Young Writers Society

Chapter 5

Prince Andre closed the door to his office for he had scheduled a meeting. Orlando and Matthias sat in their seats with arms crossed. It was obvious that they were not at all happy.

“Well, how did it go?” Prince Andre asked, hoping he’d get a good reply from them, but he knew they weren’t too happy about their intended because they looked utterly miserable.

“It was a bloody disaster.” Matthias immediately replied. Prince Andre looked at them in question.

“Well, it wasn’t what I was expecting.” Orlando said.

Prince Andre was utterly surprised. He had given them suitable women---they were intelligent, beautiful and yet they were not happy?

“But they’re remarkable young women. Are they not?”

“Try sharp tongue! Devil lasher! Dishonorable and ungrateful!” Matthias suddenly said. Orlando looked to him.

“You too?” He asked, “Same here. Alyssa De Broglie wasn’t quite fond of me either. When I spoke to her, she nearly said things that made one feel insignificant----So before she could further damage who am…I asked her to dance.”

“Well,” Matthias followed in, “Danielle Bencroft is practically similar. It runs in their blood, I think. We’re to be married and she insists I call her Miss Bencroft.”

Prince Andre sighed and settled in his seat, “I am sorry you gentlemen find them distasteful---”

“No! That is not what we---” Orlando protested, but then again, he was right. So Orlando didn’t finish his sentence.

“They wouldn’t be that daring to speak to you gentlemen that way---”

“Too daring.” Matthias stated.

“Daring enough to stand up to powerful men such as yourselves?” Prince Andre laughed, finding it ever amusing, “They’re not so much as ordinary, but I will hear no more of your complaints. What’s done is done. Bend their will to yours if you must. Oh and Orlando, you are in no obligation to marry Alyssa de Broglie, it is Matthias who must fulfill his obligation, that is…to marry Miss Bencroft.”

“Thank heavens!” Orlando said. He smiled at Matthias, “Sorry McKnight.” Matthias said not a word. “Well, I must be leaving.” Orlando stood, “Good day cousin, I have to see my brother.”

“Then we shall see you tonight. We are having dinner.” Prince Andre said.

“Then I will see you then.”

As Orlando left the room, Matthias was left with his arms crossed.

“What ever is the matter with you?” Prince Andre began.

“Pardon me?”

“I choose you a lovely bride and you do not approve?” He asked, “It is you who are ungrateful.”

Matthias tensed a little and straightened his lips. “You are mistaken. I do approve. I just don’t approve of her talking to me in a way no woman should speak to a man.”

“I see. Well, then you shall have to get to know her more before you are married to her. Why not have your dinner elsewhere within the palace?”

Matthias frowned in question. What did he mean by that?

“Alone?” He asked, hoping that wasn’t what he was implying.

“With her of course. After all, you have to get used to the fact that you are going to be married to her.”

“But I cannot control the words that come out of my mouth. If she shoots arrows at me, I have to fire back!”

“Until you get your way?” Prince Andre asked as he poured wine into his glass and sipped. Matthias didn’t say anything and he did not protest upon the idea of having dinner with her alone. “I’m afraid I am right. Now, choose the location and I’ll have the servants on the ready.”

“The terrace.” He stated.

“Hmmm. That is rather romantic.”

Matthias was irritated upon hearing that word, romantic and he sighed, “Prince Andre, I have no intention of wooing her to me. There is no reason to. I am only trying to fulfill my obligation for the sake of my people.”

“I understand that, but why don’t you want to fall in love?” He did not reply, “Must you be afraid of commitment?”

“I will have no problems as far as commitment is concerned, it is being romantic that irks me. What is it with this bloody romance? Why do women seek that side of me? Do they not see---I cannot be romantic in any way!” He said angrily. Prince Andre placed his glass down. He had never seen Matthias so distraught and getting angry over the mere mention of love.

“I only ask…You see, romance is the art of…love. At least that is what I think. It’s a way of expressing what you feel for another.”

“I do not feel any such feeling for her. I---” Suddenly there was a knock upon the door.

“Come in.” Prince Andre said. Soon a man entered and bowed.

“Forgive my intrusion, your highness, but I am here to call upon your daughter Princess Norma Jean.”

“And who are you?”

“Kyle Bay, the Count of Stonewall.”

“Ah…of course. Have you an interest in her?”

“Well---” He blushed.

“Of course he does.” Matthias interrupted. It was so bloody evident and it was a stupid question to ask. “That explains why he calls.”

“He’s right, your highness. May I?” he stood nervously.

“I don’t see why not.” The man smiled and headed out the door. “A man wants to see my daughter?”

“Every man wants to see your daughter. If it’s not for her money, it’s for her beauty.”

Prince Andre laughed, “You’re right. I don‘t think I would want any man to marry my daughter if money was only what they wanted.”

Matthias nodded in agreement. “Well then…It is settled. I’ll shall dinner upon the terrace.”

***

Alyssa and Danielle walked silently down the road within the palace grounds. They were to meet with Nicole and Norma Jean for they had been invited to have a picnic with them by the lake. They were very quiet people and Alyssa decided that she would try not to think of them badly than she already did. Danielle wasn’t looking at al happy. She certainly didn’t enjoy her meeting with Matthias McKnight. It was so evident in the way she appeared.

“Danielle…you look as though you had a bad night.” Alyssa finally said.

“I did.” Danielle said without looking up, “I fainted.”

Alyssa gasped and laughed, “You what?”

“You heard me, I fainted---and he took me to my room to nurse me back to the norm. He was in my room for goodness sakes! He even had the audacity to speak to me so rudely as if we were already married. His words: “We will be married in a month. The earlier, the better.” The nerve!”

