"She wants nothing to do with him... He would be miserable without her."
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Meet Sophie Franklin, a fiercely independent fashion designer who lives in New York, and then there's Marcus Beadoux, a dashing prince with...
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After sharing pleasantries with Marcus and discussing a little more with Reina, I am finally ushered to my room. My jumbled nerves make it impossible for me to admire the grand hallways, since I can't help but notice the peculiar way the maids are staring at me, especially at my tattoo sleeve. This, of course, makes me feel very self-conscious, and before I know it, I am trying to cover it up with my other hand with little success.
When I step into the room assigned to me, I freeze on my steps, a gasp escaping my lips. It's like entering a fairytale. The room is much bigger than the apartment I have in New York and lavishly decorated as well. A grand canopy bed sits at the center of the room, covered with silk curtains. Antique furniture lines the walls, and the floor is covered in the softest carpet I've ever seen. Not to mention the crystal chandelier and the exquisite wallpaper. It is so beautiful it feels foreign. Walking towards the bed, I collapse onto it, feeling the exhaustion seep through my bones. The maids have already brought in my luggage, but there isn't any strength left in me to start unpacking.
Seeing Marcus again, even if only briefly, has left me drained. The memories, the unspoken tension-it's all too much. I silently pray that I can avoid him during my stay. Closing my eyes, I try to shake off the weariness, but my mind keeps replaying the encounter. Groaning, I press my face into one of the pillows, feeling my face flush with heat.
After a while, I muster the energy to explore. Walking towards the grand window, I throw it open, watching the scenery through it. Beneath the pale blue sky, there is a cluster of mountain peaks in the distance. Green covers everything as far as the eye can reach, and just below, there is the most beautiful garden I've ever seen. I stand there for a while, taking in the breathtaking scene when a knock comes on the door.
"Come in," I call out, and a maid walks in with a tray, filled with food of various kinds. The scent of such a delectable feast wafts through the air, and my stomach grumbles, reminding me of just how hungry I am. Placing it all on the seating area in the room, she turns to me with her head bowed.
"Here's your meal, please enjoy yourself," she says with a light smile on her face, her voice filled with warmth and kindness. I nod appreciatively. With one final nod, she turns around and leaves the room. I immediately hurry towards the table, picking up a piece of grape and throwing it into my mouth. Although I want to eat right now, I still need to freshen up first.
I go in search of the bathroom and find it. Though a modern addition to this old castle, it's still breathtaking nonetheless. White marble tiles line the floor, and the bathtub looks exquisitely crafted, custom-made for a place like this. The bathroom is enveloped in a warm glow that makes me feel immediately exhausted and want to wash up right away.
Filling up the tub with warm water, I pull off my clothes, simultaneously adding soap into the water and lathering it up. Once I'm satisfied, I step into the water and begin to wash myself. I don't know for how long I sit there, but by the time I'm done washing, my skin is pink and my hands are wrinkled up. I quickly rinse off my body, drape a towel around me, and head back to the room. Changing into an outfit that conceals my tattoo sleeve, I look at myself in the mirror. It's okay.
I settle down to eat my food, some of which has already grown cold and amble to the bed, exhaustion rolling off me in waves. Tomorrow I have to prepare for Reina's fit check and do my best to avoid Marcus in the process. I hope I can pull it off. A cozy feeling envelops me, soothing my frayed nerves. Yawning loudly, I close my sleep-laden eyes. The softness of the bed embraces me, and before I know it, I've fallen asleep.
The knock on the door startles me awake. Blinking around dazedly, I rub my eyes, my gaze darting around the room before landing on the window. I discover it's already dark. All sleep wiped from my eyes, I jump out of the bed and close the window before heading to the door to check on whoever is knocking. To my surprise, it's Reina. She stands there, a warm smile on her face.
"Oh, did I disturb you?" she asks when she sees the sleep lines on my face. I quickly shake my head, running a hand through my disheveled hair.
"No, I already woke up already. What is it? Is there a problem?" I ask, worry already seeping into my voice.
"No, I just wanted to invite you to dinner to meet the family, The king and Queen of Netherlands. I wanted to know if you're up for it."
For a while, I just stare blankly at her, the words swirling around my head but refusing. When it does, my eyes go wide with shock. "The king and queen?" I repeat, dumfounded.
"Yes, it's okay if you don't want to come..." Reina starts to say, but I'm already interrupting her, internally panicking.
"Of course, I'll come! I just need to change out of these clothes first!" I tell her as I run back into the room, rummaging through my bag on what to possibly wear.
"Then, I'll be waiting for you," Reina calls out, but she doesn't enter the room. After several minutes of panicked searching, I finally find one that's suitable enough and covers my tattoo sleeve. I put it on, brush out my hair, and apply makeup on my face to hide whatever blemishes I may have.
"I'm ready!" I call out to Reina before I have the chance to change my mind. She bursts into the room then, clapping her hands excitedly.
"Great, come on already!" She motions, walking out and leaving me to follow. I take a deep breath, my heart racing in my chest. Oh boy, here we go.
*** Thanks for reading!!! See you in the next chapter!!! Don't forget to vote and comment!
