Be My Princess

Angel entered the VIP room in the hospital and scanned the surroundings…

After the guards had extracted them from the exhibition room, they were momentarily led to the director's office where they had waited until a discreet way out of the museum had been found for them.

While Nathanael Zeng was confounding himself in apologies, with huge beads of sweat rolling down to his sideburns, Peter had joined them and discreetly reported to Angel that Natacha had been taken in an ambulance to Kuswung[1] Private Hospital. And after everyone had safely made it back to the palace, Angel had immediately ordered his guard to prepare an unsealed car to take him to the hospital.

The spacious room opened to a cozy sitting area furnished with an L-shaped sectional sofa and a coffee table, while the hospital bed was hidden by a room divider. Angel crossed the sitting room and stopped once the hospital bed came into sight. Natacha was looking at the orange and purple sunset sky through the window while reflecting on her recent course of actions.

Not being able to communicate with Angel for more than four weeks had made her desperate. Though Lady Josephine had explained to her that Angel had a lot on his plate lately, Natacha had still not believed that Angel's work overload was the only reason why he was not contacting her; so she had set her mind on finding out the true reason.

~ How far are you ready to go in order to find the answer to your query? ~ Lady Josephine had asked.

~ I'll do anything; if it can help me know for sure whether Angel still loves me. ~ She had eagerly replied.

~ I have an idea on how you could get a definite answer… ~

And the following day, she had received a package from a man sent by the royal consort: the miniature handgun…

Angel finally moved toward the bed and Natacha turned around as soon as she perceived his presence. With his casual clothing and baseball cap on, one would need to look very closely in order to recognise the crown prince. A smile traced on Natacha's lips, but disappeared very quickly when she met Angel's eyes. They were even more distant that they had ever been since the first time she had seen him after getting back from London.

She had foolishly hoped that her act of terror would make him realise that his feelings for her hadn't change; but instead, it had just driven him further away from her. All of a sudden, she was regretting ever going along with all of Lady Josephine's plans. None of them had succeeded at helping her win Angel back; especially not the last one…

Lady Josephine had warned her that the gun should only be used a last resort; sadly, she had already reached her point of no return. And she wanted immediate answers. Only now was she understanding that making a scene the way she had done could only render impossible her reunion with Angel. Didn't Lady Josephine tell her in the past that any action unworthy of a princess from her part would make Angel cut off all contact with her?

"I stumbled upon a conversation between your father and the doctor on my way here…" Angel said, interrupting her reflection. "I did not mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, but I heard the doctor tell your father that your hand and arm have completely healed now and that you can safely resume your training."

"Angel, listen…"

"Is this the reason why you came back?"

Natacha knew that Angel's question was more of an affirmative statement… that he was not really looking for an answer.

"I think it's time I give an answer to your question." He added.

"No need…"

The image of Angel shielding the maiden with his body was still very fresh in her mind. While the gun was pointed at her head, his first reaction had been to protect another woman… Wasn't it enough of an answer?

Things were definitely no longer the same between them. But she was still hoping that they could back to the way they were.

"I love you, Angel. I really do…"

"I know that you do. And I also know that you love your javelin even more."

"That's not true." Natacha protested. "I only reject your proposal because the two of us getting engaged would have meant that I would have to give up on my dreamed opportunity to participate to the Olympics Games…"

"Not once have I ever thought of asking you to give up on your dream." Angel interrupted her. "I was even looking for a way to convince my father to let you participate to the Olympics before we could get married… or even after." He added with a derisive chuckle directed at himself.

"Angel…"

Natacha tried to grab Angel's hand; but he retrieved it before she could, reached into his jeans' pocket, brought out the pin she had offered him, and placed it on the bed next to her.

Once he had come to the realisation that he was no longer harbouring the same feelings for Natacha, Angel had retrieved the chest box from the Forest Palace. He had been trying to create an opportunity for him to return the pin to her, but that opportunity had now created itself in the most unpleasant way.

Angel stood up to leave, and Natacha desperately grabbed unto his wrist. "Angel, please… I know I did wrong. I don't even know how I got myself to pull that trigger. But please, forgive me… for everything… I don't want to lose you. I can't…"

Her teary pleading eyes met with Angel's. And what she read in them wiped away the remnant of hope she had to be with him again. Pity…

Angel used his other hand to free his wrist from her tight grip. "I hope that, one day, you will be able to meet a man who will become your number one dream…" He simply said before leaving.

Peter appeared as soon as Angel came out of the room and gestured for the crown prince to follow him along a way different – but just as discreet – from the one they had taken on their way in.

Back at the palace…

As soon as Angel reached the West Wing, a royal officer waiting by the entrance informed him that the queen mother and the queen were waiting for him in the private office.

Peter had reported to Angel that he had had the reflex of asking the guards to take all the reporters out of the exhibition room as soon as Adolph Irung had made an appearance with his daughter. But someone had still managed to record Natacha Irung's suicide attempt with a phone…

Queen Sophie and Queen Mother Isabella were sitting straight on the sofa while bearing austere expressions on their faces.

