C10 Ten

“It’s gonna be a long journey wife”

Convoy of cars accompany them as they drive to Silverbell kingdom, they both look on ahead with their thoughts, Michael learnt of what happened and he’s confused as to how to console her. The feeling of getting betrayed by someone close to you is something he has experienced well and still hasn’t gotten over so she’s probably feeling horrible inside and she needs someone to tell her ‘everything is going to be fine’

“I would appreciate if you speak out than stare at me with such pitiful gazes”

Michael put on a smile and hold his hands out to her, she stare at them not knowing what he want her to do

“Hold them come on” he urged

Claire although didn’t understand why she had to hold his hands put her palm forth and hold his, gently he draw near and pull her to rest her head on his shoulder

“You can rest on me” he told her reassuring

She pull out immediately she understood what he was doing, Michael stared questioning at her wondering if she doesn’t want him to console her

“Don’t ever pity me” she warned firmly

“The thing I hate most is being pitied, I am a high profiled princess and not a weakling who covers her face and cry” she said irritably and pull away from him putting a distance between them on the seat

“So you think people who cry are weaklings?” he asked

“If not? Rather than cry you should make others cry” she answered him back and Michael stare at her in amazement, she’s really different from all the noble ladies he has encountered.

The wide gate to the palace of Silverbell kingdom open wide and the cars drove one after the other, Claire sighted members of the family and some council members standing just outside to welcome them, her lips parted up in a tight smile feeling satisfied with the welcoming.

“Won’t you help me down?” Michael looked back at her and stare a bit confused

“It’s a gentleman’s manner to help the lady out of the car with a kind gestures of lending a hand” she said to him and stretch forth her hands waiting for him to take it

“Pardon my manners your ladyship” he said in a grin and hold her hands helping her out of the car

“your manners are forgiven dear lord” she replied in the same expression and walk side by side with him as they move forward to meet the royal members.

“Welcome your majesty” they greeted with courtesy and King Edward stretch out his hand to receive their greetings

“No need to stand in ceremony” Michael said before they could all echo a greeting and they all heard their courtesy

“Why should they not greet? You are a royal and it’s a norms for you to welcome like a prince that you are” Claire said clutching her arm with him and pulling him a bit to her side with a gentle smile

“Welcome your highness, brother in law finds such things a hassle”

“Who are you?” she asked and they all turn their gazes at the two women

“Don’t you think it’s a bit rude to ask such question…?”

“I should know who am talking to, whether she’s worth talking to or not” she answered back before she could finish

“Emm...Princess Claire this is your third sister in law, Princess Sonja” the Queen introduced and smile at her warmly

“Not yet my sister in law, about to be” she corrected and everyone remain silent for seconds

“Let us go inside to do the proper introduction and welcoming” Kind Edward said breaking the silent and glaring between the ladies

“We’ve prepared a small party to welcome your highness” they all went inside with the ladies of royal coming behind

“Looks like our new sister in law is a bit out of manners” one of the princess commented as they walk in amidst the others

“Oh my, what will our dear princess Izabella do? A strong competition seems to be here” Princess Brenda sarcastically said and earn a hiss from Izabella who hurried to the Queen’s side.

The large dining room was occupied as everyone sat down to dine together, Claire look over the whole table and realize and irritable fact, of all the royal families, they are the ones sitting at the lowest seat in the dining table

“Why is that?” she wondered but decided to keep her peace, there is something more important for her to do during her visit than fight for dining seats

They waited for sometimes while everyone look on and tried to chat with her, Claire smile in return to the question and comment until one of the princesses asked a question

“I heard the sixth princess of Aither is intimidating and all pretty but is this all there is?”

The multiple heads turn to princess Izabella who just asked the, what seems like an absurd question.

Everyone look on waiting for Princess Claire to reply to the absurdity in anger seeing she has just being insulted but seeing a calm and gentle face they couldn’t imagine what’s going on in her mind

“is that the rumor Silverbell kingdom carries about Aither, that’s bad because if the King hears such words being used to describe his people he might not let it go easily” she answered and took a sip from her water glass

Throats were cleared as they heard the princess’s response, she was the one being referred but seeing her pluralizing it means getting in trouble with Aither before the marriage

“Shall we eat?” the King announced and everyone nodded as they all turn to their dishes having little conversations.

The long dinner was over and the councils all returned to their abode while Claire was led to the private residence in the palace where she will be staying at, the place is not too far from Prince Michael’s place and it’s easy to see his own palace abode from there.

Princess Claire step into the environment and scan the place real quick with her emerald eyes flicking at will

“My princess how do you like your room?”

A slimmer young lady with a 5.6 height walk inside the room carrying the two luggage effortlessly, she had her hair in low cut and seems more masculine than feminine

“Who are you?’ Claire asked taking her seat on the medium armchair placed at the far end of the room

“….”

