Piece of advice. The next time you're asked to be a pretend princess, say no because things are bound to spiral out out of control.
"Who the hell is Prince Nicholas?" I screamed frantically at my friend to gain his attention.
I knew better than to disturb him while he played his video games but this was an emergency.
When his face turned white as a sheet of paper, I know that name meant something to him. He paused his game and turned to me in horror.
"Where'd you hear that?" he asked in a panic.
"Look" I pointed to the article I'd just come across on my phone, "It says right there, 'Lenorian Prince Nicholas spotted with mystery woman after disappearance from public eye'"
Normally I wouldn't care about shitty tabloid gossip but incredibly the grainy photo that accompanied the headlines was quite visibly one of Nick and I.
He took my phone and inspected the screen in disbelief.
"Oh no"
"What do you mean 'oh no'?" I half shouted.
"Morgan, I can explain"
Can you believe it? That was how I found out that my best friend, my only friend really, was Prince Nicholas, second son and last child of King Richard and Queen Arabella of the Kingdom of Lenoria, one of the last surviving absolute monarchies.
"You're really a prince?" I asked him again still trying to overcome my disbelief.
"Not by choice" he answered defensively.
"We've known each other for 8 months, you didn't think to mention it? What, it never came up?"
"I was trying to get away from all that" he answered as if that made it all better.
"I can't believe this" I paced around our shared living room.
Three months after we met, I'd expressed to him that I was looking for a roommate due to an increase in my rent. He'd offered to move in with me. The crazy prick had been living full-time in a hotel. I figured he simply had a bit of money to throw around but now it made so much sense.
"You arsehole, you even had us split the bills" I stared daggers at him.
"You know, I would have thought you'd be more upset that they called you a woman. I know how much you hate that"
"We'll I'm getting there".
I threw myself back on the sofa and took a deep breath. This couldn't be happening.
I rubbed my forehead. That article was already going viral. The most likes I'd ever gotten on a post was 200 and suddenly, there was a photo of me floating across the internet with millions of likes.
Even worse, thousands of people were speculating about who the mystery woman was.
I really shouldn't have been putting off that haircut. But I could barely survive on my paycheck as it was, I just couldn't afford a haircut. Which was crazy to say since my roommate was a prince all along.
"What am I going to?" I groaned.
"Nothing" Nick said as he sat on the sofa next to me "People have short memories. A few days and they'll have moved on to the next thing".
I turned to see him smiling reassuringly. He was trying to not make me worry but I could tell he was. Looking at him, I still couldn't believe he was a real-life prince. He looked just like a regular guy. A really attractive guy but regular still.
I was always jealous about how popular he was with girls. They fawned after him. He mostly just ignored them.
Eight months and I'd never seen him work a single day. I guess it made sense now.
"I'll have to disappear now" he added nonchalantly like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Why? What are you a Bond villain?"
He laughed. "Now that they know I'm here, they won't stop looking. It'll be worse for you if they see us together"
I guess that made sense. It was bad enough already, but if the whole world found out that I was the mystery woman, I would quite literally die.
"Where will you go?" I tried getting over the fact that I was losing my best friend. That's if he even qualified as such anymore.
"I don't know yet. Milan, maybe" He answered.
Damn, he really was a Bond villain.
Suddenly, his loud and annoying ringtone rang out breaking my train of thought. Nick was one of those people who actually listened to tiktok music. I mean, his spotify library was filled with songs you'd find in Tiktok edits. Utter disgust everytime his phone rang.
"Sorry, gotta take this" He said. He looked worried still trying not to show it.
He got up and briskly walked through the sliding doors and onto the balcony of our apartment.
Nick had two kinds of phone calls. Those where he had no issue sitting next me and talking loudly and those which he took in absolute secrecy.
Usually I wouldn't have cared. Let a man have his privacy, you know how it is. But not today. There would be no more secrets in this house.
I tiptoed and got closer to the window that had the balcony on the other side of it. I carefully slid it open just enough that I could hear without arousing any suspicion.
"... Mother, I told you I'm not seeing anyone"
...
"He's not even a girl. He just has long hair. You know how they are here"
...
"No we're not dating"
...
"We've been through this"
...
"I'm not coming"
...
"Mother, don't send him, I'm not coming back"
...
"I know father can't stand me"
...
"It's true and you know it"
...
"It's not my fault. I didn't choose this"
...
"He's the one that told me to go!" Nick raised his voice.
He composed himself before continuing.
"Let him tell me himself then"
...
...
...
Nick was shaking. He was always so carefree. Seeing him like this felt wrong, but I couldn't step away. I knew I shouldn't have been eavesdropping but I had to know. You understand, right?
...
"Yes father" he continued.
...
...
"Yes he's a boy"
...
"I don't know"
...
"He doesn't really date. I don't know what he's into"
...
Was he talking about me? Surely not.
"What's this about?"
...
"Fine, I'll ask"
...
"Okay, I'll text you the address"
...
"Yeah"
...
"Bye"
What the fuck?
I didn't have time to think however because Nick hung up and was making his way back to the sliding door.
I quickly ran over to the sofa, picked up my phone and pretended I'd been scrolling the whole time.
Nick came back in, looked at me awkwardly before making his way to the sofa across from me.
"Whats up?" I asked him since he wasn't making any moves to say anything.
"Are you free?" he asked.
"Tonight?"
"I mean for like a week"
"Uh yeah, 2 weeks PTO remember?"
He did know that. I'd told him several times already and again yesterday at the Cafe where we'd been photographed. Why was he acting so weird?
"My parents want to meet you?"
"what?"
"My parents..."
"The king and queen..."
"Yes"
"..want to meet me?"
"Yes"
"Are they coming here?" I asked with clear confusion written on my face.
"My mother hasn't left the country in eight years. She didn't even attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral, you think she's going to come see you?"
"Alright, alright, no need to be such a dick about it" I rolled my eyes "Why exactly do they want to meet me?"
"No idea, they're sending this guy Percival. He'll know more"
=^..^=
To his credit, Nick had told me multiple times to just stay indoors. I obviously hadn't listened to him as I was now walking the aisles of the grocery store.
I had been looking for toothpaste as we were running out as well as other essentials we would need if we were going to be stuck at home for the few days it would take Percival to arrive.
In truth, I'd already decided to accept whatever invitation was coming. A free vacation to a beautiful foreign country? Why would I pass up on that?
Lenoria, while small was very wealthy and as a consequence, very secretive. From what I'd heard, getting visas to visit was no easy feat. I was essentially getting an all expense paid trip to stay in a castle.
I'd seen pictures of it online. Absolutely breathtaking. When I managed to calm down, the reality of things had finally dawned on me. My friend was a prince.
A stingy one sure, but a prince nonetheless.
I'd be a guest of the royal family. Percival couldn't get here soon enough.
"Is that her?" I picked up some hushed voices to my left.
"Looks like her" another voice said.
I tried my best to ignore it. Hopefully they weren't talking about me although they almost certainly were. If they were, no good would come from looking.
My appearance was a constant bane of my existence. 22 years old, 5'5 and 137 pounds soaking wet. I knew my exact weight because I kept a scale in my bathroom to check for progress that never came.
Pair that with a dainty frame and pretty face and you have my unfortunate predicament. Nick had actually thought me a woman when we first met as well. Not that he was hitting on me or anything. That wasn't something he did.
I saw the flash and heard the camera click and my heart skipped a beat.
"Can you please delete that?" I turned and spoke before I had a chance to think.
The two girls looked so scared after. I hadn't meant for that to happen. I just really didn't want another picture of me out there.
I realised I'd subconsciously used my girl voice. It was something I'd started doing a while ago. I know it may seem counter-intuitive since I didn't like being mistaken for a girl but there was a reason.
The only thing worse than being seen as a girl was being seen as a boy that looked like a girl. So when in situations like this where I'd already been judged to be a girl, I used the voice to complete the image and prevent any embarrassment.
It was just a temporary measure. As soon as I managed to bulk up, I wouldn't need it anymore.
"I just really don't like people taking pictures of me" I continued.
"Oh okay" the one girl holding the phone said. She sounded innocent enough. Just a fan girl probably.
"You're dating Prince Nicholas?" the other girl asked.
"I really don't know what you're talking about" I answered.
I knew if I confirmed their suspicions, this encounter would probably end up on social media. Plus it was just plain false. We weren't dating. Far from it.
"I'll delete the photo" the other girl said again.
"Thank you" I said finally as sweetly as I could. I hated it, but it worked.
I picked up the rest of my items, bought a face mask to hide my identity and hurriedly left the store.
=^..^=
I sat on the couch partially watching Nick's video game but also scouring the internet for information about Lenoria and its royal family.
Nick had two siblings. That bit he'd actually mentioned to me before. What he hadn't mentioned ofcourse was that they were Crown Prince Theodore and Princess Sophia.
Sophia at age 33 was actually the oldest but Lenoria was still in its 'boys have precedence' phase so 28 year old Theodore was first in line and 26 year old Nick was second.
As an added blow to Sophia, both her uncles were third and fourth in line.
First born child being fifth in line was just brutal if you ask me.
A bit about Lenoria, only 8 million people lived there. While it wasn't very open to the general public, it still enjoyed very good trade relationships with its neighbors. Lenoria's position as one of the region's wealthiest countries per capita is firmly established, owing to its substantial reservoir of natural resources, notably its abundant gold reserves.
"Why are you out here living in this shitty apartment when you could be living in a castle?" I asked him after seeing yet another picture of his family home.
"Trust me, it's not as fun as it sounds"
To be honest, it did sound pretty fun.
"I'd rather just live my life like a normal person" he continued
"You don't work. That's hardly normal"
"I would it I could" he replied.
"That's weird"
"Yeah maybe"
I wanted to ask about the conversation I'd overheard but didn't want to give away the fact that I'd been eavesdropping. Instead, I turned my attention back to my phone and let him return to his game.
I particularly focused on the numerous speculation pieces that had been popping up online trying to figure out my identity.
Some people thought I must have been a royal due to both Nick's siblings dating within their social class. Most thought I must be some foreign celebrity but there were those who fantasized that I was a regular girl like them.
How wrong they all were.
=^..^=
Two days later.
After handing over my beat up Mazda to the valet outside the Grand Aurora Hotel, the place Percival had requested we come to, Nick and I strolled toward the elevator.
Each step I took into the elegant building left me feeling more and more self conscious but Nick strutted confidently even though his outfit didn't look much better than mine.
The mirrored walls of the elevator allowed me a brief respite to examine my appearance. Maybe I should have tried to dress up a little bit more. Following Nick's lead may not have been the smartest idea.
After all, I was meeting someone from his home country. No matter how I looked at it, my blue jeans and hoodie combo just didn't cut it.
I smoothed my hair with my palm and tucked some of it behind my ear. I looked a bit better but also girlier as a consequence. I alternated between zipping my hoodie up and leaving it open. Neither was satisfactory.
"What a waste" I heard Nick say.
"What?"
"Your looks. It's wasted on you"
I sighed. "If I need your opinion, I'll ask".
He raised his hand in surrender.
The elevator doors opened to reveal the most exquisite corridor. A red carpet ran throughout the entire length of the hallway.
Twelve women wearing black and red skirt suits stood six aside down the hallway. They were almost perfect copies of each other with the same hair color and hair styled in an exactly similar bun.
They stood at what looked to be equal distances apart and bowed as we stepped out of the elevator. They kept their heads low even as we passed. Nick seemed to pay them no mind. I thought they were fascinating.
At the end of the hall was a man wearing a simple but perfectly fitted black suit. He looked to be somewhere in his forties or fifties. I couldn't tell with that serious expression he had on.
"Your highness" he said with a short bow as we finally approached.
"Long time no see, Percy" Nick said.
"Indeed sir. This must be your... acquaintance" he said turning to me.
"Percival, Morgan. Morgan, Percival. Now why does father want to see us?"
"This way please" Percival said finally gesturing to an open door.
=^..^=
"May I speak freely with him here?" Percival asked as the three of us sat in a large beautifully furnished sitting room.
"Go ahead" Nick answered.
He cleared his throat. "Your absence has been a sore spot for the king and queen"
"They sent me away. This whole thing was their idea"
"Forgive me sir but you know why" Percival glanced at me. Something told me he wasn't infact speaking freely.
Nick turned his head away.
"Nick, is there something I should know?" I asked.
This seemed to anger Percival but he kept whatever he was feeling inside.
Nick seemed to be fighting a thought and gathering the strength to talk.
"It's okay" I assured him "You know all about my shitty family. I'm here for you"
"I'm gay" Nick blurted out like he had one shot to say it before it was locked away forever. "Sorry for not telling you".
Did I already know? Maybe a suspicion? All I knew was that I wasn't surprised when he said it so it was easy for me to keep my cool.
"They sent you away for that?" I asked. I knew many parts of the world were still backwards about it but it seemed a bit extreme.
"Yeah which is why I'm wondering why they want me back now"
"Sir if I may, your father never wanted to send you away. He did it to protect you. So you could live the life you truly wanted"
"I wasn't allowed to go to my sister's wedding, Percival please"
"Sir, you have to understand people were starting to suspect" Percival was trying to reason with him. "You never entertained any advances from the ladies and there was that spectacle with Duke Charles"
"I haven't changed if that's what they're hoping for" Nick retorted.
"Their majesties were overjoyed when your sightings with a young woman were brought to their attention. They hoped..."
"Well you're looking at her." Nick gestured to me. "Another man. So you can go back and tell them nothing's changed"
I couldn't help but notice how Percival always waited for Nick to completely finish his sentences before he spoke where I had no problems interrupting him if I didn't like what he was saying.
"His majesty has a proposal. In his words, a way for you to have the male company you desire as well as provide the monarchy with the heterosexual relationship it demands. A way to bring you home once and for all"
"How?" I asked. I had a feeling about where this was headed and I didn't like it.
"You pretend to be a woman. You're doing a good enough job already." he spoke directly to me.
"I refuse" I said sharply.
"Morgan, hold on."
"To the outside world, you will be a woman. Completely. Personally, I detest the plan as this would leave the monarchy vulnerable if the truth is ever found out but His Majesty seems set on it"
"I don't want to do it" I said incase they hadn't heard me the first time. I got up and turned to leave.
"Of course you will be employed with a contract so there will be a substantial financial compensation among other things".
I stopped. Fuck I needed money. I hated my shitty low paying job with even shittier hours.
"Think about it" I heard Nick say.
Did he really want to do this? Did he want to go back? What happened to living his life like a normal person?
"How much?" I turned and asked.
"Substantial" was Percival's answer.
"How long would this go on for?"
"I would think that's up to how long you're willing and able to keep it up for. However I should warn you."
He somehow grew even more serious and stared directly into my soul. I looked to Nick for support but he seemed to be pondering his own dilemma.
"Under no circumstances should your true situation ever be revealed. Is that clear?"
"Uh yes okay" I answered. Ever since he mentioned financial compensation, I think I may have been getting more and more on board. A 'substantial' payment just to live with Nick like I'd already been doing just in a more luxurious environment. How could I pass up on that?
Sure I hated the idea of living as a woman but one would argue I'd already been doing that for 22 years.
"What would I need to do?" I asked.
"Before you accept, you should know this will involve some cosmetic changes to your body. We can't afford any slip ups"
Well that caught my attention.
