by Nikki Gaspar
Ysabel’s hostility came into my mind, but it was too trivial to let my aunt worry about, so I nodded.
“That’s good, and if that changes, please call me, okay? Don’t just disappear like she did,” Aunt Emily said, squeezing my hand with her own.
We stayed in the parlor to get to know each other and share stories about mom until it was time for me to get ready.
***
A group of makeup artists arrived in the palace to work their magic on us. I felt like a wall that was brushed with thick paint, but I must admit that the result looked good. I just hope that my face doesn’t melt, or I would look like a clown.
“Clarissa, stop fussing with your gown.”
“I’m not comfortable, grandma.”
The pink gown looked very pretty. It made me look taller than I really was and showed curves that I never thought I had. The downside was I’m not used to wearing clothes like this. I’m a lounging-attire kind of girl, and just the normal dresses in my closet was a huge step for me. Grandma, Sofia, and Ysabel, on the other hand, were cool as a cucumber, as if they were wearing pajamas instead of gowns.
“Of course, it’s not comfortable. You’re wearing it to look pretty, not because of comfort. Just deal with it. Otherwise, people would remember you as the twitching princess.”
I sighed. I was trying not to look at the crowd gathered in front of the palace, but their size doubled since we first stood here in the palace’s balcony.
“Good afternoon, citizens of Bellanmuse!” Uncle Ant said to the microphone. He was wearing a suit with lots of pins attached to it. I didn’t know what they symbolized, but it must be a uniform of some kind for kings. It should look silly, but the way Uncle Ant wore it made him look more regal.
His amplified voice caused a simultaneous effect on the sea of people. Cameramen focused on him, news reporters gazed in rapt attention, and the crowd cheered.
“As you all know, the moment we have all been waiting for finally happened. Our family is very happy and thankful that she finally came back. And I will not deny you any longer the chance to see her, Ladies and Gentlemen of Bellanmuse, let me introduce to you…Princess Clarissa!”
I could see the crowd cheering, but I was too busy trying to breathe air into my lungs to hear them properly.
When they said greeting, I thought I would just smile and wave. If not for a curious Sofia asking me during breakfast if I was done with my speech, I would probably be standing in front of the whole country, dumbstruck.
“Good afternoon, everyone!”
Camera flashes started going off again, almost blinding me.
“When I arrived in Bellanmuse, I was Claire Dava, an orphan trying to find the relatives that I have never met. I am thankful that now, I am Princess Clarissa Grandis, who have found not only my family but also all the Bellans who have waited for my return. Being part of the royal family was not what I expected to find in Bellanmuse, but I could not think of any other family that I would want to be a part of.”
Once I started to speak, my nervousness started to melt and was replaced by confidence fueled by the crowd’s booming cheer that could be heard all over Bellanmuse. I waited for them to settle down because I would not be heard otherwise.
“I am especially thankful to this one person. I went inside her shop because I was hungry. She fed me a piece of all kinds of delicious bread inside her shop and when she saw my star-shaped birthmark, reported my whereabouts to the authorities. Thank you, Rosy, for bringing me back to my family.”
Grandma went in front of the microphone next. “May I request the presence of Miss Rosy, please?”
Rosy came into view as Jazaael escorted her to the balcony. She stood beside grandma, who was holding a medal that’s almost as big as a saucer. “Miss Rosy Angevin, I am giving you this medal as a sign of appreciation from the Royal Family. Thank you for finding my granddaughter, Princess Clarissa Grandis.” Grandma placed the medal around Rosy’s neck and then hugged her.
“Thank you so much, Rosy,” she whispered out of the microphone’s range.
Rosy’s cheeks were glowing. “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”
Chapter Seventeen
Jazaael and his staff worked hard to transform the second-floor ballroom and make it special for me. I’m not allowed to go there yet, though, because I was told that I needed a dramatic entrance.
