Diplomatic Affairs

9

As the plane touched down smoothly, a mixture of relief and excitement washed over me. With each passing moment, the anticipation swelled as we prepared to disembark and receiving the welcome of Avalor's king and queen. Dressed in their finest formal attire, they awaited us with smiles radiating warmth.

"Welcome, everyone," the king greeted with graciousness, his words suffused with a regal aura that resonated through our group. "I trust you had a safe journey."

My attention was immediately drawn to Ari. The instant her gaze locked onto her parents, her exclamation filled the air, "Mother! Father!" Her voice exuded a blend of joy and longing. Without a moment's hesitation, she hastened toward them, enveloping both the king and queen in a fervent embrace.

Her mother reciprocated the embrace with a tender smile. "Arianna, darling it's so wonderful to have you back home," she conveyed with deep affection. The queen's tone carried a blend of nostalgia and pride. The king mirrored her sentiments, appending, "We've missed you very much."

Following a moment of shared embrace, Ari gently pulled from her parents and directed her attention towards me. Brimming with enthusiasm, she introduced me to her parents, declaring, "This is my new best friend, Ben, and his bodyguard, Ryder." I couldn't help but experience a swirl of exhilaration and anxiety as I stood before the royal couple.

The king extended his hand in a gesture of welcome. "Ah, yes, Benjamin Harrington," he uttered, recognizing my name. I clasped his hand with a firm shake, a sense of honor enveloping me in the presence of such distinction.

The queen gracefully joined the conversation, her tone imbued with warmth. "We've heard all about your mother's re-election campaign, and it's truly an honor to have you here tonight, representing her," she remarked.

With a respectful inclination of my head, I responded, "The honor is mine, Your Majesties." As a wave of humility washed over me.

The queen then proposed that Arianna and I make our way to the dining room to claim our seats before she turned her attention to Monroe and sought his assistance. "Monroe, would you please escort Ryder to the back with the other security personnel?" she requested.

Ryder interjected respectfully, "I would prefer not to let Benjamin out of my sight, Your Majesty," he asserted.

The queen offered a reassuring smile, her voice emanating confidence. "There's no need to be so steadfast," she kindly expressed. "Rest assured that our guards possess unparalleled expertise. Benjamin is well protected here." As she spoke, she motioned toward the uniformed royal guards stationed throughout the courtyard, underscoring their competence and dedication.

"It's okay, Ryder. I'm in good hands," I assured him. Ryder cast a lingering glance in my direction before giving a nod and trailing Monroe, while Ari grabbed my hand and exclaimed, "Come on let's go!" A smile graced her features as she led me inside through the grand entrance.

Just as we were about progress deeper into the room, a man of striking presence stepped forward, his focus on Ari. He mused, "Is that my dear Princess Arianna Isabella Sephrina Windsor of Avalor standing before me?" Observing her summon a fake smile, I witnessed her respond, "Prince Walter, it's good to see you again."

In return, the man smiled and remarked, "You're looking absolutely stunning this evening." His attention pivoted to me, prompting him to question, "And who might this be?"

"This is Benjamin Harrington. We share a suite at the academy. Ben, allow me to introduce Prince Walter of Pensley, my betrothed."

Extending my hand, I extended my greeting, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Prince Walter." He met my gesture with a smile, replying, "The pleasure is entirely mine, Benjamin."

As we exchanged pleasantries, a familiar voice interjected from behind. I turned to see Alex, elegantly attired and grinning, accompanied by William, who held a book in his hand. Alex's exclamation punctuated the moment, "Well, isn't this quite the reunion?"

I noticed Alex's gaze lingering on me, and our eyes met in a fleeting moment. An instant of hesitation passed as Alex stumbled over his words, "You look...nice." A smile tugged at my lips, and I responded, "Likewise."

At that very moment, Ari joined our conversation, suggesting that we secure a seat before they became scarce. In accord with Ari's proposal, we proceeded into the dining room, where we managed to secure a few available seats.

Taking our seats, Walter turned his attention to William with a jocular tone, "No welcome for me dear brother?" The statement took me aback, and my surprise was palpable as I inquired, "Brother?" Walter responded composedly, "William is my younger brother. Since Arianna is my betrothed, my entire family was invited, although our parents couldn't make it."

"And I'm here accompanying William," Alex chimed in, referring to himself as William's plus one. Out of nowhere I felt a hit of envy surge within me, leading me to instinctively blurt out, "like a date?" In response, Alex smirked and playfully inquired, "Jealous, are we?" A teasing wink followed. Flustered, I shifted my gaze to Ari, who was exchanging conflicted glances between William and Walter. Walter was deeply engrossed in an animated discussion with an important looking figure.

Breaking the moment, Alex commented, "This is the first state dinner where I don't recognize everyone." His remark caught the attention of Ari and Walter, diverting their focus to him. Ari added, "Yeah, without you guys, I'd be here all alone." Just as her words concluded, a waiter approached our group, serving each of us a plate of traditional Avaloran cuisine. Ari playfully twirled her fork through the dish before gesturing to a random man nearby and jestingly saying, "Like him for example who is he?"

Turning my attention, I immediately recognized the man standing there. "That's Reagan Reynolds, my mother's opponent in the re-election!" I exclaimed, taken aback by the sight of him conversing with the the king and queen. In an unexpected twist, William added, "I recognize him too! He visited my castle a few weeks ago and had tea with my parents."

I observed as Reagan appeared engaged in dialogue with the king and queen.

"It seems he's attempting to curry favor with Ari's parents," Alex commented, his tone laced with skepticism. I nodded in concurrence, acutely aware of the political maneuvering underway. It was evident that he was strategizing to win the goodwill of influential figures within our realm.

From a distance, I observed as the opponent engaged the king and queen in conversation, adroitly pouring wine and displaying polished gestures. His words were carefully chosen, aiming to create not only a positive impression on Ari's parents but also on the entire court.

"He's likely attempting to convince our people that he's not entirely inept when it comes to foreign policy," I muttered quietly, a surge of frustration welling up within me. It irked me to witness someone resorting to such tactics to manipulate public perception. The notion of him garnering support through deceitful means fueled my exasperation.

Ari, who had been listening intently to our discussion, interjected with a contemplative expression. "I doubt his conversations with my parents will carry much weight back in Veridia," she remarked, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

Alex added with a blend of cynicism and insight, "Doesn't matter; all he needs is good footage of himself appearing presidential, ready to slap on a voiceover." His comment resonated, underscoring the shallow nature of politics and how effortlessly individuals could be influenced by appearances alone.

Ari exhaled softly before resuming, her resolve evident. "I suppose that means you'll need to put in even more effort to create a lasting impression," she stated, her eyes locking onto mine.

"I'm going to confront him."