บท 26: Trying to get to know you?
<<Charlie>>
"We could go back if you are not interested."
"You wanted to know things about me, I didn't."
"Well...I don't see why I need to push things when clearly the two of us aren't interested in knowing each other. Why don't we just head back?"
"Sounds perfect."
And oh! How I wished things went like this! How I wished Augustus didn't want to know things about me and we both could head back home and forget that we ever met each other. But that didn't happen.
What rather happened was this.
---
"Princess Francine Elizabeth Maxwell, a beautiful lady with a beautiful name."
A compliment from his mouth didn't feel genuine. It seemed like he had practiced it millions of times before saying it - as in he had said this to millions of women before he met me and at this point- it came out naturally. Most women would blush and fan themselves around him. However, if he thought that I was like any other woman,
he was wrong.
Although, I didn't have many options other than stick around the thought of soon getting to get my normal life back seemed like a reward for putting up with him.
I simply smiled at his compliment as a common courtesy and kept walking deep in the woods. He followed me quietly, his footsteps hard on the ground - like a commander in a battle. It did have a nice rhythm to it.
The lush green forest around me was magnificent. The trees swayed back and forth with the wind and the dry leaves on the ground made a rustling sound when the wind swept them away. Usually, in cities, it was hard to find such forests. People were trying to conserve as much as greenery as possible. Now that I think of it, coming here was a really wonderful experience. We can be one with nature and find inner peace here.
After a few minutes of silence, Augustus decided to open his mouth.
"What does the Princess like to do in her spare time?"
I could feel the awkwardness between us. It was like the two of us didn't wanna be here at this point but we're forced together. I wasn't even supposed to be here. It should've been Francine- not me. But, oh well, here I was, pretending to be a Princess. I just hoped this paid me well!
"Reading. I love reading."
"Wow." He said, impressed. "Beauty with brains."
Now, when I say this was uncomfortable, I mean, wanting to be swallowed into the ground and never facing anyone kind of uncomfortable. I wasn't used to getting compliments like this. Guys barely noticed me as a girl- they treated me as one of their own. Most of them friend-zoned me. And this - even if you don't believe- never bothered me.
"Whoa, whoa. You can go easy on the compliments, pal."
He stated at me in disbelief. "Pal?"
Oops?!
"I meant, please do not compliment me so much, Prince Augustus. I am not as beautiful as you think I am."
He seemed to have taken notice of my change in tone but decided to ignore it completely. He muttered something under his breath. We kept strolling deep inside the forest - not knowing what to do next. All this while, Augustus had a thoughtful look on his face. I could see the gears in his head-turning. To keep the awkwardness away, I decided to ask questions this time around.
"How's Scotland like?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "'Tis more beautiful than Titania."
"Oh, well, you would say that. Any place would be less beautiful compared to your own kingdom."
"You would not be saying this if you had visited Scotland."
I shrugged. "Even if I did visit, I'd still feel Titania is more beautiful."
"'Tis everybody's opinion, then." He said in his thick, British accent.
"It is."
A couple of minutes later.
"What does the Prince like to do in his spare time?"
"Fencing. Horse-riding."
I muttered under my breath. "Being snobby."
"Did you say something under your breath, Princess?"
"No. Absolutely not."
"I thought I heard something."
"Your ears are probably ringing."
We strolled for a few more minutes in silence, enjoying the nature surrounding us. All this while, Augustus had a thoughtful look on his face. It was like he was overthinking something. Probably something that was related to the kingdom. I wondered how Francine was doing. There wasn't a day when I didn't think how she was doing.
"We should perhaps head back. 'Tis enough to convince father."
I stared at him in confusion for a few seconds but nodded in agreement.
---
"His father told him to spend some time with you. That is why he agreed and waited for at least an hour before you two could head back."
"How did you know all of this?"
Samuel grinned, typing in his computer. "There is nothing on this planet that Samuel Maxwell knows nothing about."
"Did you know Nicole had feelings for you?"
Samuel abruptly stood up, his eyes widening at my question.
"She does?! Why didn't she tell me?! How come I did not know this? I shall figure this out, I swe-" His gaze landed on my laughing figure. "-oh come on, Charlie! 'Tis not funny!"
"Liz. It's ...Francine... Elizabeth... Maxwell!" I exclaimed in between pants.
"Even though you share the same face, you are nothing like my sister. I repeat, nothing! You both are poles apart!" Samuel grumbled, crossing his arms against his chest.
"No matter how much I try, I can never be anything like Francine."
Just then, Jamie burst through the door, clutching a scroll in his hand. His blond hair was a mess. He held his knees and panted for a good three minutes before starting to speak.
