HIS FUTURE QUEEN

LIFE OF A PRINCE

CHAPTER 4

KLAUD

As soon as we landed in Giorginia, my eyes beamed in amazement. How could this place exist in this realm? I whispered to myself.

Even from the air, my mind was blown away by the beauty of the 800 square miles of a kingdom between the UK and Norway. A big island surrounded by lush greens that probably remained dense even in winter. And the waters surrounding the kingdom, I guess, would look splendid in summer. Amazing!

The air view was mesmerizing. I stared at it with mouth agape. If I was amazed while I viewed this place on-air, I have seen nothing. The kingdom's beauty impressed me beyond anything as soon as we stepped off the plane.

From the airport, the rooftop of the Giorginia Palace could be seen, and a variety of trees surrounded a not-so-big runway but well organized. Airplanes of various airlines in a row and a small building, I presumed, was where they issue clearances for passengers of planes and where visitors were registered and given a pass.

Cleanliness was as clear as daylight. I looked around, appreciating the scenery unfolding before me. Lush greens in wedges and trimmed trees everywhere greeted my eyes. It was like a big well-maintained garden where every plant was trimmed to perfection daily.

A warm feeling coursed through my body. I closed my eyes, breathing in the fresh and fragrant air. I felt transported to another world, a world so pure and so beautiful.

There were people slowly leaving the place. I guess they were part of the team assigned to welcome back their Prince. I didn’t see him earlier, as the aircraft's wing hampered my view. I simply saw the people waving at the Prince, and soon cars sped away before we were allowed to get off the plane.

“Wow, beautiful,” Peter and Mia chorused, exclaiming their appreciation, the same as what was in my head but unable to voice.

“We have to see the entire kingdom. I’m sure it's more amazing than what we see now,” I responded, glad that I had finally found my voice.

“I'm excited to see the Palace where we could meet the Queen,” Peter added. It very seldom heard him appreciating a place. Peter was usually bad-tempered when tired, but now, even the long hours of travel seemed not to annoy him at all.

“Yes! I guess they will tour us around. God, I hope we can pass the final evaluation. I don’t mind living in this awesome place for the rest of my life,” Mia remarked excitedly.

In my thoughts, I murmured the same. I like this place so much. As if there was a magnet, an invisible force, pulling me to it.

However strange it may sound--as soon as I stepped onto the grounds of Giorginia, the feeling I had was so close to…home.

*

*

ELIK

As soon as I stepped onto the palace grounds, I was told my parents were waiting for me in the Queen’s garden. Her indoor garden was where she entertained people close to her–like family and friends. No business matters were ever discussed in her sanctuary.

I headed straight there. I couldn’t help but miss my parents' presence. My week's stay in the US made me miss home.

I saw my mom as soon as the door opened. She looked incredible in her blue dress, which matched her eyes. She was a vision of finesse, elegance, and beauty, very much the gorgeous Queen she was. Despite years since Elishabeth Marionette Stanley Weston assumed the title of the mother of the entire kingdom. She made their lives more prosperous, safe, and happy.

Of course, she couldn’t have done it all by herself. I heard it right from her mouth. The Duke’s support in her reign couldn’t be ignored nor forgotten, yet the Duke never out-shinned the Queen. He supported her without being so obvious in the public eye.

I wondered how he was able to do it. My dad has a larger-than-life personality. He was always so sure of himself, to the point of sometimes haughtiness and cockiness. No one could stand in his way when he wanted something, yet he remained a simple supporter of my mom in front of others. He never shared the limelight unless it was extremely necessary.

In the presence of the majestic couple, with opposing yet complementary characters, they remained warm and loving to their friends, family, and children… I know I have reached home.

“Oh dear, your eyes, are those the contact lenses your Ninong (godfather) gave you?” I have blue eyes like my mom, but when out of the country and supposedly had to conceal my identity, the board advised me to use a special type of contact lens engineered by my Ninong Gi, which also served as a tracking device. It was colorless, but as soon as they were placed in the eyes, the eye color turned brown or grey. The contacts in my eyes turned them to brown, the same as my dad’s eyes.

“Yes, mom. They said I’d rather not chance it. Although the US was fairly safe, I’d rather be there as a plain visitor rather than a royal visitor.” I visited the US due to the medical foundation's contract renewal. I visited universities and colleges and renewed our support contracts. I went there not as Elikhan Weston but as a foundation representative. It was not an official state visit; therefore, I was in disguise.

The beard, the eyeglasses, and the brown contact lenses were part of the disguise the Advisory Council had me follow.

I could understand why mom wanted to give up the throne as soon as I was ready to accept it. The title of the head of the Kingdom was equivalent to an imprisonment sentence. We lost everything associated with freedom. The shitty title comes with protocols, protocols, and protocols, especially for a QUEEN or KING.