"Cosmetic changes?"
"All temporary. You will get a look at the actual contract when we get to Lenoria and you can change your mind at any time."
"Uh.. okay" was all I managed. Even now I still wanted to do it. It was easy money. A well paid vacation basically.
"Are you okay with this?" Nick asked me. "As far as everyone's concerned, you'll be my girlfriend"
"I'm sure there's worse things to be. Are you okay with this?" I asked him.
"Honestly, I miss home" he answered "If this gets me there, I'm grateful. Plus, you're not worst person in the world" he smiled.
I smiled back "Yeah well don't flatter me too much"
"Excellent" Percival seemed pleased the matter had been resolved "Isidora will get you both ready then we leave for Lenoria"
"We'll just go home and pack some things?" I suggested to Will. I couldn't believe I was about to leave the country just like that? What should I bring with me?
"I assure you, there's nothing you have that we'll need. You get dressed and we leave. The plane is waiting"
=^..^=
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Is there anything more fun than starting a new story and building a new world? Thanks for reading the first one, hope you'll stay for the rest. Let me know what you thought about the first one
If you're looking for something new to read, The First Mother is completed.
Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for Isidora's Hunger Games Capitol looking outfit. Her designer either really loved frills or really didn't like her.
There was also so much pink it was almost blinding and for some reason known only to her, she'd decided to pair it all with some shade of blue lipstick. She looked more like an art project than a person.
And this person was supposedly the stylist?
I hadn't been expecting to have to make the journey to Lenoria as a girl but it made sense when it was explained to me.
The whole purpose of this charade was to fool the Lenorian people. I couldn't show up dressed as a boy. No, I was going to have my first transformation here.
To be honest, I was really dreading it. My dad had drilled in me a core fear of anything remotely feminine throughout my childhood.
I wasn't even a particularly feminine kid but God forbid he caught me watching a "girly cartoon" as he called them or playing with any toys that weren't action figures.
In case you were wondering, Barney and Friends was one such girly cartoon. One time he walked in on me watching Winx Club and blew a fuse. It was an ad.
This carried well into my teens. He acted as if my feminine appearance was my fault and made sure to get my hair buzzed regularly not that it was much help.
Don't get me started on the time I dared have a girl as a friend. Then he had the audacity to ask me why I never visited after leaving for college.
He didn't even know that I was leaving for Lenoria this afternoon and he didn't need to. I wanted to atleast tell mum but I knew she'd just tell him and my brother anyway.
"We have a lot of work to do" Izzy, which was the name she'd insisted I call her, told me as soon as Percival and Nick left us to do their own preparation.
"Really?" I asked surprised. Word on the street was that I looked like a girl already. Maybe she meant it was a lot of work to get me to look like her which would be true. I hoped that wasn't the goal anyway.
Pictures I'd seen online of Lenorian society told me her fashion was a rarity. Thank God.
"No offense sweetie, you look poor."
Couldn't fault her powers of observation.
"Take off all your clothes. In there. Put this on"
"Underwear?" I cautiously received the weird looking garment.
"It's called a gaff. You'll figure it out".
Spoiler, I did not figure it out. Not initially atleast. I'd settled for just slipping them on like normal underwear but they turned out to be too uncomfortable.
A quick Google search and a horrified realization later, I finally understood what I needed to do and I wasn't happy about it.
Long story, the unfamiliar feeling of my constrained bits and the now totally flat front told me that I'd atleast done it correctly.
I turned to the mirror to admire the result and was left so shocked that I may have yelled some profanities.
"Are you done yet?" Izzy asked with a raised voice. "A lady should never keep a prince waiting".
Fuck the prince, I was completely flat up front. The little guy wasn't even putting up any resistance.
"Come on hurry up, we have a lot to do"
=^..^=
Izzy couldn't stop staring when I finally emerged. Seeing her lingering gaze on my naked form, I had to actively try to keep myself from getting aroused which I must say was very eye opening.
Surely I wasn't enjoying it. It didn't feel like I was enjoying it but my body was betraying me nonetheless.
When she spotted my discomfort, she gestured to a folded white robe and offered it to me.
"You're going to be a woman for quite some time. You'll have to get used to being naked around other women".
After adorning the robe, she tapped twice on the chair in front of her which signaled to me to sit in it.
"You'll even have ladies-in-waiting who will help you dress"
Little by little, it was dawning on me how different by life was about to be.
Every five minutes, I thought about just changing my mind before it got too messed up. It would suck but I would have to go back home to hide from any other scenarios like the one that happened at the grocery store.
If any of my coworkers had seen the posts, then I'd probably have to quit altogether. I wasn't particularly close with any of them which was probably why they hadn't called me yet to ask but if I ever went back to work, it would surely come up.
I watched closely as Isidora snipped and trimmed my hair. I thought they'd want it as long as possible but I guessed she had a different vision.
Soon she got swept up into her craft and I got swept up into my head.
I wondered what Nick was doing. Was I really going to pretend to be his girlfriend? 3 days ago, we were normal guys hanging out. How had things changed so much and so fast?
"What do you think?" I heard Izzy ask.
I raised my head to get a better look and was shocked by what she'd managed to accomplish in such a short amount of time.
Somehow, she'd managed to get my short hair to frame my face so delicately that I ended up even more feminine than I had began.
"When we get to Lenoria, I should be able to give it a proper treatment but this should do for now"
There was more? It looked perfect... for what we were trying to accomplish.
Izzy opened up a hefty, shiny case that I found was filled to the brim with an array of cosmetics. That must have been how she achieved that unique look she had.
She set herself to work bidding me to sit perfectly still as her nimble fingers danced across my face with one device or another. I sat there patiently with my head slightly elevated and felt my whole way through the process since Izzy stood between me and the mirror.
The longer it went on, the more I anticipated the final result. I hoped she wasn't turning me into a jarring art piece but somehow I knew that wasn't the case. She was careful with her application and used only the gentlest of strokes.
When she finished and she stepped away satisfied, my fears were confirmed. I was pretty. It shouldn't have been this easy. Just hair and makeup shouldn't have been enough to turn me into every guy's fantasy.
It would never have worked on Nick, I knew that much. He'd have looked like a horrible caricature no matter how skilled Izzy proved to be. Not me though. The girl staring back looked like she belonged here. I hated her already.
I hated that she didn't look like a freak sitting there. Was I allowed to be attracted to her if she was me? Was that weird? Atleast it meant that my sexuality was still intact.
"Remove the robe, I need to put this on" Izzy informed me effectively pulling me away from my thoughts.
Breast forms. I'd expected that. Atleast they were fairly small. They even seemed undersized for a girl my age, not that I knew what that was supposed to look like.
Without a word of defiance, I pulled the robe off my shoulder and slipped my arms out of the sleeves making sure to leave the bottom half intact.
Izzy applied a generous amount of adhesive before sticking them on. To ease my worry, she assured me that they were easy to remove with a special solvent but the adhesive would prevent any mishaps.
While I adjusted to the new weight on my chest, she proceeded to blend the seams carefully until you couldn't tell they didn't naturally belong to me. I couldn't help but observe that my new breasts matched my skin tone too well to have been a random pick but didn't comment on it.
I watched my now undeniably female upper body in the mirror, every time I moved, the breast forms jiggled or bounced realistically.
"Like them?" Izzy asked.
"They're interesting" I answered.
As if that wasn't enough, she then proceeded to help me into a bra which seemed purpose built to accentuate them further and create cleavage.
By the time she moved on to the dress, I was ready for the whole thing to be over. She threw one dress after another on the bed and seemed to be struggling to make a pick.
I noticed she kept falling back to one red piece but would always decide against it.
"Something wrong with it?" I asked one time after she'd inspected it and put it down again.
"No, it's perfect. I just think it's a bit much for your first dress."
"What do you mean?" I asked again letting my curiosity get the better of me.
"Just try it on, let's see".
=^..^=
It turned out she was right. The dress was a bit much. The bright red dress had what she described as a boned bodice and a sweetheart neckline. The whole thing was cut from a soft satin fabric and had an aggressive side slit that went up to my mid thigh.
The structure of the dress seemed to manufacture a shape that I never even knew I had... or never acknowledged.
"It's perfect" Izzy commented.
I just stood dumbfounded in front of the full length mirror. The completed look was just too much to bear. Everything from the pretty face to the prominent cleavage, down to the waist, hips and eventually legs just screamed woman.
It shouldn't have been this easy.
After debating which shoes I was to wear, Izzy finally acquiesced as we settled for simple open toe sandals with a small heel.
Her original idea featured an admittedly beautiful but unrealistic pair of silver high heels.
I'd maintained the entire time that it simply wasn't going to work and my resolve only strengthened when she explained that I would be learning how to curtsy.
If I couldn't even walk in them, I'd certainly fall and break my back if I attempted what she'd just demonstrated to be a standard curtsy for non-royals.
"Since you're going to meet the king and queen, you need to know how to curtsy and do it well. You might meet them for the first time at the airport if they decide to come out to welcome His Highness, if not, it'll be in the castle"
I listened intently. If I was going to do it, I thought I might as well do it correctly.
"You want it to be in the castle. A few friends and family, it will be a private audience. If it happens at the airport, there'll be a lot of cameras. Lenorians are already very distrusting of foreigners so they'll be looking for any reason to discredit you so better not mess it up"
The notion that this was going to be an easy payday was flying out the window.
"Here, I'll show you" she said as she entered the first pose "First, stand tall and graceful, keeping your back straight. Now, gently step one foot behind the other, just a little. Slowly bend your knees, but keep your back straight as you lower your body."
She spoke as she demonstrated making the whole thing look easier than it probably was.
"Now, as you lower yourself, let your skirt or dress fan out slightly. Remember to keep your hands relaxed at your sides or lightly hold the edge of your skirt. Now do it with me"
We practiced it enough times until I no longer looked as awkward as I felt. To Izzy's credit, she was being extremely patient with me which I appreciated even if this was probably just her job as it was mine.
We went on for several minutes longer, the whole time, she made sure to correct my posture when I was leaning in a bit too far to the left or bending my back.
"Let's go show you off" she said excitedly as soon as I'd nailed it three times in a row with minimal mistakes.
=^..^=
I saw Nick before he saw me. He looked nothing like the boy I knew. This guy looked regal and commanding, clad in a tailored military ensemble that exuded authority.
The structured red jacket was adorned with intricate gold braiding along its edges. It hugged his form with precision and accentuated his stature, the masculine equivalent of what my dress did for me.
My dress. What the hell.
His outfit was entering the realm of larger-than-life. Upon his left shoulder, a distinguished epaulet with crimson feathers which lent an air of grandeur and distinction. A pristine white shirt with a embroidered collar, paired with tailored black trousers and black boots completed the look.
Nick, the guy that never made any attempts to hide his farts, now looked like he had just walked out of a fantasy novel. I'd expected someone dressed as he was to be holding a ceremonial Sabre but instead, he scrolled through his phone and laughed at whatever passed as humor for him.
"Ahem" Izzy loudly cleared her throat to gain his attention.
Nick did a double take when he saw me.
"My goodness Morgan" he stood abruptly "If I was attracted to women, I'd be all over you"
"It's a good thing you're not then" I replied.
I took multiple steps forward thankful that we'd agreed to forego the heels for now.
"Where's the grinch?" I asked.
"He's right here" Percival answered as he'd been coincidentally walking into the room at that moment.
I turned to him and smiled awkwardly.
He too seemed very taken aback when he got a proper look at me.
"You clean up nice" I wiped a hand comically across Nick's jacket.
"May I use the opportunity to suggest that you treat him with the respect that befits his position" Percival said in response.
"Percy, it's okay. We're supposed to be madly in love, aren't we?"
"Sir, she's still a commoner"
Four words and two of them annoyed me. Percy had a gift.
"You forget that she's not a subject" Nick argued.
"Your Highness, as long as she's in Lenoria, she is bound by the same rules"
I figured I'd have to get used to my new pronouns sooner rather than later.
"We should go, sir" Percival resigned "The car is waiting".
=^..^=
Our party got numerous stares immediately we exited the elevator. The twelve women that Nick explained were some form of trained guard were already waiting in the lobby. The few cameras inside the lobby that belonged to patrons of the hotel were nothing compared to the professional cameras that we could see waiting on the other side of the street outside the gates.
Someone must have let slip that they'd spotted Prince Nicholas at the Grand Aurora because the paparazzi had swooped in like vultures.
The guard hurriedly ushered us into the third of the four car convoy. Somehow, I had gone from being virtually unknown to having paparazzi desperate to take a picture of me overnight.
Our SUV contained Nick and I in the back, one of the women driving and Percy in the passenger seat. Izzy had been relegated to one of the other identical vehicles.
Upon exiting the gates, the cars were swarmed by the paparazzi but thankfully, they had mostly given up when they realised the windows were all tinted.
"Regretting it yet?" Nick asked with an 'I told you so' smile.
"You wish" I replied.
=^..^=
The convoy drove through the gates of the private airport and directly to the foot of the enormous private jet. Due to the form fitting dress, I struggled to get out of the car almost as much as I had to get in.
Though embarrassing, I'd been grateful for Nick's arm as he led me up the steps into the aircraft.
Oh how beautiful it was on the inside. I'd been in a few airplanes but this easily dwarfed all the rest by a very large margin when it came to splendor.
"Is that a couch?" I asked Nick who was amused by my expression and reaction. Can you really blame me? Who would have ever expected to see a whole couch in an airplane plus a large television taking up the other side of the aisle.
In fact, I wouldn't really call the space in the middle an aisle since the seating arrangement was structured more like a living room.
"The bigger ones have whole bedrooms" Nick informed me a little too proudly.
'Live a normal life' my foot.
=^..^=
I did my best to contain my excitement and wonder as our pilots instructed us that we were ready for take off.
Nick and I shared the couch so we could talk to pass the time of the 8 hour flight.
Percy and Izzy both sat in the cabin space but far enough away not to intrude on our conversation.
The guard were stationed in a different room although one or two of them would occasionally show up to bring us refreshments. There was also a button on each of the chairs that served to summon them whenever we needed anything.
The little things made this whole thing worth it. Yes, my feet hurt and this dress left me feeling extremely self conscious more often than not, but then again, I didn't need to worry about anything anymore.
I didn't have to work or deal with annoying customers anymore. Having cleavage was a small price to pay.
"Are you excited about going home?" I asked Nick.
"I haven't been back in three years. It's more nerve-wracking than anything"
"You haven't seen your siblings in three years?"
"We've videocalled a few times but they're very busy so not as often as we'd like. Sophie has a family now, a son, and Theo is preparing to take over from Father"
"What does the second son do anyway? Just party and have fun?" I asked genuinely curious.
The slit of my dress was riding up higher than I'd have liked but I didn't want to go through the motions of adjusting it.
"Military service probably. As it is, I'll probably be shoved into some role far away and out of sight."
"I don't think your parents would want that" I said in an attempt to make him feel better.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Nick asked me clearly trying to change the subject "You always talked about how much you hated being treated like a girl and now you're fine doing it full-time?"
Nick didn't get it. But how could he? He was out of touch with the real world.
"Do you know what my salary is?"
He shook his head.
"Thirty three thousand a year" I gave him the answer "Do you know when I'll be able to retire at thirty three thousand a year?"
He didn't respond. He knew the answer and now he knew my reasons.
