by Xavier Neal
I put my spoon back down in defeat. “Too private?”
“There were numerous rumors of embezzlement, mob participations, and even affairs with other royal members from other families. My great grandmother set out to change that. She wanted the public to love the Kenningston name, insisted if they did it would boost the country’s morale. We are the face of an entire country, it should be one known and loved and respected. One way she decided to do this was by making formal announcements for engagements and opening it slightly to the public. My mother honored her wishes and took it a step further by insisting on engagement parties thrown at the palace the night after the announcement. Given that my mother and father became king and queen early on this required my uncles to follow these guidelines as well. My mother took every opportunity she could to prove that we’re human underneath the gowns and suits. She opened up the palace to the outside world, more often than any queen before her. She took extended measures to allow the public to actively be a part of our growing moments. This also allowed her to help raise the awareness for the causes that mattered to her. The causes she felt the country should care more about. She believed if they saw how genuine she was and how the Kenningstons cared about more than just lining the vault, they might start to care about more as well. Treasure each other more than treasure itself.”
I can’t imagine the pressure to try to compete with that…Not that Soph is trying or will be trying, but you know what I mean. When the stilettos are that high, the fear of falling flat on your face is real. Hell, I’m just marrying a Duke and already struggling to wrap my mind around responsibilities and honors I’m not sure I can even process let alone handle.
A small smile appears on my face. “She sounds like she was a remarkable woman.”
Kellan swallows the suffocating emotions that always occur when she’s brought up. “She honestly was. And while I am not next in line for the throne, I do plan to carry on many of her beliefs.”
“Is that why you’re such a social media slut?”
“It’s part of it.” He chuckles and picks his bagel up. “I also have a fondness for breaking asinine protocols. There’s no bloody reason I should have to converse with sixteen people before posting a photo of my breakfast online.”
I don’t think I converse with sixteen people in a day on average. Definitely not that many about what I’m eating.
The captain announces that there are two minutes until our descent. Immediately after, Kellan wipes the cream cheese off his mouth and states, “We need to go over the itinerary before we land.” He cleans his hands as he adds, “You also should eat something, love. You’re going to need your strength.”
I pick up the knife and slather strawberry cream cheese on the bagel. “Are we taking photos or going to war?”
“Yes.” He smirks. “The day will be as follows. We shall land slightly after eight and be taken straight to the palace. By nine you will be in wardrobe with one of the in-house female stylists. You will be with her from nine to approximately ten minutes before eleven. At that time, you will be escorted to the area where we make the formal engagement announcement. There will photos taken and a few questions asked. Afterward there is a family brunch, proceeded by meeting again with the stylist, this time for your evening wear arrangements. Family photos begin at five, party officially starts at six though the doors open at four, and the first toast of the evening where I thank everyone for coming then gush about my love for you is at eight.”
My teeth remain stuck mid bite.
He’s screwing with me…He has to be. There’s no way in hell that’s what’s happening…Not all in one damn day! No way! That sounds insane! That sounds…like he should’ve definitely given me bacon instead!
“Oh, and pants.” Kellan picks his spoon. “You’re going to need to put them on. As much as I love you this close to being naked, I don’t suggest you enter the palace that way.” He shovels a scoop into his mouth. “Brace yourself, love. It’s going to be a long day…”
Ugh. That sounds worse than this breakfast. Wish me luck. I’m sure the hell going to need it.
Soph wraps her arm around mine and leads me the opposite direction I originally took the first time I entered the palace. On the other side of the grand staircase, we pass several open sitting rooms, which all have the same red, black, and gold color scheme like the rest of the home. Her mouth seems to be moving a mile a minute as she explains to me the transformation that I should prepare myself for.
We enter the room on the left at the very end of the hall. The luxurious décor inside is barely fathomable. While it contains the same marble floors, the interior is much more modern than the rest of the palace. The floor has one enormous red and black rug, in the center of it is a large, cursive K. There are multiple mirrors surrounding the room, many with vanity lighting and several wardrobe stations built directly into the walls. Small photos of famous starlets are hung on the red painted walls along with tiny touches of red kissed lips on the corners of the mirrors and painted beside some of the door knobs. Across from where we’re standing there are a set of French doors, currently opened wide, revealing a private changing area complete with a chaise lounge.
And just when I thought I had seen everything…
Suddenly a petite blonde exits the back room and pins both of her hands on her powder blue, pencil skirt covered hips.
Is it wrong I’m expecting her to say ‘Hi, I’m Tour Guide Barbie’? Did you say it in the voice? It’s extra funny if you say it in the voice.
“Brie meet Florence, one of our in-house stylists.”
A stunned expression instantly appears. “Did you say one of?”
