11:45 AMJune 3rdThe Royal Guest Room
A much surprising chain of events has led me here, sitting in the guest room of the palace with ice on my foot. I shall reiterate the events since I was in the car with my uncle.
Our car drove through the gates and turned up the unpaved drive that led to the castle entrance. The car pulled up, and being the impatient man that he is, my uncle opened the door and stepped out without waiting for the footman.
"It's not really a very difficult job, you know." He said berating the footman, "You just have to open the door before the passenger dies of old age!"
I rolled my eyes and followed my uncle. The queen's assistant tried to welcome us, but my uncle ignored it.
"Your staff is incompetent and unreliable!" He yelled at the poor assistant on the receiving end of his tirade.
Sometimes my uncle exasperates me. Sometimes he forgets that the people who wait on him are people too. Ah, the wonders money and a title can do for you. I followed my uncle into the castle.
"Announcing Viscount Mabrey and Lord Devereux."
I followed one step behind my uncle and came into a beautiful decorated foyer.
"Your majesty!" my uncle said, with feigned happiness. He walked quickly up to her, took her hand and kissed it, as is traditional.
I strode in behind him, and the first thing I noticed the Princess' face. I noted the display of emotion that splashed across it in that single moment. First a stubborn look, a flash of recognition, then complete incredulity.
"May I introduce my nephew, Lord Nicholas Devereux." I quickly shifted my eyes to the Queen.
"Nicholas." The queen said regally, "We are delighted to make your acquaintance."
I reached out a hand to grasp hers and bowed my head to kiss it.
"The pleasure is all mine." I said suavely, noting the Princess' incredulous look had not yet faded from the corner of my eye. "And thank you so much for inviting me to stay at the palace."
"May I present my granddaughter, Mia." The queen looked at the princess, and the princess' face turned to frustration. She refused to look me in the eye.
"Your highness." I said simply. She still did not look.
"Mia?" the queen was flustered, "Would you care to welcome our guest?"
Her face changed from frustration to annoyance and she turned to face me. She smiled an overly sweet smile and said "Lord Nicholas?"
Perhaps not telling her who I was at the ball was a bad idea. In a second she flashed to anger and stomped squarely on my foot with her heel. My foot was still sore from when she stepped on it at the ball. She sure is a feisty princess. Maybe getting the crown wouldn't be as easy as I thought.