriageable age, even those close to marriageable age to participate in the competition. Your mother tried to favor me by cooking food that wasn't pleasant to taste but just like it was destiny for her to be the next queen, the Queen loved her food the most. I was shattered. The Queen wanted your mother at all cost but because she wanted me to be queen, she got married to one of her suitors, even though she was not in love with him. We had an agreement that her children would get married to mine.

She got married to Sylvie's father and I got married to the king. One year into the marriage, I was delivered a son, Xavier but your mother could not conceive. A year after, I delivered another son; Tristan but your mother still could not conceive. Two years after, I took in again and had a female child, Brittany, my youngest daughter.

Your mother became weary and also a shadow of herself as she still couldn’t conceive. When Brittany was two years of age, your mother took her in. I was so happy for her and so was she but three months into the pregnancy, her husband; Sylvie's father died. I used all my influence as the Queen to try to bring your mother here to abide with us in the palace but she refused. All she asked for was for me to keep her promise.” She stopped as I listened to her. I was enjoying the story.

How come mother never told me this? My heart squeezed at the thought of her. I have been cruel to her all these years when she only wanted the best for me. I felt bitter at myself.

“I will continue with the story by tomorrow” She smiled “It’s getting late, go get prepared for dinner. I need to check out some things”

“Yes, your Majesty” I bowed and exited the room. My heart was like a building had been placed on it. It was so heavy. I felt bad for my mother. I had always ill-treated her. I thought she never loved me.

“Your Highness” One of the maids bowed right in front of me. “The prince requests to see you” She added. My heart skipped three beats. What now?