"The High Council has just sent a request for an audience with the king." Queen Sophie said as soon as Angel took place on the seat facing theirs. "You know what that entails…"

"Yes, Maaku."

It could only entail two things: either they were starting to think of requesting a change in the crown and wanted to warn the king, or they were actually bringing an official request.

"Like I've stated it before, the king needs not to be disturbed during his rest. Find a way to resolve this problem before the king's presence at the palace becomes imperative."

"The royal family has suffered enough because of this matter. And somehow, you are the one who created it; so fix it!" Isabella added sternly.

Angel had nothing to say for his defence. From a logical standpoint, he was at the core of the whole matter. And seeing his kind and always smiling grandmother exhibiting such a stern demeanour was enough to make him realise that he had let the situation go way too far.

However, there was an aspect to the matter at hand that was raising a big concern in his mind. He, Angel Yav the Third, crown prince of Ruund, had no idea as to how to remedy to the situation. The RIS was still investigating the internet leaks; so he had no way to clear his name soon enough to impede a meeting between the king and the High Council.

⁂

Very late that night, Natacha was awaken by the sound of someone knocking at the door of her hospital room. At first she thought it might be a nurse, or the doctor on his round; but when she recognised the visitor's voice, she decided to not manifest herself.

"I was really worried about your daughter; so I came to check on how she is doing." Josephine said.

"Really? Are you genuinely concerned about my daughter's welfare or just trying to ease your guilty conscience?" Adolph retorted coldly.

Surprised by her usually subservient friend's sudden coldness, Josephine hesitated for a moment.

"I don't understand what you mean." She then said.

"Are you going to deny being the one who sent that handgun to my daughter?" The businessman retorted. "Just clarify something for me… Were you already aware of my daughter's relationship with the crown prince? Or did you come up with that idea the very moment I told you about it?"

The businessman seemed to be fiercely battling to keep his calm. That observation immediately raised Josephine's defensiveness.

"I am starting to resent your tone now, Adolph. Need I remind you whom you are talking to?" She let out coldly.

"The fact that I know whom I am talking to is the only reason why I am holding myself back right now." The businessman replied. "I agreed to put all my resources at your disposition in order to help you get the crown for your son; but my daughter was never one of them."

"What? How can you think that I would use my friend's daughter in such an evil way?" Josephine protested with feigned indignation.

Adolph chuckled. "A friend… Have I ever been a friend to you? Wasn't I just a useful connection all this long? Yes, you have helped me a lot when I started my company. But was it only because you cared about me? Or also because you thought that having a man in your debt might come in handy one day…?"

Josephine seemed to want to deny his allegations; but Adolph did not give her time to speak.

"Everyone in Ruund knows that when the members of the royal family are officially invited to an event, all other guests are not allowed to enter the venue with any sort of picture taking or video recording devices. Anyone who would ever dare to break that law would be severely prosecuted.

Yet a video of my daughter's suicide attempt in front of the crown prince, apparently recorded from a cellphone, is currently circulating on the internet; uploaded there by the hacker I introduced you to…"

The businessman stood up in a way of signifying to his guest that it was time for her to leave.

"I have always thought that I would never be able repay you for the way you helped me get everything I have now. But I think that nearly getting my daughter killed is more than enough to settle my debt for good. We will no longer be meeting each other in the future."

Josephine plastered her most dignified and haughty expression as she slowly stood up.

"And don't worry about me exposing your schemes." The businessman added as he walked to open the door for her. "I know that all evidence will directly point at me. You have done a great job keeping your hands clean in this whole matter."

A faint prideful smirk traced on Josephine's lips as she walked past the businessman to leave the room. Adolph closed the door behind the royal consort, went back to sit on the sofa, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Taatuku?"

Adolph looked up and saw his daughter standing next to the sofa. For a moment, his heartbeat accelerated.

How long had she been up?

"Are you okay? Who was it?" Natacha asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm fine, Sweetheart. It was just a nurse. You should go back to sleep." Her father replied with obvious relief.

"Are you sure that you are fine? You seem a bit distraught." She remarked as she sat on the sofa, wrapped her arm around her father's belly and rested her head on his chest.

Adolph wrapped his arm around his daughter and kissed her forehead. "How can I not be; when I almost lost you today?"

Natacha held her father tighter. His tone was carrying more dread and worry than reproach. "Forgive me, Taatuku. I was so selfish not to think about how much I was hurting you at that moment… I never should have listen to Lady Josephine."

Natacha felt her father's hold on her shoulder tighten a bit.

"No, Sweetheart… I am the one to blame. I should have known better than entrusting her with you."

The bitterness that transpired through her father's apology brought tears to Natacha's eyes.

