After their talk, each one of them got to their stuff. Dalia had picked the main suite so Christopher settled for the one on the main floor, which was still spectacular and spacious. He had gotten used to certain luxuries as a teenager and adult, but this was just another level for him. Even though his family were what you called royalty, he had wanted to work, so he had studied and started a business, so he had been working for a few hours when he heard a knock on the door, but before he could tell the person to come in, Dalia was already opening the door, wearing a pair of sportive shorts and a tank top, hair up with curling devices. He could see she was a little impatient.
"Remember we have that dinner in a few hours. The car will be here to pick us up in 50 minutes, so I suggest you get to it" she said. She had started to feel a lot more comfortable around him, speaking freely and not even caring about protocol anymore, although that was just behind closed doors. That night, she would portray the picture perfect princess with her picture perfect fiancée.
"You know? I don't take hours to get ready, but thank you for the heads up, pumpkin" he mocked her a little bit with the nickname and she grinned at that. She was a bit relieved that he wasn't angry at her for practically using him for her getaway plan. She knew in her heart that what she was doing was dangerous and a little bit wrong, but if she had learnt anything from her father was that what was right for the heart, must me right for the world.
When the phone rang 50 minutes later Christopher exited his premises and waited patiently by the stairs, waiting for the brunette stunner to walk down them. When he saw her, his mouth opened a little in appreciation, but he composed himself by straightening his back and clearing his throat.
"You look beautiful" He said to her, his voice calmer than he thought he could've mustered. She was wearing a loose cream coloured dress that reached just before her ankles with golden spots all over and a V-neck that revealed just enough to be appropriate, with a pair of golden heels. Her earrings were long and big, and her hair was parted in the middle and slicked back in an elegant bun. Christopher wondered what had happened to the curls she was going for, but he knew better than to ask about it.
"You don't look too shabby yourself" She answered, the British term amusing him, it was clear where she had gone to study and even though Aurum's official language was English, it was a little bit different than British accent. "Ok, let's go. We don't want to be late to our dinner" She said chirpier than usual, but he just shrugged and followed her out of the door.
When they reached the main foyer, the flashes caught Cristopher off guard, but Dalia simply plastered a perfect smile on her lips and grabbed the man's hand and guided him towards the exit, where the car was waiting for them. The younger man on her security detail bowed to her and opened the door for them, before closing it back up and climbed on the riders side and started the engine. It took a while for the hotel's security to clear the exit, but in less than three minutes, they were on their way to le Palais de l'Élysée.
"Man, I don't know how you do this all the time" Christopher muttered, still holding Dalia's hand unknowingly. She just shook her head and laughed it off.
"Occupational hazards" She said with a smile and then retrieved her hand form his, putting one on top of the other on her legs. "So, Macron is a bit enthusiastic, his wife is so stuck up, you'd think she has a stick up her butt, but still great at breaking awkward silences. The prime minister, Philippe, is just an awful human being, so, if you see him near me, please take me away before y kick him in the nutsack" at that, both the guard and Christopher laughed at loud, but Dalia was just being honest. She hated the man to the bone.
When they arrived, camera flashes were back at their faces, from every direction. Dalia grabbed Christopher's hand once again and exited the car with an amount of grace that had been taught to her from a young age. Once they were inside the presidential palace, she let out a heavy sight, feeling a little bit more relaxed, even if the press team for the president were also taking photos, although more discretely.
"Bonne nuit, Président Macron, Première dame Trogneux" Dalia said in perfect French accent and extended her right, free hand, towards the president and first lady of France "This is Duke Christopher of Taenella, my fiancée" she motioned towards the dark imposing man besides her, who let got carefully of Dalia's hand before shaking their hands as well.
"It's such a pleasure to have you here tonight, your Highness" Said the young president, who seemed rather cautious that night, but Dalia just decided to ignore him. The conversation moved rather quickly away from pleasantries and towards different matters that the princess had imagined where going to surface in the conversation, such as trade and the constant battle to get Aurum in the Schengen Agreement. The topic had been especially delicate the last 4 years, with the immigrant and the financial crisis's.
For the better part of the evening, Dalia kept Cristopher by her side, he did well on his word to keep her away from the Prime minister, who had been very vocal about his views on the immigrant influx during dinner and with whom Dalia happened to disagree strongly, but she kept her thoughts to herself and tried to keep the conversation pleasant.
Dalia excused herself and she looked directly at the president for a few seconds before she disappeared towards the restroom that was near the main office of the palace. After just a few seconds the President appeared alone and opened his office, motioning towards Dalia to enter, before closing the doors.
"As discussed with your prime minister and your mother, here's the complete proposal for the agreement" He said rather too loud for her liking, she hated when people couldn't lie to save their lives, but it was rather shocking that it came from a politician. He handed her a thick envelope and she rolled her eyes at him, he clearly didn't think it through, seeing as she only had a medium sized handbag. Still, she opened it and took out the cell phone, the three passports and the wad of money that were inside, along with various documents that she folded neatly before putting everything inside her olden bag.
"I'll make sure that the parliament, my mother and the prime minister get it as soon as I return to Aurum, you have my word" While Dalia was talking, she took a pen and wrote on a little piece of paper that was on the desk 'is everything ready for the day after tomorrow' and she turned it over so that Emmanuel could read it clearly. He nodded and said nothing more before stepping out of the huge office and leaving her to her own thoughts for a few seconds. She knew better than to leave evidence lying around, so she took the piece of paper and put it inside her bag as well and exited the room.
After half an hour after their meeting, the Princess decided to call it a night and said her goodbyes to everyone at that meeting. She paid no mind to the wary look on the president's face and just shook his hand while he bowed a little to her, a courtesy that she had always hated, but still had to accept, at least for a few more hours.
Once they were back on the car, the guard, who looked tired, but still maintained his seriousness and sense of duty that made Dalia feel kind of sorry for him for using him on her plot, but she still knew she needed him, even if he didn't even know he was being used.
"How was the night, your highness?" He asked, bowing to her while opening the door of the car for both Dalia and Christopher.
"Uhm, I didn't kick anyone in the nutsack, which is nice. Not that I didn't want to" she said in all seriousness, making both men laugh. She smiled at the guard, that sense of guilt returning.
YOU ARE READING
72 Hours
Roman d'amour"That was so corny" That was Dalia's response. He took the bracelet and locked it in her wrist "And we've been engaged since I was 5" "Yes, I know. My parents felt the need to wait until I was in love and off age to tell me" he retorted. "See. I hav...
