Be My Princess

Reporters from all kinds of journals and magazines, and not only those endorsed by the Throne, had been invited at the palace for the press conference held that Saturday.

Before Kat and the princes made their entrance in the conference room, George Chang went in first to make the introduction. Myriads of lights started to flash as soon as he entered the room and stood behind a pulpit to make his speech.

"Wajinganyi everyone and twajikitish[1] for responding positively to our invitation. I am George Chang, Head of the Secretarial Bureau of the Royal Household of Ruund; and it is on behalf of the royal family that I stand before you today to bring light on the information leaked not long ago about a very important guest currently residing at the palace." George paused for a moment and scanned the room.

All the reporters were hanging on his lips, eagerly waiting for his next words.

"Every aspect of the information leaked on the internet in the night of Thursday is true." The royal secretary let out solemnly.

Reporters looked and nodded at each other and whispered their satisfaction at the fact that the royal family did not opt for utter denial.

"It is true that, at the moment, the royal family is playing host to a young maiden with regards to her betrothal to one of the princes of Ruund. Yes; she is the granddaughter of the late Commander of the Royal Guard, Kalaal Isaac Tshikut, with whom our late ruler, King Angel I, had made the oath to marry their descendants. Promise that was only made known to the royal family when the late king was on his death bed.

And given how importance it is for the royal family to fulfil a solemn oath made by a king, the royal family has, in return, proposed that the young maiden interacts as well with Prince Francis, who has recently returned to Ruund together with his mother, the royal consort, Princess Josephine, after 20 years living in America.

It was upon a request from the young maiden that the entire matter was kept from the public; but as the information has been leaked to the public by a person the royal authorities are still actively seeking to identify, the young maiden has agreed to this press conference being held so as to answer all the questions the people might have at her regard."

George looked back and signalled the guard standing by the door to open it. As Kat made her entrance accompanied by Angel and Francis, camera flashes sparkled with frenzy. The trio went to sit behind a table placed next to the pulpit that was facing the reporters' seats.

Kat cleared her throat and brought closer the only microphone that had been set on the table.

Considering the fact that not only reporters from journals endorsed by the Throne had been invited, the royal family knew well that some reporters would dare to question Angel about the first leak. Placing only one microphone in front of Kat was a way of implying that she was the main and only subject of the press conference and would be the only one to answer questions.

"Wajinganyi everyone. I am Kat Sama…" Kat started hesitantly. "I will be taking your questions now."

All the reporters lifted up their hands, calling for her attention. Kat scanned through them before pointing at a male reporter sitting on the first row.

"Yes?"

"Wajikitanyi, Changadim Kat. Claude Kabwit, from Ruund Times. Before I ask my question, I would like to say what a pleasure it is for us to finally be able to meet the woman who has been the top subject on everyone's lips since Thursday night."

"Well, if I were to say that the pleasure is mutual, I would be lying." Kat replied with a smile.

As a wave of chuckles passed through the room, the corners of Angel's lips slightly curled up. Being in front of the cameras apparently did not tame Kat's feisty nature.

The reporter chuckled as well, then continued: "We have just heard that it was at your request that this whole matter was kept secret; and we would like it if you could tell us why."

"I made that request primarily because there is a possibility that I might not get married to any of the princes. Why should the whole kingdom know about me if, at the end of these three months, I might just go back to my ordinary life?

And secondarily, because I did not want my family to be put under the spotlight like they are right now. At the moment we are speaking here, the homes of my family members are being besieged by hordes of journalists who don't have the slightest care about how difficult they are making things for my mother and my siblings."

The reporter nodded and sat down as all the others lifted their hands again. Kat pointed at a female reporter from a popular women's magazine, sitting on the row before last.

"Why did you request for an interaction period?" She asked.

"To get to know the princes, of course. Would you get married to a man you do not know?" Kat asked in response.

"But we're talking about the princes of Ruund… Is a time of interaction really necessary, given their outstanding background?" The reporter quickly added under the angry gazes of the other reporters.

Every reporter was allowed only one question if chosen; and she had wittily taken advantage of the maiden's vague answer to slide in a second query.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a royal, a peer or a commoner; it is the man that I will marry; not his title." Kat answered. "Many might just look at their princely background and say yes right away; but in my eyes, it would be being materialistic.

With my Christian upbringing, I have learnt that marriage is all about giving yourself to the other; so I believe that it is of outmost importance for me to know that person well enough so as to be able to entrust him with all of me."