"Don't blame yourself for this, Taatuku. I know you only meant well." She said in an attempt to comfort him. "I made the decision to go along with Lady Josephine's idea and I must take responsibility for that."

"Don't worry, Princess; I'm sure the royal family will not sue you for endangering the princes and the maiden's lives."

But that was not the main reason for Natacha's concern. Now that she had discovered that she had been the main instrument of Lady Josephine's plot to get the crown away from Angel, she knew that she had to find a way to fix the problem she had inadvertently caused.

When her father had finally fallen asleep on the sofa, Natacha lied awake in her hospital bed, looking for a way to get back at the royal consort and help Angel at the same time; all without putting her father on the stake because of Lady Josephine's schemes. After a long time of reflection, she called for a nurse and requested a pen and a notepad.

When Adolph woke up early that morning, he was surprised to find his daughter sitting up in the hospital bed, reading on a notepad. Several crumpled papers were thrown on the floor.

Natacha looked at her father with fatigued eyes and gave him a weak smile.

"Did you stay up all night?" Adolph asked with concern.

"I had something very important to do." Natacha replied as she handed the notepad to him.

Adolph went through his daughter's notes then looked back at her with widened eyes.

"Can you call for a press conference and make this announcement for me?" Natacha requested.

Adolph energetically shook his head. "No. I can't…"

"Taatuku, please." She insisted.

"This will destroy your reputation; probably your career in the process…" her father protested.

"I know… But I must take responsibility for what I've done." She replied with teary eyes.

"Was it all your doing? Why do you have to put yourself on the stake like this?" Adolph let out in frustration.

"Taatuku, if you refuse to do this for me, I'll find a way to do it by myself."

Backed into a corner, Adolph could only capitulate. He knew too well how stubborn his daughter could be once she had her mind set on doing something.

Natacha looked at her father's aggrieved face and stretched out her hand to wipe a tear rolling down his cheek. "Don't worry, Taatuku. This time around, I know what I am doing."

With the frenzy created by the video upload, it had not been difficult to get reporters in front of Kuswung Private Hospital once the news that the Warrior Princess' father would be making an announcement had spread.

When Adolph Irung came to stand behind the pulpit set for him before the main entrance of the hospital a little before noon, a horde of reporters was already clumping in front of the building.

Still reluctant to go along with his daughter's request, Adolph dug deep within himself to gather enough courage to step closer to the microphone.

"Walankanyi, everyone. I am grateful to you all for responding so quickly to our invitation. And I want to stress out that I will only be making this announcement on behalf of my daughter Natacha Irung; so I will not be taking any questions afterwards."

The businessman took a properly typed document from the hand of his secretary and cleared his throat.

[To the people of Ruund,

It is true that I had gotten very close to Crown Prince Angel during our studies in London. All through our interactions, Crown Prince Angel has always comported himself honourably; he even intended to seek Mwant Yav's approval for our betrothal but I rejected his proposal because I was afraid to lose my opportunity to participate to the Olympic Games next year.

Later on, when I seriously injured my arm in a small accident, and was told that there was a possibility that I might have to abandon my dearest dream, bewail and fear led me to run back to Crown Prince Angel while he had already agreed to interact with Changadim Kat Sama.

Crown Prince Angel is not the one to be blamed for all that has happened in the past weeks; I am. Our crown prince has never once sought to meet with me or even contact me since the moment I've ended our relationship.

It is on my own volition that I went to see him while he was in Kinshasa. It is also by my own means that I managed to get an invitation to Prince Francis' 26th Celebration Ball. And it is selfishness that led me to make such an irrational decision yesterday.

All that I have done was in a desperate attempt to win Crown Prince Angel back to me; without once thinking of how I was damaging his image before the Royal Family or the people of Ruund.

To the Royal Family of Ruund,

I understand as well that I have endangered the life of the princes of Ruund and that of Changadim Kat by my reckless actions; and I am ready to receive proper punishment for that.

Once again, I ask the Royal Family, and all of Ruund to forgive me for my impudent actions.

To all my supporters,

I know that I have failed you who have carried me in your heart since the beginning of my career. I also know that it can be shameless of me to ask you to give me a chance to redeem myself. But I implore you to find it within your hearts to renew your support towards me.

My arm has completely healed now. The doctor says that I can resume my training for the Olympic Games. However, I know that, more than intensive training, the love and encouragement of my beloved people has always been and will always be the strongest drive behind all my victories.

I solemnly promise that I will work my best so as not to disappoint you in the future, and work even harder to win an Olympic medal for the honour of the Ruund Kingdom.

With my most apologetic and respectful regards,

Natacha Irung.]

A wave of questions still rose from the crowd of reporters as soon as Adolph Irung had finished reading his daughter's letter. But the businessman simply bowed before them and handed the paper back to his secretary.

"Jess, send a copy of the letter to the journals mentioned on the list I have e-mailed you. My daughter wants it to be published in newspapers as well." He ordered before walking back inside the building.

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[1] Healing