Hello everyone! Enjoy!

Chapter 5

"I look stupid," Puck said a week later as he stood on a stool while a tailor made last minute adjustments to his suit.

"No you do not," Rachel shook her head. "You look like a prince. Like this isn't the first time you have attended something like this which is what the public needs to think. Which reminds me, the king wanted me to go over what the story is for your sudden appearance."

He smirked. "Oh I can't tell everyone how my father abandoned me and one day decided to barge into my life to tell me that I'm actually a prince?" When he saw that Rachel wasn't amused, he sighed. "Fine what's the story?"

"During your father's time in America, he married and had a son but he and your mother divorced upon his return to Meldovia. You and your mother stayed in America but he visited often. Now that you are older he has brought you back to act as prince. You have known of your identity your entire life and were educated even when you were in America."

"I'm not going along with that," he shook his head.

She frowned. "Why not?"

"My parents were never married and I didn't see or speak to my dad for thirteen years. I'm not going to pretend like he was some great parent because he wasn't. I don't care what people think."

"I understand your unhappiness with your father but we cannot taint the royal family's image. Keeping up appearances are part of the standard."

He groaned and looked at her. "Be honest. If you were me, what would you do?"

"I think it is a little different. I'm not royalty."

"Just imagine that you are."

She sighed and thought for a moment. "I would play along. No good would come out of telling everyone the truth about your dad. All it would do is make everything a lot harder and I imagine that is the last thing you want."

"You'd be correct. Fine I'll go along with the story. But I don't want to see or talk to my dad the whole night."

"It would be a little hard to not see him but I will inform him of your wishes."

As the tailor finished and walked out, Puck stepped down. "You'll be there too right?"

"No I do not attend events like this. I will be washing linens but I'm sure you will be alright on your own."

He frowned in disappointment but nodded as she walked out. He had been spending so much spare time with Rachel the past week that he never realized she wouldn't be able to attend the party with him. Instead, he would have to face everyone on his own, something that he wasn't prepared to do.

At the party that night, Puck walked around and tried his best to avoid everyone. He figured if he didn't talk to anyone he wouldn't have to go along with that ridiculous lie.

As he got something to drink, Olivia walked over to him. "I trust you are on your best behavior tonight. The last thing your father needs right now is a scandal."

"I don't really care what my dad needs, Olivia. Thought you figured that out already."

She scowled at him. "Just don't embarrass the royal name with your American behavior. For one night pretend that you grew up royal instead of common."

He glanced across the room at his father who was looking over at them worriedly before turning back to Olivia. "So I don't embarrass the royal name I'm going to walk away. Good night Olivia."

As he walked away, Puck tried to take his mind off of how much he was hating this arrangement. He had half a mind to pack his bags and go back home but he didn't want to give up so easily. The last thing he wanted was to prove Olivia right that he didn't belong there but it was hard being away from everything he knew with no support.

"Excuse me," he heard, bringing him out of his thoughts. He turned around to face a beautiful blonde with a tiara on her head. "I hear you're our guest of honor."

"I guess I am." He held out his hand. "Noah Puckerman."

Instead of shaking his hand, she curtseyed. "Princess Quinn Fabray of Ausland. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

"So why are we just learning about you? I would think that we would have met already."

He smirked. "Well my parents knew I'd be a magnet for princesses as gorgeous as you so they kept me away. Care for a dance?"

She smiled and took his hand before going to the dancefloor. As he danced and talked with her the whole night, Puck couldn't help but feel an attraction. Quinn was the kind of girl he would be pursuing if he was back home. He wasn't sure of the way that people date in Meldovia but he was interested in finding out.

At the end of the night, Puck was saying his goodbyes to his guests when Quinn came over to him.

"It was lovely to meet you," she smiled.

"You as well princess. Maybe we can spend some of our free time together. If you'd be interested."

She thought for a moment before nodding. "I am interested. Good night, Noah."

As she walked out, Puck smiled in satisfaction. Suddenly, being a prince wasn't so bad.

"Did you enjoy the party?" James asked, walking over to him.

"Yeah it was fun."

"I see you got along with Princess Quinn."

"Yeah about that, what's the deal with the whole dating thing? How does it work here?"

He frowned. "Noah you just got here. Do you really think that you should be trying to enter a relationship so soon?"

"If it takes my mind off of how out of place I feel here yeah I do."

"This party was supposed to help with you feeling that way."

"Well it didn't. Look I know I agreed to this but lying about how all of this happened isn't something I agreed to. If I was going to have to lie I would've rather you kept me out of this."

"I'm sorry, I should've told you about that."

"Yeah that's among the long list of things you should've told me. Seems like keeping stuff from me is your specialty."

James sighed as Puck walked away. He was disappointed when he was told that Puck didn't want him around during the party but hoped they could have a civil conversation. As much as he knew that he should Puck the time and the space he needed to process everything, James just wanted to be part of his son's life the way he should've been. This was going to be a harder task than he imagined.

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As Puck walked back to his bedroom, he decided to stop and see Rachel. When he approached her room, he heard her singing to herself.

He gently knocked on the door and she looked at him and smiled. "How was the party?"

"I didn't screw up or anything so I'd say pretty good. Even met a few princesses."

Rachel nodded as she tried to ignore the jealous feeling at the pit of her stomach. "Wonderful, I'm glad you were able to enjoy yourself."

"Yeah." He hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Is this really what you want to do with your life? Just be a chambermaid to the royal family? I mean with a voice like yours you could really go somewhere."

She blushed. "Thank you. I am working towards music school. Our country has a prestigious one but my father cannot afford it so he helped me get this job so that I can pay for it."

"Well I hope you're able to go. Your voice is too good to only be heard within these walls."

"Thank you, Noah. That means a lot coming from our prince."

"No problem," he smiled at her. "Well I should let you get some sleep. Good night Rachel."

"Good night."

As he walked out, Rachel sighed to herself. She could feel herself getting carried away with the idea of Puck being interested in her and she knew she had to stop it. He was simply being nice towards her because he has no one else. Once he gets preoccupied with the princesses, he will forget all about her. As much as her heart hurt just thinking about it, Rachel knew this is the way that it was.

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