HIS FUTURE QUEEN

ELIKHAN WESTON

CHAPTER 2

ELIK

What did I do to deserve that beastly stare of the lady?

Her spiteful gaze penetrated my skin. Was she expecting me to apologize? It would never happen if she were expecting that. She was the one who knocked her head on my back in the first place.

I simply stood in my place, and I did nothing. Why would I apologize?

Aside from the fact that I couldn’t bend down to help her, I have staff who did that for me. To bend down was a gesture against the protocol. I could only bend down in front of my parents. Even if I wanted to, I simply couldn't; I would be penalized for going against the protocol repeatedly. I had received many warnings and couldn’t disappoint the council again.

My men were helping her, but still, she was looking at me like she wanted to punch me or scratch my face until it was bleeding hard. She was bold and amusing...crazy too. I wanted to smile and laugh, but for a courtesy reason, I did not.

“Elik, you will be late,” Allie reminded me.

I checked the time on my wrist, and she was right. I needed to head to my last courtesy call for the day.

“Yes, Elik, you will be late. Tito Gaurav is a busy person. Kiss Tito and Tita for us,” Ellie seconded.

I simply wanted to check on the twins before I flew back to Giorginia early in the morning tomorrow. The twins had to stay until next week, the end of the school term, and they would return to Giorginia for their vacation.

Knowing I was running out of time, I nodded and kissed the twins goodbye, “I will see you both in a week, no late-night parties. Do I make myself clear?” I reiterated. These two could be a pain in the ass.

“Yes, yes. Just go. You will be late!”

Obviously...they were trying to get rid of me so they wouldn’t be reminded of their responsibilities and obligations. I wanted to give them a word or two, but there was no time.

I heaved a sigh of defeat, but before leaving them, I turned and looked at the lady spitting fire like a dragon.

I couldn't help but notice that she was very presentable, with long hair, long legs, cute face, but she looked stubborn and rebellious.

But–Where were my manners?

I guess I needed to check on her to ensure she was alright.

I also needed to take my men away from her, or my godparents would be wondering where I was. Being late for an appointment never happened to me; I was always on time.

Walking toward the lady, I saw her roll her eyes.

“Hello–are you alright?” I asked, using my normal tone. I mean emotionless; that was part of my training.

Even in disguise, I could no longer change the way I communicate.

I was here in this part of New York to meet the twins. No one in the media should see me going around NYC and make news out of it. This side trip to see the twins was not part of my itinerary.

“Now, you are asking me that? Hah!!–After you blocked my way to the restroom? Gosh! You didn’t bother to help me earlier when I fell!” The lady's voice reverberated across the space. She was obviously infuriated.

I was startled for a brief moment and unable to utter a word, and when I recovered, I tried to explain.

“Wait–” I should have said, 'My men helped her. Why was she mad at me?' but she cut me off after that one word.

“I have no wish to talk with an impolite nerd like you. Go to hell!” I was even more surprised to hear her. She leered and swayed her head, then stomped her feet and moved away from me, not giving me a chance to voice my side.

My men were shocked, and so was I. Nobody had dared to talk and treat me like that.

I was not mad, surprisingly, but instead, I was amused.

Did she call me a nerd?

I couldn’t fault her—the nerdy look was my disguise. My lips angled to one side while I stared at the lady trotting away from where we were.

What was wrong with the lady? Was it normal in this place to be so rude? I stayed around this area for years while finishing my master's. It was a good community with a friendly neighborhood. The lady was an exception, though. She would be punished for her audacity...normally, but I let her go. Anyway, our paths would never cross again.

“Sir, it is time–” Saul prompted.

I frowned, “How many times do I need to tell you not to call me sir when no one can hear us?”

“Sorry, Elik–” Saul heaved a deep sigh and scratched his head, “It’s just that I don’t know who’s squealing with the council. I was often reprimanded, and I got my final warning.”

I shook my head repeatedly. Damn the council; their eyes were always on us.

I grew up with Saul and Frio– my right and left help, and I have chosen them to accompany me anywhere I go. We studied together, and they stayed with me night and day. They were the closest I could call friends, and they served as my bodyguards.

Saul and Frio were trained professionals to handle all kinds of ammunition and expert in various self-defense. They were tasked with protecting me at all costs. Not that I couldn’t defend myself, I trained the same way they did, but the advisory council wouldn’t hear any reasoning from me. They settled when I negotiated only for two men of my choosing to be with me 24/7, while Saul and Frio stayed with me all the time.

Well–aside from the men outside, on camouflage, blending with people as natives so that I wouldn’t notice them. As if I wouldn’t know.

“Are you sure the lady is alright?” I asked, just to make sure.

“She seemed capable. She lashed on you like a wildcat,” Frio chuckled.

I disregarded his provocation.

“Alright then, let’s go.”

I signaled the twins we were leaving, I knew their escorts or security detail were spread outside. The twins, just like me, hated the security detail, but we had no control over this protocol. Otherwise, they wouldn’t allow us to study abroad. We should be content with the compromise.

It took us fifteen minutes to reach the hotel where my godfather was staying at the moment. His family lived in California, but he has business here in New York. Dad asked me to visit him and my godmother, Danica. It had been months since I saw them, and they were like family to us.

Their son, Ynigo, was so close to the twins. They were of the same age. My dad’s crazy stories emphasized how they simultaneously made the twins, Ynigo, and my twin cousins Lieka & Nikko. Dad was a wacky man with a sack of silly jokes, but he was one of the men I respected most. He joked so amusingly that no one would say he had billions of dollars under his sleeves.

My family had money, well, tons of money; they didn't even know how to count it. We were taught that money would never equal love. My family was crazy about love as if it was the most precious thing on earth. They were keen on knowing when I’d find the love of my life. Well, I have no idea how would that happen or if I would ever fall in love one day. My life was way different from other people's, I was so different from normal people.

But I was raised by very good people. Away from the advisory council's eyes, we were just a nutty bunch who weren’t concerned about royalty.

Finally, I reached my godfather’s door, and Saul pressed the buzzer.

In seconds, the door opened, and the smiling face of one of my respected men appeared in front of us.

“Ninong, Gi,” I greeted and hugged him instantly.

“The Prince–hello, my son,” he tittered while tapping my back.

He always called me his son, which I liked. He was like a father to me.

He pulled me inside after we hugged each other and took me to my godmother Danie.

“Hello, Ninang Danie,” I called to her and gave her a peck on both cheeks.

“How are you, my favorite godson?” Her smile was as warm as always. She didn't age a bit, she looked the same for as long as I could remember. The ladies in our family seemed to have found the fountain of youth.

“I’m good, Ninang.”

It was always a happy occasion whenever I was with them. The miles between us didn’t matter. The Callaways spend a lot of vacation time in the kingdom. They also co-founded the kingdom's medical tourism project, which started seven years ago.

The Callaways were family. These extraordinary people were part of my youth, and I was proud that good people raised me.

I am part of a beautiful family, and I am Elikhan Stanley Weston, prince of the Kingdom of Giorginia.