Suddenly, someone came over and whispered something in Addie's ear.
"Oh?" she said as she looked towards the stage.
The prince smiled, and waved back at her. He wanted a minute of her time, and she had to oblige.
"I'll be back in a minute," she announced, thrusting the shield into Cate's lap.
She waded through the crowd and reached the stage. The prince was waiting to the side, his aides standing a little distance away. Cameras came alive as if by magic, trailing her throughout, till she reached the prince; then they started covering both of them.
"Hello, Princess Adelaide," said Kenrick, a distinct change in his manner from last time.
"Hello, Prince Kenrick," Addie answered, taking care not to miss any of the critical words as required by royal protocol.
"What about my invite?" His voice was down to a whisper.
"Which invite?"
She could not place what he was saying – for an instant.
"And there, ladies and gentlemen, the two royal siblings having a word with each other!"
This was the voice of a live announcer for one of the television channels.
"His Highness Prince Kenrick is seen here congratulating Her Highness Princess Adelaide on being the most talented student in the university… This, ladies and gentleman, is a display of brotherly affection for his dear younger sister… Yes, loyal listeners, the royals are as much human as the rest of us… And here's a brilliant testimony to that fact…"
The cameras focused on this stepbrother and stepsister displaying sibling affection.
"You're fascinating," whispered Prince Kenrick.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kenrick was not sure if it was love.
He found her fascinating, that was true. He also had a tender feeling for her. But then again, he found a butterfly fascinating, too. And on a good day, he could feel something tender for an alley cat. Neither of these meant he was in love with such subjects.
His wild attraction for her was a fact. And it was reinforced when he saw her that evening at the university event. That was the first time he had seen her after his infamous visit to her chambers; it was less than a week since then, but it had felt like ages to Kenrick.
Another thing. Though he met her that day in her chambers, it seemed to him that he had not 'seen' her properly. It somehow appeared like an out of focus picture in his mind. Only yesterday on the dais had he seen her up close. Her face was inches away from his as he was whispering to her.
It was there he studied her pretty features at proximity: They combined both grace and oomph at the same time. And that voluptuous silhouette of hers was already firing away at his loins, doing things to his testosterone.
Kenrick was no stranger to women; in fact, he had taken the finest of them. The sexiest of girls had succumbed to his charms, moaning in pleasure under his weight, or screaming for more sitting over him. This was Kenrick, the emperor of the orgasm world, the cunt worshipper, the cock conqueror.
This was Kenrick the Great.
And it was this same Kenrick who was bowled over by a simple, everyday, middle class maiden. Was there some kind of message in here for the arrogant Kenrick? Some kind of divine balancing out for all the aggression he had perpetrated? Was the day of reckoning near and would justice be done for the countless women that he had violated?
His mind was in a kind of flux. And he did not know where to turn to, or whom to share his turmoil with. If only Pat was here!
He reached for his mobile phone and speed-dialed his number.
Pat picked it up at first ring.
"Hey Phantom!" came the familiar bubbly voice.
"How have you been holding up, oh prince of thieves?"
"Hi Pat." Kenrick came out more serious than he had imagined.
"Phantom – something's the matter?"
Pat was quick on the uptake.
"No… I…"
The prince was at a loss of words – for once in his life.
"What's up, tell me!"
"Ah… Pat, where are you?" Kenrick succeeded in saying one full sentence.
"I'm in Warsaw – can you believe?" Pat sounded enthralled.
"Far away from kings and queens. The cradle of the proletariat… the capital of Eastern European revolution… Remember Solidarity?"
Kenrick was in no mood to remember anything. Neither did it register in him.
"Pat, I wanted to talk to you…"
"What?" Pat did a double take.
"I mean, about what?"
"About…"
"Princess Adelaide?"
This was why he was Kenrick's best friend, only friend.
Kenrick could not say yes. Nor could he say no.
"Phantom, I know you… Is your stepsister bothering you too much?" asked Pat.
"Yes…"
"Hold on, what time is it there… four a.m.! Heavens, Phantom, whatever is the matter with you?!"
Kenrick was silent.
"I've never known you to be an insomniac, Phantom! The picture in my head is you sleeping like a baby after a round of heavy-duty fucking."
"I… I'm all confused, Pat."
"You know what you need, Phantom?" Pat tried to change track.
"A huge, fulfilling royal fuck. That's what you need."
