Chapter Eight
"Why are you going back to your aunt's house again?" asked Joseph as he drove his daughter to Amaltheia's house.
Victoria sighed as she told him her agenda for about ten times, "Tio asked me to decorate their room romantically. For some reason maybe they're finally planning to make children."
Joseph nodded as he looked at his daughter from the mirror.
It's now official and proven that she's his daughter, And I can't believe that it's only been a day since everything's settled.
Victoria saw that her father's observing her again. Does he think that I'm intimidated by his looks? she wondered as something suddenly came in her mind.
"Uh… Dad?" she asked shyly.
Joseph hummed as he looked at his daughter through the mirror.
Not bad, the teenager thought as she sighed, I'll get used to it.
"Why did you rent a single-bed hotel room back in Genovia?" she asked, "I mean- I saw the bills this morning and I kinda saw it,"
And that went so weird, she scolded herself, maybe I should just wait for him to answer.
Joseph looked at his daughter as he tried to change the subject, "You understand Italian?"
"I took Italian and French classes in exchange for English classes," Victoria stated, "Will you be going back to Genovia?"
"We," Joseph said, "Tomorrow. I hope you don't mind. I just have to speak to someone. Actually I'm going to arrange the flight while you're doing- decorating."
Victoria nodded as she became more skeptical, Is that someone his queen? Goddammit why does everything suddenly make me so curious?
The rest of the ride became quiet as Victoria thought hard about her father's relationship with the queen.
If papá's in love with his queen, how on earth did he get into a fling with mamá. Does that mean that his feelings are one-sided? Then why on earth are we going back to Genovia? And who's that someone? Victoria groaned as she pushed those thoughts at the very back of her mind, They're giving me a headache.
In the front seat, Joseph thought about Clarisse. What will he say to her? How will he say it? Will she let him? Will there be a chance?
And what about Victoria? he thought as he looked at his daughter from the mirror for the nth time, Will she accept Clarisse if there's some chance?
Clarisse sighed as she asked her driver to stop two blocks away from the address given to her. Then she saw it.
Joe's car.
It's on the driveway of the house.
He's just right there… she thought as she asked her driver, Luke, and her guard, Jack, to wait for her in the car. And that don't follow her, They can't object. This is my road to walk through alone.
She got out of the car and walked straight to the house. Checking the address for the nth time.
C/ Rosa de los Vientos 69, La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz.
This is it, she thought as she rang the doorbell.
Victoria sighed as she finished changing the sheats.
Now where are those petals.. she groaned as she searched her bag. Smiling as she found the packets, I hope these smells like real roses.
She was about to sprinkle them around the bed when she heard the doorbell rang.
Who on earth- she thought as she automatically got out of the room, down the stairs, straight to the door.
Not hesitating a bit, she opened the door.
Holy~
Shut up, Clarisse thought as she saw the teenager who opened the door.
And no doubt she already know who's this.
Joseph's daughter, she mused, She got his father's eyes…
The two ladies stood there facing each other as for the first time Victoria prayed that someone's there to disseminate the tension that could be cut by a knife.
Clarisse regained first and asked, "Is there someone by the name of Joseph Romero happened to live here?"
Victoria raised her eyebrow for a bit as she didn't entirely listen to what was asked. She's preoccupied with thinking.
This completely confuses me now.. why is she here? Is she here to talk to papá? damn adults. damn-
Clarisse got her raised eyebrow to misunderstanding as she tried to speak in her most fluent Spanish and repeated the question.
Victoria then came back to reality when she heard her speak in Spanish as it reminded her a bit of what her aunt made her listen to when she was seven.
It's about something with those two women, who are they again? Carol Andrews and Julie Burnett? she thought, No that sounded wrong. Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews- ah much better…
"Ah- sí. el es mi papá," she said as she smirked to the queen, She must have thought that I can't speak English.
Clarisse only managed to nod as she looked at the young lady in front of her. Those eyes do really look like his and the nose as well. Then her eyes landed on the girl's smirking lips.
Not the same smirk but the lips are the same shape as his, she undoubtedly thought as she gave her shudder remembering Joseph's lips.
"Papá está haciendo cosas, puedes esperar dentro un rato si quieres." Victoria offered as she looked around, "Puedo servirte un té."
Clarisse thought for a while. She's too preoccupied to observe the girl as she doesn't entirely comprehend what she's doing.
Victoria pretended to be busy as she arranged the sandals, heels and other footwear to the sides. She knows that the former queen is observing her.
So there's really something with her and papá, she thought as she smiled at the queen's direction before she went to the same room where she brought her papá approximately a week ago.
Déjà vu, Victoria thought as she scan through cupboards looking for the things needed to make tea.
Déjà vu, Clarisse thought as she sat on the couch. The girl made her remember her first meeting with Mia and her first meeting with Joseph, It suddenly felt like only yesterday…
"Where is his majesty?" she asked as she entered the beach house.
"He said that he'll be late ma'am. He sent his apologies." the new guard said as he watched the queen enter the room and sat on the couch, "Would you want me to make you some tea ma'am?"
Clarisse looked to the new guard for the first time as she found herself speechless when her blue orbs found his green ones.
She nodded as he quickly went behind the kitchen counter.
"What is your name?" she found herself asking.
"What is your name?" Clarisse whispered from her memory unintentionally as she looked at the teenager.
Victoria looked at her funny as she just asked her how she takes her tea, And she answered me with a question about my name.
Clarisse looked at the girl, both waiting for one to answer the question of the other.
Victoria finally sighed as she tempted herself not to break characters, "Victoria.." she mumbled, "And yours?"
Clarisse looked a little taken aback to the girl's tone. Just seconds ago she's speaking fluent Spanish and now her language and accent have reverted to English. Not to mention, She even asked for my name…
Then she thought of Joseph and frowned, Did he not tell her about his work at the palace?
"Clarisse," she said.
"Well then, Señora Clarisse, ¿cómo te gusta tu té?" Victoria asked.
A/N: I don't speak Spaaaaaanish! So please if you do, kindly correct me. Here are the meaning of some, or the thought that it give:
Ah- sí. el es mi papá - Ah, yes. He is my papa. *I google translated the meaning of father, papa and daddy and there's at least 3 meanings I guess.. so I go with papá.
Papá está haciendo cosas, puedes esperar dentro un rato si quieres. - Papa's outside doing stuff. You can sit and wait for him if you want.
Puedo servirte un té. - I can serve you tea.
¿cómo te gusta tu té - how do you like your tea?
I really do hope you enjoy! I've read the reviews and I'm glad that people are loving this story so far.. And if you wonder why does Victoria asked Clarisse about her name, you'll know on the next chapter. So yah!