Princess in waiting

Chapter5

Though being the dignified lady that she was, Giselle Goldsmith would not shy away from admitting to herself that she was enthralled by the cuisine on the menu at the event. A far cry from the world that she was a part of.

Giselle’s eyes darted across the collection of colorful dishes, and she was astounded. They were exotic. By now, she understood that dignitaries from other countries and several members of other royal families would be guests of the occasion. According to Julian, the chef and the team have assembled a menu comprising Scottish, British, Spanish, French, and Danish cuisines. Giselle had time to identify lobsters, caviar, and the desserts; Baked Alaska, Opera Cake, and an undeniable chocolate cake were on the buffet, too. Giselle could not figure out which type of chocolate cake it was. Giselle averted her gaze from the desert, quickly, before anybody saw her.

During the meal, Giselle finally had the time to look at the bride. She wore a dress that was made of silk, a long-sleeved dress, which did not have any embroidery work or anything other than many yards of silk fabric, which made her feel that the bride’s choices were plain. Giselle was thrilled when she thought of the choices that she thought she would be making. There would be thousands and vibrant! The public would never be bored! Giselle quickly checked her thoughts and turned her eyes to Ivan, who was walking over to her.

“It’s about Julian! It’s how he wants to live and wherever he wants to live!”

Giselle was happy to be looking at a royal bride, yet she was determined to keep her feelings to herself. Giselle would not let anyone understand what she was feeling. She was on her own among strangers after all. Then the tiara caught Giselle’s eye.

“Wow! That tiara!” Giselle heard herself speak before she could stop herself.

“I know.” When Prince Ivan spoke next to her, that voice made Giselle instantly startled. She did not want her true feelings given away.

“Who is the jeweler?” Giselle quickly spoke before Ivan or Prince Ivan could comment on her reaction to the tiara.

“Uh… it was a gift from granny.”

“Granny? Oh, you mean….” Before Giselle could complete her sentence, Ivan nodded with an amused smile. Giselle watched on as the ceremony and the exchanging of vows went on. Giselle’s cheeks flushed as she thought of Julian. Giselle unconsciously adjusted her posture and stood erect, beaming with happiness. Everybody rose from their seats as the couple was ready to walk down the aisle as husband and wife. The groom took his bride by the hand, and as the national anthem was heard, they took a few steps down, towards the entrance. Immediately next to where the newlyweds exchanged their vows sat His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and the children in line to the throne. Behind them were the siblings of his Majesty the King, their spouses, and the children.

Then came the moment which made Giselle gasp. The official name for that move was not known to Giselle at the time, and years later, she recalled the wedding, where she witnessed the first moment of royal courtesy and what the move meant.

“Graceful!” Giselle did not whisper, yet she was not loud. Prince Ivan heard it, and he turned to Giselle, smiling.

“It’s about Julian! It’s how he wants to live and wherever he wants to live!”

Giselle was happy to be looking at a royal bride, yet she was determined to keep her feelings to herself. Giselle would not let anyone understand what she was feeling. She was on her own among strangers after all. Then the tiara caught Giselle’s eye.

“Wow! That tiara!” Giselle heard herself speak before she could stop herself.

“I know.” When Prince Ivan spoke next to her, that voice made Giselle instantly startled. She did not want her true feelings given away.

“Who is the jeweler?” Giselle quickly spoke before Ivan or Prince Ivan could comment on her reaction to the tiara.

“Uh… it was a gift from granny.”

“Granny? Oh, you mean….” Before Giselle could complete her sentence, Ivan nodded with an amused smile. Giselle watched on as the ceremony and the exchanging of vows went on. Giselle’s cheeks flushed as she thought of Julian. Giselle unconsciously adjusted her posture and stood erect, beaming with happiness. Everybody rose from their seats as the couple was ready to walk down the aisle as husband and wife. The groom took his bride by the hand, and as the national anthem came to life, they took a few steps down, towards the entrance. Immediately next to where the newlyweds exchanged their vows sat his majesty the King, her majesty the queen and the children in line to the throne. Behind them were the siblings of his majesty, the king, their spouses, and the children.