The female reporter nodded, impressed. Hands went up as soon as she sat down, and Kat pointed at another female reporter.

"If the information we have received is correct, you have already been on three dates with each prince. Do you already have a preference between the two?" She asked.

Though they could hide it perfectly, both princes were waiting anticipatively for Kat's answer.

Kat smiled. "I can't answer this question right now. I am supposed to pronounce myself only at the end of the Courtship Program. So you will have this answer when the royal family will publically announce my decision."

And after a series of question about her life in DRC and her family, a male reporter finally asked the question Queen Sophie had personally warned her she could be asked.

"What do you think of the pictures of the crown prince that were leaked a week ago?" He asked.

Though the reporter's question was addressed to Kat, his eyes were set on Angel. The crown prince locked eyes with him. Of all the reporters who had harassed him during the week, that man had been the most relentless. It was a reporter from an infamous magazine keen on scandals; Laurent Ngoy. From under the table, Angel balled his hand in to a fist, while his stoic expression did not change.

George Chang was about to intervene when Kat calmly answered: "I think that the culprit should be prosecuted for exposing matters that concern the private life of the crown prince in such a disrespectful manner."

"But doesn't it bother you that one of the princes you are requested to interact with already has another woman in his heart? Doesn't it settle your choice already?"

That time around, the other reporters did not seem bothered that Laurent Ngoy was, just like the female reporter before, asking more than one question. He was daring to ask the question most of them had been warned not to because their journals did not want to risk getting on the bad side with the Throne; hence, all of them were somehow rallying behind him by keeping quiet.

Kat smiled. "It seems to me like Mr Ngoy is keen of drama plots." She commented. "This three-month interaction period was set not only to help me, but as well to help the two princes make an informed decision. None of us was forced to take part in it. And at the end of the three months, it will not only be me choosing one or none of them; it will also be them either accepting or rejecting me.

Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, both princes have agreed to interact with me. Both princes are willing to get to know me by spending one entire day a week with me; and, to me, it's all that matters. As to what will result from our interactions, you will get to know it in a near future."

"This concludes today's press conference." George announced before the reporter could place another question. "Thank you all for coming."

Watching the press conference live on the screen in the royal private office, King Angel II turned off the monitor as soon as the reporters were dismissed.

He could not help but smile. "The young maiden sure forces one's admiration. I now understand why the both of you are so fond of her." He commented at the address of the two women sitting with him. "I like the fact that she can speak her mind so bravely."

"It is one of the things like the most about her." Isabella replied. "Again three days ago, she boldly questioned the reason why it is requested that our handmaidens remained unmarried. She was arguing that, if it was indeed a great privilege to serve the crown, how would their noble devotion to the royal family ever be remembered if they do not have descendants to relate their stories."

King Angel II smiled as he mulled over the matter. "She does make a good case there…"

"I suppose Your Majesty now agrees with me that the Throne will indeed suffer a great loss if she chooses not to marry the crown prince." The queen said.

Before the king could replied, Kat and the princes entered the private office. Isabella quickly signalled the young woman to come sit next to her and placed her hand on Kat's forearm once she had sat down.

"You did very well." The queen mother said happily.

"I don't know about that…" Kat replied hesitantly. "I was so nervous… My palms are all sweaty…"

Isabella chuckled. "Really? It did not show at all."

"True." Francis joined in. "You looked so confident and calm."

"Once again, thank you for agreeing to the press conference, Changadim Kat." The king said solemnly. "And again, we apologise for putting such a burden on you."

Kat bowed in respect. "Please don't apologise, Your Majesty. Had I given my answer right away, none of this would be happening. I should be the one to apologise instead…"

"How about none of you apologises at all?!" Isabella interrupted implacably. "The only one who should apologise for this is the person who released the information."

"Speaking of which, how is the investigation going?" The king asked at the address of Angel.

"The only strong lead the investigation team has now is the IP address used for both leaks." Angel replied. "But retracing it is not easy because it's bouncing off various VPNs around the world. I have requested for the best IT specialist in the kingdom to help the royal investigators with that; so all we can do is wait."

"It looks like the culprit is a skilful hacker…" Francis commented.

"Or just used a skilful hacker to help him cover his tracks." Angel coldly retorted.

At that same time, in the upscale neighbourhood of Musumb, three people were sitting in the luxurious living room of the villa at the end of the third street, listening to the reporters' comments on the press conference.

Lady Josephine frowned. Kat was able to force the admiration of even the most sceptical of them.

"It seems I have underestimated this young maiden after all…" She said with a rictus of discontent.

