Queen of Maldonia II
Guilt Of Hearts
Within a couple of weeks A'lia's ankle was fully healed. She was looking forward to playing football, but Naveen stopped her from ever playing. She never understood why her father was always so hard on her with football, and not James. Sure he was a boy but she could play just as well and could handle the hard blows that went with it.
"It isn't fair." A'lia said to herself. "Papa never lets me have fun like James."
The young princess hopped off of her bed to go grab her ball. It was the same ball Naveen gave to her for her birthday. He since then took the ball after her 'incident' with James, but just this morning she took the ball back. She only hope that he would forgive her for taking back the ball so she left him a small note on his desk explaining why she loves the sport.
The past couple of weeks have been interesting for her when it came to her father. He was always nice to her before, but lately he's been extra happy and in a more upbeat mood. This morning and afternoon A'lia saw her father and she would get a smile or wink from him. He was even nice to the help. She was curious of his behavior because all she could remember of him is acting very stern to everyone.
A knock was heard at the door.
A'lia quickly hid the ball under her bed before answering. "Come in."
Mariah walked in the room. "Hey you!"
"Oh, hi." Said a disappointed A'lia. She was hoping it was her father coming in to speak with her about playing football.
"Why the long face?" Asked Mariah. "Today you will be practicing for another recital."
"I hate ballet." A'lia said.
"But you're so good at it." Mariah walked over to the princess' closet and took out the attire. "Madam Hatchett is looking forward to seeing her favorite student."
A'lia sighed, going over to her nanny. "I still hate ballet."
"But when you grow up to becoming a famous dancer you will laugh at your hate. Just wait and see!" Mariah said, helping the girl with her clothes. She then noticed a bracelet on the princess' wrist. "Beautiful bracelet."
"My papa gave it to me last week." A'lia explained, taking off the bracelet, handing it over to the nanny. "He always gives me and mama jewelry from around the world."
"Where did this come from?"
"Somewhere in Greece. My papa has family from there. He made a short visit there because they weren't able to make it to the upcoming royal ball so they sent us all gifts. My papa said this bracelet came from a great aunt of his. She's my great-great aunt."
"Well it's very beautiful and expensive-looking." Mariah said, wanting to know more about the king. "So, how is your father like? In general."
"He's nice, funny, brave." Explained the young princess, putting on her shoes. "He's also a very good dancer and mincer!"
Mariah giggled a little. "A mincer? So he can cook?"
"Not really. My mama taught him how to mince when they were friends."
"Friends?" She handed the princess her bracelet.
"Yes they were best friends before they got married. At least that's what they told me." A'lia loved talking about her father, but wondered why her nanny wanted to hear about him. "Mariah why are you asking so many questions about my papa?"
"Oh—um, I was only curious…" She quickly turned the subject into football. "Did your father ever un-ban you from playing football?"
A'lia sighed. "No…he doesn't believe that I should play, even if I do like it."
Mariah took the princess' hand. "Well then I guess you should listen to him. He makes the rules, you follow."
"My mama doesn't think I should."
"Well she has no choice. Surely she listens to what a man like Naveen have to say." Mariah said, annoyed that A'lia even brought up the queen.
"She and papa had a few fights over it." A'lia added.
"Fights?" That caught Mariah's interest. "How bad are the fights?"
"Really bad, but they make up quickly." A'lia smiled.
Mariah didn't like hearing that. In fact, she didn't want to speak more about it. "Well I should be taking you to your ballet lessons. You might be Madam Hatchett's favorite student, but she definitely hates tardiness."
"Can't we just hide for the next two hours?" A'lia pouted, but then thought of an idea. "I know a room on the second level where we can hide and not get bored. It has enough space for us to play football!"
"Now what would your father think if he caught us?" Mariah asked.
"My papa wouldn't know since he's always so busy." A'lia pointed out.
Mariah laughed. "Let's get you to your class." She opened the door, and saw Kanad just as he was about to knock on it. "Kanad?"
"Oh..." He smiled when he saw Mariah with his niece. "I see you're busy-
"Hey uncle Kanad!" A'lia smiled. "Is there anything you need?"
The prince looked at the nanny. "There was something I needed to show Mariah here."
Mariah cursed in her thoughts before pasting on a fake smile. "Right now?"
Kanad took her hand. "She'll be back A'lia."
"I'll be waiting." A'lia said. Hoping neither returns so that she could ditch her lessons.
Kanad pulled Mariah down the hall and into another room where he started kissing on her neck.
Disgusted, Mariah pulled back. "Not now..."
"I know you want us to keep this in secret, but I really miss you and I really am ready to go to the next level with you." The prince said. He has fallen in love with the nanny.
Mariah knew of the young boy's 'love' and hated having to feel him in order to get to Naveen. So she wrapped her arms around him. "I want us to go to the next level but I am not ready. You understand?"
"I understand, and I will wait as long as you want." Kanad pulled from the hug. "When that day comes, I promise to be very gentle. It is an honor to be your first and hopefully only."
Mariah gave the prince another hug before leaving the room. The thought of sleeping with Kanad was sickening. It wasn't his physical appearance. He looked very mature for his age, it was his age alone. But knew it will be worth it once she gets Naveen to herself. And the fact that he thought she was a virgin was laughable. "I really hope this works for me at the end."
()()()()
Naveen and Eduardo shook hands proudly as they made an agreement on what date the school should open.
