Heading out for the first stop.
Their first stop was to China to see the Emperor. Also they would be meeting up with Lonnie and her parents. They weren't expected in China until the 24th, but were leaving on the 21st. Adam decided for this first leg of the trip, a train trip to see the country sides as they travelled was just what Ben needed to work on his speeches, and Mal needed to see the country she one day may rule at Ben's side.
They met Hayley at the train station. Mal had never met Hayley, so she was excited to get to meet her. She wanted more little Ben stories, ones maybe Belle and Adam didn't know about. Once at the station the porter took their bags. What they would need only for China. Their clothing would meet them at each destination after that, other than a few everyday traveling outfits.
"Mal, this is Hayley. Hayley, our Mal." Mal moved to shake Hayley's hand, but instead she pulled Mal into a hug.
"I have been dying to meet you. I will say, I am glad things worked out the way they did. You and Ben are a much better fit."
"Thank you." Mal said, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Before she could go on a man from the castle came running up.
"Sire, Sara Beth sent these last minute documents to be signed." He handed them to Ben. Ben quickly signed them. He didn't have time to read them, and he trusted Sara Beth and knew the courier well. No one saw Adam take the papers from the courier.
"Ben." Hayley said, pulling him into a hug. Mal stood back and watched them. This heavy set woman who was about mid 40's with long blond hair, would be her companion for the next 60 days. Mal knew she had to get along with her, and she would try, but she still wasn't into all the touchy feely stuff. It was one thing to touch Ben. To hug her long time friends. An occasional hug from Belle and even Adam, but this woman…she wasn't quite ready for that.
Ben and Mal said their good-byes to Adam and Belle and boarded the train. Mal and Ben sat side by side, across from Hayley. They waved out the window as the train pulled away from the station. As soon as they were away from the station and moving fast enough that the press could no longer take pictures, Hayley looked at the young couple. "Ok, I want to set some ground rules. I am well aware that Mal have a birth control implant. " Ben and Mal exchanged worried looks. "I am not here to prevent you two from being alone, when situations like this arise. I am only here to keep Mal company when Ben has his Royal Duties to perform. That being said…" She closed the shade to their private traveling car, stood and moved to the door. "I will be in my private sleeping car. I expect you too to use caution when alone, but I won't stop you two from having alone time. Those weren't my orders." And with that she left. Ben and Mal exchanged a second look. Ben shrugged, and they both broke out laughing.
"I like her." Mal said while laughing.
"Knew you would." Ben said, pulling Mal closer. "So, alone time, that's a novel concept. What do we do with it?"
"I am actually a little tired. Care to take a nap?"
"Tell you what, you take a nap, while I work on my speech for The Chinese Emperor."
Mal didn't answer, she just stretched out onto the bench on their travelling car, put her head onto his shoulder and promptly fell asleep.
About three hours later, Mal woke up as Ben received a phone call. "Hello Mom. I didn't expect to hear from you today." Mal could hear Belle's half of the call as she was close to the ear Ben held the phone in.
"Where is Mal?"
"Did she do something, you sound upset?"
"No, not her. Those papers you signed today? Where did they come from?"
"Our usual courier brought them from Sara Beth, why?"
"You almost made a huge mistake. You are lucky we trust that courier and Sara Beth."
"Mother what did I do?" Mal looked at him with worry on her face.
"You signed a marriage contract with Audrey. We are lucky your father took the papers from the courier. He was attacked after he left the station. If he had been carrying those papers it is very likely that contract would have been in Leah's hands as we speak, and you would be marrying Audrey after you finished at Auradon Prep."
"HOW? Where would he have gotten them?" Ben asked putting his mother on speaker phone for Mal to hear better.
"We traced his steps. He put the folder down at the coffee shop here at the station, he had gotten here before us. He had a coffee. The contract was slipped in then. Ben I understand you are in a hurry to get on your trip, but I assure you, they will try things like this again. You can not sign anything without reading them. That is the only reason Dad took them. BENAMIN FLORIAN you need to more careful! If you and Mal want to be together in the future, you need to be aware of everything around you. Rooms could be bugged with both audio and video. We have dispatched security that will meet you at the next train stop. Their pictures are in an email attached! Pay attention. This could have been huge."
