Across boundaries (1D series - Book two)

Across boundaries >> V <<

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Across boundaries  

Across boundaries >> V <<

"So," Harry asked curiously. "You actually owned the Shipping Line?"

Sammy and I had joined the boys for a sit-down dinner in their private suite. The ship had set sailed for her maiden voyage away from the port of Rotterdam. The passengers were busy settling in and exploring. The boys would not be needed until much later for the official welcome ceremony.

I smiled, "No. The Genovia Shipping Line is a national shipping line. It is owned by the state, which technically means, the Queen."

"Where's Genovia?" Louis asked. He was tucking in to his extra large serving of carrots.

"The United Provinces of Genovia is a constitutional monarchy located between the Netherlands and Belgium, to be exact, although some people know us to be near Scotland," Sammy explained. "We have a current population of some ten thousand citizens and about a thousand foreign nationals. The Genovian royal family is headed by the young Queen Amelia Renaldo."

"Who's the King then?" Liam asked.

I saw Niall hiding a snigger. He had asked the exact same question.

"There is no King," Sammy continued. "The Queen's husband is known as the Consort. Lord Venfred Devereaux is his name. The Queen has inherited her title from her grandmother, the late Queen Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo whose son, the late Prince Philippe had unfortunately died in an accident."

"That's a handful of names," Niall mused. "So, what's the full name of Queen Amelia?"

"Queen Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo," Sammy said easily. "She's fondly known as Queen Mia."

"How on earth do you remember all these?" Louis asked with his eyes wide.

"This is elementary history lesson in Genovia," Sammy shrugged.

"So," Harry continued. "How did you girls get to work in the court?"

Sammy exchanged glances with me.

"My father is the Great Counsellor and Advisor to the Queen," she replied. But she left it to me to explain myself.

The boys turned to look at me, giving me the how-about-you look.

I racked my brain quickly.

"Sammy and I are cousins," I said while Sammy threw me an amused look.

"So, how did you get into being the CEO of the national shipping line?" Harry asked as he poked at his potatoes.

I shrugged, "She felt that I was suitable for the job?"

"It's so cool," Louis said between his mouthfuls of carrots. "I mean, how old are you?"

"Yeah, how old are you?" Harry leaned forward.

"Nineteen."

"Same as me!" Harry grinned.

"Zayn's very quiet," Sammy pointed out.

I had noticed it too. Throughout the whole dinner, he had been sitting there without uttering a word.

The boys eyed him sympathetically.

"He's just homesick," Liam said as he patted him on the back.

Sammy did not ask further. With her knowledge on One Direction, I was sure she must be aware of the real reason. Zayn was not homesick; he was heart-broken. He was probably missing Jo Andrews like hell. Breakups were never easy.