"I think the fourth day of September will be the right day to begin classes." The baron said, holding in his emotions.
"Yes, it is!" Naveen agreed. "Plus it will give the school and students enough time to get everything settled." He looked over at the baron, who was wiping his eyes. He knew it was about his wife. "Maria would've been proud Eduardo."
"I know." Eduardo said. "I just wish she was here to see it for herself."
"She is." Naveen said to his friend. "I don't want to sound like a lame-brain, but over the years this has helped me somewhat...prayer. Tiana has taught me that prayer can help with loss or when you need to let out your emotions. Growing up I never really believed in anything such as God. My family have so many different beliefs that it was really hard for me to connect to any of them."
"And Tiana helped you find what to believe in?" Asked Eduard.
"Yes." Naveen answered. "But if you don't believe in God-
"I do. Maria helped me find him as well." Eduardo shared. "She was a strong believer until the last day of her life." He closed his eyes. Finding it difficult to speak about his wife. Tears ran down his face. "Prayer does work, but going to bed alone every night is still very hard. Even if a year has gone by."
Naveen hated seeing his friend this depressed. He could somewhat relate to how he felt, but at the same time he didn't understand.
Eduardo exhaled. "There's nothing I can do now."
"Maria Vargez was her maiden name, right?" asked Naveen.
"Yes, but it was still her name after we married. She chose to change her lastname after we moved to Austria. Baroness Maria von Amaya…" The baron chuckled. "She always hated when people call her a baroness. She was very casual with everything."
"So is Tiana. She even have the help calling her by her first name." Naveen shared. "I don't know what it is about women and names."
"Tell me about it." Eduardo laughed. "Just be sure to never ask Tiana to change that about her. It could be very refreshing and…"
"Normal." Naveen finished. Thinking about his wife. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost her."
"Don't ever think that way." Eduardo warned. "Just enjoy her. She is a beautiful woman inside and out. And if she seems a little off, please don't be too hard on her."
Naveen raised an eyebrow. "What is that suppose to mean?"
Eduardo knew he said too much. "She's a little sensitive. I'm assuming with the pregnancy and all."
Just then, James walked into the office. "Papa, may I…" He stopped when he saw Eduardo in the room. "Oh, I'm sorry. I will come back later."
"No, no wait!" Naveen stopped is son. "Come back in. What is it that you want?"
Eduardo stood up. "I'll leave you two be" Walking out of the office.
James took a seat across his father, remaining quiet.
"So why did you come in here with nothing to say?" Naveen joked.
"Oh, well there was this thing I read about the prince of Kanseja having his very own telephone in his room-
"Absolutely out of the question." Naveen cut him off.
"Ah come on papa! All the kids are beginning to have their own telephones."
"And what are you going to do with that telephone besides use it once or twice before getting bored by it?"
James grew furious. "It isn't fair! You give A'lia everything she wants! Why can't I have a telephone in my room?"
"Because I said you can't have one." Naveen answered.
"Manu paz e sanza!" James cursed (This is utter horseshit!)
"You better watch your tone with me young man!" Naveen warned. "Now go in your telephone-less room and stay in there until I say so."
James got up from the chair. Opening the office door…
"Push my chair back in before leaving my office." Naveen ordered in a stern tone.
The prince did just that before pouting out the room.
Naveen sighed outloud after having to say 'no' to his son. It was hard, but he had to start setting boundaries with him—Tiana was right. He did seem to treat his son better than his daughter with certain things...including football. The letter he got from A'lia was cute, but he still stood by not having her play football.
Tiana opened the door to the office and saw her husband in heavy thought. She smiled, knowing what he was thinking about.
"How did James handle not getting a telephone for his room?"
Naveen grunted.
Tiana laughed, walking over to him. "He's spoiled…but he will be alright."
The king pulled his wife on his lap. "Did he ask you first?"
"Yep, and his response was 'well you are a woman so it isn't up to you'."
Naveen sighed in frustration. "I really have to talk to him about being disrespectful to you, and women."
"You think?" Asked a sarcastic Tiana.
Naveen looked down at his wife's tummy and rested a hand on it. "Where is the baby?" He joked, changing the topic.
Tiana completely forgot about the whole pregnancy/miscarriage again.
"If I remember correctly you were a little fuller down here." He put his hand on her lower abdominal. "And by now I could tell you if we are having a son or daughter, but with this child I haven't the slightest clue."
Tiana got off Naveen's lap. "I forgot I have to watch A'lia practicing for her recital."
Naveen got up. "I'll join you. It's about time I get to see if our daughter has got her father's loose feet."
"Oh no it's okay." Tiana said. "Don't you and Eduardo have to finish that school-
"We're already done." Naveen said.
Tiana grew uncomfortable, and Naveen could feel it. Making him grow skeptical. "Are you alright?"
Tiana took her husband's hand. "Yes, let's go see A'lia."
"No…" Naveen stopped her. "What is it? You can tell me."
Tiana put her hand on her abdominal, guilt running up and down her body. "It nothing." She gave him a kiss.
Naveen had an strange feeling that his wife wasn't being truthful with him. Whatever it was, he hope that she would tell him soon. He hated if his own wife was keeping secrets from him.
()()()()
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates. I'll try to update more often like I said I would. I told you my life is 'faldi fladonza' right now. But I will definitely update for you all. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Review!