"No, Pat, I can't focus…"
"Bring it on, Phantom. Nothing like the good old in-and-out, in-and-out to lift your spirits."
"Pat."
"Don't ask me to come over, Phantom," said Pat, continuing to be jovial.
Kenrick knew this was a favorite trick of Pat's. He would pretend to be disinterested to get Kenrick back into his mood.
But this time it wasn't going to work.
"I'm in the midst of a rather important assignment," continued Pat.
"Oh."
This was rare, coming from Kenrick. If he were his usual self, he would have ordered – backed by the power of his royal might – to bring Pat's ass right there, from wherever he was and irrespective of whatever he was doing.
And it was not lost on Pat; yet he stuck to his fake sense of humor.
"I'm checking out the local cuisine, Phantom – or rather, the street food here," Pat informed.
If he were face to face with Kenrick, he would have seen the glint of mischief in Pat's eyes.
"And I must say, it's rather delicious. She's right now sitting with my cock in her mouth."
Kenrick was silent.
"You must be wondering," came Pat's voice again.
"Whatever happened to my golden rule – never two people on my bedroll. Well, I amended it recently – tonight in fact – to make some glorious exceptions."
"Oh."
"If the girl is hot enough, and my dick is hungry enough, two people can just about manage on my bedroll."
"Okay," responded Kenrick.
He disconnected the line.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Outside Addie's huge French window, someone had placed a large bouquet.
At least, that was what it had looked like at first glance. In reality, it was a psychedelic painting of the choicest flowers from the gardens of Mother Nature.
There was Bermuda Buttercup, that wonderful yellow five-petal flower that she'd picked as a child with friends back in her neighborhood. Then there was St. Bernard's Lily and Oleander, along with Lantana and Scarlet Pimpernel, that dazzling blue with pointed ends like a celestial star. And there was Verbascum, Common Mallow, Spanish Oyster, Stork's Bill and Bindweed, creating a dazzling floral combination; not forgetting Blue Gem and Calla Lilly, completing a comprehensive bunch that was a sight for sore eyes.
Spring had arrived.
And with that, there was a spring in her step. And happiness in her heart. This was the season to be joyous, and to share that happy feeling with someone dear.
"Catie!" She called her best friend on the phone.
"Yes, my princess," came the response.
"Guess what's outside my window?"
> "Is it a huge bouquet sent to you by Prince Kenrick?"
Addie was aghast at the obvious truth in her statement, and at the hidden untruth in it.
"Catie!"
There was a hint of reproach in her voice.
"Why bring that creepy leech into every conversation of ours?"
"Oops, I'm sorry, Addie," Cate quickly apologized.
"It was just a joke. Tell me what's outside your window."
"You won't believe it," said Adelaide.
"I counted at least twelve different flower types in my backyard. Reminded me of my neighborhood back in the town."
"Your backyard, my dear princess, is as big as my entire neighborhood," scoffed Cate.
"Is it any wonder you have a little botanical garden out there?"
Addie laughed. And Cate sighed relief.
"Wanna come have a look?" Addie asked.
"Addie," replied Cate, and her friend kind of knew what was coming.
"If you want me there, just say that and I'll be there the next minute. Why use the season as the reason?"
"Okay, Catie, come over," Addie liked the wordplay.
"Transport coming your way."
She hung up and called for Mrs. Bradford.
"My dear governess, may I have Cate over please?"
"Why, of course," the old woman replied at once.
"And Mrs. Bradford, may I have her stay the night please?"
"Yes, of course," she answered with the same quickness.
"What?" Addie could not believe her ears.
"Yes, you may have your friend stay overnight," Mrs. Bradford repeated.
"How come?" Addie asked.
"What about the protocols?"
"Well," the old lady paused.
"I had a chat with the security guys on that."
"You did?"
"Yes. I asked them about Prince Kenrick, who could have his friend stay with him for days, then why can't my Princess Adelaide do the same?"
"Wow."
"So, you can."
"That's what they said?"
"They had nothing to say, except agree to my request."
Addie jumped up from her chair and pounced on Mrs. Bradford. She gave her a huge hug and an even huger kiss on her cheek.
"That's why you're my Mrs. Bradford and I'm your little Addie!"
The old lady's eyes welled up yet again. It was not uncommon for children from the royal household to get close to their nannies, but this kind of bonding was rare indeed.
*****
In exactly an hour, Cate was in her chambers.
"Catie! Am I not thrilled to see you!"