“Claire, let’s go, it’s almost time.” Jazaael appeared on my bedroom door, and his eyes went wide when he looked at me properly. “Wow! You look beautiful, Princess!”
“Thank you, Jazaael.”
The ballroom was just a floor below my bedroom, but our travel towards it took a long time.
“Try kicking you dress as you step,” Jazaael said.
His arm must be numb because of the death grip I had on it. The light-green gown I have on was princessy and absolutely beautiful, but the problem was I couldn’t walk.
“You’re right! That’s better.”
“Good, because you have to walk on the aisle alone,” he said just as we arrived at the ballroom door.
I could hear Uncle Ant speaking, and I didn’t wait long before he said, “And now, I present to you…Princess Clarissa Grandis!”
Jazaael opened the door for me and whispered, “You can do this, Claire.”
Kick…Step…Kick…Step…Kick…Step…
The ballroom was full, but I ignored everyone and just stared straight ahead and focused on preventing myself from face-planting on the floor. I'm sure I looked like a zombie, but who cares? At least I was upright.
The foods served were amazing. Mr. Kai and his staff in the kitchen really proved their talents. The bread, however, was the star. The royals have never tried Rosy’s bread before and were curious why I personally requested them. At the end of the meal, I heard some of the royals ask for Rosy’s contact number so they could order anytime they wanted.
“Thank you, Princess Clarissa. I appreciate that you requested me to provide the bread for your party.”
“Please call me Claire. And you know that I love your bread. I’m glad that the royals had the chance to taste them as well.”
I couldn’t count how many hands I shook and how many hugs I received tonight. It was also impossible to remember all the royals’ names, so I just tried to remember their faces and hoped to recognize them if ever we cross paths in the future.
“Are you happy, Claire?” grandma asked.
“Yes, Grandma. It was nice to have a big family.”
“But don’t you miss your old home?” Aunt Emily asked.
“I do, very much, especially my mom. But I’m happy to be a part of our family. And it felt good to know that the whole country is happy that I am here.”
Ysabel snorted. No one else noticed, so I just ignored her. This was not the time for her negativity.
“It’s normal to miss your mom,” grandma said. “And since you mentioned her, I have something for you.” She extracted something from her purse—it was a framed picture of my parents and me. I was probably a year old when this was taken; mom was holding me in her arms while dad had his arms around mom.
“Thank you, Grandma.” My voice cracked.
She gave me a one-armed hug and kissed my head. “What else do you miss at your old home?” she asked.
“Our neighbors, Mrs. Luminaire and Mr. Taz. They were like a family to me and mom. I wish they were here to celebrate with me.”
***
A few hours into the party, I walked outside to get some fresh air when I noticed a tall figure lurking in a corner by some potted plants. His back was facing me, so I decided to scare him a little.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I whispered at his back.
Vincent was startled and turned around to face me.
“Shhhh…”
“What?” I asked. But he just shook his head, grabbed my hand, and pulled me away.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you doing there?”
“Noth
ing. Come on.”
He kept on pulling me, my hand trapped in his.
“What are you two doing here?” An angry voice said behind us. It was Ysabel. I pulled my hand away from Vincent’s, but she already saw it.
“We're just talking, Ysabel,” Vincent said.
“Really? While holding hands?”
Vincent sighed and placed his arm around her shoulders to escort her away. Ysabel stared daggers at me, but she allowed Vincent to lead her back inside the party. I sighed in relief because when I saw her, I thought she would rip my dress to shreds with her bare hands.
***
Uncle Ant and another man walked by while I was sitting on one of the benches in the corridor, wiggling my painful toes. Their sudden appearance in my unprincesslike state caused my face to heat.
“Are you alright, Claire?” Uncle Ant asked. His face was filled with amusement.
When my toes were hidden back in the stilettos, I jumped to my feet with a slight wobble. “I’m okay, Uncle,” I said.
The man beside him held my arm to help me steady and chuckled.