Alyssa sighed, “It was that bad?”

“He was that bad. I do not want to marry him!” She said without any hint of regret.

“And I thought I was going to be miserable.”

Danielle gave out a sigh of frustration, “And I know for a fact that Princess Nicole hates me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“She gave me the most piercing gaze ever. It was so obvious that she wanted to get rid of me. No one can look me in that way and then think that I have no idea---because I do!”

Alyssa tried not to laugh. Despite that her cousin was having some serious issues, she wanted to laugh. “Dear me, you do have problems.”

“I know, heaven knows why.” Danielle said, sounding not the least bit happy.

“Do not worry. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping…Maybe she would be a little bit nicer today.”

“I highly doubt it.” Danielle looked up into the sky and the trees grew so high, providing a lovely shade. It was peaceful and just then, a carriage slowed by their side. The door was then opened and there…it was him. Alyssa’s heart stopped as he stepped out. He looked straight into Alyssa’s eyes and she was mesmerized. He already knew that he had taken her breath away, she didn’t even have to speak.

“Guards.” He began, “Stand in watch of these ladies. Princess Ally is in need of our protection as well as her cousin.”

Alyssa frowned, “I am not a princess. I am not of royal birth.”

The man quirked a brow, “You’re absolutely right. Guards, leave them.” He didn’t smile, just stared at her as if she were doing something wrong, “I apologize, but Prince Andre did say he wanted you to be treated like you were part of the family. So, since you want no part in it, I’ll be happy to tell him of your disapproval.”

It was silent and as he began to step back into the carriage, Alyssa began, “Wait! Alright, I accept…So long as I am not called Princess Ally.”

“Very well.” He then nodded and the guards were left by their sides. Alyssa watched as he walked away and she wanted so much to follow him. Little did she know…he laughed as he went on his way.

“Heaven help me, it was him!” Alyssa suddenly said.

“Who?” Danielle asked, trying not to let her disappointed self get in the way of her cousin’s happiness.

“The man I saw on our last day in Paris.”

“Are you more taken with him than you are with Orlando Rogan II?”

“I believe so…” Alyssa said. “Now come along, we are expected.”

They soon hurried to the lake and as soon as they came into view of the picnic gathering, Prince Drake could be seen overlooking the pleasant view with Nicole at his side. Princess Norma Jean, however, sat upon the blanket with Kyle Bay as they stared at one another dreamily. Alyssa approached them with a smile and bowed as did Danielle.

“Your highness, thank you for inviting us to your little picnic.” Alyssa said. Princess Norma Jean smiled at them and nodded.

“I believe that we should all become greatly acquainted with one another. After all, we will be sisters in a matter of time.” Princess Norma Jean motioned them to sit and as they sat, she introduced them to Kyle bay and soon after, Princess Nicole and Prince Drake decided to join them.

“I am glad you girls could make it.” Princess Nicole said as she smiled. It seemed as if she were kinder today. Mayhap it was because she was engaged to Prince Drake.

“I’m happy to say that this place is quite charming. I have never seen a more beautiful place.” Prince Drake said. “I think I may want to live here for a couple of years in the future.”

“That would be a good idea.” Princess Nicole replied happily. Danielle sighed. “Whatever is the matter? Are you alright.”

Danielle looked at her and nearly felt like an idiot, “Of of course. I am just a bit exhausted.”

“Maybe you should lay down.” She advised, “That always is a good alternative.” She giggled. Somehow that made Danielle smile.

“Maybe I will.”

“I think we will get along just fine.” Princess Nicole said. There was no mistaking the sincere look in her eyes. Danielle couldn’t help but agree. While Danielle was enjoying her time, she had stopped shortly just as she saw the baron approaching from afar. She was so irked that she groaned.

“What is it?” Princess Nicole asked.

“Oh, well…it’s just…him.”

“Him? Who?” Just as Princess Nicole turned around, she laughed, “Oh, I see.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I rather like the baron very much.”

“Why ever not? He’s very charming.”

“Yes, but that is not going to make me like him any more than I do now. I rather dislike him.”

Princess Nicole patted her upon the shoulder, “I’m very sorry to hear that. Do not worry. You will find him to be quite amiable once you stop expecting so much from him.”

“But I don’t expect anything---”

“But you will.” Princess Nicole stated, “It happened countless of times.”

“Oh…”

Finally, McKnight approached them in all his seriousness, “Greetings.” he looked to Danielle and she turned her gaze away, “I am looking for Danielle.”

“What for?” Alyssa asked, quite amused.

“Yes, My Lord, what for?” Danielle couldn’t help but mock.

“May I speak with you for a moment?” he asked.

“I’m afraid not. I have other things to attend to?”

“Like what?” He asked. Danielle didn’t reply.

“I don’t know, but I will plan something…amiable.”

“Ah, right, plan to stage your own ruin?” He asked.

“Well, maybe that isn’t such a bad idea.”

“It won’t work.” He snatched.

Just then, Danielle realized that everyone was listening quite intensely and she glowered at him.

“Excuse me while I have a word with the baron.” Danielle stepped away, enough so that they couldn’t be heard.

“Now, now…no need to be so touchy. I’m only here to inform you of our engagement tonight.” He said coolly.

“Which is?” She asked, not all half interested.

“We’re having dinner upon the terrace. Be there once the sun goes down.”

“What if I don’t want to go?”

“Then less problems for me and a peaceful dinner I shall have.”

“Good day, my lord!” She exclaimed as she turned and rejoined the group. She heard him laugh and it was charming, but it vexed to no end. She was having a very lovely time and then he had to come and wreck the day with his presence. Danielle sat among royalty, thinking quietly to herself. There was nothing else to think about, but bare the thought of marrying that brute.