"Never" I said anyway.
I figured I'd suck it up for a year or two. Whatever they did to me would be reversible. By the time I was done, Nick and I would stage a breakup, we would go our separate ways, and I'd be rich.
"Fine. I just wanted to make sure you know what you're getting into. The castle isn't empty. I have a big extended family. There are princesses that grew up spoiled and princes that never got told no"
Okay that was worrying but what was the alternative? Go back? Not a chance.
"I'll be fine" I said finally.
"Well don't say nobody warned you" was his final piece.
=^..^=
I must have fallen asleep sometime during the movie because I was woken up by the jet's tires hitting the runway.
My eyes had darted open but I hadn't dared move yet after realizing I had been sleeping on Nick's shoulder. Nick was using his phone as usual and from my position, I had a clear view of his contents.
It was a news article with the headlines:
"THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS?"
I faked a yawn, "Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked at the end of it.
He quickly swiped up to remove the page from view.
"You looked so peaceful... which is a rare sight" he joked.
"Haha very funny" I turned to look to Percy who was as alert as a hawk. Izzy was nowhere in sight.
I got up to my feet and walked barefooted to the windows to get what limited views I could of the world outside.
I could see the actual airport coming into view but enveloping us on both sides as the aircraft decelerated was a large forest.
"So this is Lenoria" I marveled. There wasn't much to see right then but just the thought that I was in a different country was enough for me.
"Come on Morgan, I'll fix your makeup and get that bed head under control" I turned to Izzy as she spoke.
"Actually, is he keeping the name Morgan? I think it's unisex" Nick asked.
Yet another thing my dad didn't like about me as if it had been my fault. They're the ones that named me after Morgan Freeman but did that stop him from sneering whenever someone called me by my actual name? No.
"She." Percy cautioned "Sir, you need to get used to it so there aren't any slip ups. And no, an entirely new identity is being crafted for her with full background and documents."
The aircraft was making a turn off the runway which caused me to stumble and need to be caught by Nick.
"Thanks" I said shyly.
"Get her ready. We don't want to keep them waiting"
=^..^=
I desperately tried and failed to get my heart under control as Nick and I stood just inside the aircraft's open doors.
I'd felt fine until I exited the powder room with Izzy to find atleast a hundred people waiting out on the tarmac.
I didn't do so well being the center of attention. I knew it was a side effect of being self conscious about my body and I knew I didn't and shouldn't have had that problem here but I still couldn't stop my heart from beating out of my chest.
"I can't do this" I whispered.
Everyone was being patient enough with me even though I was keeping several important dignitaries waiting including the Heir Apparent.
"I can't..." I paused.
What if I went out there and messed up. What if I tripped? What if I got nervous and used my boy voice? A million things could go wrong and every single one of them could ruin my life.
I turned to Nick and saw the concern on his face.
Don't do that.
I'm ruining your homecoming. Don't care more about me.
"Hey hey hey, it's okay" he said as he took my hand. This caused my heart to beat even harder.
What was he doing? This wasn't helping.
"Just focus on me" he said to me.
It really wasn't helping. I pulled my hand away but he didn't let go.
"If were going to do this, we do it together so just follow my lead okay?"
"Okay" I answered no more than a whisper. I let my hand remain in his.
"We walk out on 3, okay? 1..."
Nick took a step forward and so did I before I even had a chance to think.
As soon as we stepped out into the cool evening weather, a loud booming voice rang out from somewhere down on the tarmac.
"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, may I present His Royal Highness, Prince Nicholas, and his companion, Miss Amelia Beaumont."
I took a deep breath followed by another step and then another. Showtime.
=^..^=
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Hello, thank you so much for reading.
I'd really love to hear your honest thoughts on this chapter.
And of course, I hope you'll stick around for the subsequent chapters.
Cheers.
"Your name is Amelia" I repeated to myself as Nick and I descended the airplane steps. I clutched the small purse that held my phone plus a few other 'essentials' with a grip tight enough to turn my fingers blue.
"Your name is Amelia" I repeated again.
This served two functions. One obviously was an attempt to get used to my new name as quickly as possible. The other was to keep my mind off the hundreds of repeating camera flashes that were going off every second.
"Remember to curtsy" I heard Izzy say from behind me "Just like we practiced".
I looked ahead to find a young man I recognised to be the Crown Prince, Nick's older brother approaching the steps from a canopy farther away.
I studied him carefully noting that while the princes did pass as brothers when the fact was established, an ignorant passerby wouldn't easily make that connection.
The only real similarity between them was in the curly brown hair they both shared.
In truth, Theodore paled in comparison to Nick, atleast to me. Where Nick had strong features and a frame that demanded reverence, his brother just came off as a bit more awkward granted his simple blue two-piece suit was a good amount more casual than Nick's current attire.
When Nick's hand left mine, I knew it was time to focus. The Crown Prince was approaching.
He was all smiles as he met his brother with a big hug. I guessed decorum and policy didn't apply to them.
"Welcome back, brother" I heard him say to Nick after they broke apart. "I've missed you dearly".
Nick managed a smile even as many eyes and cameras witnessed their reunion. It was a feeling I would need to eventually get used to. Having cameras witnessing and recording my every move.
Even now, several closeup shots were being taken of my face and body. Those pictures would be analysed by the entire country like it was the Super Bowl highlights. A frown would be reported on and speculated about. If there was a pimple, it wouldn't go unnoticed.
"I've missed you too, brother" Replied Nick.
"And who do we have here?" he turned to me.
That was my cue. Just liked we'd rehearsed.
Tall and graceful. Keep back straight. Gently step one foot behind the other, bend my knees, keep my hands relaxed.
Perfect.
"She's quite a beauty Nicky. I didn't think you had it in you." Theodore commented with a smile.
Was that a jab? At Nick? At me?
Just how much did he know about the Situation? They wouldn't keep it from the Crown Prince, would they? Surely not.
I made a mental note to eventually ask Percy who knew and who didn't.
I arose when my curtsy had run it's course to catch a glimpse of Theodore's lingering eyes on my chest.
"Come" he exclaimed before turning away "Everyone is excited to meet you"
Nick following his retreating brother and of course so did I. Farther down our current path stood a collection of individuals dressed in lavish and expensive garments. They were the only ones standing in front of the long metal barricade. The rest stood a ways behind it.
"Percival, come" Theodore called. A second later, flustered and in a rush, Percy hurried passed us to catch up to the Prince.
I watched Prince Theodore whisper something in his ear which was followed by a nod of acknowledgement.
"Everyone will be introduced to you." I heard Izzy say from behind me. "If they're introduced as a prince or princess, Duke or duchess, curtsy. If you hear anything else, Marquis, Count, Viscount or worse nothing at all, just bow your head slightly"
Everything seemed to be happening at lightning pace. I glanced briefly to the long line of cameras that dotted the other side of the barricade. I wondered which of those flashes would capture the image that would make it to the front of tomorrow's paper.
One after the other, the entire canopy was introduced to Nick and I, some individually, some in groups of two.
I paid special attention to the princes and princesses who were introduced first.
"His Highness, Prince Alexander" the man to whom the booming voice from earlier belonged to spoke again. A young boy no older than 16. I curtsied to him. He nodded in response. He looked bored.
"His Highness, Prince Dominic" the man announced again. This one was even younger. 8 years old if I had to guess. He held the hands of an older girl that hadn't yet been introduced. I tried my hardest to ignore the look of disgust on her face as I curtsied to the young prince.
"Her Highness, Princess Emily"
It was the girl's turn so I made sure to get it exactly right when I curtsied. Maybe if I showed enough respect, she would find it in her heart to lose the air of hostility that I felt from her.
I hadn't even done anything. What could she possibly have had against me?
"Her Highness, Princess Charlotte"
Again and again, I went through the motions even as my knees started feeling sore. Both girls as well as the youngest prince had the same blonde hair which signified some relation. How close or how far they were to Nick, I had no idea.
Even though I knew this was an auspicious moment, I was already getting over the whole thing by the time the announcements had gotten to the dukes. It had been a long flight. My body was sore.
"Duke Edward and Duchess Eleanor of Eldwin"
"Duke William and Duchess Victoria of Astralyn"
"Duke Oliver and Duchess Matilda of Serena"
I tuned out the names and simply focused on my cues to curtsy and my counts to rise.
That was until I heard one name that I recognised.
"Duke Charles of Caelor"
Charles' eyes met mine following his introduction. Just like normal, I went through the motions. I felt a bit of kinship with him due to his obvious softness. Charles was what you would call a twink. Atleast that's how he appeared to me. I would never have said that to his face.
I was sure if Izzy got her hands on him, he could come out a passable woman. Perhaps with a few tells unlike me, but passable nonetheless.
Charles of course couldn't feel the same kinship. When he looked at me, he saw a woman, not a fellow man with a similar ailment.
To his credit, he tried to hide his disgust beneath a well practiced smile but facade would occasionally break especially after glancing over to Nick.
I hadn't said a word yet so why did I feel like I already had enemies? I literally just got here.
When the dukes in attendance were exhausted, I gracefully bowed my head to the rest of the guests as they were introduced to me, their names lost and disregarded almost as soon as they left the announcer's lips.
All except Alexander, Dominic, Emily, Charlotte and Charles.
When the high nobility introductions were done, it was finally the turn of the advisors, ministers, councilors and the like which were made up mostly of lower nobility and commoners.
In Lenorian society, those were the highest positions of prestige a commoner could attain regardless of how much money they had. If they wanted to climb any higher, they would need to perform deeds for the monarchy to earn lands and titles.
If their deeds were particularly impressive, they got to them in perpetuity.
It was quite unbelievable just how many high ranking members of society seemed excited to meet me. Me of all people. The same person that was barely scraping to survive last week.
As I was busy adjusting the skirt of my dress following the conclusion of introductions, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I realised that someone had been calling my name atleast a few times. Well, calling 'Miss Beaumont'.
"Yes, hi, sorry" I turned to greet the older man that had been introduced to me earlier but I couldn't remember his name for the life of me.
Count something or the other.
"Viscount Montague" he said to my relief.
"Nice to meet you" I forced a smile. My social battery had officially ran out and I was running on fumes. Somehow speaking with him seemed underwhelming now even though he was a Viscount and a lot more important than Morgan could have ever hoped to meet.
"Forgive me for asking but 'Beaumont', is that the Yorkshire Beaumont or the Normandy Beaumonts" he asked "I am very familiar with those regions".
What? I understood what he was asking but I had no clue what the answer could be. Should I have just picked one? No that was a horrible idea. Follow-up questions would certainly trip me up. Should I have just gone with a random location? Surely he couldn't possibly know every Beaumont in the world.
But if he went in search for it and came up empty, wouldn't that raise red flags?
I still don't know what I should have done in that moment. Excuse myself? Just walk away? Thankfully, I didn't have to make a decision because Nick promptly came to my rescue.
"Babe, we're leaving" He said taking my hand.
"Your Royal Highness" The Viscount descended into a strong bow after taking a step back to an appropriate distance.
"Viscount" was Nick's acknowledgement. I could have been wrong but it didn't look to me like he was enjoying all the fuss. If so, we had that in common at least.
"Miss Beaumont, let us speak again at the ball" he bowed again before making his exit.
Ball? What ball?
"Ball?" I asked.
"To celebrate my return" Nick answered.
Why was this the first I was hearing of it?
Nick and I were ushered into one of the parked Cadillacs that had those little white, black and red flags at the front. As soon as we were seated, Percy took the passenger seat and after some more waiting, the procession was on its way.
=^..^=
I watched in innocent wonder as the unfamiliar country flew past me. The first thing that came to mind was how clean the streets were but then again this was the route to and from the airport so you would naturally expect that.
But even as we went farther and farther into the journey, the trend remained. The next thing I noticed was how bare the streets were.
By now, it was late evening and being used to the usual crowds that filled my hometown, this was a shock.
"When is this ball?" I asked turning my attention back into the vehicle.
"In 2 days. To commemorate His Highness' return" Percy answered. "Before I forget..." he reached over from the front seat and handed me an envelope.
"what is it?" I asked inspecting the sealed package.
"Everything you need to know about Amelia along with some documents, a new passport, birth certificate, so on"
I wondered if it was alright to talk about this with the driver there but quickly let it go. If Percy was fine with it then it was probably fine.
"Can I open it?" I asked. I glanced over to Nick who looked to be lost watching the world go by through the windows.
"Yes, but give it back to me when you're done" Percy instructed "I'll have it delivered to your room. Make sure to study it tonight and have it all memorized as soon as possible. Expect lots of questions about your past"
"That reminds me, some viscount asked if I was from Normandy or something like that"
"Originally, but your branch of the family emigrated to the United States from France in 1901"
"So I'm French?"
"Third generation American" he corrected.
"I'm 24?" I asked after spotting my new Date of Birth. September 5th 1999. A year and ten months after my old one. "Would it have killed you to make me younger?"
I heard Percy sigh all the way from the back seat.
"Amelia's profile suited you best"
"I don't understand, didn't you just create it? Just use the same age"
"Amelia was a real person. She is deceased. Does that bother you?" He asked.
Did it? I turned to Nick who atleast seemed to be listening now. He looked like he was battling a hundred different emotions. It seemed to me that coming back after three years was proving to be overwhelming.
"I don't know" I answered.
"Don't worry about it." He assured me "Your identity is airtight this way as long as you memorize it"
"Okay"
I was stealing someone's life. Stealing her name, family history, likes and dislikes and who knows what else.
"There will be a televised interview sometime this week. I understand it's very short notice but the Lenorian people are anxious to know who you are".
I thought this was going to be easy money. The job hadn't even really started and I was already exhausted.
=^..^=
"What's on your mind?" I reached out to Nick who had been quiet for an extended period of time.
He forced a smile. "I'm fine".
"We're doing this together remember?" I reminded him of his own words.
"Later" he brushed me off and picked up his phone.
Whatever. I didn't care. I looked out my own windows.
When Nick dropped his phone in my lap, I realised that I cared very much.
In his phone's Notes app, he had written, "It's about Charles. I'll tell you when we're alone".
I nodded and handed him back the phone.
=^..^=
The castle itself was situated well away from the public's reach. We had taken a turn off the highway about 30 minutes into our journey.
For several miles, we'd followed a path that was surrounded by a deep forest on each side until we arrived at a beautiful ornate gate manned by what looked to me to be an military squadron. They even had the visible gear and firepower to show it.
After the procession was allowed entry, we'd driven for several more miles and I worried we'd never reach the end of the seemingly endless forest.
As if it wasn't overkill enough, we eventually arrived at an actual real life drawbridge situated over a body of water that separated the castle grounds from the rest of the world.
Thankfully, the journey was now over as we soon came to a full stop after which the vehicle doors were opened for Nick and I allowing me to take in the sights.
First, the grounds featured multiple ponds and fountain alongside perfectly maintained trees, flowers and shrubs.
The magnificent white castle though the most impressive was only one of four separate castles in the vicinity.
The main building which our party now approached stood proudly, a good amount taller than the rest. It also featured towers and spires and other such extravagant additions that belonged in a distant, more fantastical past.
The group remained intact until the main castle entrance where our journey ended but the other princes and princesses carried on alongside their guards to the other castles.
I would later find out that each castle had a name: Eclipton Castle, Tynedale Castle, Goldcrest Castle and Ironhold.
