The Royal Spare (COMPLETED)

12-Of Midnight Snacks And Promises

I was done! I was done with that royal disaster of a day. I knew I never should have agreed to it. Well, I didn't. My father and brother did. I didn't agree to it but I didn't really have a choice. Whether I liked it or not, I must be where they said I should be, when they said I should be.

I was never a fan of the dauphin even when I just knew him by reputation back when I was younger. When I first met him in an official visit with my father to the Etazúrian court during my studies in their country, I learned that the tales of haughty, vain and philandering heir to the throne were true. I intentionally avoided his company which was easy since he was too busy bragging about the successes of the party he hosted the night before to the ladies of the court. I dreaded the prospect of his courtship with me which was already mentioned by our parents then and I was repulsed by his presence in our palace.

After his impertinent treatment of the brilliant Richard Martin during lunch the other day, disrespecting the man's talent and reducing him to one his play things, I knew I hated him to my gut so when the King and the Crown Prince agreed for him to take me out on a date, I nearly yelled at them and stormed out but like a good little princess that I should be, I just sat there and put on a fake smile.

Thankfully, my father and brother still cared enough for me to not allow us to go unchaperoned. Lady Marian, Cora and Gali were with us. Though I was sure the former was only there to make sure I wouldn't push the dauphin off the yacht where we had lunch and tea at the bay. Sounds romantic, right? Not. He spent most of the four gruelling hours we spent there bragging about his boats, jets and cars. He also described, in very poor taste and discourtesy, the other ladies that were presented to be his potential bethroted as if that was intended to flatter me and make me feel lucky to be chosen. I should've told him to choose one of them instead but I couldn't speak a word between his endless speeches and his noisy chewing.

It wasn't all bad I guess. I mean Cora and I had a little laugh when he almost fell off the horse on our way back to the palace before Lady Marian gave us one of her disapproving stares.

When we got to the palace, I courteously excused myself to change for dinner while he waited in the drawing room. I offered my hand for a handshake. For some reason he assumed we had a moment and tried to kiss me instead. That was when Gali "accidentally" tripped on the carpet and pushed the dauphin away from me. I took that chance to sneak out of the room while holding back a giggle.

Dinner was once again tedious with the men talking politics and the dauphin enumerating his superiority over all mankind while the King and Crown Prince nodded their approval. Great! They might as well sign my life away in a contract right then since they liked him so much.

I had to keep reminding myself not to roll my eyes or sneer or puke or cry. Like I did over lunch, I barely touched the food on my plate while I downed almost half the bottle of wine.

As soon as I had the chance, I feigned a headache to excuse myself from the table then hastily went upstairs and locked myself in my room.

Before midnight, I was starving. Knowing both my father and brother were sleeping, I went outside to get some food in the kitchen. One of the guards by my door, followed me downstairs.

While I was rummaging through one of the refrigerators, I heard footsteps enter the kitchen. I must've woken one of the kitchen staff.

"Hungry?" I almost dropped the milk carton that I was holding when I heard his voice.

I sighed in frustration and faced him. "Nikolai, please. I had a long day. I just want a midnight snack. I don't really need the Crown Prince breathing down my neck right now." I told him as I placed the milk carton on the kitchen island beside the cereal box I already put there earlier.