The Royal Romance - By My Side

Mission definitely not accomplished

Despite the lack of sleep, Jen was walking on air as she headed to her Sunday morning breakfast shift, due to the fresh memory of the night before. She knew no-one at work would believe her if she told them her tale. After all, when she'd first woken up this morning, she hadn't believed it herself. Maybe Rick had made it all up, maybe that was what he told all the girls. But he'd been so lovely, so kind, and so gentlemanly. She felt that he had to have been genuine. Maybe she should Google the Crown Prince of Cordonia and prove it to herself. Yes, she'd do that. Straight after her shift.

She was just about to head through the front door of the bar to start work, when she heard a voice she recognised from somewhere calling out her name.

"JEN! WAIT!"

She turned, and to her surprise she saw Rick's friend, Maxwell, running in her direction, from further along the sidewalk.

She walked towards him. "Maxwell? Did you guys leave something here last night?"

"No, no.." he said, as he reached her, placing a hand on her shoulder briefly to halt his momentum. "But I'm so glad I caught you, Jen. We're heading back to Cordonia so Rick can find someone to marry, and all that jazz..."

She looked blankly back at him.

"He said he told you.."

"Yeah, he did. Why are you here, Maxwell?"

He looked a little nervous, and stepped backwards. "Jen, before I go, I wanted to officially extend to you.." A confident smile appeared on his face. "An invitation to join us for the festivities in Cordonia."

"Huh?" This had to be a wind-up. His delivery sounded rehearsed.

"You wouldn't usually be allowed to join.. But I want to sponsor you!"

"Sponsor me?" This didn't make any sense. She glared at Maxwell in confusion.

"Listen, Jen, I'm from a noble house, but I don't have any sisters, so we don't have anyone in contention to marry the Prince. Instead, we can sponsor any girl we choose. And.." He put his hands on her shoulders. "You're my pick!"

Jen tried to process all this. Maxwell wanted her to go back with them, so that he could put her forward as a potential bride for Rick? But why? "You want to sponsor me? What's in it for you?"

He looked seriously at her. "If you accept, you'll owe me three boons, each favour more fraught with peril than the last.."

"What? Really?"

He still looked serious, but she was already getting the measure of him. She laughed, and he smiled sweetly back at her. "Nah, I'm just messing with you. I'm trying to help you out, Jen." He looked at his watch. "We're kinda crunched for time, though. Our plane leaves within the hour.."

"Whoa. You're moving a little fast, don't you think?"

"No time to waste. The opening masquerade is tonight! It's the start of the.. uh, I guess you could say, it's the start of the competition."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a whole horde of gorgeous, rich, noble women vying to become Cordonia's next queen. By the end of June, one of them will be successful. If you accept my invitation, you'll be one of them. And I don't see any reason why the successful one couldn't be you. But it's not just about winning the Prince's heart. You've also got to prove to the council that you can rule Cordonia with him. But I think you've got what it takes..." He looked at the floor. "You're witty.. and charming."

She blushed, not used to such compliments. "Uh.. thanks... So, a fancy masquerade? What else am I getting myself into?"

Maxwell brightened up again. "Fun stuff, I promise! You'll get to go yachting in the Mediterranean, skiing in the mountains, dancing in the Royal Palace.."