“This is Adam Hunte, my best friend, and Vincent’s father.” Uncle Ant gestured to the man and then addressed him. “This is Princess Clarissa.”
“Good evening, Princess Clarissa. It’s good to see you back in the palace.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s nice to meet you.”
His eyes had an odd glint to it, which I figured must be a trick of the light. Then, in unison, the men shifted their eyes somewhere behind me.
“Good evening, King Anthony, Mr. Adam Hunte. We haven’t seen each other for a long time,” Aunt Emily said, approaching us.
“Emily, it’s nice that you came back for Clarissa’s party.”
Aunt Emily placed her arm around my waist and pulled me to her side. “I won’t miss it for the world. I already lost my sister; I wouldn’t pass by the chance to be with Clarissa.”
Uncle Ant cleared his throat. “We’ll leave you to chat then,” he said and beckoned Adam to follow him.
Aunt Emily watched their backs until they were out of sight.
“I’m leaving tonight, Clarissa. I have to catch my flight.”
I sank to the bench once more to continue resting my feet. “I thought you’re going to stay for a while.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to go to work. I’ll give you my phone number. Call me anytime you need me—anytime you feel like you’re in trouble—and I’ll fly immediately.” She sat beside me and sighed. “By the way, I sold our family’s properties when I moved with my husband. I’ll transfer your half of the money to your bank account.”
“I’m not asking for anything, Aunt Emily.”
“Emma was my only sister. Half of that money was hers—you should have it. Our family is not as rich as the royals, but I want you to have your own money.” She glanced at the spot where Uncle Ant and Adam disappeared. “If you have a problem and needed to get away, you can come to me. The money will give you the freedom to do what you think is good for you.”
It was clear to me what she’s hinting at—she doesn’t fully trust the royals. But whatever mom’s reason for leaving was, I don’t think it had anything to do with grandma and Uncle Ant. They were very caring and good to me so far. I don’t blame Aunt Emily for her concern, though; she lost her sister after all.
Chapter Eighteen
The classes kept me busy, and the free afternoons I initially thought were for leisure turned out to be the time for the never-ending assignments. Time flew by, and before I knew it, I was in the palace for three months already.
Uncle Ant and Grandma were gone the majority of the time, busy ruling the country, but they made sure that we share meals and had time to talk about our days. Ysabel’s attitude towards me remained hostile and having Sofia and Vincent as my friends became my solace. Nothing, however, could dampen my longing for my mom.
“Here’s your milk, Claire.” I was startled when Mari suddenly appeared in my room.
“Sorry to startle you. I was knocking on the door, but you’re not answering.”
“Oh? I did not hear it. I was thinking,” I said.
“Do you have a problem?” Mari asked, placing the glass on the table in front of me.
Gazing at the stars became my new hobby, especially during the times that I miss mom the most. I wanted to believe that mom and dad were stars, and they were looking after me from heaven.
“No, I was just thinking of my mom. Maybe if we didn’t leave the palace, she’s still alive. No one will dare run over a royal by their car, right?”
Mari chuckled. “I’m sure your mom has her reasons for leaving the palace. Hey! Did I ever tell you that my mother is your mom’s personal maid before?”
I whipped my head and looked at her. “Really? You never told me!”
“I must have forgotten. But yes, mom said that Princess Emma was very kind. They were friends, and she even helped take care of you.”
It would be nice if I could meet her mom and ask her to tell me stories. The only Emma I knew was the one who worked at the lawyer’s office in our town, but I didn’t know the Emma who was married to the Prince and the mother of Princess Clarissa. I wonder if there was a difference between the two.
“Drink that milk and sleep. I will be back tomorrow.”
***
I stayed awake and continued gazing at the stars long after she left, which was why I was pinching my arm the whole time I was in class the following day. I’m sure the teacher noticed my efforts to stay awake because she took pity on me and didn’t give me an assignment.
“Claire?” Jazaael’s knock on the door halted my dreamless sleep.
