Chapter One
"Simon, this is ridiculous! You can't put my horse to sleep." – shouted Princess Helena as she stormed into her husband's study. She deliberately ignored the other man in the room with the Prince of Wales, their equerry."
"She threw you off, you could have died." – answered Prince Simon with a worried look in his eyes.
Helena shook her head angrily.
"She didn't throw me off. I felt dizzy and I fell."
"It doesn't matter how it happened."
"I know why you are doing this, but…" – started the Princess in a softer tone – "…killing an innocent animal in cold blood, it isn't you."
"I was worried about you."
"I know."
Helena took a deep breath and turned away.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Just a little nausea."
"You may have a concussion."
"Oh for Christ's sake, I don't have a concussion." – barked the Princess.
Her husband still looked concerned as he stepped closer to her.
"You should be in bed."
Helena smiled.
"I was, until I heard what you are planning to do with Hyppolita."
"I won't kill the horse…" – started Simon.
"Good." – nodded his wife and she believed that the problem was solved.
"…but I want to sell it at least." – the Prince finished his sentence.
"Absolutely not."
"I don't want to see you on a horse ever again."
"No! You can't do this. You can't take that away from me!" – screamed the Princess a little more dramatic than she planned.
"You know how I feel every time you go out riding."
Helena sighed. She took a step toward her husband and grabbed his hands.
"I know and I'm flattered that you are so worried about me, but…"
"Of course I'm, you are my wife."
"…you need to let it go, Simon. It's not going to happen again. I'm not her. Anyway, it's never the animal to blame, it's always the rider."
Simon looked away sadly.
"More reason not to let you…"
"You can't forbid me anything." – said his wife in a firm voice.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just asking you…"
"Come here. Look me in the eyes and listen to me. I don't want to argue today because…" –
started Helena and she gently put her arms around her husband.
"Because?" – asked Simon excitedly as he returned Helena's hug.
"...because that's not why I'm here."
They completely forgot about the presence of the equerry.
"No? So why are you here then?"
The Princess playfully kissed him.
"To please you. As always."
"Then maybe we should go someplace else…" – said the Prince and he tried to pull his wife towards the door.
"No. Here is perfect."
Simon was a bit disappointed as he turned back to Helena.
"What?"
She didn't answer, just smiled.
"What is it, Helena?"
"I'm pregnant."
He picked her up in his arms and passionately kissed her.
"God, I love you so much."
They heard somebody knocking on the door and Simon's security detail came into the room.
"Your Highness, it's time to go."
"What?" – Simon seemed confused.
"The opening ceremony of the new museum. The Prime Minister is already on his way. We shouldn't be late." – explained the body guard.
"Yes, of course." – Then he turned to his wife. – "Good-bye, love, see you at the Dinner."
He kissed her and left the room. Helena wanted to follow him, but she changed her mind. She turned to the equerry.
"If anything happens to Hyppolita, you're going to find yourself on the streets quicker than you could say I was an equerry in the royal stables."
As she walked out of the door, she felt she needed some fresh air. She went to the balcony where she bumped into her brother-in-law.
"Congratulations!" – Cyrus said, with pretended joy.
"Oh! So Simon already told you in the last…" – Helena looked at her watch – "…well two minutes and forty-eight seconds."
Her brother-in-law didn't confirm that he heard it from Simon, but his tone suggested something much more concerning.
"Your mother will be thrilled. More children for you, more diamonds and titles for her."
"I guess, it's true. You know her well." – answered the Princess, prepared to engage in a small talk.
"Unless…"
She looked at him suspiciously.
"Unless what Cyrus? I don't have time for your little games."
"Unless that man I've seen last month coming out of your bedroom has something to do with your current state." – he finished triumphantly.
Her heart started to beat faster, but she remained as calm as she could.
"He was a friend, I've already told you."
Her assistant showed up at the glass door then she stepped out to the balcony.
"Your Highness!"
The Princess turned to her.
"Yes, Rachel?"
"Prince Robert returned from his afternoon walk."
"Tell the nanny to bring him to my room. Thank you!"
As Rachel disappeared, Helena walked to the door and looked back to Cyrus.
"Listen, Cyrus! I really don't appreciate your attempts to pull us apart with Simon. What is the point anyway?"
Cyrus was smiling at her.
"You know that I have always wanted what my brother has."
"And I also know that you are never going to have it." – she said firmly.
"Hope dies last. Especially now that I know your bedroom doors are always open for a good friend." – Cyrus laughed.
Helena didn't bother to answer, she just turned her back on him.
"Where are you going?" – asked the man.
"You make me feel sick."
Her brother-in-law was ready with an answer.
"Are you sure it is me and not your boyfriend's embryo?"
"Fuck you, Cyrus!" – said the Princess as she left the balcony.
Helena returned to her room and lied to her bed. Five minutes later the nanny knocked and came in with Prince Robert.
"Hello, darling, how was your afternoon?" – asked Helena with a smile on her face.
"Did you fall off your horse?"
"Robert, answer me when I ask you a question."
She realized that the nanny was still there, so she sent her away.
"So how was it?" – she repeated her question.
"It was good." – came the short answer from her two and a half year old son.
Helena tried again.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing. Really?" – she asked him with overacted surprise.
The little Prince nodded.
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
He shook his head.
"No."
"No? Come up here. That's it." – said Helena as she pulled her son up to the bed next to her. Then, she started to tickle him.
The little boy giggled.
"Stop it, mommy, I'm ticklish."
"I bet you are. I love you." – said the Princess and she kissed her son.
"I love you too." – answered Robert, then he turned to his mother. – "Mommy?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Did you fall off the horse?"
"I did." – she said and caressed his shoulder. But he didn't stop.
"Did it hurt?"
"Just a bit."
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yes, much better."
"Good."
They remained silent for a while.
"Have you been a good boy?" – asked Helena because she didn't know what else to say.
"Yes. We fed the ducks. They were very hungry. Can I sleep with you?"
Robert could jump very easily from one subject to another.
"No. You have your own bed, you have to sleep there." – she smiled, but her voice was firm.
"I don't want to." – said the little Prince and he clung at her mother's dress.
"Don't whine, Robert. Do you remember what you promised me?
He shook his head.
"Yes, you do." – answered Helena instead of him. – "You promised to be a good boy, remember?"
"Yes. Then I can sleep with you?" – he asked innocently.
The thought of blackmail made Helena really angry, especially that day.
"No. You have to be good because I told you so. Not because you get something in return."
"Sorry."
She felt guilty as she saw the tears in his eyes.
"It's all right. I have to leave earlier today. Your father and I will be having dinner with the Prime Minister. Would you like to help me prepare?"
Robert nodded. Helena got out her makeup kit and she gave one of the lipsticks to his son. She explained to him how to use it, but of course, the toddler smudged it all over her face.
"How do I look?" – she asked curiously, before she looked herself in the mirror.
"You are very pretty." – answered Robert.
When she finally saw her image in the mirror, she laughed.
"Pretty? That's what you think?"
The little boy giggled.
"Do you think the Prime Minister will like me?"
One of the servants came into the room.
"Your Highness!" – She was a bit surprised by the look of the Princess, but she continued. – "Katie sent me, I'm here for Prince Robert. It's time for his bath."
"Thank you." – answered Helena and she turned to his son.
"Good night, darling."
"Good night, mom."
The servant took Robert's hand and walked him toward the door, but Helena's voice stopped them.
"Robert! Are you going to be a good boy?"
"Yes." – answered the Prince.
"Do you promise me?"
The boy nodded. Helena sighed.
"Then maybe I reconsider your request and maybe I let you sleep here on your birthday."