Adolph Irung muted the TV. "She is impressive indeed!" He exclaimed. "After this, the whole kingdom will be rooting for her; and I mean to become their queen…"

The businessman paused when he recalled that his daughter was sitting right next to him. He turned towards her and smiled awkwardly.

"Sorry, Sweetheart…"

"It's alright, Tatuku. I totally share you opinion. If I weren't in the position I'm in right now, I too would be rooting for her." Natacha admitted with clenched fists. "How long do I have to remain in hiding?" She then asked at the address of Lady Josephine. "I've been cloistered here to avoid reporters since the day those pictures of Angel and me in Kinshasa were leaked. But that maiden doesn't have to hide at all!"

Josephine calmly looked at the young woman. "There is nothing to gain in rushing things Miss Natacha. I will inform you that when late King Angel I stood to convince his parents to accept N'a Rwej Isabella, the matter was never made public."

"N'a Rwej Isabella was not chosen by the late king's parents?" Natacha exclaimed in disbelief.

"That story is one of a kind in the royal family. Since it had all happened before the late king's 25th birthday, it was officially said that the king had appreciated the qualities of the young white woman during his visit to Spain; but, in reality, the crown prince had fallen for her during his London studies. That's why, up to this day, no one in Ruund knows that Miss Isabella Da Silva's marriage to the crown prince was one of love.

Your case, however, is different. You ended your relationship with the crown prince; and in the meantime he agreed to interact the maiden chosen by his parents. That's why we need to go through the media in order to gradually put you on the scene. But if you try to rush into things, you will only come off as a desperate woman trying to cling onto the crown prince while his parents have already found someone for him."

While Natacha reflected on Josephine's inference, the royal consort continued: "I know how my nephew thinks. From the time he became heir to the throne of Ruund, he has been trained to always think the welfare of the kingdom, the Throne and the royal family before anything else… even himself. No matter how much he loves you, if your actions somehow do not level up to the Throne's expectations of a crown princess and future queen, he will not hesitate to cut off all connections with you."

Natacha silently nodded. Though it was upsetting, the royal consort was making an irrefutable point.

"Don't worry." Josephine reassured her. "I have the perfect timing for you to make your big reappearance." She added with a mysterious smile.

"Wajikitanyi, Lady Josephine." Natacha said with sincere gratitude.

Josephine took her leave in the early evening and made her way back to the palace. When she arrived at the East Wing, she found Francis in the sitting space, nursing a glass of wine. As she sat on the chair next to the sofa her son was sitting on, Francis stood up and went to look for another glass to serve his mother as well.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you since a little before the press conference." He asked.

Josephine took the glass offered and took a sip before answering: "I went to visit my dear friend, Adolph Irung."

Francis tilted his head in curiosity. "Maaku, why do you waste your time trying to help your friend's daughter get back with Angel? I don't think that you're doing this to help me get the maiden; so, I don't see how it will benefit us."

"The two of them getting back together sure does not benefit us in any way." Josephine concurred. "But the scandal we can create out of it will definitely serve our purpose. Angel has been well trained for kingship, so it's close to impossible to find a flaw in his performance as crown prince that we can use against him. Natacha Irung is his only weakness at the moment."

"Then, why did you leaked the information about Changadim Kat?"

Josephine smiled. "The people will not really see the crown prince's relationship with a beloved uRuund icon in a bad eye unless they know that he has already been matched to another woman. I arranged for that Laurent Ngoy to be on the list of reporters called at the press conference because I knew he would seize any opportunity to plant the seed of scandal in everyone's mind."

"But it doesn't seem to me like he has succeeded at that." Francis argued.

"I admit that the maiden has managed to avoid his trap; but it still works for us. With the impression she has left on practically everyone through the press conference, I'm sure that future surveys will show that most people in Ruund are rooting the maiden getting married to the crown prince… Now imagine what will happen if the crown prince 'scandalously' persists on clinging onto his London fling…?"

Francis mulled over it. If the press conference resulted in the uRuund people wanting to have Kat as their crown princess and future queen, Angel's 'scandalous' attachment to the Warrior Princess could be easily portrayed as a betrayal of his grandfather's promise and a clear show of lack of wisdom from Ruund's future king. And if Angel had to lose credibility in the eyes of the people and the High Counsel, a change in crown would definitely be requested.

Impressed by his mother's plan, Francis simply nodded as he raised his glass to her in sign of admiration.

[1] 'We thank you' or 'we are grateful to you'