Restrictions || C.L

-9-

I didn't want to take this up with Adrien, but I had to. I didn't really have choice.
While I was finding him, I was thinking about how this relationship of Charles and me would work out. The next race wasn't in Italy, obviously. I'll have to go to other places and be seen with him, but there are certain royal problems with that.

"Hey, there you are! I've been trying to find you everywhere."
"Hey, what's up?"
"There is something we need to talk about, it's about the relationship."
"Oh? I'll arrange a PR meeting in the next hour, then."
"No, I want to talk about it privately. Are you free?"
"Of course, princess." That makes me chuckle.
"You have to stop calling me that."
"It's only true, though."

Laughing, we make our way to backyard. There's rarely anyone here except the guards.
Sitting at one of the round tables, I finally speak up.

"So, um, mom isn't in Italy. We have no clue where she is. Aaron's supposed to be coronated as well. And I can't just go off to a whole different country when there is no official person in power and the prince is under restrictions!"
"I understand the concerns, I really do. But the people who need to know where the Queen is, they know. We've also issued a notice saying that your mom is officially on a business trip."

I look away from him, at the trees in front of me. What could she be doing that she had to leave unannounced and not even tell half the people where she is? That just sounds too shady for my liking.

"Adrien, I'm not asking you this as Adriana, I'm asking you this as the Princess. Where is my mother?"
"Your highness, The Queen has ordered me to not speak of the matter. What I can tell you is that she is safe and nothing is going on that you should be afraid of." He replies and gives me a smile.
"I hate you, you know that?"
"I do."

...

I just got text. And I wasn't expecting it.

It was Dana.

It had been so long, I had genuinely forgotten that she existed. I really thought she just suddenly didn't wanna be friends anymore.
I open the text instantly.

I need your help

That's what it said. Thoughts were racing past me as I got more worried by the second.
'What happened? Where is she? Is she okay?' Was all I could think of.

what do you need?  I text back.

I could go on and rant about how she left me and Nick stranded, without a word, just disappeared. How I was so worried and angry but the worry was greater than the anger that brewed from it.

I slightly jump when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see Melinda, an assistant in the management team.

"Oh my god, you scared me. What happened?" I ask. It was rather rare that she reached out to me herself, she would generally send someone under her. I figured this was something serious.

"I think you should check this out." She says and hands me the tablet. "We all will be in the conference room 07." She adds and walks away, her heels clicking along.

They were nice heels, I have to admit. Not the time, bro.

I look at the tablet Melinda handed me, a newsletter open in it.

...