It was getting to be a mouthful now, and Kenrick kind of hated it.
"Hello, I'm Kenrick. You can call me that."
He extended his hand.
"Hello, I'm William. You may call me Bill, Kenrick."
This boy, he was quick on the uptake.
"Thank you, Bill." He shook the boy's hand warmly.
"So we're friends from now on, right? No more royalty."
"Okay, Ken."
That was quick – from Kenrick to Ken! He loved it absolutely.
"Where did you get your quickness from, Bill?"
"Where you got yours – from this great country."
"Wow, I love it! Now, off you go to have fun. Will catch you later."
Strangely enough, Kenrick felt human. Being communicative, exchanging repartees, thumping backs, was this not fun? Was this not what being a man in society was all about?
He drew out Bill's application from the file and glanced at it. The boy was from the most beaten part of town, his parents had died when he was three, and he was living with his uncle, a daily wage earner. But he was a topper in class, and a winner of the university's debating championship. No wonder his tongue ran like a pair of scissors.
Kenrick felt an inexplicable kind of affinity towards Bill. If only he had a kid brother like him, he thought.
Suddenly he missed life – as lived by simple, everyday folk. What life was he living?
He was this automaton, a fucking machine (with all puns intended) – a piece of flesh existing only to satiate its own craving. Was there any point to it, to being like an animal; was there any purpose to his life at all?
Compared to that, Bill's situation was more fulfilling. Braving heavy odds, this boy was carving out a life for himself, excelling in everything. And each time he did, it would give him a unique high, the kind of kick that Kenrick had never experienced. Here he had everything in life, and how boring was that!
He summoned his first assistant.
"Henry," there seemed a change in Kenrick's voice, too. Never was he so soft in addressing his people, nor did he ever address them by their first names.
"I want to know everything about this boy Bill. Please submit a report in two days."
Kenrick saying 'please' to his staff? Unthinkable!
"Yes, Your Royal Highness," replied Henry, confused at the courtesy coming from the prince.
"And Henry," continued Kenrick.
"Let him stay on for a few days. No need to send him away tomorrow. Thanks."
Kenrick thanking his staff? Unbelievable!
"Yes, Your Royal Highness." Henry bowed and took leave of the prince, inwardly happy at his new way of addressing him.
Kenrick was so drawn to Bill that he even contemplated adopting him. That was unheard of, but then such change in Kenrick overnight was incredible too.
Imagine if he were to take this boy under his wing, Kenrick thought, and let him study all he could. Let him go explore the world, and find his feet and grow his wings. Let him soar the skies and fly as high as he wanted. Would that not be making a real difference to someone, and contributing to the world in the truest sense of the word?
Fortunately, though not by merit but by birth, he was eminently placed to do it – and a whole lot more. And to think that all he had to do was say yes – and it would happen.
Kenrick was resolute. He made a decision right then and there: He would begin with Bill. He would put the weight of his royal powers behind this deserving kid and see to it that he got every facility he wanted. Nay, deserved. And he would make him an achiever and a worthy citizen of this great country.
Yes, Kenrick would make this small beginning and see how it went.
He could feel the winds of vicissitudes seeping through him. And it had all been sparked off by Addie's charity. Kenrick started his own as a rebuttal to hers, of course, but that, in turn, led to other positive changes in him. The results were quick, and they were overdue.
And now there was another revelation within him. He did not want to trounce Addie anymore. In fact, he was not even thinking of her or her charity, to show her up by showing he was good. He was so completely consumed by this thought of backing one person, just one deserving individual, and making something out of him, that he forgot about everything else.
Well, that is how it should be, he thought. Cut out the irrelevancies from life. Stay focused, stay relevant.
Everything was happening too fast. Might as well, said he to himself. He had wasted enough time already. And suddenly, he had a lot to do. Best to be busy this way, rather than while away his time.
Kenrick sat back on his chair. A happy, contented smile played on his lips.
Time to surprise everyone, he said inside.
Time to surprise himself.
Chapter Fifty-Three
What she heard did not surprise Addie. Then again, it surprised her no end.
That Kenrick would do something to anger her was not surprising in the least. This was to be expected of him, especially after their encounter which – instead of bringing them closer – set him against her.
In fact, Kenrick had been giving out mixed signals for some time now. And Addie had no clear image of him anymore. First he tried to woo her, then he bedded her in triumph and arrogance, then he dumped her. And now he was going back to step one again – what gave?