“Come pull off my shoes” she said before she could give an answer to her first question

The young lady smile and walk up to her, stooping down to reach for the shoes

“So you are the maid that would be serving me” she said and received a nod from her

“My name is Jain” she state and place the shoes in a corner, moving quickly she brought out a room slippers and help her put them on

“Tell me about the palace and the people in it” she said and rested her head on the throw pillow while she wait for her to speak.

*****

“Why isn’t she here yet?”

The hungry eyes turn to Prince Michael who is supposedly to know about his fiancé’s whereabouts, the growling faces of everyone shows their impatience to their guest delay of breakfast

“Didn’t you inform her breakfast is by 7:30?” Queen Alice turn to Jain who looked tense at the absence of her lady

“I did inform her your majesty, I will go check on her” she said and hurry away from the royal dining room, her long legs hurried fast to the princess room, she has made sure to dress her up earlier so she could make it for breakfast in order to avoid situation like this

“Your ladyship! Your ladyship!” she called as she gets near her room

“For goodness sake everyone is waiting for you at the dining hall, I clearly explained how important…” she stopped when she realized she is talking to an empty room

“Princess Claire?” she called her name heading to the bathroom to check if she’s there, the sound of water couldn’t be heard so she open slightly to make sure, not seeing her there she panicked a bit and turn to leave to report the situation but got caught by Claire who is standing behind her already

“Am here” she said and pull off the slippers she is putting on to wear something more suitable for breakfast

“Why are you still standing? Let’s go” she snap at Jain who was staring blankly at her

“Oh…yes your ladyship, this way” she said going ahead of her.

They all manage to swallow their hiss as the awaited person finally made her way to the table and took her place beside Prince Michael, the maids already waiting begin to serve each royal family

“Why were you late?” Michael whispered to her as a stir-fry tuna was placed in his plate

“Saw my period and had to go back to change” she replied and he almost spilled out the water he just imbibed

“What!” eyes turn to them and he decided to talk later after food.

Everyone faced their meals and had little talks in between breakfast, Claire gave an excuse that she’s tired and decide to return to her room after breakfast for a short rest although the Queen wasn’t exactly pleased with it since she had hope to introduce her and give her a long tour round the palace but she couldn’t refuse seeing the ill-disposed expression on her face.

****** The cordon bleu smiled heartedly as she sees Prince Michael entered the scullery with a half-eaten cupcake, although he had a fork with him some crumbs settled at his lower lips

“Godmother” he called out getting afflicted by her smile

“You seems to be the only one enjoying my cakes these days”

“That’s because I didn’t let others have a taste, if they do they will know how delicious it taste like” he commented and walk closer to the counter and place the ankle on them holding the cake up

“Why are you the only one cleaning up again?”

“Nothing just feel like showing off my skills at arrangement” she said and pinch his nose playfully

There was silent for seconds as Michael focused on his cake while ‘Mother Theresa’ as she’s fondly called by others continue with her work

“So…how’s she?”

A moment of silent followed before he respond to her question “so you finally asked” he said and let out a smile which disappeared immediately they appear

“Well…she’s different”

“Different? How?”

“She’s not my type of woman, she’s a bit interesting but she’s too ambitious…like someone I use to know” he said and took the last tiny piece of cake in his mouth

“Are you talking about me?”

Both of them turned their heads synchronously at the realization of the voice and the look on their faces wasn’t that pleasant

“Someone you know and is too ambitious, am that person right?” she asked with a smile

“You omitted a word, ‘used’, what are you doing here?”

“To see you of course, I know you always come here after every meal”

“Why would you want to see me?” he asked his voice becoming hostile now

Eris smiled and walk further to meet him standing in front of him, she put her hands up and made to clean the crumbs on his lips

“Of course I always want to see…”

Michael grasp her wrist and chuck it away from his face with a look of disgust

“Don’t touch me with your flirty hand!” he snap at her and step away feet away

She stare at her tossed hand and had a painful look as she stare back at him “you really don’t love again?” she asked, giving an artful expression

Michael sigh angrily and move to walk away but she hold out her hands and stop him “why are you running away again? Just face me and talk” she said almost in a yell

“Take your hands off!”

The three heads in the room gaze towards the door where the person who just interrupted is standing, with their eyes on her, she walk in her grace way to meet them and push Eris away from him not giving a care if she falls or not

“What are you doing?” Eris asked between gnashed teeth wanting to yell at her but her voice could only sound low

“it’s the rude maid again” Claire said standing in between Michael and her, the truculent look on Eris’s face make the Smug on her face bigger

“I think from now on, you need to face me” she inform and Eris snap her ear confuse

“He’s mine now”.