Addie's delight knew no bounds.
She had not met her best friend since that eventful Annual Day at the university. And though she was not tired physically that day, she felt spent mentally and emotionally. The nervousness of the reading (yes, she was nervous, despite her calm exterior), the mental fatigue of winning (yes, she was pooped), and finally the emotional exhaustion of meeting the prince (yes, it was draining) – she needed to have Cate over that night. It wasn't a matter of wanting.
What she really needed was to just collapse into bed, with Cate by her side, and just let go of everything, mind and body, and vanish into nothingness. But she was afraid of being too dependent on her best friend, always seeking her presence; no, that was not to be made a habit. She had to face these circumstances herself, cope with the conditions on her own.
Of course, she knew the reason for this loneliness: Her mother. Ever since she became the 'queen mother', she was not accessible to Addie. The two of them, who were thick as thieves just months before, had to now contend with protocols and appointments just to see each other. Earlier, her mum was just a yell away. Now she was so far, and yet so near. Now she had to send requests, fill forms, and go through channels to meet with her own blood. And being the emotional creature that she was, Addie needed the shoulder of a loved one.
That mantle fell on Cate. And fortunately, she realized this. Cate knew what Addie's mother meant to her, and – while there was no way Cate could even aspire to fill that gap – she could at least lend her ear to Addie. Which was why when Addie needed her, anytime in the day or night, she was there.
And Addie was ever grateful for that presence.
"You called, and I came!" Cate exulted.
"And don't ever think you require excuses for calling me in the future."
"Thank you, my dear Cate," Addie flung her arms around her best friend.
"You know it," replied Catie.
"And I say this not because you've become a princess overnight. For me, you're still the same old Addie from that same old middle class neighborhood."
That touched a raw nerve in Adelaide. Her head fell on Cate's shoulder, and she felt the throbbing of her friend's head. Moments later, her top was wet in tiny patches… She just held Addie in a tight hug as her friend was sobbing quietly.
*****
"So – what do you think of the prince inviting you yet again?" Cate asked Addie.
They were lying around in her four-poster bed, not with their heads on pillows but with their bodies aligned like an equals sign. It was rather late in the night, and they were just talking and talking and talking.
The one feature of their conversations was that they never ran out of topics. One subject segued seamlessly into another in a long continuum of chatter, in which both parties contributed equally and enjoyed equally as well. Nothing was forced, no discussion dragged on needlessly, and the conversation flowed smoothly like a river downstream.
Now, as usual, they went through several topics, from studies and impending examinations to university life and the just-concluded Annual Day. And that was how the mention of the prince happened to enter their thought thread.
"Honestly…" replied Addie, her mind somewhere far away.
"I've no idea… My mind is in such a muddle, I needed another brain to work on the problem. And who else but you to share this load with?"
She gave a tiny head nod to her friend.
"Yup, I get that," said Cate affably.
"But tell me, what's the confusion all about? Have you fallen for the sexy prince, too?"
"Come on Cate." The speed with which Addie answered baffled Cate.
"That is something that would never happen in this life."
"Are you sure, Addie?"
"Yes, cocksure," Adelaide affirmed.
Both friends stopped for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"That was precisely what I was referring to!" said Cate through her laughter.
"No, seriously I am," Addie said, without much conviction in her voice.
"Okay," granted Cate, hearing the cravings of her heart at once.
"And if at all it happens…"
Addie fumbled with her words, for the first time.
"You'll be the first one to know."
"What!"
And both friends rollicked on the bed with laughter once again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
One day passed. Two days passed. Three days went by.
There was no change in Kenrick's state of mind. Or state of the heart. He was lovelorn, much as he hated to admit it, and turned a recluse in his own manor.
Very rarely would he move from his chambers, except to go to the study. He was averse to reading, and even more averse to switching on his laptop. He would never step out the door, and would not even venture as far as the large window by his desk. The most he would do was sit at the table and scribble on royal stationery – largely inane sentences – create small paper balls out of them and throw them in the bin. That was his favorite pastime.
Almost a week had slipped by since that evening at the university, when had had – shamelessly – invited Princess Adelaide once again. This was not him; such exaggerated courtesy was not part of his mental makeup. In fact, he had never invited anyone ever in his life, so that itself was a huge aberration. And to request the same person to come over twice – i
t was unthinkable.
Royal S.O.B. (A Bad Boy Romance) Page 10