Soph’s beautiful smile expands. “In this place expect there to never be less than two of anything crucial.” When I snicker she motions her hand towards the woman. “Florence is as amazing as she is beautiful. She is actually the daughter of Fawn, the stylist who tended to Olivia during her time as queen. Florence’s mother died shortly after Olivia. Kellan and Kristopher both insisted she stay close to the family because to them she was. Kenneth paid for her education at Lady Trelests Styling and offered her a job when she graduated.”
The new information causes a small pang in my chest.
Feeling like a total bitch now…
Her head falls sweetly to the side, her asymmetrical bobbed hair cut looking even more perfect for her slender face. “Before they fired Sophia’s other stylists earlier this year, I spent most of my time helping guests get ready during their stay. Fixing zippers. Sewing buttons back on. Tailoring suits. Tightening dresses in certain area. Pretty much the little nothing jobs no one else wanted. My main purpose was to tend to these matters without being seen or heard. Well. That and trying to stay out of trouble, though Kellan made it difficult.”
A twinge of jealousy constricts my throat.
Quickly her green eyes flare and she shakes her head profusely, “Oh no! No! No! No! Not like that! I meant, Kellan was always playing pranks on Kris and then blaming me. Or he was trying to drag me out to gatherings where he knew I didn’t belong, but insisted I would have fun.”
I giggle. “Yeah. That sounds like him.”
She wags a finger at me. “Pain in the ass that one.”
“Oh…Preaching to the choir there.”
But he’s my pain in the ass, and I would rather him be constantly giving me grief than live without him. Geez. What’s next? Me breaking out into classic Mariah Carey songs? If I even hum a note…punch me.
“Honestly never thought I’d see the day where Kellan’s fiancé would exist.” After a small pause, she extends her hand. “Pleased to meet you by the way.”
“Pleasure.” I shake in return.
“Now, Sophia was kind enough to show me some photos of you. The ones from the fundraiser you attended with Kellan in the states were particularly important to me. This allowed me to gather your measurements as well as your personal style.”
The dress appears back into my mind and I clam
p my lips together.
That may have been a little more a revenge dress than I originally admitted. Hey! He needed to be punished for me being treated like a Miss Universe Contestant. Why do I feel that is going to pale in comparison to what’s about to happen to me now?
“Please be aware you will ultimately get the final say in what you wear. It’s your body despite whoever you marry,” Florence sweetly coos. “I am just here to help you channel your style and tidy up the loose ends.”
“Unlike Cecilia who is completely stuck in a different generation and is determined to only dress us in ‘proper’ attire.”
“She is from a different generation,” Florence giggles.
Sophia gives me a sarcastic look. “She’s more Jackie Kennedy and Florence is more Marilyn Monroe.”
“That makes me sound like a whore,” Florence humphs. “And Jackie Kennedy, like our own Duchess Cassandra Hoolver, was brilliantly classy.”
“I just meant with you we have a little more freedom and aren’t confined to high neck lines and black dresses.”
After another smirk, Florence says to me, “The more we work together, the easier it will become for me to identify with who you are and who you want the people to see. From the photos I’ve examined you seem to be keen on having a good time, enjoying your life, and aren’t afraid to live life without mascara.”
Was that an insult?
“I…I don’t usually wear a ton of make up or…any outside of dates. And by dates I mean when Kellan begs me to squeeze into something I can barely breathe in and gag back food that should never be eaten by a human.”
The two of them laugh yet Florence nods. “Yes. I’ve seen some of the photos you’ve posted though it was surprising Kellan wasn’t in them. He’s such a photo hog.”
He absolutely is! When we take selfies together it usually requires multiple shots because his face takes up most of the picture. I don’t think he’s used to having to share his selfie space.
I effortlessly confess, “Kellan advised his face be kept from mine back then to protect my privacy. But if you notice when I post one, he posts one at the same time, and it’s usually as if we’ve just cut the photo in half.”
They giggle again together and Soph sighs, “He’s gone to extreme lengths to protect and keep you. I’m honestly thrilled to see him continue to do so.”
I softly smile.
“But if he starts singing Careless Whisper in the limo again, I will not be able to resist recording it and sharing it online for the entire world to see.”
Sophia’s admission sends me into a hysterical fit of giggles. “No…There’s no way Kellan was singing that!”
“Oh, it was like it was 80s karaoke night in the backseat. I swear at one point Kristopher was doing backup vocals.”
The three of us enjoy a few more seconds of laughter at the memory.
Wish she would’ve recorded that.
Once Florence has regained her composure, she returns to the topic at hand, “Now, obviously I’m here for this announcement and the party this evening, but I am available by request or consultation for other events in the country or out. You are always welcomed to request my presence or even video chat me if you need quick advice without this type of hassle. Same for Cecilia, however, her main priority will always be with the current queen or in this case the future queen of Doctenn.” She motions her head to the side. “Follow me this way and we’ll get you something picked out. Danielle and Devonnya will be here to help with hair, nails, and make up any minute.”