Eclipton, the home of the immediate royal family was our destination. I was awestruck as soon as I stepped through the towering doors. The first thing that demanded my attention was just how much gold there was in view.
From the arches of the grand hall, the beautiful chandeliers that hung from the ceiling to the rich tapestries and patterns throughout, it was enough to make me forget about my current predicament.
The sight reaffirmed my beliefs that I was infact making the right decision. The dress that I'd been wearing for half a day now accentuated curves that I would have rather buried. The slight heels forced me to stand in a manner that I wouldn't normally be caught dead in.
But I didn't care. I would do it all everyday just to live there.
Hall after hall and the extravagance never diminished. Thirty three thousand a year could suck it.
The whole time Nick and Theodore were engaged in deep discussion but it looked intimate so I decided not to listen in or intrude.
=^..^=
"Announce the Princes' arrival" Percy instructed the guards who stood outside yet another impressive door. With only a nod, one of the guards disengaged his position, opened the door slightly and slipped quietly through.
"This is the drawing room" Percy told me. "It is where their majesties receive unofficial or personal visitors.
I nodded. I was grateful for the information. There was so much I would have to learn. Everyone there grew up living this life. I couldn't have even imagined it a week ago.
I wished Izzy would always be around to help but I knew this wouldn't be the case. She wasn't there now anyway. I would need to learn and learn fast.
The doors opened again, this time the whole way to reveal a large lavish room decorated in a similar fashion as the rest of the castle.
Comfortable sofas lined the walls of the room and it was all tied together by a relatively simple wooden coffee table.
I caught a glimpse of the man and woman sitting in the room and immediately felt self conscious.
I didn't know if it was more because they were the King and Queen or because they were my friend's parents. Probably the former.
Lenoria being an absolute monarchy, those were easily the most powerful people in the country. With the country's vast wealth, maybe they were even the most powerful in the region. And they were smiling at me. At us.
"My two boys! Under the same roof again" the man exclaimed as he stood to give his son a hug.
'They don't seem too bad' I thought to myself.
"My son, welcome back" It was the queen's turn to hug him. "And I see you've brought back a price. Oh what a beauty you are, my dear".
I took that as my cue to curtsy but to my surprise, she pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek.
I was reluctant to touch her so I just stood there awkwardly.
They seemed so nice. I couldn't have imagined them sending Nick away.
I glanced to the television playing in the background. I could see clips and reporting of our arrival at the airport.
God I looked like a woman.
"We have missed you so dearly, Nicholas" his father said to him.
"I have missed you as well, father, mother" Nick answered.
"Both of you sit" The king commanded "The rest of you, out."
Honestly, I was under the impression that we were just coming to say our hellos. I was sore and tired and needed the day to end but as you would expect, a refusal wasn't among my cards.
"Me too, father?" Theodore asked sheepishly.
The king all but shushed him away, "I'll see you at dinner".
The King and Queen took their seats and so did Nick and I.
When the room was clear and it remained just the four of us, the King spoke again.
"Now let's get down to business".
=^..^=
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Thanks for reading. As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
"What does an appeal for judicial reform mean to the monarchy?" King Richard asked.
Yes, that was how he began a conversation with his son. No 'hello', no 'how are you?'.
Didn't he even wonder where Nick had been all this time? He didn't seem to care. A lousy hug seemed enough for him and apparently Nick as well because he too got right into answering the question.
"A challenge to its authority" Nick's voice was calm and collected. All three of them seemed to think this was normal.
Naturally, I just sat quietly waiting to be addressed as you would when in private audience with a monarch.
"And how would you handle this challenge?"
Without wasting a breath, Nick answered, "By rounding up their secretaries and councilors. They would have received the appeals and reviewed them. They are responsible".
The king nodded. He seemed pleased.
"The intricacies of government always came easy to you, my son. I always wished your brother was like you in that regard. Isn't that right, my queen?"
She nodded gracefully. Her range of motion was so limited you would have expected her to break if she exerted herself any further.
"I have a task for you" The king spoke again.
I listened carefully. I briefly wondered which came first, the commanding voice he possessed or kingship? Nick didn't have it. Neither did Theodore.
"Focus on publicizing your relationship. Be seen together, clear all suspicions. When there is no shadow of a doubt about you, we will discuss the next steps."
"Yes father" Nick answered obediently.
"I will have Percival schedule both of you for a tour of the capital. Be affectionate with each other. I expect that will not be a problem."
"No, father".
Nick that never missed an opportunity to let his thoughts known was being so obedient. It was kind of off-putting.
"Good, and you..."
When I realised the King was speaking to me, my heart skipped a beat.
"Yes sir" I answered as though I was addressing a commanding officer. I didn't even know where that had come from.
He seemed amused.
"It's 'Your Majesty'" Nick whispered to me.
"Your Majesty" I corrected.
"You will receive your contract in the morning. Sign it and begin your duties"
He paused.
"Yes your majesty" I filled the silence.
"Your role here is crucial. Usually I wouldn't leave such an important task so someone like you" he sighed "... but you are uniquely suited for this so I'll allow it."
I stayed silent while keeping my gaze locked on him.
"Son.." Queen Arabella spoke again "Your father and I understand you believe this to be your nature but still you must prepare to marry... a real woman"
"Yes mother"
"What we do is for the good of the kingdom." The king added "We will allow this arrangement for now but eventually the games will have to end".
He was looking at me when he said that. There would be no argument from me. The last thing I wanted was to do this forever anyway. No, I was here only to make enough money to never work again. That was it.
I had my contract to look forward to.
=^..^=
Eventually I'd been dismissed and was now being led by a guard through the castle. Nick had been asked to stay back so I hoped they were finally giving him that much needed welcome but somehow I doubted that.
The guard hadn't said any more words to me after requesting I follow so I stayed quiet and just admired what was easily the most jaw dropping scenery you've ever seen.
Every room or hallway I passed through managed to amaze me just as much as the last. After climbing several flights of stairs and even more halls, the guard finally announced that we had arrived.
I wondered how I would ever learn to navigate this castle that felt like a maze.
When he opened the door for me, I was greeted by a beautiful large bedroom covered in welcoming pastel colours.
Inside stood two girls who were probably around my age wearing relatively simple black dresses. Upon closer inspection, I noticed one of the girls' dresses had subtle golden trimmings.
"Hello" I said softly as I walked through the door. I did a small turn to get a better look at the whole room.
"My lady" One of the girls spoke "I am Gwen and this is Celeste. We will be serving you"
I turned back to see them finishing a slight bow.
"Hi" I said again.
"Celeste will be handling your day to day care but I will assist in preparing you for big events" Gwen with the gold trimmed dress said.
"We're both aware of the situation so there's no need to worry" she continued "But please refrain from speaking about it in public or anywhere anyone might hear"
I walked passed the girls and took a seat on the bed. It was soft. Comfortable.
I started to unbuckle the sandals and Celeste quickly rushed and took over. I let her.
"If there is anything you need, please let either of us know" Gwen finished.
"I need wifi" I told her immediately it came to mind.
She nodded. "I will have to relay that request to Sir Percival"
"Alright"
"Your documents are on the vanity. Shall I retrieve them for you?"
I shook my head. I would read them later. Now I needed to rest.
Celeste who had finished removing the sandals and had placed them neatly in the wardrobe returned to massage my feet.
I hadn't asked her to but it felt nice so I let it happen. I didn't yet know how to feel about the situation.
Were they really going to do whatever I asked? Somehow it felt wrong. They were people even if they didn't seem to mind.
I didn't know if Celeste actually enjoyed the work but she had a pleasant expression on her face that made it seem like she did.
"Dinner is in an hour, my lady" she continued. "Celeste will help you freshen up before then. Will that be all?"
I could only let out a soft moan as an affirmation. Celeste's trained hands felt amazing after the long day of walking in those heels.
The tight dress had grown uncomfortable and so would definitely be the next to go.
"I will take my leave then" Gwen stated before bowing one more time and heading for the door.
"Is the dinner with the King and Queen?" I remembered to ask Celeste as soon as Gwen closed the door behind her and we were left alone.
"No, my lady" Celeste answered. "The royal family takes their dinner privately. Yours will be brought here"
I realised this was the first time I'd heard her voice. She sounded young. I briefly wondered about her age before remembering I could just ask her.
"How old are you?"
"Nineteen, my lady"
Three years younger than me. Well, five years now.
"Do you have to call me 'my lady' everytime?"
She didn't answer. Was she allowed to ignore me?
"Can you just call me by my name Mor... Amelia?" I asked her. It was going to get exhausting hearing that title all day long.
"I will do as you request but I must address you properly whenever we are in public"
"That's fine. And that's enough" I moved my feet out of her hands which caused her to stand and resume her original stance with both hands in front of her, one covering the other.
My back ached. I stood up.
"I need to remove this dress" I said.
A moment later she was unzipping the red dress and granting me freedom from my satin prison. She moved the straps off my shoulder and held the dress in place for me to step out of it.
She really wasn't going to let me do anything. Not that I was complaining.
With the dress completely off, that left just the bra that covered the breast forms and the gaff.
I walked towards the large full size mirror to get a better look at my new form. It looked to me that my lack of breasts had been crucial to keep a somewhat male structure to my body.
Now though, the female form was complete and there was no denying it.
Through the mirror, I could see Celeste suppressing a smile.
"What is it?" I asked with my own smile through the mirror.
She immediately ceased.
I turned to her and frowned.
"I want us to be friends" I said to her "I wish you would be open with me"
She seemed reserved so I walked up to her and took her hand. This seemed to shock her. It felt like I had so many enemies already. I could use someone looking after me, and not just as a job.
"Please?" I asked with a smile.
I could see her inhibitions slowly fade away.
"We were told about you this afternoon. I didn't believe it was possible. I thought it wasn't possible for a man to pretend to be a royal lady"
I let go of her hand and turned back to the mirror, "And now?"
"You are beautiful. More beautiful than many real women" she said to me.
How should I have felt about that? Proud? Hurt?
"Why would they even tell you?" I asked still studying myself in the mirror. She was right, I was beautiful. "Aren't they worried you will talk?"
A sudden sadness took over her face.
"They tell us because they know we won't talk" she answered.
She seemed saddened so I didn't press.
"I want to shower" I said.
Through the mirror, I saw her nod, "I will prepare a bath".
=^..^=
After an uneventful shower and dinner, Celeste had finally left me alone but only after exphasizing that I should pull the rope next to my bed if I needed anything.
Did people really go through their entire lives not doing a single thing for themselves?
I had made a fuss about the sheer nightgown when she'd first brought it up but I had to admit, it was extremely comfortable.
A far cry from the dress from earlier, the white lace gown felt like I was clothed in clouds.
"Focus" I said to myself. I had to learn everything there was to know about Amelia.
And there was a lot to learn.
I studied the documents again with my full attention.
One interesting thing though was that Amelia had actually died in Lenoria. Only one of about 70,000 visiting visas granted that year, she'd been taking a year off after completing high school six years ago.
In her visa interview, she had said visiting Lenoria had been a dream she shared with her father who was a History teacher.
There was no information about how she died.
Her.. my parents were Henri and Jennifer Beaumont.
'Both parents are alive and living in America' I read the words of the page to myself. How did that work?
What did they feel about some random girl posing as their deceased daughter?
According to the story, Amelia lived in Lenoria until three years ago when she met and fell in love with the Prince Nicholas which caused them to run away together.
So it seemed Nick and I had been together already for some time. Which didn't leave any room for awkwardness in our relations.
I decided I was tired and would read the rest the next day. I didn't know if it was the softness of the bed, the nightgown or the day I'd had but soon I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
=^..^=
I awoke to the smell of eggs and opened my eyes to see Celeste pulling aside a curtain and opening a window I hadn't noticed last night.
For a second, I wondered if it might have all been a dream and I surprised myself when I felt relieved that it wasn't.
I winced at the light rays passing through the windows and hitting my eyes.
"What time is it?" I asked groggily.
"7:30 my lady" she answered.
"We talked about this" I groaned as I sat up.
I could honestly say I hadn't had such a good night sleep in a while. I wondered where Nick was this morning and why we were sleeping separately if we were supposed to be dating.
Were they worried we would actually have sex or was this just the norm?
"There is a fresh toothbrush in the bathroom"
With no complaints, I forced myself to my feet and headed for the bathroom. When Celeste began to follow, I stopped her.
"I can handle it".
=^..^=
I was met with a surprise after breakfast when Celeste requested I lift the skirt of my dress.
She had walked into my room earlier holding a tray with a lone syringe containing a clear liquid and a needle.
"What's that?" I'd asked.
"I was instructed to administer this once per week.
"Okay but what is it?" I'd asked again.
She shrugged. "I was just told to do it every week"
Okay that was worrying. I didn't think they would go through all this trouble to harm me so it probably wasn't anything bad.
Maybe some weird secret drug to make me obey? Possibly but unnecessary since I was planning to anyway.
"Can I say no?"
Celeste shook her head.
I really didn't think it was anything bad so I lifted the skirt of the knee-length purple dress she'd chosen earlier and waited for the prick.
Thankfully, it came and went and I was free to go about my day. Nothing felt different after the injection so atleast there was that.
=^..^=
Percival knocked on my door around 11am which marked my first time seeing him again after the audience with the King and Queen.
"Hello, Percy" I felt like I could say that now. I was the prince's girlfriend. That probably put me above him.
This annoyed him but he tempered his reaction. "It's Sir Percival" he replied simply as he walked through the door.
"Oh don't be like that" I said turning to walk back to my bed. "Tell me, are my parents really still alive?"
It was easy to start thinking about the Beaumonts as my real family. After all mine sucked. If my dad saw me now, he'd probably have a heart attack.
"They're actors. Do not worry about that. I have your contract. Read it and sign it" he said handing me another envelope before turning to leave.
"What about the real Beaumonts?" I asked to a back turned Percy.
"Read it and sign it" he said again before walking out the door.
There was the usual stuff you'd expect. Confidentiality, a duration of 1 year subject to renewal, behavior in public, implications for breach of contract, additional duties as required, media interaction and more.
There were two areas that really caught my attention. One was obviously the financial compensation where it was stated that I'd be getting Seven hundred and thirty five thousand euros per year which I thought was a very specific sum but also a second clause where they outlined their rights to cosmetic and surgical alteration of my body within reason to fulfill the role.
I didn't like how vague it was not specifically naming any procedures but for seven hundred thousand euros per year, they didn't need to. I wasn't passing up on over 20 times my current salary.
And so I agreed to it. I carefully placed the signed document on the vanity and pulled the rope. I'd decided I needed a walk.
=^..^=
Celeste had chosen comfortable shoes that matched the purple dress and led me through the halls of Eclipton and out the massive front door.
There were actually people outside now unlike yesterday evening when we'd arrived.
Some tended to the various ponds and others tended to the various trees and flowers. All of them stopped to look as I passed.
Celeste had returned to her stiff self and was walking a few steps behind me so I was left to entertain myself and marvel at the beautiful gardens.
Among the workers, there were those in fine garments that watched as I passed. Men and woman, young and old. I was sure they were all people of some importance but of course I had no clue who any of them were.
I could have asked Celeste for a crash course but instead I decided to play a game with myself where I would try to guess their station based on their looks, clothes and overall smugness.