"See this." He handed us the scroll.
Samuel grabbed the scroll from his hand and opened it, revealing black, cursive handwriting. He scanned through the writing while I tried to figure out what it exactly said. The writing was greek to me - literally! It seemed like someone made a fusion of greek and Japanese language and this writing was the result of it.
"What does it say? Follow up question: Why is the language so weird?"
Samuel grinned.
"Should I sum it up or do you want to hear the whole thing? And follow up answer: It is the Titanium language."
I raised an eyebrow. "Titanium as in, Hey Alexa play- Oh, you guys don't have Alexa. My apologies."
"Titanium as in what?"
"The song - I don't remember the lyrics."
"Guys, the thing at hand is more important." Jamie interrupted, pointing towards the scroll.
"Okay, here goes the entire thing."
I waved my hand, dismissing his ideas. "Why don't you sum it up?"
He shrugged. "Okay, there's a ball at the palace - a party thrown by father- to announce your engagement to Augustus Xavier and the new alliance formation."
"E-Engagement? To me?"
"Francine." Jamie corrected him.
"I AM FRANCINE!"
"You would not be after...." He started counting in his fingers. "Six months."
"Okay...? So?"
Samuel and Jamie shared a knowing look and grinned.
"'Tis time to put your knowledge to test."
---
"Why does every new scene have to start with me standing in front of the mirror, getting ready?"
Samuel stared at me, perplexed. "What are you talking about?"
"Nevermind. You would not get it." I said before adding. "Don't you have to get ready?"
"I need to approve of your dress before I go."
"Approve? Since when did I need your approval?"
"You shall be meeting the Prince again, I do not want you to go like someone who does not belong here. You are Francine now, act like her."
"I am, aren't I?"
"Are you sure about that?" He raised his eyebrow. "I still get a hint of Charlie whenever you speak."
"That is because you met the two of us." I paused, rolling my sleeves. "Augustus didn't. Neither did the rest of the kingdom."
Samuel gave me a thoughtful look. "What do you guys say in the United States for not messing things up?"
"Don't screw up?"
"Exactly, Don't screw up."
I sighed. "I won't. I won't. Take a chill pill."
Samuel gave me his perplexed look again.
I chuckled. "Nevermind."
I was wearing a long blue gown - kind of like the one Cinderella wore in the movie - with shiny diamonds placed on it. There was only one exception - it had sleeves on it. The kind of sleeves that were narrow at the top and wider at the elbows. No matter how much I tried to roll it, it fell off. Hence, I stopped trying. It was futile anyway.
After I was done with my dressing, Samuel gave me a once-over, nodding approvingly and then walked out of the room to get dressed. In the meantime, the royal maid and her assistants helped me with the makeup. Usually, I went natural, and only occasionally did I apply a little mascara and a lip gloss. However, here my entire make-up was done. My long, straight hair was made into curls, my eyelashes were curled. My cheeks were given a light pink blush and my lips were colored a faint pink color. All in all, I had a complete transformation.
From Charlie to Princess Francine.
Only if my sharp mouth had the ability to transform, too.
"How do you feel like, Princess Francine?" The royal maid inquired.
I only heard from random people that wearing makeup made one feel beautiful and confident about themselves. No matter how much I wanted to feel normal, how much I wanted to deny the fact that I wasn't really feeling amazing, there was a tug in my heart - asking me to accept the fact.
But my head ruled over my heart.
"I feel good," I said, keeping a straight face.
Absolutely not!
I feel wonderful!
"Should you need anything more, you can call any of us. We shall be at your service, Princess."
"Co- I mean, I shall. You are dismissed."
The maids bowed in front of me and then strolled out of the room- my bad- I should start calling it a chamber because this was way more spacious than a usual room in the US.
I sauntered around the room- checking things out. Even if I'd been here for a few months now, I never got the opportunity of actually observing this chamber. On the wall, beside the mirror - were photographs of Francine and Samuel as kids. One of them had Francine splashing a bucket of water on Sam. Another one had Sam, Francine, and Jamie grinning in from of the camera- their hands on each other's shoulders. The final one had a brunette girl who looked strikingly similar to Jamie in the photograph along with the other two. I recognized her as Darlene- even if I never got to meet her in real life.
There was a knock on the door which pulled me out of my reverie.
"Come in."
Samuel poked his head into the room.
"Are you ready? The guests are coming."
"I am."
He walked inside and gave my make-up a once over, smirking.
"Someone's looking ravishing. I wonder who's heart she shall steal."
I rolled my eyes.
"Not yours. That is for sure."
I locked my elbow with his while he laughed at my previous statement.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Shall we?"
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