Be My Princess (FanFiction): Summer in Altaria

Chapter 24

"I don't think this is such a good idea," I whispered to my brother as we got into the limousine after Roberto.

"And why not," Joshua smirked.

"Well, for starters, what if we see father there at the Ball in Nobel Michel? And don't forget the fact that he had only given me permission to visit Altaria, not Nobel Michel."

Joshua rolled his eyes.

"Mother and father never go to Lord Nobel Michel's parties." He explained. "If they did, it would be once in a blue moon."

I sighed as I sat in between my brother and Roberto in defeat.

Roberto and my brother were having an animated conversation as I stared out the window.

Will it really be okay? I thought worriedly.

The drive to Nobel Michel from Altaria was surprisingly short. Or at least, that's how it felt. Short.

Paparazzi surrounded us as soon as we got out of the limousine.

I peered around the paps to see if the other Crown Princes had arrived as well, and they did-- and they also were surrounded by other paparazzi.

Who knew there were so much of them? I thought as Alberto helped us get to the stairs that led up to the entrance to Lord Nobel Michel's Castle.

Once we entered the Castle, we were immediately ushered into a conference room. Where I knew the Crown Princes were to greet Lord Nobel before the party truly began.

Somehow, I knew all of the Princes do this every time they attend a party in Nobel Michel, out of respect and all that.

When I was younger, I never attended any of these meetings. So, before anyone-- meaning my brother or Roberto-- could notice me, I snuck out of the conference room. Only to bump into Zain.

Lord Nobel Michel's head butler.

He gave me a polite smile before he saw who he had bumped into.

Zain looked both shocked and surprised when he realized who I was.

"Princess Katerina," He bowed elegantly. "It's good to see you. I didn't realize you were back."

Back?

"It's good to see you too, Zain." I gave him a confused look.

What did he mean by that? I thought.

I was about to ask Zain when Lord Nobel finally had arrived.

He was standing right behind Zain.

Lord Nobel smiled brightly when he saw me.

"Princess Katerina," He said as he stood in front of Zain then.

"Lord Nobel," I curtsied deeply as I bowed my head.

"Oh, there's no need for that." He said as he put a gentle hand on my shoulder. "It's been quite some time since I've seen you. Please, I want to see your beautiful face."

My cheeks burned as I stood back up.

He's still the flirt that he is, I thought as Lord Nobel took my hands in his.

"Look at you," He studied me at arms-length. "You've grown in the past five years."

I pursed my lips together as I realized that I was just a little taller than him now, but that's probably the help of my high heels as well.

"M-Maybe just a little," I admitted.

Lord Nobel smiled gently at me.

"I'm glad that you're doing well, Princess Katerina."

"Same here," I smiled faintly.

Zain cleared his throat.

"We must greet the Crown Princes now, My Lord," Zain moved to open the doubled doors of the conference room. "Before we're all late to the Ball," Zain added with a bow.

"Ah, yes," Lord Nobel nodded in agreement. "Would you like to stay with your brother during the meeting?" He asked before he entered the conference room.

I shook my head.

"I'll wait by the Ballroom's doors-- if that's all right."

Lord Nobel nodded. "That's quite all right. I do hope to see you again, Princess Katerina."

I curtsied deeply as he and Zain entered the conference room. I stayed like that until I heard Zain close the doubled doors.

My knees buckled beneath me when I heard the doors shut close. I hadn't realized that I was nervous.

Until now. As I sat there in the hallway for a while before I slowly made my way to the entrance of the Ballroom.

My legs were still a little wobbly when the Princes arrived.

I was leaning against the wall when they stood before me.

Relief took over my brother's and Jan's features. They probably thought I had ran off again.

"You were here," He breathed.

"I was, yes," I couldn't help but frown.

A part of me was hurt. That my brother thought that I would have ran away again.

Our father had made it clear, crystal clear, that if I ran away during our Visit to Altaria-- he would hunt me down. Literally.

"Let's go inside!" Roberto chimed. "Time to mingle!"

I chuckled.

"Always the party goer," Keith said irritably as we entered the Ballroom.

Guests were already there when we entered, and they all looked pretty surprised to see me at my brothers side.

I've been full of surprises lately.

Loads of surprises.