Safety First! Princess Next! || Montgomery De La Cruz

Chapter 1 - Be quiet, don't say anything, and if you can't say yes, don't say no

"You will love it there, I promise you sweetie. I know you're used to better with your stand-"

Linda clasped both my hands with hers and looked at me. I, however, stared ahead and tried to ignore Linda, I was already much better at that after many years of practice.

Linda didn't even seem to notice that I couldn't hear a thing she was saying. So she tried to catch up and kept talking, probably even faster this time

"I personally think that the Queen's idea was a great one. Isn't it all the more important that a princess like you sees the world as it is without all this frowned upon. This is not a punishment, dear, you and I will love it with the Walkers, they are really nice"

And she laughed easily. As annoying as Linda was, I liked her laugh and the corners of my mouth formed a little smile. Of course I liked Linda too, I had no choice, she was the only person I could talk to. My nanny was my best friend - that's right. And that's just one of the "privileges" of belonging to the royal family.

••••

"Princess,your skirt is completely wrinkled. What will these people think of me? That I can't even iron a skirt for the princess?" Linda shook her head and tried to straighten my skirt with her hand, she really made an effort with me, annoying but still sweet.

I raise my eyebrows "I'm not a princess here. Don't forget that Linda" Then I shake my head in amusement

Then she turned me around, examined me from foot to head, stood me up straight and nodded contentedly

"Good. I beg you princess, please make an effort to show some, well, respect. After all, you still represent the country" Linda looks at me seriously

I nodded and mumbled "I'll do my best Linda but I'm not promising anything" I tried to smile while Linda pressed the bell. I stood bolt upright with my arms hanging loosely down beside my body as I had learnt in my basic manners class.

The Walkers were rich, at least by the standards here.You could tell that just by looking at the house, almost villa, they lived in.

Mother could never have sent me to a ghetto. As dangerous as it could be, she would have been far too afraid that I would adopt their habits, her biggest nightmare. So I ended up here. Probably for a year, a year with the Walkers! And Linda!

And then I heard it. This snapping, the snapping of a camera. After 16 years of sacrificing myself to the public, I know only too well that these are paparazzi. Great! Not them too. I wanted to turn to them, to shoo them away, but something tugged at the sleeve of my jacket. "Not princess"

I hesitated. Linda was right, more rumours and headlines were the last thing the Princess of Luzon needed right now.

I ripped my sleeve out of Linda's grip. Her look was serious and almost disappointed.

The door opened slowly and a woman in her mid-forties appeared behind it. Her smile was forced.

The woman indicated a slight bow, "It's an honour. Princess Gwendolyn" I gave a slight curtsy "The honour is all mine. Mrs. -?"

I looked at her questioningly. "Mrs. Walker" I nodded slightly. "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Walker"

She smiled and turned her head to Linda, shaking her hand. The two of them introduced themselves and we walked in, through the large reception hall on into a kind of parlor.

Here they call it the living room. "Please sit down, Princess" Mrs Walker folded her arms in front of her chest and pointed to an armchair couch "And Linda, my dear. You too please" She smiled at us both. I sat down with Linda on the two-seater armchair.