"I…Thank dad for me."
"I will. He is dealing with the fall out now. Put Mal on the phone and leave her alone for me to talk to." Ben did as he was told.
"Mal, I need you to be aware too. This contract, oh heavens if she had gotten the signed copy, it would have been horrible not only for you and Ben but for all the Isle kids as well. I am counting on you and Hayley to keep Ben from doing anything else stupid."
"Of course, I have a spell that can keep people from hearing anything said between whomever I choose. I was saying it as soon as I heard what was up. I can make sure that is said everywhere we go, no matter how much we trust them."
"Good girl. Look, Ben isn't thinking straight right now, and it's because he is with you. I am not saying come home, but if he makes anymore mistakes Adam and I won't hesitate to have Hayley bring you home. I know it's not your fault…"
"But Ben needs to be thinking clearly. I understand, I will make sure he is thinking clearly."
"Thank you Mal. I knew you would understand. Please, don't think Adam and I blame you for this. I am just grateful we didn't say our goodbyes at the palace. That was the plan originally. If so Adam wouldn't have taken those papers away from the courier. I am going to email you the contract, you need to see what a mess he almost got not only you, but all the others here from the Isle, and the ones coming next term. The contract will be without Ben's signature of course, can't have that out there anywhere, they could use it. And Fairy Godmother has already erased the video from the platform of him signing things. Can't really tell what he is signing, but just in case. Do not let him sign anything, not even a receipt. We are telling everyone that either you or Hayley are signing for meals, rooms etc. I want Ben signing nothing, without reading it first. And little things that aren't important such as bills, etc, he doesn't need to sign. Have him come back in." Mal opened the door and found him about to sign for their dinner. She stopped him, handed him the phone and took the bill and signed it. "Queen Belle's orders, King Ben isn't authorized to sign that. Either Hayley or I from now on. Precautions." Mal told the waiter. Ben walked into the cabin while Mal dealt with the waiter.
"Mom I made a mistake, I look like a fool if I can't sign my own bills."
"Ben, Leah could have people anywhere trying to get you to sign something again. Dad and I are reading the contract over. We would hope she doesn't try again or worse and change any of the wording of it. I am emailing it to Mal, read it. It was just plain mean! But for now, we have a few ways out of it if need be. Oh and do me a favor?"
"Of course."
"Get the Rose onto her left hand as soon as possible. That might help if we need it too. A promise is a huge thing."
"Not a problem Mom. We kind of have an understanding between each other anyway."
"Ben?"
"Ok, so like she said yes weeks ago, but we didn't want the press to hear it. A 5 year, at least, engagement would be a huge deal. So we were gonna keep it to ourselves until we came back, then tell you and Dad."
"Oh. Well congratulations Son. I am happy for you both, now change that ring!"
"Yes mom." He said, and they ended the call. Mal came in with the food. She said a spell to make sure the food was safe, and then handed him a sandwich. Ben took her right hand and took the rose off. He placed it onto the left. Mal gave him a questioning look. "I told them. And they think this is gonna help cut back their attempts."
"Oh, ok then."
At the palace after ending the call, Belle found Adam. He was reading over the contract.
"Anything?"
"Its loaded with crap. No previous commitment will be honored, any engagement will be ended and marriage will be terminated. As Ben is still only 17, Leah would take over ruling until he was 18. And I mean immediately. She drew up the contract on Audrey's behalf."
"Well there is the issue, unless Aurora signed custody of Audrey to her mother, she can't make deals like this."
"I will look into that, in the mean time, did you tell Ben and Mal to fake an engagement."
"They are actually engaged. They were keeping it quiet because of the press, they plan to marry after college so a 5 year engagement seemed a long time, so they were keeping it on the down low."