My heavy eyelids needed serious convincing before they parted, and I’m sure I had pillow marks all over my face when I opened the door. “Hi, Jazaael. Do you need anything?”
“Sorry to wake you, but the queen mother wants you to get dressed and meet her in the foyer as soon as possible.”
That woke me up. “Why? Is anything wrong?”
“She did not tell me, but said that you need to hurry.”
“Okay, I will be there soon.” Jazaael bowed and closed the door behind him.
Grandma was already waiting for me when I arrived at the foyer. There was an SUV idling, and two men were standing beside it, Major Krisham and another guard who would probably drive the car.
“Let us go, Claire. We are in a tight schedule,” she said as soon as she saw me.
We entered the vehicle, and as we drove out of the gate, I noticed that three other cars followed us out, most likely full of more guards.
“Where are we going, Grandma?” I asked.
“You will find out soon.”
“Please tell me now?”
“No.”
After that short answer, she pulled out a tablet from her handbag and became busy. A few minutes into the journey, I noticed that we are on a familiar road.
“Are we going to the airport?”
“Maybe,” Grandma answered.
“Where are we going? I don’t have my passport.”
She continued typing a message on her tablet—leaving me on tenterhooks—and when the screen was filled with an essay, she pressed send and finally answered. “We are not leaving the country.”
“Why are we going to the airport, then?”
“You’ll see,” she said, starting to type another essay.
The driver parked near the arrival area, away from other vehicles. The cars following us parked on the spaces around us like a defense barrier. Considering they were protecting the queen mother and a princess, they probably did it on purpose. Major Krisham stepped out of the car and went to the airport building, he was gone for a few minutes, and the whole time, Grandma still refused to tell me anything.
“Who is that?” I squinted, trying to see Major Krisham properly. He was walking back towards us, carrying two enormous bags. Two people were following him—two very familiar people.
“Is that�
�Grandma, that’s Mr. Taz and Mrs. Luminaire!”
She put her tablet down and spread her arms. “Yes! Surprise!”
“Thank you, Grandma!” I said.
“Stop hugging me and greet them!” She laughed.
“Okay.” I chuckled and went out of the car.
Chapter Nineteen
It felt like years have passed since the last time I saw them because of the changes that happened in my life, but both of my neighbors still looked the same.
“Claire!” Mr. Taz called.
I ran and gave them a bone-crushing hug. “I missed you! I’m so happy to see you both!”
“Oh, we missed you, Claire,” Mrs. Luminaire said.
“Princess, we need to get inside the car before you are recognized. It’s not safe,” Major Krisham said.
“Alright. Let’s go, Mrs. Luminaire, Mr. Taz. This is our car.”
When we were seated inside the vehicle, the driver pulled out of the parking space and drove out of the airport.
“Grandma, I would like you to meet Mr. Taz and Mrs. Luminaire. They are my neighbors. Mr. Taz and Mrs. Luminaire, this is my grandma.”
“Good afternoon, Queen Isabella. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mrs. Luminaire said with a little bow.
“Thank you for welcoming us to your country, Queen Isabella.” Mr. Taz said.
“Wonderful to meet both of you, I am happy that you agreed to come. Claire said that she misses you.”
***
Jazaael was waiting outside the door when we arrived at the palace. He bowed in front of my neighbors and said his welcoming speech. “Welcome to Bellanmuse, and welcome to the residence of King Anthony Grandis! I hope you traveled well?”
“Yes, it was comfortable, thank you,” Mrs. Luminaire said.
“Please follow me. I will show you to your residence.”
“Where is their residence? They're not staying in the palace?”
“I think that they will be more comfortable in the cottage near the gardens,” Grandma said.
That’s excellent, actually. My neighbors were healthy, but I’m sure they would have arthritic pains all the time if they have to walk all over this huge palace. I did not voice that out though, in fear of Mr. Taz’s famous ear pulling technique.