“I missed you, son,” mom dashed to my side and gave me her signature hug–a tight snuggle while she nestled her head in my chest, listening to my heartbeats while her gentle arms wrapped around me. She gave this hug to all her children. Again, the shitty protocol couldn’t allow her to express her emotions outside the family. As a Queen, she had to be aloof and detached, which was the exact opposite of my mom’s personality. She was warm and delicate and loved everything with life.

“Missed you too, mom.” I hugged her back, and we held on to each other for a little while until my dad decided it was time for him to be noticed.

“Enough! Otherwise, I’d be jealous,” he chuckled.

“Dad, even to your son?” I retorted.

“Old man–” Mom called out, but dad interrupted her speech.

“Who’s old? I don’t remember you complaining, as I f****d you well last night, my Queen,” My dad smirked as he said it. Alik Weston could be cocky when he wanted to.

“Ahgr–um…dad, too much detail,” I shook my head as we shared a man hug, the Duke’s larger-than-life personality truly exemplified, especially when he teases mom.

We grew up with this kind of love. Dad talked and appeared like a bully boy in front of mom when the family was present, but never in front of other people. But, in reality? Dad was the gentlest man I knew and loved Mom so much.

“One day, son. You’ll find someone you can’t get enough of, like me to your mom.”

We laughed while my mom blushed at my dad’s teasing.

Our family was known to bring in a new dimension of love for each generation, from my grandparents, Khalan and Aliyah, to my dad’s twin, aunt Khalie and uncle Luke, then mom and dad. In our generation, there were the twins and me and my first-degree cousins.

Glad we're still loveless. But, I didn't know about the twins if they had love interests or none still. The ladies never disclosed their personal details to me. They might be afraid that I would oppose. But who was I to intervene in matters of the heart?

On second thought...not until they finished their studies.

After learning about my family's love stories, I chose to set my mind off on the issue of love and romance. Goodness, how could I equal that kind of sacrifice, endurance, resilience, and courage in their pursuit of the greatest thing called love?

On top of that, how could I find the holy grail if the Advisory Council was head-on to match me with every lady from a noble family? It looked like it would be impossible for me to marry because I love the person. At the rate they were going, I would be married to a princess of their choice in no time, and it would be far from marriage out of love, more like a marriage of convenience.

Could I stomach that?

Before I go insane thinking about my future, which was engineered for me not by myself but by the sounding board, I realized long ago that I never really had a future I could call mine. It was all for the kingdom. I existed for the kingdom. My life would be dedicated to the people around me –all the more, I thought of the throne as my lifetime jail.

“You have on the plane the students? All 22 of them, no one backs out at the last minute?” My dad asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“I didn’t hear anything of that sort. Who would want to back out from a reduced timeline to study medicine? Not to mention that the education and accommodation were free, and they would get allowances for simultaneously working in the hospital,” It was a lifetime opportunity, even I would not let it slip away.

“Excellent. Your grandparents would like to join the screening process, but not as part of the panel.” Dad let out.

“I will make the arrangements,” I replied.

“Are you sure about heading the medical foundation, still? You’ve been heading it for years. Won’t you be interested in defense? Or Research and Development?” Dad asked, giving me options.

“I’m on page with all departments, Dad, but, I promised mama Aliyah, I will see through the medical foundation until I still can.”

Running a kingdom was like operating a large, fully diversified business. There was a lot to do, but the greatest challenge was dealing with people. The Kingdom of Giorginia was a hybrid between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy. The King or Queen had power but was not absolute and was governed by rules and laws created centuries ago and guarded by an Advisory Council consisting of elders and young leaders.

I probably would have one hell of a time when I began to dissect these rulings and protocols if I became king.

“Elik, the Advisory council proposed and approved a promenade to be hosted by the Kingdom after a very long time. We will host a promenade two weeks from now.” Mom prompted. "Make sure you have no out-of-the-country schedule."

“Promenade? Is it a parade or a ball?” I squinted. It was the first time I had heard such a kind.

“Well, it is a combination, a parade of ladies as their introduction and followed by a ball, where young gentlemen and ladies could dance.” Mom explained.

“Wow–Didn’t I see it coming? Did the advisory Board have nothing else to do but to plan and try to fish for ladies to match me?” I guessed that was why they suggested an event—a chance for me to find a match.

“Obviously. But do not worry, son. You can always refuse the recommendations from the AB. Just go with the flow, meantime.” Dad suggested.

“They were interested in marrying me off to a deserving Princess,” I scoffed, amused and annoyed simultaneously.

“I only concurred when they said it was not all nobles. Even commoners may join,” mom imparted. They might have pushed her to a corner, which was why she agreed. I knew she hated lavish celebrations. She had cut down on many kingdom activities since she ruled.

“Anyway, dance with the tune for now. Of course, you will have the last say about who you will marry.” Mom whispered and winked at me.

I was aware that it was what she did during her time. It was also why she had me and tried to conceal my father's identity because he was a very wealthy commoner but still unqualified to be her consort. She didn't know then that papa Khalan had noble descent.

I guess this would be the life of poor me, cleverly controlled by the people, for the rest of my life.