The Royal Arrangement

Chapter 13

An extra long chapter today to make up for the ridiculously long wait!

14/10/20 (2529 words)

Ariana’s POV

The rest of the trip passed quickly and surprisingly pleasantly. Lorenzo and I made a real effort to try and get to know each other. It was awkward for the first couple of days, but he eventually managed to pry some information out of me, and we held a few conversations on some similar hobbies and interests. He had discovered my almost unhealthy addiction to Harry Potter and Queen and told me that while he had not read Harry Potter in a long time, he shared my love for my favourite band. I remember at that point I had started to let my barriers down and revert to the fangirl I was when I was with my friends, well, that was until I noticed the smile that had appeared Lorenzo’s face.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ I had asked, slightly unnerved from my side of the sofa, trying to pretend that I wasn’t affected in any way by him.

‘It’s nothing, I just lo- I like seeing you like this. The way you are when you talk about something you are passionate about is amazing.’ he said, with a hint of something in his voice that I couldn’t identify. I blushed and looked down at my lap. When I talked about things I loved I tended to get very excited and go on about it for a very long time, spurting lots of obscure facts that I had stored in my mind over years of watching random videos, reading articles and taking BuzzFeed quizzes.

‘What about you then? What are you interested in?’ I prodded.

‘I’m not sure to be honest.’ he paused, clearly unsure how to go on. ‘My father doesn’t give me much time to myself, he always has me doing something.’ he said, looking down and fiddling with the expensive designer watch on his wrist.

‘But what about the times you’re not working?’ I was trying, just like I promised, but now it was him closing up on me.

He sighed when he realised I wasn’t going to let it go. ‘I guess I hang out with my friends when I can, then the rest of the time I’m probably in one of the palace libraries.’ I relaxed back into the sofa with a small smile and took a sip of my hot chocolate.

A few days after that conversation, we had said goodbye to Carmelita and got on a plane back to Gordova, though this time Lorenzo and I sat near each other for the whole journey.

‘Ariana, before we land I need to talk to you about the conditions with school.’ Lorenzo had said about half an hour into the flight. 

I looked up from my book and nodded. He continued. 

‘Well, the first one is that while you are going to university, you won’t be allowed to live there for security reasons, so you will have to stay at the Palace then drive to and from the campus.’ I nodded, I had expected that anyway. ‘You will also have security with you at all times.’

‘No, please, I can’t go into all my classes with a giant guy in a suit and sunglasses standing behind me all the time.’ I pleaded seriously.

‘You have to, your security is more important. You know you’re not a normal student.’ Lorenzo said firmly.

I thought for a moment then replied. ‘What if the guard stands right outside the door? Surely that wouldn’t stop them doing their job, and I can be comfortable in class.’ He thought for a minute then told me he would think about it.

I was about to return to my book before he spoke up again. ‘I need to warn you about my father before we get back. He won’t be happy about this, he believes that a wife should cater to her husband’s every need, always at his beck and call.’ My eyebrows shot up my forehead, I hadn’t got a good impression of him before, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad. I gave him a slightly nervous nod and picked my book back up, but Lorenzo spoke up again.