It was to run away from it all, to drown out her trauma, to make a new beginning, that she'd started her charity. It was true that she always wanted to do something in that direction, and this incident acted as a catalyst, hastening its birth.
Then Kenrick came up with his own charity. Coming from him, it was astonishing; Kenrick would be the last person to venture into something like that, knowing his nature and propensities. But it had happened.
And now, this news coming from Bill.
She was sitting with Addie in the café at the university; they were meeting there after a long time at that place. They had come visiting partly for nostalgia, and partly for catching up with Bill.
Bill was two years her junior, highly talented and supremely intelligent. He was from perhaps the lowest rung in society, but when it came to merit, he was up there. Both Addie and Cate would help him out often, with his studies as well as financially. Now that she had a structured, registered charity, Addie was planning to formalize a grant for Bill.
That was when he revealed the big news.
"Prince Kenrick," said Bill, his voice low.
"Is going to adopt me."
This statement was greeted with silence from his two listeners.
"Adopt?"
It was Cate who spoke, after what seemed to be a full minute.
"What does the prince mean by 'adopt' – do you become a royal, too?"
"What he means, I think," Addie answered for Bill.
"Is that Prince Kenrick would sponsor him. Fund all his activities."
"Yeah, I guess so," came Bill's rejoinder.
"He's trying to beat you at your own game, Addie," Cate said.
Addie was thoughtful for a moment.
"Well, we've nothing to do with him or his programs," Addie replied.
"The good news is, we'll not have to worry about Bill anymore."
Addie's matter-of-factness startled Cate. But her friend was not bitter in the least. Just that she stated the fact unemotionally.
"I think it's a great opportunity for you, Bill," continued Addie.
"You've got to shine, and make the best of it."
"Yes, I know. I will," said Bill.
*****
"Do you think he's for real?" Cate asked Addie.
They were back at the palace, in her chambers. The shock of Kenrick offering to 'adopt' someone was still on their minds, more so for Cate than Addie.
"I think so," said Addie.
"Even I was suspicious of his motives earlier. But now, I've started thinking otherwise."
"What do you mean? Can anyone change so much overnight?"
A
ddie was quiet.
"Well," she said at last.
"It wasn't all that sudden, if you think about it. Certainly not overnight."
"How can you say that, Addie?" Cate asked, suspicious.
"Unless you're falling for him hook, line and sinker."
Addie waved her hand.
"Far from it, Catie," answered Addie.
"I'd questioned his motives earlier, like you. But since then, over the last two months, it seems like he's turned over a new leaf."
Cate, who knew that Addie would never say anything unless she was sure about it, wanted to know more. She waited for her friend to continue.
"Mrs. Bradford was telling me the other day," said Addie.
"Apparently, Kenrick is now very courteous with his staff. Can you imagine that?"
"You mean," gushed Cate.
"Our prince has gone from four-letter words to saying 'please' and 'thank you'?"
"Precisely. Not only that, but I'm told he now addresses them by their first names as well. And actually gives them enough time to get things done."
"Are you serious?" Cate found it difficult to believe.
"And what on Earth is the reason behind this incredible change?"
Again, Addie was silent.
"I can't put my finger on that," she replied.
"But for all we know, it could be a genuine change, from deep inside his heart."
"Do you even think that's possible, Addie? You know him better than anyone else."
"Yes," affirmed Addie slowly.
"Which is why I'm now saying that perhaps, just perhaps, he's being true. For once in his life."
*****
"Is such a huge change possible, Mrs. Bradford?"
Adelaide was having breakfast, with her governess attending to her. This was the time she would ask the old lady about things that did not make sense to her.
"It's possible, my child," answered the good woman.
"That's the magic of life. You never know which way it will turn, or what it will teach."
"In this case," Addie wanted to pursue the point.
"What do you think triggered it all?"
Mrs. Bradford was quiet for a long time.
"Yes, Mrs. Bradford?" Addie persisted.
"My child," she seemed to hesitate.
"May I be frank with you?"
"Of course," Addie took a moment to reassure the old lady.
"You know I regard you almost like my mother."
That was true. On several occasions, the old governess felt her maternal instincts come alive and henceforth showering all her love on the princess. There was no reason to believe that Addie would be upset with what she wanted to say.