"Not a bad idea, before this. But it's a moot point if she plans to honor all of this, including this no previous engagements or marriages. But the fact that she drew up the contract and not Aurora and Philip is a plus." He picked up the phone and called a lawyer. "Kevin, good, have another Leah issue. She tricked Ben into signing a marriage contract. As of right now she doesn't have it. we do. Two things, one she made the contract not Audrey's parents. And second, if she never gets it is it valid….cause we can destroy it." Belle watched as Adam talked on. "Ok, destroy the original, but keep a copy without the signature. Right. And you don't think it's valid cause that you know of Leah doesn't have those rights. Ok. Thanks. I will do that."
"Well?" Belee asked.
"So we need to make a copy of this on anything other than any legal type paper."
"Mal has purple copier paper in her room."
"Grab some. I will rip off the signature and destroy it now." He took a ruler, and cleanly ripped off the signature. He lit it on fire. Belle waited until it was all ash, then went for the copier paper. Once they copied it, the paper was tossed into the fireplace. The copy was then placed into their safe after it was sent to Mal's lap top computer.
Nothing came of the contract issue until a few days later, when Queen Leah arrived at their door. Belle and Adam welcomed her into Adam's office. They had just heard the kids and Hayley had arrived in China. The Rose on Mal's left finger, immediately caught the presses attention. Ben explained that he had asked on the train and Mal had agreed on the condition they finish school. They didn't define what finish school meant. But the news must have gotten to Queen Leah.
"I am missing a document that was signed by Ben."
"All the paperwork Ben signed has left his desk. Sara Beth sent out the last of it the day after Ben and Mal left."
"Well I never received it."
"And what was this paper, I can have Sara Beth look for it."
"I will search myself, thank you."
"No one goes into Ben's office sorry."
"I want my contract."
"Contract?"
"Find those papers." She said and marched out. After they were sure she was gone both sighed in relief.
"Have you heard from Kevin?"
"He can't find anywhere legally that allowed her to make a contract between Ben and Audrey. He also said, Ben being 17 can't be held legally responsible for signing a marriage contract. He needs us. So if she had, gotten them for many reasons they would have been no good."
"Thank Heavens for that. Ok, well Ben still needs to not sign anything. His signature out there for now isn't a great idea."
"True. Are Lucas and Max in place?"
"Yes. And Mal is spelling everywhere they go to have conversations kept quiet."
"Good. He needs to be careful."
"He knows."
In China the train was met by Lonnie, Li Shang and Mulan. They had dinner together. After dinner Ben had a meeting with the council. Hayley had time off while Mal hung out with Lonnie. Mal pulled Mulan aside and filled her in on what happened, she promised to make sure to watch whatever Ben signed.
"So, Mal how's thing so far?" Lonnie asked. Mal filled her in on the contract. "That old bat needs to give it up. Could you imagine what this country would be like if she ran it?"
"I would rather not." Mal laughed back.
The two friends spent the afternoon together, shopping and sight seeing. Mal was glad to have time with Lonnie. She knew Lonnie was dating Jay and that made her family in Mal's new good book, but she really didn't know Lonnie that well.
"Have you heard from Jay?" Mal asked her.
"He calls when he can. I miss him. I watch his matches on tv when they are available, but as a new player Jay doesn't get much field time."
"He knew that going into this. But well Jay does what he wants, and Tourney has become Jay's thing. I have missed a few matches, there was no wifi on the train strong enough to catch the games. But I caught high lights and Carlos has sent me plays Jay was in."
"So how are Carlos and Evie doing without Jane and Doug?"
"Well, Jane got a last minute invite to the same camp as Carlos, but they are studying two different things and only see each other at meal times, they both have said it's tough and intense. No free time really and they have only been there about a week. Evie is missing Doug something awful, but she can call him whenever she wants. Madame is in love with all the designs she made me for the trip. Especially the ones with the material Madame gave her to use. I had to wear them all and be photographed in them for her portfolio. She said and I quote, Evie I have been waiting for a natural talent to cross my path, my wait is over."
"WOW. Madame is a tough critic. I mean you know about her best and worst dressed list right?"
"No, what is that?"
"So a lot of the designers will critique each others works, but Madame is so good and so famous that no one says anything against her work, or her staff." Lonnie sat on a bench and pulled out her phone. She pulled up a list Madame made of the coronation dresses. "This is the one from coronation Day. She wasn't too bad on me, but Audrey…"
Mal looked over the list. And what Madame wrote about some of the outfits that day shocked her.
