Princess in waiting

Chapter 4

“Look, you need not be nasty, but you do know that you leaked today’s events to the tabloids right under my nose, and you should at least have the decency to at least tell me.”

“Tell you what? That my friend is delusional and that she has lost herself, living in a bubble, dating a prince?”

“Watch your tongue, you worthless...” Giselle was spitting out words, having already lost her composure.

“Look, I wouldn’t stoop so low as to get someone to get your picture with whoever this person is that you are proud to date, and then sell it for money. You are the one with the delusions here. Keep entertaining it.”

Frieda abruptly hung up, and Giselle was left to wonder whether she ever made a mistake. She poured a glass of wine. If she had ever made the mistake of accusing Frieda? It was true that a few tabloids had published pictures of her before, stating that she was the rumored girlfriend, yet nothing this concrete. This was a groundbreaking announcement and a picture that proved that the paparazzi were inside the premises. She dialed Julian again.

“Could it be that I made a mistake? I’ll be losing my friend.”

“About Frieda? No darling! You yourself confirmed that nobody knew!”

“Could it be that they have followed me?””I bet at least a few of the paparazzi know where I live.”

“If they knew, they would’ve camped outside your house by then. It wouldn’t have taken long, and Babe, this was private property. A family-owned property, and if you knew Ava, you would know that she is never the kind of person to let paparazzi near her wedding! That picture was a close-up! Somebody definitely leaked it and trespassed the property to find a way to get the best snap.”

“That leaves me with nothing to say.” Giselle burped.

“Are you with a glass of wine in your hand?” Julian chuckled, and Giselle smiled.

“Just don’t let Frieda know that you are mad, okay? Just play it cool. We will keep her at a distance. Love you.”

Giselle did not dare to respond to Julian. She had acted too quickly. Yet in her heart, she had already cut ties with her lifelong friend, Frieda McSweeney.

13/02/2026

Julian rang her again immediately. Giselle had not expected Julian to ring her yet again. Giselle picked up nervously. “I was just mad at your friend that I forgot to tell you the most important thing to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll be giving my oath next week. I’ve been doing the rehearsals, and I was so excited about bringing you to Ava’s wedding that I forgot to mention that…

“But you did mention it!” Giselle cut in.

“Did I? Okay, now that I have already mentioned it, I want you to be there when I give the oath to serve the country as the heir to the monarchy. You need to see what I was born into and what I carry with it. You will be a part of it too, and you will be burdened with the responsibility as well.”

“Will I be able to do it?”

“Oh! Babe, you can handle anything! I’ve seen you for some time now, and you will make a phenomenal queen. We still have time, and I’ll be there with you every step of the way.”

“Is it about maintaining the image and appearing at public engagements? I do adore Leonore of Spain. Even before I met you, I'd watched a lot of her documentaries. That is what I have gathered.” Giselle awaited the response with anticipation.

“Most of it. But you have to work for people, darling! You have to love them. That is what was taught to me by Daddy for many years, and I’ve seen how that works. You know, the people have the ultimatum. They can drag us out of the palaces if they decide that things should be that way. I don’t know about the others, but I have this feeling that, as we are so evolved, we need to be able to prove to people that we work for them. “

“Progress,” Giselle spoke, after listening attentively.

“Has it ever occurred to you that the public might feel that they don’t need a monarchy?”

“Yes, I have. “ Julian switched onto a video call as he said those words. This discussion was something profound, which he would’ve preferred to have with Giselle when they were next to each other.

“Oh, video? Okay?"

“Yeah. I would’ve had this discussion at a time when you were next to me.”

“What would your family do, Julian?”

“I have never really thought about it. We don’t let things get to that point.”

“So we work?” Giselle’s eyes started to shine, and Julian got curious. He was determined to know the reason when she arrived at the ceremony of the oath.

“Yes, we work, Giselle. I love you. Be more careful than before, will you? I promise you that we will take a long vacation once the oath is given and things are at the next phase.”

