A/N: Thank you Butter9 for always giving me feedback! Thank you Dapet, DiegoVIC, La Cuidadora, GrapeCherie and the guest reviews for the feedback as well!
The story is not an alternative universe. This story takes place after "The Discovery" (last episode), but I guess the following chapters will explain how Diego and Victoria ended up in these places. And I am happy you noticed the one with "New England" as you will see why I wrote the "error" in later chapters. :)
Now I hope you will enjoy this following chapter!
ANYTHING FITS A QUEEN
Chapter III
A horseman almost rode into Diego at the plaza the other morning. He was definitely not used to the rush in the big town. It had been such a long time ago since last time. He tilted his head to the right and to the left. Unfortunately he had actually fallen asleep and missed out the hours of a vision of perfection. At least he had enjoyed it as long as the eyelids had stayed open.
He tried to knock the image out of his head but found it rather impossible.
The building appeared like a regular office, but one of the particular rooms had a burning fireplace in the middle of a wall. The windows facing the plaza outside were covered by a thick red curtain.
The man cleared his throat when spinning around. "No need of nosey people comprehending of what trade we execute here."
Diego nodded from his position in an armchair. "Right..."
The man was also a well-built posture, with a length like Diego himself. He appeared proper, but was rather bold. He too sat down carefully in his armchair.
"You are now engaged in this contract. Have you met the future queen?"
"Yes. It seems like a pity for some of your men to believe it is rightful to bring her down as well in an attempt of getting rid of Prince Bernard."
The man leaned forward over the mahogany table and grabbed his glass of cognac, imported from France. He nodded.
"And you must realize, no intention of killing innocent people. But if one or two strike along with bringing Prince Bernard down, then so be it. Better than letting millions of people starve, or the war he would bring upon us overseas. Don't you agree De La Vega?"
Diego snorted and folded his arms.
"Then again. Your father is a good friend of my father. He must be so proud of you for this mission, is he not?" the man wondered between his sips.
To that, Diego agreed. "Yes, he is. Thinks I do something of a mankind for once."
"Good," he said. There was a silence as he finished his glass. "Have you tried to ambush Prince Bernard yet?"
Choosing to partly ignore the question, Diego replied. "Everything is heading according to plan."
The man was not easy to charm. "Have you," he repeated. "Tried to ambush the prince?"
"Not yet," Diego admitted. "I must be careful to not harm Vict - the future Queen."
The man brought down his glass to the table, placed it there with a smaller thud. "Well. If she can marry this horrendous person, she must be the same."
"I don't think -," Diego began but was cut off.
"She could strike along."
"I refuse to believe she is anything like this man," Diego persisted.
The man shrugged. "You are working as some sort of an assassin of mine. Even if you say you prefer bringing him to me alive. Believe me when I say there are real ones that will take action soon if you don't," he promised.
Diego sighed but nodded. He understood the grave situation. He would have to hurry to bring Bernard into the right hands, without getting caught - or he would have careless assassins running around the castle.
Victoria would deny it deep into her bones, but she had in fact lingered a little longer than usual in front of the mirror. Too long so her court ladies had reacted. But it was first when her finger reached to her cleavage to slightly push it further down that they had raised their eyebrows and exchanged an astonished glance. Certainly had Lady Victoria never behaved like that in front of the prince.
Shock number two crashed upon them when she had turned around with an overly dreamy smile and asked if they could tighten her corset further.
So there she sat. In a chair at the overly long table. In a dining room with overly high ceiling. Again, there were grand crystal chandeliers that hung three in a row to lit the table area.
She fidgeted in her seat and was truly uncomfortable by the presence of Diego. He was standing beside the table, leaning against the wall and kept his eyes on her. She could sense the goose bumps rise on her skin and she tried her best to ignore him.
Thankfully she had grabbed a fan on her way out of her room, and it kept her actions moving and chills calm. She was blushing so hard, the prince had even stopped drinking and examined her. He had questioned it but she had waved it off as being too hot inside. Immediately he had snapped his fingers and pointed at the windows, causing the servants to hurry over and open them.
The sight was bothersome for Diego. He had expected it when agreeing to the deal of arriving in Madrid. But never had he imagined it would be that hard to witness Victoria being that drooled by another man. The sight was disturbing to say the least.
Every now and then, his eyes would fall to her chest and he was sure she never wore anything that low. He would have to straighten his back and remind himself that he was indeed a gentleman and move his sight elsewhere.
There was a sound of porcelain crashing against wooden floor and breaking into millions of pieces. He jumped, so did Victoria and the rest in the room.
"Bernard?" Victoria let out astonished.
Servants hurried to gather the food and clean the porcelain-pieces away.
His face was red and he pointed angrily at the plate laying upside down on the floor, food spread all over the place. "It was disgusting." He slammed his fist harshly on the table and again, everybody jumped. Diego followed the servants out of the room, but stopped outside the doorway to sneakily watch Bernard's interactions.
