A "Very" Royal Summer

II

  After spending an absurd amount of time eating a simple piece of cake, I decided it was not worth delaying the moment any longer. It was only going to cause me anxiety from the anticipation.

So I decided to lift the tail off the sofa and go meet my mother in the office.

But what reason does she have to want to talk to me alone in the office? I asked myself, intrigued.

When I arrived I could see that she was not alone in the room but with my father.

This doesn't sound right. It seems to be a serious matter.

What did I do?

Am I in trouble?

I started to make a mental list of the things I had done in order to be able to elaborate a pre sculpt .

Had she noticed the marble vase that I had broken and hidden without her knowing it, or did I know that I had stayed up the whole night watching series instead of doing work on the Spanish monarchy?

Before I could think any more, she saw me and told me to come in.

- Hello mom, how are you? I haven't seen you today. You look beautiful. - I said with a nervous smile, trying to give grease so that she would take it easy with me in case she was preparing to punish me.

My dad coughed trying to stifle a laugh and my mother looked confused.

- Alexandria , your father and I were talking. You know that in three months it will be your 18th birthday.

- Ah, I wasn't in trouble after all, but I didn't like the direction of this conversation either. I nodded. - Soon you will have to start thinking about your wedding. You know that.

I huffed.

This conversation again?

I am fed up with this topic .

One of the great disadvantages of being a princess is the fact that I have to marry when I reach the age of majority.

Besides being bad, it has to be with someone also from the royal line. But the most important question that no one is asking is : Who wants to get married at eighteen?

It is truly absurd.

They're all crazy about these crazy rules.

I thought of an excuse to delay this conversation for a while longer. Years if possible.

- But mom, how do you want that to happen? You know I don't know any of the other kids from the royal families , how am I supposed to choose the right husband? I only see them at mandatory moments when we have formal dances and things like that. I think even you can recognize that it would be irrational to choose a husband that way. - I explained with a triumphant look knowing that she couldn't refute my point.

- Oh of course dear. But that's what we want to talk about. We have been talking to the royal families and have come to the conclusion that, in fact, your generation does not know each other, and we think it is important for you to start creating connections with each other and maybe even finding a husband. - she winked making me roll my own eyes.

- What's your point mom?

- This summer all young members of the royal families will spend their holidays in a summer camp in Monaco where they can get to know each other better, make friends, in short. - she explained - Ah! And I heard that there will be parties every weekend! Cute, don't you think?

I stopped, with my mouth open digesting all the information, and then I started laughing out loud

- Mom , how did you manage to think about this? That's genius! You got me. I knew you were funny but this was too much. - I concludes, wiping a tear from MY eye.

- I'm not kidding Alex . - She said with a serious face. - The Queen of Monaco had this idea as she noticed that her son also doesn't have many friends who understand him and go through the same things as him and then thought it would be a good idea to bring all of you together to have someone to talk to and make friends with.

My jaw dropped.

Of course, only the Queen of Monaco to get an idea like that. Monaco is so boring and stable as it has nothing interesting to do that she cooks up these crazy ideas. She must be really desperate to get her son friends.

- But mom this is stupid! It doesn't make sense to send us to a summer camp just to make us mingle! And weekly parties?! CRINGY!

- Come on, it will be fun and you will make new friends . - She said smiling, certain of her words.

- You can't be serious. Dad, help me to put sense in this woman's head. - I turned to my father who had been silent all the time, looking at him hopefully.

I could see the compassionate face he showed but what he said was not what he expected to hear . – C'mon sweetheart, it can be fun. You will be two minutes from the beach, meet new people, make friends. You know well enough that you can't keep walking around sending your nurses and guards to help you paint your nails, watch movies with you and discuss musical tastes. They have their job and you can't be bothering them.

- But I have friends! - I laughed crossing my arms. - Kitty and Olaf.

- Kiddo, Kitty and Olaf are your pets. He sighed. – I don't think it's very healthy saying that your best friends are creatures that do not speak.

- For your information, they are more loyal and understanding than most human beings who speak but say nothing at all.

- Alexandria you're going, period. - declared my mother raising her voice. I could see that she was done with the discussion.

- But ... - I started.

- No but. You are going and it 's decided.

I look at my dad to see if he says anything but just shrugs. It makes me turn, full of anger at not having a voice when it comes to my own, and I left the room without saying a word, slamming the door.