I try to swallow the anxiety building.
Florence rounds the corner to the left where an opened closet stuffed with gowns is waiting to be searched. “You may start here and this afternoon, if necessary, I will go into town with you and Soph to pick out something for this evening.”
Dread begins to drape over me, which is when Soph drops her arm around my shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s all overwhelming and this is so not you. You’d rather spend your time doing something that matters than sifting through clothes or having people yank at your hair.”
Can she hear us?
“But remember sweetheart, we aren’t doing this for us. We do this for them. It’s their duty to fulfill these responsibilities and as the women they can’t live without, we sacrifice a little of our sanity because we know they would and sometimes actually do, sacrifice so much more for us. “
Beautiful and philosophical. Yeah. Definitely glad she’s going to be the next queen of this country and not me. I highly doubt anything that thoughtful would’ve come out of my mouth if the situation were reversed.
For almost two hours I’m in fashion hell. After picking the dress to wear, which was actually the easiest part, I am groomed in multiple ways all at once. Thankfully, Soph sticks around, humors me with sarcastic comments and fun stories about the Kenningston brothers, and distracts me with memories of her first time at these sorts of events. Eventually, the topic swings around to our decided wedding date of New Year’s Eve and the disbelief Kellan actually proposed from all the other people in the room.
You think the bloggers online had some juicy scoops on how he let his dick just run rampant? Doesn’t even come close to the things these people have seen. Had Kellan not already been checked, these conversations would push that to the top of the list of things to do. Seriously. Who screws the daughter of a prime minister in the walk- in cooler during his big brother’s birthday party? Yeah…That’s who I’m marrying…Go on. Shake your head. I damn sure am. At least he’s out grown randomly screwing strangers in random places. See. There’s hope for even the sluttiest people to fall madly in love. Hm? No, we’ve never done it in the walk in, but my first visit here there was a supply closest situation that may have been similar…
I give my reflection one last look. The red, lace, floor length gown looks even more amazing than it fits. While the sleeves are long to falsely indicate a conservative attempt, the low-cut dip between my boobs and the missing middle back portion of the dress tells the true intention of this masterpiece. The base of solid red fabric stops mid-thigh, leaving the rest of my legs that are not exposed by the high slit on my right side to be curtained in the rose pattern lace.
“Miss, it’s time,” announces one of the butlers outside the door.
With a curt nod, I carefully cross the room, focusing all efforts on not tripping. He leads me back the way I came towards the front door. When we arrive, I am startled at the sight of a very large man, with short black hair, dressed in a dark suit poorly concealing his weapon.
“Miss Sanders?” He questions.
Cautiously, I reply, “Yes…”
“I’m Nikolas Kage.”
Oh….Holding in all the joke possibilities may kill me. What! He’s got a gun! I’m not going to provoke him by sharing them out loud.
His large palm extends my direction. “I am your security detail.”
Once my hand is in his, he places a kiss on the back of my hand. “My security detail?”
“As a member of the royal family you are given your own,” Soph speaks from the stairs where she’s lingering. I glance over my shoulder at her as she adds, “I have one too. Don’t worry you get used to having the extra eyes on you as well. That is if you haven’t already.” Before I respond, she quickly travels down the steps and states, “Wait. Let me fix a curl. It fell out of place.”
The moment she’s in front of me, her delicate fingers gently adjust a curl in the back pinned portion of my hair. Afterward she adjusts the tendrils by my face and sighs, “You look absolutely breathtaking. I hope Kellan chokes when he swallows his tongue.”
A giggle slips free.
“And I’m going to be watching, so that when he does, I never let him live it down.”
“Like the George Michael thing?”
“Precisely.”
“Shall we, Miss Sanders?” Kage interjects.
“Brie.”
He gives me a short nod of understanding. “
Brie.”
Soph joyfully folds her hands together while watching him escort me out the door. From where I am I can see the massive gathering of media coverage waiting by the roses and the fountain in the courtyard. It’s almost impossible to make out more than Kellan’s shape and Vincent’s looming presence just to the side.
Any chance he’s just as nervous as I am? Or more? Have you talked to him yet? What do you mean if you had you wouldn’t tell me?
Nikolas carefully helps me slide me into the waiting limo and shuts the door behind me. There’s a small pause in which I assume he gets into the front seat before the vehicle begins to move. While I know the drive around isn’t actually very long, each passing breath feels as if it’s lasting an eternity.
I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life. Ever. And I know what you’re thinking. Walking across the stage for my graduation in front of thousands of people should be at the top of the list, but this is so…much…bigger. It doesn’t matter if it’s only fifty people directly in front of me, it’s more like 50 million who are going to see me. Or see my photo. Or type comments about me…Oh God…I think I’m gonna be sick.