Victoria stared at him for a longer moment. She watched her future husband regain his self control and lean comfortably backwards into the backrest. He waved to a servant and ordered him to fetch him another dish. She herself looked rather shocked. How rude he was.
"I thought the dish was exquisite," she spoke with the golden fork in her hand.
Bernard raised his eyebrows and he remained silent until he was served something else. He took a sip on the wine. "Perhaps I should fire the chef as well."
Victoria swallowed a piece of a vegetable before opening her mouth. "As well?"
Bernard seemed unbothered. "I had to get rid of this Duke that wanted to decrease the taxes."
"Get rid of?" Victoria wondered.
"Let's just say he can try to convince the fishes at the bottom of the sea now."
Victoria's mouth was partly agape as she dropped her fork. "You killed him?"
Bernard wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Of course I did. I kill anybody that opposes the high taxes." He did a little maneuver with his hand to demonstrate how he easy he got rid of people.
Diego felt the irritation grow in him. And that monster would be Victoria's husband? What did she think of? What precisely did she see in that man?
With a clenched jaw, quite seeing red, Diego entered the kitchen. The chef had its' back against him, which made it all easier for Diego. He fumbled in his pocket for the powder and let it slip in one of the cups. A maid entered the kitchen.
"Ah, Don Diego," she curtsied and blushed. She grabbed the two cups of tea with her. Diego was hot on her heels, keeping a stern eye on one in particular. He watched carefully how the porcelain cups were served on the table. Thankfully, the one with powder was given to the right person - Prince Bernard. He returned to his posture by the wall.
Bernard took a bite of the new dish. He froze and threw a glare at the servants. Angrily he also threw that plate to the floor. "Horrendous."
Diego squinted as he watched Bernard holler at the servants that kneeled to clean the mess up. His eyelids rose when he saw how Victoria sneakily switched her cup with Bernard's.
Equally sneakily he took a step forward and switched the cups back. Victoria was not going to drink the cup Diego had intended to give Bernard. She shot him a glare and switched the cups back. Now it was Diego who shot her a glare. She was ruining everything. He leaned forward to make an attempt of switching them again, when Bernard turned his attention back to the table and Diego had to regain his posture.
What in the world was Victoria doing? She could not be drinking that cup.
She lifted the cub and let it rest in her hands just below her chin. What she conversed with Bernard was not heard by Diego. He did not know how to kick the cup out of Victoria's hands without gaining any suspicion.
He scanned the room for something. Anything. Then he noticed one of the chandeliers and how the rope reached not far from him. Smoothly he took a few steps along the wall to place himself by the rope. When he cut the rope he made sure Bernard was occupied in his chat and the servants busy in their minds.
The chandelier landed on the table and split it in two parts. Food, porcelain and liquid flew at all angles, and Victoria let out a scream in surprise. She jumped so much in astonishment she dropped her cup of tea.
Diego was fast to pull her away from her seat and pretend assisting Bernard.
"What in the..!" Bernard angrily and shocked uttered.
Victoria backed a few steps and felt her heart racing. Not because of the incident. But of how strongly Diego had pulled her up. She had not felt the touch of him in such a long time.
She watched how he helped Bernard onto his legs.
"Your Highness," he tried to brush Bernard's clothes. He gestured to the hallway and pretended he had seen the ambusher. "I think he escaped that way. I must stop him."
Bernard nodded. "Do that. Take that bastard!"
Without an extra glance to Victoria, he went off into the hallway. Pretending to run somewhere. He ran into the first room with an open door and closed it behind him. His heart was about to pop and he had to lean against the wall. The feeling of touching her soft skin. He had truly not needed to do that, but he had felt such an urge to use any dumb excuse to just physically feel her.
And. He had a great interest in science. He knew exactly what he had put in the cup. If Victoria had been drinking that, not only her's life would have been over. He would have never been able to forgive himself.
When enough time had passed he left the wall and headed towards the door. Trying to take-out Bernard was perhaps a bit too much of what he could handle. Bringing him to the men he had contracted with would be sufficient.
Suddenly the doors flung open. He jumped to stand straightly.
Victoria was standing there, a deep frown and... hint of anger. Diego knew that face too well.
She closed the door behind her back with a swift move, revealing her not too pleased mood.
"What was that?" she demanded and walked towards him.
Diego began backing. A woman scorned was not anything he liked to handle.
"What was what?" he tried.
She stopped for a second. "I know it was you," she accused and began trying to approach him again. "What are your intentions?"
Diego rounded a couch in attempt of keeping the distance between them. "I cannot say."
"Oh," she said rather sarcastically and stopped tracks. "Another secret of yours?"
Diego's expression fell and he gave her a warning look. He was about to back further when he felt the backrest of another couch blocking his way. And Victoria had reached him. She was so close to him, her body almost brushed against him. With a demanding and irritated glare, she gazed up to him.