'Audrey may be of the house of beauty, but that dress wasn't worthy of the name. Audrey herself is a natural beauty, but that dress didn't do her justice. And if she was going to be Ben's date in that dress, he was wise to choose elsewhere. Now the dress on his actual date, has potential. And for an unknown designer, it's not all together bad. A few tweaks here and there and it's a winner. (I amend my comment after seeing the dress transformed for the coronation after party, excellent work, the dress made an exquisite transformation from long to short.) Jane, daughter of The Fairy Godmother, should really get some help from Mom like Cinderella did. 'Fraid that child will need the same help her mother gave Cinderella. Lonnie Shang while the fabric and dress design were pretty, it was a typical style. I didn't hate it. Now the dress the designer of the King's dates dress, that blue number wasn't all too bad either, a typical princess dress. (Again the evening transformation made the dress much better.) so over all the following were of, Mal, Evie, Lonnie, I didn't hate them. Audrey and Jane. You ladies need new designers."
"Wow she was tough on us."
"That one was relatively calm. Read this one from a few years ago."
Mal took Lonnies phone again and read the article.
The anniversary ball for the king and queens 18 anniversary was held last night, let me just say they should have all worn plastic bags because they would have looked better than some of the dresses I saw there tonight. I mean aside from the Queen herself because she wore on of my designs. Speaking of plastic bags, Queen Leah looked like she was wearing one Dark rose isn't the right shade for a woman of her age. And I understand this is the first color dress she has worn now that her year of mourning for King Stephan is over, but she needs to lighten that shade up a few degrees. And What about the rest of the house of Beauty, well Aurora in her blue, well…not very figure flattering. And Audrey. This was her first public outing as the future King Ben's girlfriend and if this is how she is gonna dress…my dear readers, we are in for a lot of writing from yours truly and a lot of negatives. I can whole heartidly say the house of beauty needs to be renamed tonight. And fire their stylist!
"WOW, she is tough."
"She wasn't wrong." Lonnie pulled up a photo of the three ladies that night and Mal almost chocked on the water she was drinking. Queen Leah's dress looking like a deep rose colored bag had neck and arm hole cut out of it. Aurora's dress clung to her in all the wrong places and she looked awful. And Audrey looked like she was trying to look way older than she was. At 14 she had no cleavage and was trying to pull off a sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline that basically screamed, look I have no boobs.
"Can I just say, I have no fashion sense, I rely on others for that, but even I can see those three looked like they were dressed by a blind person. Audrey's dress….It just points out at 14 she still had no boobs." Mal and Lonnie laughed.
"From what I have heard they tried to get in to see Madame for the coronation, and were turned away. I guess too many years of bad reviews by not only Madame but a few others too, really put their names on the worst dressed list."
"There is such a thing?" Mal was shocked, and was actually beginning to worry.
Lonnie pulled it up. "There is one for each age group. No worries Mal."
She showed her the one for their age group.
Mal Has an excellent sense of fashion and a personal designer.
Evie Excellent sense of fashion and an excellent designer would love to work with her
Lonnie Much improved
Jordan While sticking to her cultural heritage, an excellent dresser
Jane. Most improved
Audrey
"She had no comment about Audrey?"
"Oh she did, Queen Leah ranted and raved until they took it down. It said, bottom of the list is the only place for this fashion don't."
"When did the list come out?"
"She does these lists yearly. They are due out the end of August. Mal you made the top!."
"But she made this list before she gave Evie her internship right?"
"For sure. Why?"
"Just didn't want her to be biased."
"Oh, no she only critiques those she doesn't design for or work with. Evie and most likely because of Evie's working with you, and intern most of us will be off the list next year. Hey Audrey has a chance next year since Evie designs for the rest of us other than Jordan." Lonnie and Mal laughed.
The girls headed back to the hotel and Lonnie left Mal there. The next day she and Ben were going with Mulan and Lonnie sight seeing and then later that night the dinner with the Emperor. Mal met up with the security guards who had been checking the room, Mal also knew that one of them had been following her all day and she understood why.