The Royal Contract

"Have you seen Dani?" She asked a familiar face, among the crowd of strangers.

She had left her friend on the table to discuss something with Antonette. There were several last-minute changes that Antonette made to the program that included her tasks.

By the time she returned, she could not find her friend anywhere in the vicinity. She spotted her parents on the other table, mingling with the other guests, but no sign of Dani or Alex.

"Yes." He leaned closer to her and whispered near her ears, not wanting the people he was conversing with to hear what he knew. "I think I saw her sneaking away with my cousin a few minutes ago." Pointing to the back exit. 

He assumed that the couple had enough of this circus and would rather be alone. If he had a choice, he would probably do the same. Unfortunately, he was obligated to stay and hold the fort.

"Are you sure, Lance?" She could not believe that her friend would ditch her party and her. But his serious look confirmed it without saying a word. "Oh! I guess they are long gone." She concluded with a sigh.

She was looking for her friend because she hoped to spend time with her. In addition to that, she needed something from her too. But it would seem that she had no option but to wait till she had time for her. 

She could not blame her for running away with the groom. She would probably do the same. She was not the bride, but she could already feel the pressure of this wedding in her sanity.

"Jacky," Lance called out to her, making her pause on her tracks. "Do you need help with something?"

He did sense that something was off with her. After seeing and talking to her briefly last night, he gathered that she might be lonely. 

At first, he wished her solemn look had nothing to do with him. He liked her, but he knew he could never pursue her. It was just not possible. He did not want to put her in a lifetime of misery if she ended up with him.

"No. I am good." She told him, not wanting to interrupt him any further. "I better attend to my duties. I am sure you have yours."

She could already guess that he was a busy man. He was a prince in this massive kingdom. He probably had responsibilities she could not even imagine.

"Jacky, do you want some company?" He offered, seeing that she was alone. Judging by her facial expression, she looked like a woman lost amid strangers.

Not that she could not handle herself with these people. If anyone could pull off a stunt unscathed in this scenario, it would be her. But he would prefer she did not do it alone.

"I think I can manage. But, thanks." She moved away from him, scanning the room. 

She found herself surrounded by prominent people in high society. People that she admired and idolized because of their accomplishments. 

But she never wished to be anything else than herself. She was satisfied with who she became and what she sacrificed to be here. She was letting these people intimidate her and think less of her.

"Do you mind if I tag along?" He could not help it. He did not like her to be alone if he could accompany her.

She was alone in a foreign land with not many friends or family with her. He could not abandon her to fend for herself, remembering the first time he met her.

"I believe you are busy discussing some foreign international incident with the king and queen." She looked at him, surprised that he followed her.

The idea of a friendly companion sounded appealing. She would not mind taking him on with his offer, not wanting to be alone in this crowded place.

"First of all, they are not the king and queen, but they are part of the royal family. Second, I am bored and needed some lively company." He explained as he continued to walk with her and smiled at the other guests.

"Wait, what is the color of my clothes? What about my hair? Do you see a smudge of makeup on my face?" She rattled him with a series of random questions.

"What is with the questions?" He asked, confused but curious with her answer as he sported a dumbfounded look.

"I thought you have mistaken me with the court jester." She looked away from him, laughing at his reaction, but her eyes landed on another set of eyes. 

Her smile quickly faded, reading the pain reflecting on those piercing eyes. But it quickly disappeared when he realized that she was looking in his direction.

She was sure of what she saw but had no idea what to do with that information or what it meant to him. The smile on his lips as he walked towards her told her that whatever his eyes were telling her earlier, he had long buried them deep down his mind.

"Nice to see you again, Lance. Jacky, you look great as always." Marcus interrupted the two from whatever they were laughing about as he greeted them. He was late in the event since he had a terrible hangover.

After leaving Jacky last night in the company of Lance, he decided to drive to a bar. He had a few drinks. He even tried to pick up a girl while he was on it.

Unfortunately, he was not drunk enough to push through with his plan. As he was flirting with the girl, his mind just kept going back to her. 

He kept comparing everything about her to the only woman he wanted to be on his side. In the end, he had to go home more frustrated than when he had left her side. He ended up finishing the bottle of alcohol in his room.

"Is that you?" Jacky had to scrunch his nose at him, sniffing the vague smell of last night's fermented stench of alcohol in the air.

"I already took a bath twice. You can still smell it?" Marcus subtlely tried to inhale his body odor. 

He thought he might get away with it, but apparently, he still wreaked alcohol despite his effort. But there was nothing else he could do with his situation.

"Well, unfortunately, you do stink." Lance seconded Jacky's observation as he clapped Marcus on the back.

If he had to diagnose Alex's best man, he would say that Marcus was suffering from a deadly disease. It could cause heart failure and even death if not treated immediately.

Luckily, it was curable, but unfortunately, the cure was not alcohol or any over-the-counter drug. It was a little more complicated than buying medication to take the pain away.

"You should get some coffee," Jacky suggested as she walked past him, giving him friendly advice, with Lance following close by. 

She wondered if there was a party last night, but she did not see it in the itinerary. Well, he did leave in a hurry last night. She eventually came up with a conclusion.. He was just in a party for one or likely two.