"Well, my child," the old woman began.
"I feel Prince Kenrick is in love… with you."
"What?" Addie was genuinely surprised.
She took care not to react too loudly, or the old lady might hold back her opinions.
"Yes, my dear. And love can make you do some really wonderful things."
"Okay, even if I accept your theory, you must tell me why you feel so."
Again, Mrs. Bradford was silent.
"Well, my child," she began.
"Trust this old bird's instincts. I've seen enough of life to know these things a mile away. In fact, I suspected it the first time he ever came here."
"When he was rude to me?"
"Yes. That was only a façade, you see. And, in your subsequent meetings, it pretty much turned out the way I had expected it to go."
God. Did this mean Mrs. Bradford knew everything… even that incident?
"The way he's been following you and your actions, his charity, his changed demeanor… all this points to true change. To my mind, he did it all for you."
*****
Addie was unsure.
Though the signs were all there, and the positive vibes were unmistakable, she could not digest the change – especially the rapidness of it.
And there could be another reason behind it. Their encounter in the Royal Gallery was fresh in Addie's mind – still, after two months of it happening – and the quick volte-face by Kenrick. It was unbelievable then, the way he'd went from goody-goody to rank baddy; it was unbelievable now, when he was reversing the process and going from villain to do-gooder. Both were extremes, and Addie hated extremes.
Earlier, she had been too gullible, probably a tad too eager and available. And now she wanted to make up for that lapse by being extra careful. She was experienced now, and experience was the enemy of innocence.
Now you can't fool me, Mr. Kenrick, for I need to know if your change is genuine.
*****
That afternoon, Mrs. Bradford came with further news.
"My child," she said, once she'd settled down.
"I heard that Prince Kenrick is constructing a home on the outskirts of the city."
"A home?" Addie asked.
"Yes, for the underprivileged," replied the old woman.
"Apparently, his recent experience with a young lad opened his eyes… kind of."
Addie smiled.
"This lad," Mrs. Bradford continued.
"Was down in the dumps in terms of where he lived and what he did. So the prince offered to sponsor him and his studies – I'm told he's a brilliant kid."
"Okay." Addie was aware of that part.
"Prince Kenrick made his staff unearth data about such deserving people. And since he can't accommodate them all in the palace, he thought of this home where they could be housed."
Was he overdoing it, wondered Addie.
But it was no skin off her back. Let the prince do what he wanted with what was in the Royal Treasury. Not to mention the millions and billions of his personal wealth.
"Prince Kenrick has already identified the spot and given orders to begin construction," Mrs. Bradford continued.
"The structure will be ready in two months, and then inmates will start coming in."
"That's excellent, isn't that, Mrs. Bradford," Addie replied, genuine pleasure in her voice.
"Yes my child, it's what the royalty should be doing at all times, really. It may have been late, Prince Kenrick I mean, but better late than never, as they say."
"Thank God, his mind went to these things… It's God's grace, truly," noted Addie.
"Yes, my child." Mrs. Bradford's eyes were shining.
She paused, looking at Addie, some thought swirling inside her head. Then:
"You, my child, started it all."
She kept looking at Addie.
"Oh no, Miss," Addie said with conviction.
"I'm just a new entrant here. And I'm sure Prince Kenrick must have many such initiatives we don't know of."
"I doubt that very much," replied the governess.
"The royal family, yes, through The Royal Family Foundation. It's centuries old. But Prince Kenrick… this is his first such endeavor, bless him."
Addie agreed – Kenrick needed to be blessed for this. Even if it was ultimately just to go neck-to-neck with her, or to garner more fame and goodwill, his commitment to the cause had to be commended.
A small token of encouragement would not be out of place, thought Addie.
She took out the royal stationery.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Kenrick woke up to some historical news.
His coronation was announced – it was going to happen the following Sunday.
Henry, his first assistant, brought him the official circular just before breakfast. Kenrick looked at the rolled alabaster sheet tied with a red ribbon. It had the royal insignia on it.
Though it had been rumored for a while, he never thought it would happen so soon. It was hastened, no doubt, by the ill health of Kenrick's father, the king. Perhaps there was no strength in him anymore to attend to the many duties of the titular ruler, though there was an elected government in place to ensure day-to-day governance of the country and take care of its foreign policy.
Royal S.O.B. (A Bad Boy Romance) Page 22