ROYAL-TEA [ON HOLD]

9.

The house phone was ringing as Anya fed the babies. Jeremy got to it, nursing it against his cheek as he continued folding napkins.

"Sure, she's here. Let me get her." After which Jeremy called out to me in his loudest voice. "Aaliyah! There's a Sonia on the phone for you!"

"Sonia? I don't know a Sonia."

"She knows you, and requested you, so get to it darling. Hurry."

I rolled my eyes, dropping the plate I was currently soaping back into the sink, and hurriedly heading to a smiling Jeremy. He grinned at me before sticking around to eavesdrop.

"Aaliyah here," I began.

"Princess Aaliyah! You have to help me!"

"Sofia?" I felt so confused, hearing her breathing panicky down the line.

"They know... they told your dad. He confronted me and vowed to deport me!"

My eyes widened. Surely, that couldn't be right. "What did the King say?"

"He tried to protect me, but... Your Highness... your father is hell bent on finding out where you are, and he has me flanked by his soldiers everywhere. I can't even go to the bathroom without being followed."

I sighed, before realizing that all was not lost. "Are you with Martha there?"

She hesitated, and I felt a little irritated, before she replied. "Yeah, here she is." I heard her pass the phone over to someone who spoke immediately.

"Yes Ali?"

"I need you to bring Sofia to the Green Crescent. Can you do that? As soon as possible, I might add."

"How about I take her to Gardenia first so that I can shake them off your trail?"

I thought for a moment, before saying the dreaded words. "Rrandlovski is the best option in this case, then."

*&*&*&*&

I never really used to like Princess Noma. She was mean, manipulative and stuck-up. She was a spoilt brat, and that was probably because her father doted alot on her.

Her lineage was monarchy all along, and so far, the only people who had courted her were monarchs.

She had actually had her eye on Anthony for a while now. She was always trying to prove that Portino was so much better than the UAE. What she forgot was that my Kingdom, or rather my father's Kingdom was the place many Europeans, royalty included, came to stay when it got too cold, or when they needed a holiday.

She'd come once and had found herself surrounded by lots of pretty bags and shoes. She said that was her best holiday ever.

Despite her loud and obnoxious behaviour, Noma was my ally. When she came to visit UAE, we sneaked out for parties and 'lost' our bodyguards so that we could go into Victoria Secret shops to try out lingerie and whatever else we needed to try on. We also sneaked into franchise fast food branches like McDonalds and PizzaHut. That holiday won her loyalty and respect for me, and she promised to help me if I ever needed it.

That was why I was calling her on the phone. I had come to collect the favour.

"Noma, I need your help."

*&*&*&*&

"I can't believe this!" Noma yelled. "How?!"

"Noma, my father is..."

"Anthony is supposed to marry you?! Why did you run away?"

"He ran away too!" I spoke in defense.

"He followed you dummy!"

"No, he didn't."

"Yes he did! He likes you, and he can't stop thinking about you."

"Noma, I didn't call you to discuss my love life. Or lack of it."

"Exactly why I love you. We both know exactly what's happening. How did he know exactly where to find you? What if he brought Sonia along..."

"Sofia, and no. I am not letting you reign over this conversation. Are you gonna help me, or not?"

"Of course I am gonna help you. You said she's your lady-in-waiting?"

"Yeah," I replied, nodding my head. "She is. Can you accommodate her?"

"I can tell daddy she's a diplomat's daughter visiting."

I had to smile at that. The Princess Noma I knew would never help. Perhaps UAE changed her for the better. Perhaps she was finally growing up. Who knows? All that pleased me immensely was how she offered to help.

I had just hung up when I heard a knock on the door, followed by the ringing of the doorbell. I got up, following a maid who rushed to the door and pulled it open. I gasped at making eye contact with him.

"What are you doing here?"