"Marchioness" I said after looking at a middle aged woman wearing a funny hat.
"Minister" Older man wearing a gray suit.
"Duke"
"Councilor"
"Yes, my lady?" Celeste spoke breaking my concentration.
I waved her off.
"Marquis"
"Viscount"
I was probably wrong about all of it but it kept my occupied while I took in the evening breeze and stretched my legs.
"Countess"
"Baron"
"Princess"
That was my reaction when I saw her. An almost otherworldly beauty standing next to and admiring one of the ponds. She wore a simple green dress with a wide collar but she wore it so elegantly it looked more expensive than it probably was. Unlike most of the women in the garden, she wore her hair unshackled and free down her back.
"Who is she?" I asked Celeste promptly ending my little game.
"Lady Olivia" Celeste closed the distance between us to whisper in my ear "His Majesty's ward"
I signaled for her to go on.
"She was the daughter of the Duke of Huxley. His Majesty and the Duke were very close"
"So not a princess then" I said to myself.
"No, my lady" Celeste answered anyway.
"I told you not to call me that"
"Sorry, my lady"
I sighed.
"Is she visiting the castle?" I watched her movements. Perfect in every way. She looked like a queen.
I wanted to go talk to her.
"She lives here. She has since Huxley manor burned down" Celeste informed me.
Now that she'd said that, I could see a tinge of sadness there. I wanted to talk to her even more now.
I carefully approached. It was high school all over again. I was approaching a pretty girl hoping I could get her to see the nice guy that I was. The only difference was that guy was gone now.
"Hello" I said when I reached the pond.
"Hello" She replied. Even her voice was perfect.
"I'm Amelia"
"I know. I'm Olivia"
I know.
"Nice to meet you Olivia"
"Are you enjoying Lenovia?"
"I haven't really seen it. Just this castle, which is really beautiful"
"Well I hope you get to see it. There's places more beautiful than this" she spoke whimsically.
"Really?" I found that very hard to believe.
"In the ways that really matter" she smiled.
"Oh, okay"
"I haven't yet seen Prince Nicholas. How is he?" She asked.
I had thought she would be shy but that was proving not to be the case.
"He's fine. Though I haven't seen him today" I answered.
"When you see him, tell him I said hi"
She was pleasant. I saw an opportunity to make a friend and so I took it.
"I will. Um..." I paused to gather my words "Do you think you can show me around the castle?"
"I..." She started to say.
"Olivia, you shouldn't talk to strays" Another girl's voice cut through the air from behind me.
I turned around to see Celeste stepping aside and bowing as two girls approached. Emily from yesterday and another girl dressed in a similar fashion.
'Fuck, not this again' I thought to myself.
=^..^=
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Hello! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Just getting all the pieces in place to start the real story. Thanks for sticking around.
I'll have to apologise in advance for irregular uploads. Might be a busy couple days.
Anyway see you in the next one. Let me know your thoughts. Always love to read them.
"Ginny, how does it go again?" Emily pretended to ask the other girl "Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas?"
What was her problem? This reminded me of middle school. Looking the way I did back then, I was an easy target. A boy that looked like a girl? The jokes basically wrote themselves.
Middle school taught me to have a thick skin. So whatever Emily here thought she was going to achieve by insulting me, I had bad news for her.
By the time high school came around, I had learned to stand up to the bullies. Could I stand up to her? Decorum puts her well above me so I would have to think of another way out of this.
"Princess" I said as I bowed my head slowly.
"What are you still doing here?" Emily asked much more directly and seriously.
"I am a guest of His Majesty. I hope I have not offended in any way" I answered innocently.
"Oh but you have" she didn't even attempt to mask or water down her opinions of me "Your very presence offends me."
I bowed again, "I will do my best to stay out of your sight"
She scoffed, "Atleast you know your place. Now just return where you belong"
I know I shouldn't have but I just couldn't resist.
"My place is at Nick's side" I said only just managing to maintain my innocent expression.
When her face scrunched up, I knew it had really annoyed her. She liked him. Wasn't he like her cousin or something? Gross.
"How dare a commoner refer to His Highness by his name?" Ginny asked angrily.
"My apologies, I am only acting as he requested" I answered trying to sound as genuine as I could.
That was the trick. Pretending I only innocently spoke the truth. It was kind of fun.
"I know what you are. A parasite. I will make sure great uncle sees that" She said finally before turning to leave.
I bowed again because Ginny was still staring at me even as Emily began walking away.
'Yeah good luck with that' I thought to myself.
When the two girls were out of earshot, I turned back to Olivia with a smile but she seemed disappointed somehow.
"I don't know what's her problem with me" I said while folding my arms.
Olivia didn't respond.
"So like I was saying, can you show me around?"
"I'm sorry I can't" she replied quickly.
"Why not?" I was genuinely confused.
"I do not like the games people play here. I do not want to be a part of it. I do not want to be friends with someone that plays these games"
I didn't respond. How could I respond to that? I didn't even really understand what she meant by it.
"I'm sorry" She added finally before leaving me alone by the pond.
=^..^=
My walk had turned sour after that so I had decided to return to my room. The next few hours had been boring with absolutely nothing to do.
I had to remember to ask about wifi or cable the next time I saw Percy. If I had to go a whole year like this, I would probably lose my mind.
They wanted Nick and I to get out there and publicise our relationship but here I was lying in bed with nothing to do and he was nowhere to be found.
Even worse was that Celeste had other duties when she wasn't attending to me so I couldn't even spend the day with her. All around shitty day.
The contract was no longer on my vanity by the time I returned so there was no going back now.
I wondered about the syringe from earlier. I didn't feel any different which was a good thing right? I made another mental note to ask Percy about it.
I'd have to get his phone number and a carrier as well. I couldn't remain cut off like this.
Sometime around 4pm that day, my wandering thoughts were interrupted by knocking on the door. Who could it be? It wasn't Celeste because she would usually just walk in after knocking.
"Who is it?" I called out.
The door wasn't locked so this was really just a courtesy.
Nick maybe? Did he finally return?
I quickly arose from the soft bed and smoothed my dress in the mirror making sure I looked presentable. My hair was a mess so I ran my fingers though it followed by a palm over it.
Strange, I never got a response.
Still, after I was satisfied with my appearance, I made my way to the door and opened it.
"Ta-da" Izzy exclaimed excitedly.
"Hi" I stepped aside for her to pass. She didn't need any more invitation.
"So how are you enjoying your first day in Lenoria?" She placed a small chest on the vanity before turning back to me.
"Awful" I answered while heading back to regain my former position in bed. "I'm bored out of my mind. I need wifi"
"Oh, I don't know about that. I'll ask Sir Percival" she offered.
"Yes please, I can't carry on like this"
"So, anything interesting happen?"
I thought quickly if I should tell her about my day and decided there was no harm in it.
"Celeste injected me with some liquid. Should I be worried?" I asked.
"Celeste?"
"Oh my lady-in-waiting. Is that what you call it?"
"Oh yeah" she took the seat at the Vanity table. "It's probably just estrogen. To keep you from getting any more masculine"
Oh I guess I should have expected that. It would put a dent in all our plans if puberty finally decided it was time. As long as it was temporary or reversible, this was fine.
"Right. Oh yeah, I think Princess Emily hates me"
"Why? What happened?" Izzy asked as she opened the case.
"She called me a parasite"
"Ooh" Izzy voiced "Between you and me, I think she's in love with the prince"
Well I figured that out for myself already. She thinks I'm stealing her man. Wish I could tell her that Nick would never be hers regardless of my existence.
"Aren't they cousins?" I asked.
"Second cousins I believe. Same as the King and Queen. It's quite normal"
"Ugh whatever. I just wish she'd leave me alone" I complained.
Izzy seemed understanding. "You can ask His Highness to talk to her. I'm sure she'll listen to him".
"Run to Nick for protection? No I can handle her"
Izzy shrugged and accepted my choice, "Can you stand for me?"
"Why?" I asked while already complying.
"I need to get your exact measurements" She replied while revealing a tape measure from her case.
=^..^=
Izzy had measured every part of me specifically the shoulders, breasts... er breastforms, waist and hips. She'd revealed that the measurements were for my ball gown.
"You're going to love it" she'd claimed. Somehow I doubted that. The nightgown and the purple dress I had on had managed to make it so I didn't mind wearing dresses due to how comfortable they were or could be, but we were still a long way off from 'loving dresses'.
As of yet, they were simply work attire.
In any case, she'd left after informing me that she would be back in the morning to sort our my hair. We said our goodbyes as she exited the room once again leaving me to my boredom.
=^..^=
Late that night, I got another quiet knock on my door. Celeste had been around earlier to bring my food and draw me a bath so unless she'd forgotten something, it wasn't her.
"It's me" Nick's voice was faint and quiet but still instantly I knew it was him.
I hurriedly opened the door. I looked to him but couldn't see the carefree boy I'd known for 8 months. He looked so serious.
"Walk with me?" he asked.
He wasn't asking to come in. He wanted me to follow. My short nightgown was hardly appropriate attire to be walking around the castle with.
"Sure give me one second" I turned around and headed for the closet. Even though he peered into the room, he made no attempts to come in.
I quickly slipped on a matching night robe and slippers and headed back out the door.
=^..^=
Nick expertly navigated the corridors which thankfully were all empty. At the end of one hallway we came to another flight of stairs heading upstairs.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You'll see"
This floor seemed even more barren in the night than the one we'd just come from. We walked through its hall and upon reaching its end, we came to a winding stone stairwell going even higher.
"I want to go back" I told Nick.
This place was dark, uninviting and didn't seem like I was allowed to be here.
"Don't be afraid" he took my hand in his and led me up the stairs.
Round and round in circles we went in the dark stairwell until we reached a wooden door. Nick pulled it open and we were greeted by the night sky.
We stepped out into the night and I realised we were at the very top of the castle in one of the towers. There was only a narrow circular space that would fit only a few people at the most.
It was scary, but also peaceful. I looked over the towers high walls and could see the battlements below and the garden even farther down.
"I used to love coming up here as a kid" I heard him say.
"Did you bring me to your special place, Nicky?" I teased him using the name Theodore had called him.
"I wanted us to have a place we could talk and not worry about being overheard" he answered. "I wanted to ask you a question".
He was being very serious so I thought I should atleast try to be as well.
"Okay"
"Do you want to leave here?" was his question.
It caught me off guard. We just got here. The work hadn't even started so why was he asking me this already.
"Say the word and we leave tomorrow" he added.
He did seem very serious which was concerning but I really didn't want to leave. I'd just had a day where I had done absolutely nothing, had my meals brought to me and taken a walk, and I was to be paid a salary that I could never earn working back home.
Admittedly, it had been boring so far but compared to a 9-5, this was heaven.
"I want to stay" I answered him.
He seemed disappointed. Did he want to leave? Already? What had happened?
"Nick, what's wrong?"
He forced the most bogus smile I'd ever seen.
"I'm not sure but I think my father wants me to take his place"
"He wants you to be king?" I asked making sure I understood what he meant.
"I think so" Nick confirmed.
"What about your brother?" I felt that was the obvious question to ask.
"I don't know"
"Do you want to be king?"
A sudden gust of wind blew past us. I studied Nick's face. I'd gotten pretty good at reading him. He looked conflicted.
"No, that's not why I came here"
So I asked the obvious question again. One I suspected he wanted me to ask.
"Why did you agree to come?"
They weren't exactly forcing him. He's the one that agreed to it.
"I came for Charles but understandably, he upset with me for leaving in the first place"
"And so you want to leave again?" I asked.
"Not because of him"
"So you do want to leave?"
He turned away from me. He didn't say anything and so neither did I. I just watched his broad, tall frame in the moonlight. One I could never hope to achieve, not in a million years.
"I want to leave because I am afraid of what I have to do" I heard him say. He sounded so unsure of himself. This version of him was so at odds with the boy I knew.
I reached out and touched his shoulder. I wanted to understand but I didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"I'm here" was all I managed.
"Kiss me" I heard him say.
I stepped back in shock. He turned to face me. I half expected or even hoped for a joking smile but even then, he was serious.
He walked forward and took my hand.
"What are you talking about?" I tried not to panic but my hand enveloped by his was sending waves of shock through my body.
"If we stay, then I won't be able to sit idly by while people suffer"
"I don't understand" I was trying to but he wasn't making any sense.
"If we stay, then I have to make him choose me and maybe then I can do some good. For that, we have to be perfect. We have to give the appearance of two people in love. I know it will be hard for you but you have to try. If you can't then we leave tomorrow"
So this was a test? Didn't he know that I'd already signed a contract? I guessed my job hinged on him anyway so without him, it would be worthless right?
"Okay" I replied.
We'd have to kiss sooner or later anyway so better now that it was just the two of us.
He stepped forward and I did my best not to take a step back.
He leaned in awkwardly, I strained as I leaned in as well.
'Try to enjoy it' I thought to myself before our lips connected. The first thing I noticed was how fast my heart was beating.
The electricity at the points where our hands and lips touched was too much to bear. It felt like I was having a heart attack. The feeling as he pulled me tighter dwarfed any other in recent memory.
When I moaned, I realised I hadn't even been trying to enjoy it. I pulled apart from him, my eyes wide with shock.
We were both blushing. He stepped back and cleared his throat.
I knew I couldn't let the moment linger so I spoke to clear the air, "Well? Did I pass?"
"Uh yeah you did".
Oh God, I'd moaned audibly. He knew I had enjoyed that. Why did I? And why did he suddenly look better in the moonlight.
"I'll walk you back"
=^..^=
I was in a daze the next morning even as Izzy finished with my hair. I'd been so utterly absent minded, I hadn't even noticed when she'd finished washing and styling my hair.
I'd had such trouble falling asleep last night and even now, I still couldn't focus. My mind was entirely preoccupied by that kiss even if it was the last thing I wanted to think about.
The suggestion had come entirely out of nowhere but Nick's reasoning made sense when I thought about it. What didn't make sense however was how it had made me feel.
"Amelia?"
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Whats on your mind?"
"Nothing"
Izzy looked at me suspiciously but didn't press.
"I was saying, now that we're done you need to try out the shoes and make sure you can walk... and dance in them"
"I can't dance, period"
"The important thing is balance. The men will lead, you just have to stay on your feet and follow. Don't worry, all it takes is practice"
It turns out normally, Nick and I would have had to do the first dance since the ball was in our honor but thankfully, that idea had been tossed aside.
As it was, I was going to make a fool of myself. I'd rather not do that when everyone was staring at me.
"Why do I even have to wear heels anyway?" I whined as Izzy handed me the the silver rhinestone heels that were atleast a foot taller than the one from two days ago.
She had shown me a picture of the admittedly beautiful tulle gown she'd be delivering later in the day so I knew it was a floor sweeper. Nobody would see the heels anyway.
"I accounted for the heels when designing the dress. It's meant to give you the illusion of longer legs. Trust me, okay?"
I reluctantly slipped on the heels and checked to make sure it wasn't too tight. Perfect fit again.
"Here, let me help" Izzy said taking my hand.
Shakily I managed to stand to my feet but struggled to find any balance. I took one unsteady step after another. I could walk but the tiniest bit of contact would probably topple me over.
"It's okay, you'll get it. Just focus on finding your balance" she encouraged, her gentle tone was very welcome and helped to calm me down. "We have..." she checked her watch "... eight hours. Plenty of time".