"Just... watch it Diego," she warned and eventually backed away from him. She checked him out from head to toe, hoped it would be discreetly, but Diego had noticed. She blushed for moment before she regained her determination. She stopped in the doorway and turned around. "I mean it Diego. Do not come in my way."
And with that she left. Diego let his bum rest on the backrest of the couch and he narrowed his eyes after her. "Don't come in mine," he muttered only for himself to hear.
With Prince Bernard on a meeting in town, Victoria enjoyed the afternoon in the courtyard. She sat among the columns in a group of couches with her newfound so called friends.
The garden couch had a soft white cushion. She was leaning against the corner of it while waving her fan to keep the breeze. Additionally she had put a hat on top of her head, just like the rest of the three ladies she had in company.
"It is too bad Letizia could not make it today," Victoria spoke. One of the women nodded in agreement.
Countess Marcella, Lady Margareta and Baroness Giovanna. All three gossiping about the parties they had been on lately and what affairs went between the people of the society. Victoria tried to catch up on the conversations several times but found it again, hard, in Diego's presence. He was standing by a pillar among servants. All which simply stared at the gang of ladies from a distance in case they would need anything.
"That new bodyguard of yours is truly handsome," Countess Marcella said. She sipped on her tea and looked at Diego under her long lashes.
"You think so?" Victoria questioned.
Baroness Giovanna put her cup of tea down. "You don't?" she retorted. She was sitting there in her pompous green dress. Her red hair was braided in a most delicate hairstyle, which looked like a cake, in Victoria's opinion.
Victoria glanced at Diego. She knew all staff heard their conversations.
"I barely now him... apparently," she tried to cover the bitterness in her voice. She could feel the eyes of Diego burn on her. She continued waving the fan nonchalantly.
Lady Margareta laughed. "Then get to know him. I would for sure. Whenever my husband is not home, I need assistance of lifeguards even more."
Baroness Giovanna agreed in laughter. "Indeed. But my husband only hires ugly ones. Probably because he knows I would be all over somebody like yours, Victoria."
"I have heard he is a swordfighter. An excellent one says the rumor," stated Countess Marcella.
Victoria shrugged, still nonchalantly.
"I cannot agree to that, as I have never in fact witnessed him swordfight," she spoke. The eyes on her were burning even more. She eventually looked sideways to Diego. For a brief moment, her heart fluttered and she felt how her cheeks blushed when meeting his eyes.
She had believed she would throw a strong order, but by seeing his kissable lips she fought on her words. "You are dismissed."
Diego smiled, and she could see in his eyes that he was challenging her.
"Why, Victoria?" complained Baroness Giovanna.
"Yes, why Victoria? He is so handsome. Let him stay!" nagged Lady Margareta.
Diego cleared his throat, and locked eyes with Victoria again to stare directly into them. "I follow first of all the Prince's demands," he clarified.
Victoria bit her lip, gave him the eye and knew she could not oppose that. She returned to the chat and did her best in ignoring him.
She focused on her friends and engaged in the chats. Tried to pretend like she was not bothered at all by having this man staring at her. She had walked rigidly towards the roundabout in front of her house when the carts came to bring the ladies home. She had said goodnight to them and started heading towards her quarters - alone. No court ladies but only Diego hot on her heels.
She could feel his firm steps and the straight back, eyes penetrating her from behind.
When she quickened her steps, do did he. At last she was almost jogging to her bedroom. When she approached it she closed it right into Diego's face - again.
He winced by the movement and his nose twitched. He raised his fist and banged on it.
Victoria opened, playing obvious dumb. "Oh, Diego. Good evening."
He pushed himself inside with her struggling to close the door. "I think we need to talk." He pushed past her and closed the door himself.
"There is nothing to talk about." She backed a few steps and tried to keep the distance. "Not right now."
Diego stood still and wore an almost hurt expression. "Why did you leave?" He hoped his voice did not falter at all. There was this pain that struck him whenever he thought of it. Why did he ask the question? He was not sure he would stand the answer.
Victoria folded her arms and it took some time before she opened her mouth. "Because you were right," she spoke softly. Completely letting her guard down. "Because after the night at the hacienda I was-."
The door opened and a court lady opened the door. She curtsied to Victoria. Then her eyes widened. "Is there an ambusher here?!" regarding Victoria's lifeguard being inside the future Queen's bedroom.
Diego shook his head. "He escaped."
"Oh," the court lady let out relieved. She walked inside the bathroom. "Thank Lord Almighty."
The pair waited until the court lady was out of hearing distance.
Victoria turned to Diego with dejected eyes. "You must go."
"But Victoria, we haven't even talked."
"Go before somebody suspects something," she said, barely above a whisper.
Eventually Diego swallowed and nodded once. "I'll be sleeping right outside if you need me."
For the first time in a long time, she gave him a sincere smile. "Thank you, Diego."
A/N: So that was chapter 3! What did you think of this chapter/story? The reason of why she left will get answered later in the story! :)