“I love you too, and I will be cautious.”

****

CEREMONY OF THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION

Julian was to be dressed in his military uniform. Giselle was amused as she woke up in the morning, trying to picture her man in a military uniform. “It’s rigorous!” Giselle sighed and smiled, coming to terms with the fact that her attempts at discouraging Julian from serving in the military had failed, but he had been determined to serve. Thrilled, Giselle went over the agenda of the ceremony over and over again in her head. She prayed that she would not make a wrong move. The cameras would be zooming in on her, and she did not want to fail Julian. Giselle picked up the phone to ring Julian, hesitated, and kept the phone back where it was, changing her mind. He deserved to have the first glimpse of her, seated at the place designated for her in the front row, among his own family, where she would one day belong. He had already chosen her, and he deserved to see her where he had placed her.

“Will I actually have to pay attention to what he will be doing?”

“You need to pay attention, observe, and learn as much as possible, Giselle!” Giselle commanded herself. Giselle was on time for the event, having chosen an ensemble of a light green double-breasted coat, wearing her hair in a top knot, as she always loved. Giselle had another brilliant idea. She had a brooch made of gold, which was a symbol both of them had decided to use for the announcements of their engagement and the wedding, and Giselle wanted to wear the symbol as a way for Julian to see how much the relationship and the duties meant to her. Yet another brilliant idea was at the forefront of Giselle’s mind, waiting to be discussed with her beloved prince and eager to come to life.

For the first time since becoming Julian’s girlfriend, Giselle felt an overwhelming pride when she was ushered towards the seat assigned for her. The palace was magnificent with its chandeliers, lampshades and the carpets, which were a mismatch when you first took a look at it, yet the bigger picture was immensely complemented by the carpets, which added to the regency of the lampshades, the touches of gold, and the grand carvings blending into the atmospheres with the chandeliers, statues of lineage and souvenirs of regal heritage. Gisellle was met with curious pairs of eyes, amused pairs of eyes, and some were smiling. Giselle was glad. This could be a lonely place, and at her age, she was relieved that some were pleasant-looking. Julian would have a lot to teach me.

A lot of dignitaries were present. Giselle was careful not to turn her head too much to and fro, displaying her bewilderment. She adjusted and readjusted her posture, her eyes glued to the entrance. It had been just ten minutes since she arrived, and the crowds had already been cheering. She regretted coming in. She wanted to see Julian arrive with his guard, with his retinue, entourage, his honor in view. Anyway, walking out again was out of the question. So Giselle sat in her seat, composed, turning her eyes towards the entrance. Outside, the crowds’ cheering grew louder, and Giselle braced herself.

“Does cheering mean that he is still popular?” Giselle wondered. Giselle felt responsibility for the first time. She remembered something he had told her not long ago. Julian had told her that the public had the power to drag them out of the palaces and to decide that the country did not need a monarchy. So they needed to work. “We need to remain popular!” Giselle knew that she could try to be the best at the game. What was important was to remain popular. “That isn’t too bad and difficult!” Giselle thought, amused. Yet the next instant, she remembered that they needed to work. Julian had told her that they had to prove themselves through the work.

“We truly agreed on working on that! How could I forget?” As the first car of the row of cars forming Julian’s entourage came into view, Giselle readjusted her posture, her cheeks flushing, turning red. After a few cars passed, the car carrying Julian emerged, and he came into view! Priceless! “Why did I never ask him what he was going to wear? But that would’ve ruined the thrill! This is the thrill and this man! He belongs to me.”

The guests stood up, and an undying applause erupted as every single guest applauded Julian and his family. “Is it because they can’t sit when all the others are standing, or is it because they respect the monarchy? Like the from-the-bottom-of-the-heart kind of respect?

Then Julian started scanning the crowds, and Giselle kept her eyes glued to him, helping him find her. He found her and stifled a grin.