=^..^=
Between the lessons I'd received and the breaks where we'd talk which did a lot to calm me down, I'd gone from barely being able to walk to confidently strutting around the room in a more composed stride.
She'd left me to my own devices a few hours ago after renewing the adhesive on my now familiar breasts and bidding me to keep practicing which I had obeyed.
As Celeste helped me into the numerous dress layers, it really began to dawn on me that I was going to an actual ball. Even now, members of the aristocracy were arriving and mingling in anticipation of the night's events. I was in uncharted territory for most women and my life would only get more unrecognizable.
How was I going to go back to being a man after all this? I'd been living as a woman for two days now. My nails were painted a soft blue color and Celeste was fitting me in layers upon layers of undergarments to create an hour glass shape that far exceeded normally attainable proportions.
My gaze focused on the gorgeous tulle dress and silver heels that awaited their turns. How was I going to do all of this and then turn around and be a man again?
"Please sit, my lady. I will help you with the shoe"
"I really wish you would call me Amelia" I replied as I took a seat on the bed.
"Sorry" she replied before encasing my feet in the familiar footwear.
"Time for the dress"
I nodded and regained my feet.
I watched my small frame in the mirror. A blessing or a curse, I wondered. Soon Nick would be holding me as we dance together.
Butterflies in my stomach.
Celeste helped me step into the dress and then slowly and carefully began to zip it up. The dress seemed to melt and hug my body perfectly.
Next came jewelry and other adornments and when the final piece, a beautiful diamond necklace found its place on my neck, I was done and ready.
=^..^=
From the moment Celeste opened my room door, I could instantly hear loud chattering coming from downstairs. I was so nervous my palms were sweaty. I was so grateful for all that practice or I wouldn't have even been able to make the journey to the staircase in my current condition.
"Don't worry, you are perfect" Celeste said to my right.
I turned and smiled at her. Surprisingly, that was part of my worry. Maybe people were coming to see me. The prince's girlfriend. Me.
I was worried I'd be a disappointment. I wanted to measure up.
Celeste hadn't led me down the usual path. She explained that this path led to a special ballroom staircase that led directly down into the hall. As we approached, the chatter got louder.
The final stretch of the hall was a balcony with a full view of the ballroom floor.
It was quite the sight. Like something out of a fairytale. The lights reflected off the golden surfaces which produced the most brilliant ambient atmosphere.
Along the edges of the walls were numerous round tables where the guests would feast before the dancing began.
I scanned the crowds. They were all smiles as they drank their wines and engaged in conversation. A refill only a snap of a finger away. So this was how royalty lived, not a care in the world. And not even as a reward for any hardworking, they were simply born into it.
But I didn't care about them. There was only one person on my mind. Nick. I scanned their faces looking for him. I'd expected him to be somewhere in the middle of the crowd mingling with those that were desperate to speak to him again after all these years but that wasn't where he was.
Nick stood just at the base of the staircase that my current path would eventually lead me. He was waiting for me right below.
I hurried to the end, turned the final corner and stood at the top of the staircase. He looked so handsome. How hadn't I noticed it before?.
I mean, I knew he was handsome through the way the girls acted near him but I hadn't seen it for myself until now. Though he didn't need the help, the black coat and the red sash enhanced his image even more.
I think I understood a bit of the despair Emily must have been feeling.
I hadn't noticed but the crowd had quieted and now watched me watching him. Our eyes met and I felt how I'd felt yesterday all over again.
Butterflies.
One step at a time, Nick climbed the staircase to meet me at the very top.
"Hi" he said charmingly.
"Hi" I croaked. My voice had failed me. It wasn't my fault. I'd challenge anyone to be in that situation and not falter.
"Get any more beautiful and you're going to make every girl here hate you"
I blushed.
He outstretched his arm for me and I placed my wrist through. Together we walked down those steps hand in hand.
None of the onlookers could take their eyes off us.
=^..^=
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Hi there. Thank you for reading this story. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always I'd love to hear what you thought about it.
The crowds parted as Nick and I made our way through. The guests - which all belonged to Lenoria's highest echelon - bowed their heads in respect and admiration.
I knew that symbol of respect was probably aimed at Nick and not me but that did little to dampen the impact of the moment.
I was so nervous I ended up clinging tighter to his arm. I dared not look up at him because I feared that would only amplify all I was feeling.
These feelings were so new and foreign and I couldn't control them. I don't know what caused the tightness in my chest as I held his arm but that tightness caused me to hold on tighter.
It was a vicious cycle.
"There's someone I want you to meet" Nick said shortly before we arrived at a group conversing.
I couldn't hear what they were saying over the chatter of the hall that had now resumed but the whole group seemed entirely captured by whatever one woman was saying.
I recognised her from the research into the Royal Family. Princess Sophia, King Richard and Queen Arabella's first child. The older man that stood next to her I also recognized as her husband, the very well decorated Grand Duke Rowland Stanhope, Supreme Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces of Lenoria.
His title of Grand Duke was actually just an honorary one with no accompanying territorial responsibilities. That privilege was given to his and the princess' 1 year old son.
His most significant title was his military one as Supreme Chief of Staff which made him the second most powerful man in the country.
His marriage to the princess made it so both families had absolute control over all facets of the nation.
"May I introduce Miss Amelia Beaumont, my love" Nick spoke as soon as the entire group turned their eyes to us.
Following his introduction, I proceeded with the most intense, most revering curtsy I could manage. I didn't recognise the other members of the group but if they were engaging the Grand Duke and Princess in conversation then they had to be important as well.
"My, my, she is even more beautiful in person" The Grand Duke spoke first "Well done lad"
'Lad'? Was he allowed to call him that? I guess he was family.
"I have heard so much about you" Princess Sophia said warmly "It is nice to finally meet you".
"It is an honor to meet you, your royal highness" I responded.
Speaking was a gamble. I didn't know the etiquette yet so I could have said the wrong thing at any moment but I felt like that was a safe enough sentence.
"Maybe one day you will join the family and you wouldn't have to be so formal" she smiled warmly.
This was probably just an act for the rest of the group. Sophia most likely knew the situation and knew very well that I was never going to be 'part of the family'.
I wondered whether the Grand Duke knew. Would they keep such a secret from him? Would she? It all depended on how much the king trusted him.
"It would be such an honor" I tried my best to make it seem genuine.
"Quite a gem you've found, Nicholas" she said with a smile "Amelia, would you join me for tea in the morning?"
"Of course, your highness" I bowed my head slightly before Nick and I made our exit.
=^..^=
Nick introduced me to several other dignitaries and it really started to feel like the work had begun. My job so far was fairly easy so far. All I had to do was smile, be charming and pretend to be entirely in love with Nick.
If I was being honest, that last part was proving easier than I'd have expected.
Each time he introduced me, he added some term of endearment or another and it would make my heart flutter everytime. I hated it. It felt like my heart was betraying me.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" A familiar announcers voice came through the speakers "It is my honor to present to you His Royal Majesty, King Richard, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Arabella of Lenoria".
All eyes turned towards the ball room's grand entrance to witness their entry. A moment after the ceremonial music began playing, they appeared in the doorway and began the journey to the front of the ballroom. As they approached, the guests bowed or curtsied as they passed.
Nick and I patiently waited our turn as we were towards the front. I wondered what it must have been like to be in that position. Surely, that kind of reverence from an entire country had to get to your head.
When Nick started his bow, I began my curtsy and turned my face to the floor. I was getting pretty good at it.
=^..^=
Now that their majesties had arrived, it was finally time for the ball to begin which would be opened with a speech from the King.
The entire ball room was quiet as he was handed the microphone and he cleared his throat to begin. Only those of us in this room would ever hear this speech as it was a private event. His words here would be lost to history upon our deaths.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed guests, and cherished friends," he began.
"Tonight, within the walls of this castle, we gather to herald the return of Prince Nicholas and his beloved, Amelia Beaumont. Their arrival, a beacon of hope, should cast a luminous glow upon this evening's affair. And alongside their homecoming, let us not forget the return of my daughter, Princess Sophia, from her diplomatic efforts in Italy that proved to be a resounding success"
He paused, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
"However, as we bask in the joy of their reunion, I cannot ignore the thorns that have infiltrated the delicate fabric of our kingdom. An unwelcome shadow, an appeal unbidden, challenges the very essence of our sovereignty, casting doubt upon the sanctity of our rule."
The crowd hung on his every word. I wondered how many understood and appreciated his words. Was the culprit in the room with us? Surely they had to be. This was everyone that was anyone in Lenoria. I scanned their faces for any signs of guilt and wondered if the King did the same.
"Miss Beaumont's presence, a testament to unity and love, stands in stark contrast to the deceit that festers within our realm. The betrayal... it lingers like a foul stench, threatening the harmony we strive to maintain."
"Nonetheless, let us not permit these shadows to eclipse the radiance of this evening. Tonight, we honor the return of Prince Nicholas and Amelia Beaumont, their love a beacon in these turbulent times. We celebrate the return of Princess Sophia, her dedication to our kingdom unwavering. And let us not forget my wife, Queen Arabella and our diligent son, the Crown Prince Theodore.
"Enjoy this moment, my esteemed guests. Eat, drink and dance in celebration of my family together again under one roof. May their presence illuminate this evening with hope and unity. Thank you... thank you for gracing us with your presence amidst this fragile peace. Please take your seats, let us eat."
=^..^=
I was sat at an incredible table. The King, the Queen, the Crown Prince, Princess Sophia, the Grand Duke, Lady Olivia to my right, and Nick to my left. I was so nervous I could barely eat the food in front of me.
Other than Nick, the only person at the table I could reasonably hold a conversation with was Olivia and she wanted nothing to do with me.
I'd found out more about her situation since we first met. Since her father, the former Duke of Huxley died without a male heir, the title and lands would normally have been returned to the Crown for the King to pass on as he saw fit but due to the friendship the King and Duke shared, the title would be allowed to pass on to her firstborn son which made her one of the most sought after ladies in the kingdom.
"Have you met?" The queen broke the silence "I believe you two are around the same age. I'm sure you'll make very good friends".
Q
I looked to Olivia who looked back to me. I didn't think she had changed her mind about me.
"We've met, your majesty" Olivia replied.
"Oh good, people in our position need friends that they can trust. The Duchess of Huxley was my dear friend. It's a shame what happened"
"It is" The king agreed. "A terrible tragedy".
The entire table agreed.
"I thank you for your kind words" Olivia answered softly.
"I would love to see the two of you bond. Amelia you could learn so much from you Olivia" the Queen reiterated again.
It wasn't like I hadn't tried.
"I am eager to learn, Your Majesty" I replied "I admire Lady Olivia so very much"
"Good, good" The queen seemed please. "It is very fortunate you girls have more sense than we did when we were your age. So many senseless fights back then".
I listened carefully as she reminisced. When it was clear she wasn't going to say any more, the King spoke again.
"So Sophia, how was your trip?"
"Good, although you know how the Italians are"
God, how many people would love to be a part of this conversation?
"Yes, yes" The king agreed. I didn't know what he was agreeing to. What were the Italians like? I was missing crucial context. The Grand Duke although quiet was nodding as well.
"Nicholas and Amelia are starting their tour tomorrow, would you like to join them?" The king asked Sophia. "I'm sure the people would love to see you"
"I want to spend some time with George now that I'm back" George was her son.
"Of course" The king understood.
"But I may make an appearance" she compromised.
The group ate quietly until it was the Grand Duke's turn to start a conversation. This time, addressed to me.
"Amelia, how are you enjoying Lenoria so far?"
Questions about Amelia were what I'd spent a good amount of my endless free time preparing for so I was ready.
"It's my first time in the castle so it's quite different from the last time I was here"
"Is that when you met Prince Nicholas?" The Grand Duke asked.
"Yes" I placed my hand on Nick's and smiled "We actually met one of those times when he snuck out of the castle" I looked at him and smiled "And I'm so glad he did".
The truth was Nick did actually sneak out a lot back then. Someone had the brilliant idea to integrate that into our fake story.
I studied the Grand Duke but couldn't figure out whether he was just testing me to make sure I had my story straight or if he was asking to get to the bottom of our relationship.
I'd have to ask Percival. Where was he anyway? Shouldn't he have been there?
=^..^=
There was small talk here and there for a while until the music started playing to signify that dinner was over and it was time to dance.
The king took this as he cue and stood offering a hand to his wife.
"Would you do me the honor of having the first dance with me?"
She took it graciously with a smile. Whatever else I thought about them, I did think that they loved each other. Or atleast, that's how it looked to me.
The crowd applauded as the King and Queen took to the massive open area of the ballroom.
The two of them began a routine that I wouldn't have expected from them. It was complex and graceful and much more than I could ever hope to learn. The soft melody of the orchestra enveloped the room, casting a romantic ambiance that seemed to ignite with their every step. The king held her with an air of reverence, guided her effortlessly across the polished marble floor.
I especially kept my eyes on Her Majesty and at some point in their dance, I really began to admire her. How she made the most powerful man in the kingdom handle her with such love and care.
The room seemed to sit still as they moved, the world faded into the background as their dance became a display of the trust they clearly had in each other.
One by one, couples began joining them on the ballroom floor. The music slowly sped up and became a tune they all recognise because the floor was filling up fast with the high ranking members of society moving together and dancing in circles.
At first glance, it seemed like nonsense but the more I looked, I began to see an order to the madness as they paired into larger and larger groups and danced together.
It was like a wonderful secret that only they knew. Eventually Princess Sophia and the Archduke as well as Prince Theodore and Lady Olivia in pairs joined the circles.
This form of dancing went on for several minutes and would only occasionally change to a different but just as elegant variation, but surprisingly, nobody seemed to tire. This style of dancing was as old as Lenoria itself and they seemed intent on passing it on to their children just as it had been passed on to them.
I decided I would learn this dance if only to do my part in keeping it alive just a little longer.
I only felt bad for Nick who remained by my side through it all. At first I thought he looked longingly to the dance floor but when I traced his eyes, I saw that it led to a dejected looking Duke Charles. He too hadn't heard the call of the dance and remained in his seat.
They couldn't keep the energetic dancing going on forever though because eventually the music slowed down and so did the dancing.
It was in that moment that Nick invited me out to the ballroom floor. It was time for us to put on our own show. I prayed the heels would allow me.
=^..^=
Nick held me closely as we swayed together. Even though he tried his best to play the part of the loving boyfriend, I could tell his mind was elsewhere so it was up to me to put on a convincing show.
I placed my arm around his neck and pulled myself close. A quick glance around told me we had an audience.
There was the usual crowd stares aimed at us but among them, Duke Charles' and Princess Emily's eyes watched us.
As crazy as it sounded, I was hoping for another moment like yesterday. Ever since then, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. It was like I had no control over my head or my heart. It scared me and excited me at the same time. What was happening to me?
But this was nothing like yesterday. It was tense. Damn it I wanted him to hold me and kiss me but instead what I got was the bare minimum.
"What's wrong?" I had to ask. He was the one that said we had to do this properly.
"Nothing" he responded. "I just need some air".
Slowly he pulled away from me, planted a kiss on my forehead to end the show before leaving me by myself on the ballroom floor.
What had just happened?