Then came the moment which made Giselle gasp. The official name for that move was not known to Giselle by that time, and years later, she recalled the wedding, in which she witnessed the first moment of royal courtesy and what the move meant.

“Graceful!” Giselle did not whisper, yet, but she was not loud. Prince Ivan heard it, and he turned to Giselle, smiling.

****

Giselle did not know that "The Blue Bloods" magazine was the first to break the story of Giselle Goldsmith, the girl-next-door, destined to marry a Prince. Giselle was rubbing shoulders with the royals and was kept company by the enthusiastic Prince Ivan, who made sure that Giselle did not feel like a stranger among his people.

Mchaugny had sold the captivating pictures of Giselle Goldsmith to the Blue Bloods for a staggering $1.6 million. Mchaugny had taken a risk and secured a deal that had given him the chance to stop worrying about money for a few years to come.

Giselle returned home from the occasion, feeling happy and triumphant. Though she had been nervous at first about being accepted by the members of Julian's family, her experiences at the wedding and the conversations with Lady Evelyn and the queen made her believe that she could learn and adjust. All hell broke loose when Julian called her in the evening. He had seen the front page of the tabloid.

Giselle returned home as an excited girl who had successfully jumped a hurdle that initially seemed impossible.

“Have you seen it?” Julian sounded impatient.

“ Aren’t you going to ask me if I’m home safe? Giselle giggled.

“Okay. I know that you are safe, and if not, you would’ve called me already. Now, have you seen the Blue Bloods?”

Giselle started to pay attention. “It’s a tabloid, isn’t it? What’s wrong, Julian?”

Giselle curled her hand into a fist and braced herself for whatever scenario was in store for her. Giselle detested the idea of being the center of the paparazzi’s attention.

“The Blue Bloods have you on the front page. The headline goes, ‘It’s official! Giselle, the Princess-in-waiting.” Julian did not seem the least bit happy about the way events had unfolded. You know what bothers me, Giselle?

“What?” Giselle’s voice was almost a whisper.

“That front page has a picture of you, Ivan, and Granny! Taken at the wedding, Giselle!”

Giselle gasped. “Today?”

“Yes, today, and they wasted no time in announcing it. Are you sure no one knew Giselle? I don’t want them following you around. You should have a life which is at least a little normal!” Julian went on speaking, frustrated.

“Fireda!” Giselle whispered. Giselle felt tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

“Frieda knew everything.”

“You mean the location and the time schedules? Paparazzi were inside those premises and just next to you, Giselle! I’ll send you the front page on WhatsApp.”

“Yes. Frieda knew everything because she was the one who helped me with everything, and Julian she’s my best friend!” Giselle broke down and started to cry.

“She was Giselle. Not anymore. You can’t trust her anymore. Do you have any idea how much they can make by selling one single photograph to the tabloids? It’s a good way to make some extra money.” Julian sounded irritated and frustrated.

“Please don’t say that,” Giselle whispered.

“She won’t do that to me. Let alone for money!” Giselle had started to cry.

“Look, sweetheart. I know it’s hard to believe, but if you are sure that you spoke to no one other than her, we have to check what you told her …” Julian paused.

“Limit what she gets to know and what you tell her.” Giselle could hear Julian sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

Julian chuckled. “You don’t have to apologize to me, darling. It’s just that we will have to be careful not to let everyone know everything about us, and I know that you will not be so stupid as… Giselle stepped in before Julian could complete his sentence.

“You don’t think that my family was involved, do you?”

“What? Babe no! I never mentioned your family! It’s just that if Frieda was the only one who knew about every detail of the wedding and you were there, we just can't trust her.”

“I get it.” Giselle tried her best to regain her composure, but inside, she was shaken. This was a betrayal. She dialed Frieda’s number.

“What did you do? My face is on the front pages of the tabloids. How much did you get?”

Giselle listened carefully to gauge Frieda’s reaction. She did not like the feeling of feeling like a fool.

“Listen, I’m not some cheap beggar who would sell you off to somebody, and how much do you truly think that I got? Just because you are dating a VIP?” Frieda had never sounded sarcastic before this moment. Giselle gasped at her scorn and the tone of speech, yet she was not ready to give in, convinced that Frieda’s response was not right.