The Royal Contract

After the very naughty party that Jacky had prepared for her, she was whisked off back to the palace for her next appointment. She never thought that getting married could be this exhausting. 

She just hoped that she did not have to deal with more visitors. Her cheeks were about to have muscle spasms from all the smiling she had been doing so far. 

"Where are we going again?" Dani asked one of the coordinators assigned to her today.

She figured she was not going back to the palace because they had just passed the usual route that would take them there. She only got a glimpse of her itinerary today and missed checking the details.

It was Jacky's fault that she did not see the itinerary. She kept disrupting her with her non-stop questions early that morning. Now, she had to rely on the coordinator for her schedule.

"If you bother to look at your schedule, Ms. Hamilton, it would have informed you that you are meeting the king this evening. You are to have dinner with him." The coordinator said a bit sarcastically.

She was one of those women who had worked for the royal family almost all her life. She had watched the kingdom fight for its glory for decades.

She was afraid to see that it would finally fall because of this unsuitable marriage. Seeing that the only king suitable to rule their kingdom, marrying a foreigner. Then, choosing to live with her in a foreign land.

"I gather you don't approve of me." She had enough of the odd looks and the innuendos thrown at her since she had arrived.

She was not naive not to figure out when she was not welcome. Based on the not-so-warm greeting she had been receiving so far. 

But she would like to know what she did for them to act this way in her presence. She would like to get to the root of the problem to find a solution and address it accordingly.

"It doesn't matter what I think." The older woman said, then zipping her mouth, thinking she already said too much.

It was not her place to express her opinion in this matter. She was just an employee of the kingdom. She knew better than to 

show her personal sentiment in a situation like this.

"Well, it does to me. I want to know why you feel like I am the enemy when I could not remember doing anything to deserve it."  She shifted her attention to the woman who sat beside her in the car, giving her undivided attention.

She might have a slight idea of what could be causing the issue. But unless confirmed, it would be pure speculation on her part. She did hear something about her being not one of their kind from one of the maids in the palace.

"I am sorry for the way I came out too strong. I did not mean to offend you." The woman said to her, but she slightly hesitated before continuing. "But, you see, you are a foreigner, marrying one of the future leaders of our land."

She knew she could not keep quiet when she already had an opportunity to say what was on her mind. She could care less if she was charged with treason for speaking her mind.

It was her chance to send the message across to this foreign woman who wanted to be part of their kingdom. She should become aware of the series of problems she was getting herself into. In turn, the effect it had on the citizens.

"No, don't be. You are entitled to your opinion. But, I wish I knew what I am being accused of so that I can defend myself accordingly." Dani could see that there was a deep-rooted problem in her midst.

She would rather face it now than find herself in a deep mess later. She always believed that facing the problem head-on was the only way to find a solution.

"First of all, you have no idea of our life, tradition, and culture. All you city folks could think about are making money and acquiring power." She began enumerating the numerous reasons Dani was not suitable to marry the prince.

"If you haven't heard, the Council had chosen Prince Alexander to take the throne. But because of you, he had declined. He opted to stay and live in your land and your uncivilized ways." She should not have said those things, but the girl asked for it.

"I guess I did ask for it. But would it be too much to ask if you would listen to my version of the story?" Dani understood her plight. Putting herself in her shoes, she might also think the same.

She already knew about this, and it was her opportunity to explain her side to her. Maybe it would somehow enlighten her and her associates with the truth. 

"You listened to me. I think it is only fair that you air your side." The older woman felt obligated to listen to her out of delicacy.

But she believed that nothing she would say would convince her otherwise. This woman would only cause more problems for their kingdom than any solution.

"Thanks. I guess." She shuffled her brain for a better way to say what was on her mind, but the truth would always be the best way, she concluded.

"If you have done your research on me thoroughly, you might find that money and power are the least of my priority." She answered the first concern she had about her.

She did not like to elaborate more on the subject matter, not wanting to appear like she needed to prove herself to her. She just wanted to clarify that matter to her. It would be up to her to verify the truth if she wanted to.

"Next, it was never my intention to stop Alex from taking the crown if he wanted it. But I could not force it on him if he believed he did not want to rule over this land." Dani looked around the vast land that was before her.

She could not think of someone turning their back on such beauty. The beautiful countryside depicted nature at its very best.

"But..." The other woman was about to express her opinion again until she was cut off.

Dani was not done explaining herself. She still had one more thing to say to her that should prove her point. These people should stop judging other people for what they thought they knew. 

There was such a saying that never judge a book by its cover.