Before he could go far though, Princess Emily intercepted him and asked for a dance. Ever the gentleman, he obliged her.
I couldn't help but think how that must have looked. He'd just left me to dance with Emily. Optics aside, it annoyed me that he would do that.
Standing on the dance floor alone was too embarrassing for me to bear so I decided our table would be a better place to be.
I managed only about three steps before a man I didn't recognise placed himself in my path.
"Excuse me" I said.
"May I have this dance?" he responded.
He was good looking and very sharply dressed. I had to admit that his interest in me was a confidence boost. Besides, that's what we were here for right? To dance?
I nodded. He smiled and walked closer to me taking my hand.
"And you are?" I asked as he placed his other hand a little low on my back.
"Carter" he smiled.
"Just Carter?" I placed my free hand in the traditional position on his shoulder.
"Sinclair" he flashed me another smile.
"Just Carter Sinclair?" I followed up.
"Just Carter Sinclair"
"No titles or are you just deliberately being vague?"
"I'm not anything like these pompous pricks if that's what you're asking"
"My boyfriend is one of these pompous pricks".
"The same one currently being manhandled by that blonde?" he smirked.
I started to turn but he stopped me with a hand on my chin, "Don't."
He wasn't Lenorian, I knew that much. No Lenorian would talk about the aristocracy that way, atleast not to someone like me that was close to the family.
"You're very bold, Mr. Sinclair" I moved my head to get his hand off. His bold hand went back to my back and if it wasn't my imagination, went a little bit lower than before.
"Is there any other way to live?" He asked.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. He intrigued me.
"I'm a guest, same as you"
"Whose guest?"
"You ask a lot of questions"
"Well you are a strange man"
Did his hand just creep lower?
"You should move your hand" I suggested careful not to disrupt the flow of our swaying.
He moved it even lower. The audacity of this man. What was I even doing? I was in a room with my boyfriend and his family with another man's hand dangerously close to my butt.
"I'll answer your question if you promise to answer one of mine" he offered.
It sounded harmless enough so I nodded. The height difference caused me to look up at him.
"My company does business with the Lenorian government. Don't look now but your prince is leaving" Carter's gaze looked past me.
This time, I completed the turn to see Nick walking away towards one of the side exits leaving Emily standing alone. I broke away from Carter and followed Nick.
I needed to know what was going on. He didn't seem himself at all.
I was several paces behind him so when he exited the doors, it took another half dozen seconds for me to pass through the doors as well.
Through the doors, I found myself in a section of the garden that was barely illuminated. Still, I spotted Nick walking deeper into the garden so I followed.
I didn't want to call out to him to avoid drawing attention to us so I simply kept at it until we were a sufficient distance away.
He took one turn and another and just when I was about to call out to him, I spotted another figure. As I got closer, I was slowly able to make out the slim figure to be Duke Charles.
I hid out of sight. What were they doing out here in the dark? I peeked careful not to expose too much of myself.
I saw Charles caressing Nick's cheek and Nick let him. I wasn't prepared for what came next, they kissed.
I covered my mouth to keep from making a sound.
=^..^=
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Hehe we're getting into it now. Stay tuned for more. And please, let me know what you thought about this one.
I left quietly and made my way through the garden and back to the side door. I contemplated whether I should confront him or not.
Should I have gone back in and pretended not to have seen anything? How could we proceed with the plan if he was seeing Charles behind my back?
What the hell was he doing anyway? First of all, he left me to dance with Emily and then he kissed Charles after all he'd said last night. No, I needed to confront him. He was putting me in such a tough spot.
And so I waited for him, right at the door. It took a few minutes for him to emerge from the garden with a worried look on his face.
My blood boiled. I couldn't stop thinking about the two of them pressing their faces together.
'Where is Charles?' I wondered. Probably hanging back to avoid suspicion.
I walked sharply up to him full of determination.
"We need to talk" I said pulling him to another section of the garden that I thought was quiet enough.
When we had gone far enough away, I checked around to make sure it was clear then whispered but in a way that conveyed my anger.
"I saw you"
"What?"
"Don't deny it, I saw you with Charles, what were you thinking?"
"You followed me?"
Really? That was his response?
"I wanted to see if you were okay. You've been acting weird all evening. Kind and loving to me one moment and distant the next"
"Sorry, I've just been dealing with a lot" he said in his defense.
"Is that why you kissed him?"
"I didn't know he was going to kiss me" he insisted "I went there to say goodbye, that's all."
"what do you mean?"
"He's leaving Lenoria"
"He is? When?"
"I don't know, tomorrow, next, all he said is he has to leave and this may be the last time I ever see him so I wanted to say good bye. I really didn't know he was going to kiss me"
"But you let him" Understandably, that fact still annoyed me.
"I'm not going to apologize for not pushing him away. He was my first love and tonight may be the last time we ever see each other"
"Well what about leaving me to dance with Emily" I accused "Do you realise how that made me look?"
"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. She came up to me and I couldn't just ignore and embarrass her like that"
I took a breath and tried to calm down. He seemed to behaving a hard time and here I was making it worse.
"I'm sorry..."I said to him. There was a lot of apologizing going around.
"You didn't do anything wrong. I haven't had my head in the game since I saw him but I promise it'll be better tomorrow"
"Okay" I breathed.
"Okay?" His eyes pleaded.
"Okay"
=^..^=
Nick and I composed ourselves before walking back into the building. Horrified, I realised that the Queen was in the middle of her closing speech.
"Being here with all of you has been truly special. Your laughter, your stories, they've made this night unforgettable." she spoke warmly unlike the serious nature of the King's opening speech.
"I want to thank each one of you for being here to celebrate my family. Your warmth and kindness have made this a beautiful evening."
Hand in hand, we made our way to our dinner table that was full again save for Her Majesty. There weren't any more stares than usual so everything seemed okay.
"Where did you go?" King Richard asked as we took our seats.
"Just needed some air" Nick answered for us.
"Is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Theodore retorted.
"Amelia, are you okay?" I heard Princess Sophia ask. My face must have betrayed all that I was feeling.
"Just tired, Your Highness" I answered with a forced smile.
"You may retire then" the King suggested.
The Queen's voice grabbed my attention again "As we say goodbye to this wonderful night, I hope the joy we shared stays with you. Remember these moments, the happiness, and let them brighten your days."
I bowed my head, "I couldn't, Your Majesty. Not while the Queen is speaking"
"Tomorrow is an important day. You have my permission"
"In that case..." I stood and curtsied "Thank you for a wonderful evening"
Nick held my hand from his position on his chair and said, "Let me come with you"
"Please, stay and enjoy the rest of the evening" I leaned in and planted a convincing kiss on his lips. I couldn't help but think about what I'd seen earlier. My lips were sharing his with someone else's. I forced a smile, "I'll see you in the morning"
With that, I began my journey to the grand staircase where the night had began. I was hyper aware of the numerous eyes that watched me and also the Queen's words in the background but I kept walking.
The night hadn't gone according to plan. Far from it. This job was decidedly less fun all of a sudden. I hoped it would atleast pick up when the tour began.
"Miss Beaumont" I heard a voice from behind me just as I made it to the staircase.
"What now?" I muttered annoyed under my breath.
I turned to see Viscount Montague requesting my attention. Couldn't he see that I was trying to get away?
"Viscount" I smiled at him. "How are you?"
"Very good, Miss Beaumont"
"Viscount, if you don't mind, I'm very tired and I have a long day tomorrow"
"I understand, Lenorian balls can be a lot to the uninitiated" He smiled.
Did he really understand? Because he was still talking.
"But this will only take a moment of your time" he came closer "If I'm correct, your family relocated to America several generations ago. I just wanted to inform you that I reached out to the Normandy Beaumonts and they are very excited to meet you. I would be willing to facilitate a meet if you would so choose. It isn't right for a young girl like you to be without family"
I hadn't asked him to do that. What was his play here? The Queen's speech had ended so this conversation had run its course.
"Thank you very much, if I wish to meet them, I will let you know" I bowed slightly to signify the end of our discussion "Now I am afraid I must go. See you later, Viscount"
"Until then, Miss Beaumont"
=^..^=
I struggled to navigate the maze that was the halls of Eclipton and eventually had to ask a guard to escort me. The heels were starting to hurt so I was glad my suffering would soon be at an end.
I had survived my first ball but only barely. How was I going to navigate another year of this?
Atleast I wasn't so worried about Nick anymore. With Charles gone, he could finally get his head in the game. The sooner we achieved our goal of clearing his image, the sooner I could get back to my own life and leave the dresses behind.
I thanked the guard when we arrived at my room and hurried in. I pulled the rope to alert Celeste that I had returned. I couldn't reach the zip at the back of the dress so I was locked into the contraption until she arrived.
My feet were finally free from their heeled prison though so I was thankful for that atleast.
=^..^=
I requested Celeste to remain with me even after my night routine was completed and I lay comfortably in bed. I studied her as she sat at the edge of my bed. Like most of the workers in the castle, she struck me as a bit plain although I thought she would probably make a decently attractive woman with a bit of extra care.
"Tell me about your family" I asked her. I wouldn't be able to sleep anytime soon as it was still relatively early but I also didn't want to be left alone to my thoughts.
"My family, my lady?"
"Yes, where do they live? Do you have siblings?" I sat up. The short skirt of my night gown revealed most of my legs which reminding me that I hadn't worn pants in days.
"I have many brothers and sisters" she told me ".. but I haven't seen them in some time"
"Where are they?" I asked.
"At home, with our parents" Celeste wasn't looking me in the eyes. I wondered if she didn't want to talk about herself or simply didn't enjoy it.
"Why haven't you seen them? Are you not allowed to leave?" I asked concerned.
"I am allowed. I just have many duties so I do not have the time" she explained.
"And your parents? Can't they come here?"
"They can, but they have many estates under their care. They are much too busy"
"Estates?"
"My father is a baron" She told me.
"You're nobility?" I was shocked. Since she was serving me and so diligently, I'd expected her to be, for lack of a better word, a commoner.
"We all are. A commoner would never be allowed to serve closely with the royal family"
I guessed it made sense but it was still strange to me that someone from a respected family albeit low on the ladder would be serving me.
"And you don't mind being my lady in waiting?"
She shook her head. "You are the prince's companion, my lady".
Their system was so strange. They made such a fuss about noble blood but any girl could jump to the front of the line simply by being picked by someone of a higher status.
"But you know I am not really his companion" I clarified "We're just pretending"
"I think the prince holds you specially in his heart. That is enough".
That caused me to smile and blush. Celeste saw this display and smiled as well.
"You love His Highness" she said. I wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement.
"I don't know how I feel. I have never felt anything like this" I figured if I wanted her to open up to me, I should open up to her as well.
"I've never felt attraction to men before." I continued "...now I can't stop thinking about Nick and I get jealous too"
"You enjoy being a woman" she said. Again, was that a question or a statement "You are very good at it"
"Thank you?" I wasn't sure what to think. I had certainly taken to it very quickly. It forced me to consider whether I had always been like this. Were there feelings I had been suppressing?
I didn't like this conversation anymore. I faked a yawn.
"Good night, my lady" Celeste said as she stood.
"Good night" I replied.
Busy day tomorrow.
=^..^=
I woke up refreshed and ready to go just before Celeste knocked on my door. Going to bed early last night had helped tremendously. Today I was finally going to see more of Lenoria and its people. There were also going to be lots of cameras so I had to look my best. I hoped Nick had gotten over whatever that was yesterday.
I smiled brightly at Celeste as she walked in. She had finally relaxed around me which was evident in the relaxed bow she gave me.
"Her Highness Princess Sophia has requested you join her in the garden" Celeste announced.
I had totally forgotten about that. What did she want to talk about with me? Should I have been worried? She seemed friendly enough with me last night but that was also in public?
I decided to just get it over with. How bad could it be anyway?
=^..^=
Turns out nothing could have prepared me for how that conversation went. It started off harmlessly enough.
Celeste had led me behind the castle to an area I hadn't been in yet. I spotted Princess Sophia sitting under a gazebo and noticed she had already started without me.
She'd invited me out for tea but was drinking wine instead. I considered that I may have been a bit overdressed because while I was dressed in a long cottagecore dress and flats, the princess was in sweatpants, a cardigan and slippers. When she saw me and waved me over, I realised it was too late to turn back.
I smiled brightly as I approached hoping to catch her in a good mood. I began to curtsy but she stopped me.
"Take a seat, Amelia" she gestured to the empty seat across from her. She waved away the girl that had been serving her and waited until she was out of earshot and in the castle before continuing, "or do you prefer Morgan when it's just us?"
I tried to keep my composure. It wasn't surprising that she would know. Was she testing me? Seeing how easily I would cling to my old identity?
"Amelia is fine, your highness"
"I should commend you" she spoke again "You're doing a splendid job so far"
"Thank you, your highness" I replied.
"You don't have to say that every time you speak"
"Sorry" I said softly.
"But yes, I wouldn't have ever guessed it if I didn't already know" In one move, she finished the rest of her wine and held her glass to me.
I quickly understood what she wanted. I removed the cork from the almost full bottle of wine on the table and poured into her glass until she asked me to stop.
"Pour yourself a glass" she offered, or was it an order? Still, I obeyed. "Drink" she said as soon as I was done. I obeyed again.
The wine was sweet with a strong cherry flavor and scent.
"You seem to be a natural at being a woman" she continued as soon as the glass left my lips "Do you want to be one permanently?"
Where was this conversation going? Why would she bring me here to talk about that? Was she simply curious about me?
"No I.." I started to answer but my voice trailed off ".. I don't think so"
"So tell me, why are you doing this?"
I knew the answer to that question but still I thought hard before I answered.
"I don't want to work till I'm old and never get to enjoy my life. I want to be able to retire and this seemed like a way to make that happen" I explained.
Whatever she thought about my answer, she kept hidden behind a strong poker face.
"So, money. I can understand that" She said to me. I didn't respond.
"Seven hundred and thirty five thousand euros" she continued after a short pause "How many years do you think that gets you?"
I didn't reply to that either. It seemed like a decent amount of money to me but of course I hadn't thought that far.
"How old are you, Morgan?"
"22" I answered.
"You'll be broke before you turn 30"
She paused again but I wasn't keen to speak yet so I just listened.
"10 million euros. Now that's a sum you retire with" she let out a sly smile. "Are you interested?"
Her face was dead serious. Was she offering me that much? For what?
I nodded.
"Before we proceed, I need to make sure you understand that this conversation stays between us."
I nodded again.
She leaned in and gestured to me to do the same.
"Don't worry, you won't have to do much"
=^..^=
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Hiya, sorry for the short chapter. Traveling for the holidays in a few hours and wanted to get this out before them. Might be the last chapter till the new year but I hope you've enjoyed it so far.
The worst part? Sophia didn't actually tell me what she wanted me to to do for the money.
"When the time comes, you'll know"
That was what she had said. What the hell did that mean? Would it be today? Tomorrow? Next week? I wished I could just get it over with, claim the money and sign out today.
But no, my life was to proceed as originally planned. I must have had a blank look on my face as Celeste dressed me for my first tour day. I couldn't keep my mind from darting from one detail to the other trying to uncover any piece of information I may have missed that could shed some light on her goals.
"Are you alright?" Celeste asked pulling me out of my trance. She was holding the white mid-length dress she'd chosen for me for the day.
