Running Around Royal (Prince Harry #4)

Chapter Nine

The royal couple stayed the British consulate, and it was almost back to the houses that Meredith knew, except for the fact that it was fortified structure. When their car had rumbled into the fortified building with high gates around, more protesters were stationed outside with signs that read nasty things. Harry was strict in his seat, but Meredith had to keep her curiosity at a minimum. There were obvious issues that she was unaware about.

Harry took a shower and then went into another room to get changed, and Meredith stayed in the guest bedroom, getting ready. A long ballgown blossomed around her with a straight back until it bloomed around the waist. Meredith thought she looked like a marshmallow until the light changed in the room to reveal it had a glittery silver tint. Meredith's hair was pulled back, and her eyelids glittered in the same glittery eyeliner and eye shadow.

Jessica walked in and curtsied. "I have the tiara, your highness." She placed the tiara box on the dresser.

Meredith bit her lip.

The secretary frowned. "Her Highness and I need a moment. Please wait outside." Meredith's ladies-in-waiting curtsied before moving outside the room, and Jessica closed the door behind them. "What is it?" she asked kindly.

"Do you think the tiara might be a bit much tonight?"

"You're a duchess, ma'am."

"Yes, I get that." Meredith thought about a new way to say this, however Jessica already knew.

"Are you thinking about the protesters, ma'am?"

"I understand that I cannot personally know what happened and continues to happen today since I do not live in the region or even have much thought about it ever, but I thought there was peace," Meredith said. "I realize this isn't war or any time of violence, and trust me, I am not upset about the protesters. I realize why they do it, but for Harry and me? We're not really that important."

"To them, you are, ma'am," Jessica said. "You may not see yourself as very high, but these people do. You represent the British Monarchy, for the good and the bad, and to these protesters, who do not like the institution, you represent that bad."

With every step, her dress crinkled as she walked over to the jewelry box. "And we're not going to appease them?"

"No, we never appease."

Meredith shook her head. "We appease many people. I know because I've done the research. There are arguments all the time about how much money the monarchy spends. I know because I had the big wedding, and I, like other frugal people, believe it was a lot." She slid on some bracelets and then her engagement ring.

"It is a lot of money, ma'am, but you are living in a fairy tale now."

Meredith had a hard time believing that since this was her life now: dresses, tiaras, dinners, events and the such. This was all beginning to become normal.

"This is all a fairy tale. For the people who grew up, they cannot believe it; they choose to see the bad and the horrible. They want to find the negative and use it," Jessica explained. "For the people who did not grow up-- who are still young at heart-- they want the glamour. They want the dresses and the parties. They are the ones that come up because they grew up knowing what the monarchy can be."

While it was a beautiful sentiment, Meredith responded, "The monarchy is nothing without its people." She put in her earrings.

Jessica sighed, her grip tightening on her binder that she always carried around. "The monarchy is what it is, for all the good and for all the bad." The secretary glanced at her watch. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes. I'll send in one of the ladies to help you put on the tiara, your highness." Jessica curtsied and left the room.

Meredith took a deep breath and returned to the vanity, where three large mirrors had been set up so Meredith had to look at herself at all times. She sucked in her stomach while bringing her shoulders back. She ran her tongue across her lips before she smiled in the mirror, batting her eyelashes.

A knock echoed in the room. "Come in," Meredith called.

Her ladies-in-waiting returned and curtsied. One of the ladies put down a step stool in front of the duchess' feet. Another one of the ladies, wearing delicate white gloves, stepped up onto the step stool as Meredith bent down a bit at the knees for easier access to her head. The lady-in-waiting placed the tiara on Meredith's head and then put a few bobbypins in. A bobbypin stabbed Meredith's skull, and she bit her bottom lip.

The lady-in-waiting stepped back, and Meredith raised to her full height. Slipping on her heels, Meredith became taller with her shoulders pulled back and her back straight. The ladies-in-waiting curtsied again, because Meredith honestly didn't have the care to tell them to stop even though it bothered her.

Glancing to the clock, Meredith knew it was time to go, and she made her way down the staircase, carefully not to drip over her large, puffy dress, which crumbled with every step that she took. While she looked like an olden age princess, Meredith wasn't so sure how she felt about it. This wasn't the last state dinner, and she hoped the dresses might get better.

Harry smiled at her as he fixed his cuff links. "You look stunning," he said when she finally reached the bottom step.

"Thank you." Meredith slid her hands across her silver dress.

Harry helped Meredith placed on her small black coat, and the doors opened. A motorcade waited outside for them with at least three police cars. Meredith glanced at her husband with a quizzical look. He sighed with a strict body.

"Just in case," he muttered, and they stepped outside together.

A light snow began to fall around them, but it wasn't nearly cold enough for it to stick to the ground. Meredith was careful on the pavement, as if there was black ice, but she found none. Harry slid into the back of the car, and Meredith slowly got inside, reminding herself to keep her legs together. The door closed by a police officer, and then the motorcade was off.

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Yay! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged! They're so adorable.

(Yes, this fanfiction is continuing, as will the series. It's already a bit odd so let it continue.)

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Author Ask: If I mess up something when writing, because Harry and Meredith are going on their world tour, please let me know. That also goes for if you have anything you think I should add before I write it, please comment or message me, and I will do my best to get it in there.