Noticing the worried expression on her face, I assured her with a smile, "I'm fine".
I took a deep breath and watched my half naked reflection in the mirror do the same. I welcomed the help as Celeste held the dress for me to step into and brought it up and over my chest. My sole task only to pass my arms through the short sleeve holes.
We'd done this dance enough times to know there was no need to demand independence.
Next came the makeup that she purposefully kept very light but sophisticated. I watched her as she carefully and expertly worked.
I didn't have many friends here, if any at all. I was surrounded by people I either couldn't trust or those who couldn't trust me. Other that Nick and the girl that was currently painting my face, there weren't any others I could really count on if it came to it.
"You're coming with me today, right?" I asked and hoped.
She nodded after applying a few more touches to my face.
"I'll be there the whole time, don't worry" she answered.
That reassured me a bit but in truth, I was still worried and not just because of Princess Sophia's proposition. Nick and I were about to have our first public appearance. We would need to convince the entire nation that we were in fact in love and to make it worse, there were all the cameras that would be eager to catch even the slightest slip.
Celeste made a press then pucker motion with her lips and signaled for me to do the same. I followed and felt the cool liquid spread evenly across my lips. When she was satisfied, she returned with her brushes to make the finishing touches leaving my mind to wonder some more.
Even worse was the fact that I didn't only have myself to worry about. I had to babysit Nick as well and make sure he wouldn't go off script like he did at the ball.
Atleast I wasn't too worried about myself. With the way I'd been feeling recently, something told me it wouldn't be too hard to pretend to adore Nick.
Celeste took a step back and admired her work before stepping aside to give me a clear view of my reflection in the mirror.
I'd gotten used to the girl that stared back. Previously I would have been taken aback by how pretty she was but now, I only admired what looked to be Celeste's best work yet.
"What do you think?" she asked me.
I shrugged, "Pretty good".
=^..^=
As much as I tried, I couldn't stop gawking at Celeste when she returned to my room wearing normal people clothes. I couldn't get over how normal she looked. Gone was the drab uniform and in its place, a beautiful orange, tiered dress. While she still wore her hair up, the usual bun was replaced with a ponytail which resulted in her looking much more like any girl her age and more importantly, from this century.
"You look beautiful, Celeste" I complimented her.
"Thank you" she blushed.
It seemed to me that the royal household preferred for us to look like friends as opposed to master and servant which suited me perfectly. I'd have to ask for this to be norm moving forward.
"The procession is waiting. We should go" She informed me.
"Procession?" I asked "What do you mean by that?"
=^..^=
Turns out she'd meant exactly as she'd said it. Walking through the castle gardens in my pretty dress, the convoy slowly came into view as we neared the car park.
5 cars and a whole lot of security had been assembled just for Nick and I. I would later find out that this was actually a conservative approach compared to the King's trips.
The first one was a very serious vehicle that looked like it could take a big hit and come out unscathed.
It was followed by two luxurious SUVs. I spotted Nick standing right next to the first one having what looked to be an intense discussion with Percy. Neither of them had noticed me yet.
The final two vehicles were identical SUVs, the only noticeable difference being one had an antenna.
I tried to listen in but apparently even while they had their heated discussion, their voices were still hushed. I couldn't make out whatever had them both so worked up.
Percy turned and spotted me before signaling to Nick who turned and expertly cleared every last bit of tension from his face.
"There you are" he smiled brightly almost in an exaggerated manner before walking up to me.
Before I could get a word in, he pulled me close and planted a firm kiss on my lips that made me squirm.
"Save some of that for the road" I managed as soon as our lips parted.
"Don't worry, there's plenty where that came from" he replied.
I forced a smile. It seemed it was already showtime. It hadn't dawned on me that we'd be putting on the show for the guards and staff as well. I'd expected to have some more time to get my game face on but no such luck.
I kissed him again after noticing the quiet stares from all who were present.
"Excited?" I asked.
"Of course, there's so many places I want to show you"
He genuinely seemed excited but still I wasn't sure if that was really the case or if he was just being a good actor.
He took my hand and led me towards the cars and Percy. I guessed I wouldn't have to worry about his act after all.
"Long time no see, Percy" I teased. "Where have you been? You missed the ball. I even saved a dance for you"
He grunted, "unfortunately, I had business to attend to".
"Surely not more important than me" I pouted.
"We should get going" He moved and opened the car door, holding it open "We're on a schedule".
Always so serious.
=^..^=
Just like we'd done during our arrival, Percy occupied the front seat while Nick and I occupied the back. There were still times when I wondered whether I'd made the right decision accepting this job but riding in style like I was now, how could it have been anything but the right decision?
We rode mostly in silence as we cleared the massive forest that surrounded the castle. Soon we were back on the capital streets and I allowed myself to drink in the sights.
Clean streets, large buildings, magnificent monuments and statues but so few people in sight.
"Where is everybody?" I whispered to Nick.
"These are the government reserved areas" he leaned in to say.
"Government reserved areas?"
"The capital city has GRAs separate from residential areas so you probably won't meet that many people except those with a pass"
"So the people can't come here?" I asked puzzled.
"Not without a reason" he answered matter of factly, "But I mean there's really no reason to anyway. It's mostly just government buildings"
"But it's so pretty" I protested. There were so many wonderful structures to look at. What was the point of having all this here if no one got to see it.
"They could always get a pass." Nick explained. "I don't think they're that hard to get anyway"
I didn't have any more to say so I let it go. It wasn't really my concern anyway.
=^..^=
Tour turned out to be fairly uneventful. The convoy would make its way to a building or landmark of significance to the Lenorian people, first we'd be bombarded by paparazzi and a thousand lights.
Nick who seemed used to the treatment helped me through it. Mostly, he did that by holding me close which was part of our job anyway. Sometimes, he'd lead me by my hand, other times I'd hold onto his arm.
At every location, some man or woman would be there to tell me all about it while pictures were taken. A lot of the history was boring but some of it was very fascinating.
One that caught my attention was a golden statue of a revered man they explained was King Emeric, Nick's great grandfather who emerged victorious from the 8 year civil war. His victory kept Lenoria an absolute monarchy, a status that hadn't been challenged since.
Another interesting part of the tour was our visit to the Royal Army headquarters where I received a proper military welcome. Well Nick did, I was just along for the ride by his side.
That part was very eye opening. They were all muscular and extremely well built, a lot of them even dwarfed Nick who wasn't small by any means. I would have welcomed the shame of being outclassed by other men but that never came. I didn't feel inferior because I felt different from them. I no longer felt the need to compare myself to them
During our mingling, Nick received a salute from a young man that must have been fairly important because Nick parted from me for the first time today to hug him.
They were all smiles as they exchanged pats on the back. Only when they were finished did Nick turn back to introduce us.
"Amelia, this is my old friend Corvus" Nick started. I outstretched my arm for a shake before I had the chance to think it through. "Corvus, this is Amelia".
Corvus took my hand but only to lean in and kiss it.
"Lovely to meet you, Amelia" His voice was deep with a rich flavor.
I nodded slightly at him. "Nice to meet you" I smiled.
"The pictures don't do you justice" Corvus added as soon as our hands parted.
"Careful with this one" Nick cautioned "he's a charmer" I managed another smile.
Corvus laughed "Nicholas, those days are behind me. I'm married now. You'd have known that if you'd been around"
"Really? Congratulations! Who's the lucky girl?" Nick seemed genuinely happy for him.
"Remember Eloise?"
"How could I forget, how'd you manage that?"
"Ah you know me..."
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Carter of all people. He was hard to miss as he was the only one not wearing the Lenoria Army uniform. He did look quite handsome in that two-piece suit.
"I'll let you two catch up" I said with a smile after touching Nick's arm lightly. He nodded his approval.
I made my way through the small crowd.
"Mr. Sinclair? What are you doing here?" I asked him as soon as I got in range.
"I work here, I should be asking you the same" he answered.
"I'm on tour, which you know. Are you following me?" I smiled.
"Guilty. How could I not when you stormed off so quickly last night?"
"Yeah, sorry about that. Something came up"
"Trouble in paradise?" He gestured over to Nick who was now in an even more animated discussion with Corvus.
"What? No" I said abruptly.
"Relax, I'm only teasing. Anyway, you should go" he glanced around the room, "We shouldn't be seen together"
Desperate for a dance yesterday, shooing me away today?
"What do you do for the Army?" I probed.
"Top secret, I'm afraid. Now run along, I'm sure there's someone that needs your attention more that me"
Awkwardly, he didn't even wait for my response, he just turned and left. Weird.
I entertained small talk with those that worked up the courage to talk to me until Nick returned.
"Have fun?" I asked.
"Corvus invited us out on his boat. A kind of double date. I said yes" Nick informed me.
"Aren't we busy?" I asked. It sounded fun but I'd rather not put too much on my plate at once. "I have the interview tomorrow and there's another tour coming up"
"We'll make time" Was his response.
=^..^=
We made a stop at the King's residence in the city before the final item on our schedule for the day. The large residence was used by the royal family during extended excursions into the city so it struck me as odd that it was so fully staffed for what was essentially a second home.
After the convoy completed the short drive from the gate and parked in front of the house, the first thing I noticed was the row of maids and butlers standing at the main entrance with their heads bowed. And they remained so even as we made our way passed them and into the residence.
A woman I assumed to be in charge led Celeste and I into a room where we'd be changing. A pretty bedroom but mostly bare. For guests, I assumed.
The final item on our schedule was apparently a ballet show chereographed with elements of Lenorian culture and for some reason unknown to me, demanded a change of clothes.
Celeste got right to work unveiling a gold satin cocktail gown that made my current outfit look painfully simple.
Naturally, Celeste helped me into my dress and touched up my makeup but I was caught off guard when she nonchalantly asked me to help her unzip her dress.
"Umm.." I was confused at the request. She'd been freer with me lately but this was entirely new.
Still, I slowly made my way behind her and gently undid the zipper just as she'd asked.
When she pulled one of the dress sleeves off her shoulder, I quickly turned around which caused her to chuckle.
I heard her shuffle with the dress behind me which was my signal to leave.
"You don't have to go" I heard her say which effectively stopped me in my tracks.
What was happening? Did she like me? What could she be proposing? That we be intimate?
I peeked behind me to see that she was standing only in her underwear and turned back to face the door. I'd been in that exact state of undress only a moment ago. I'd somehow gotten used to being undressed around her, I hadn't realised just how weird and unusual it actually was.
"We're friends right?" she asked. "Even more than that, you're almost like one of my sisters now"
"Sure we're friends but still it's wrong for me to see you like that" I said without turning.
"Why?"
"I'm a man"
"No offense but you're not"
'I am' I thought to myself but didn't respond. I took another step and reached for the door handle.
"I'm glad I was assigned to you" I heared Celeste say just as I was leaving.
=^..^=
I returned to the living room to meet Nick and Percy dressed smartly in their evening attires.
"You look pretty" Nick said as I approached.
I curtsied playfully. "You don't look too bad yourself" I replied.
"High praise" he smiled then surprised me by pulling me onto the couch beside him.
There were only two other guards in the room so this was wholly unnecessary. When he placed a palm on my lap, I just had to speak up.
"It's just us. You don't have to" I whispered to him.
"Just staying in character" he replied.
"Do we need to talk about Charles?" I asked. He only shook his head as a response.
I hated the idea of him. Charles. Even if outwardly, Nick pretended to be all about me and honestly he was doing a pretty good job of it, I knew I wasn't who he really wanted.
Nick would want nothing more than to be on this tour with Charles. I was just a means to an end for him. I knew that from the start so why did it bother me so much now. Especially since that kiss in the garden.
I was Nick's duty. Charles was his desire.
"You've both done really well today" Percival commended us from his chair across the room. "Our arrival at the ballet will be the final test, but make sure not to let your guard down at any point during the show. There may still be cameras".
When Nick nodded his acknowledgement, so did I.
=^..^=
True to his word, our arrival was a test. A red carpet covered the entire distance from the car to the theater entrance with paparazzi on either side. As usual Nick exited first then held a hand to assist me.
I was grateful for the help due to the high heels that completed my outfit which also did a lot to bring me closer to Nick's height but not quite.
The flashes were disorienting and almost blinding in the night sky so I relied entirely on Nick to be our navigator. I simply focused on maintaining the smile Lenoria had come to know and hopefully love because it would be plastered all over the papers tomorrow morning.
Inside, the theater goers gathered in what I could only refer to as a lobby to mingle before the night's performances began. In expected fashion, I was fawned over by those who wished to get a word in with me and those that were perfectly content with a sighting alone.
Unlike last night's ball though that was exclusively for the aristocracy, tonight's gathering was opened to those of humbler births that were able to afford the exorbitant prices of the tickets. And so as you may expect, being in the presence of the Prince and I, sent them into a frenzy.
As I reveled in my own new found celebrity status, I was introduced to an actual celebrity. A woman they all referred to as Miss Penelope. A misleading title due to her advanced age.
Miss Penelope was a figure skating champion that represented Lenoria internationally to great success. She seemed to be very well respected which was particularly impressive since she was technically a commoner. If she had been a man, the King would probably have given her a title. Unfortunately, her only husband died before her successes and she'd never remarried.
"Miss Penelope, it is wonderful to make your acquaintance" I said respectfully.
She clicked her tongue, "Americans are always where they don't belong"
"Sorry?" I turned around to see if anyone had heard what she'd just said but no one paid us any mind.
"Go home child, before you hurt yourself"
"Umm..." I stood there confused. I'd been expecting an enlightening discussion with a legend but she was clearly in no mood for conversation.
"Go home" she said again before walking off to join another conversation.
=^..^=
Atleast, I was able to get that encounter out of my head as we took our seats in the VIP booths of the grand theater. One by one the performers took to the stage and expertly began their routine.
To be honest, I understood little of their presentation but I could appreciate the level of skill it demanded as they balanced on pointe and spun with calculated grace.
I was mostly just happy that the cameras were finally off me and focused on the stage. Contrary to Percy's suggestion earlier, I felt I could finally relax after what had been an activity filled day. I couldn't wait for the night to be over to return to the castle for some much needed rest.
I'd been able to keep my mind off Sophia's request but of course it hadn't disappeared just because I hadn't been thinking about it.
I looked to Nick, Percy and Celeste who shared the booth with me. They all seemed engrossed in the presentation. I focused on Nick who looked to be enjoying the show.
Should I have told him about my conversation with Sophia? What good would that bring? She hadn't asked me to do anything yet. No it was best to...
My train of thought was interrupted by murmurs coming from around the theater. I looked for the source amidst the dark venue. Soon I received my answer when I spotted a man running from his seat down the theater steps and onto the stage.
Understandably this halted the presentation as all eyes were now focused on the who now commandeered the entire right section of the stage.
Was this all part of the show? The dancers looked terrified as they ran behind the curtain and out of sight.
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!" he screamed again.
I spotted guards approaching the stage and so did he.
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!" Over and over again as he ran to the far side of the stage.
Two, then three, then five guards converged on the stage.
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!"
We all watched in disbelief at the scenes. Soon though they cornered him and managed to take him into custody.
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!"
Even as they dragged him off behind the curtains, he continued:
"DETHRONE THE TYRANT KING!"
=^..^=
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Happy New Year everyone!
We're back! Can't wait for you to read the rest. Let me know what you think so far.