To Superdani4Ever: Wow, Robbie as Zeus. Who knew? But Alexios is smarter than Ares.
Well, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of the UK did wear a replica of the gown their father wore as a baby because the lace which was commissioned by Queen Victoria is just too fragile now. The twin prince and princess of Monaco wore Dior Christening gowns, not heirlooms. It's Prince George's case for Robert's triplets, the lace was just too fragile. I think Helena might have considered the twins' gowns to be suitable for use either, as there are not that many royal twins and she might have used two that aren't necessarily in the best condition either.
Of course- now they give a new meaning to super-nannies! But Anastasia is actually savvier than Helena just a little: she's had more training and experience as a princess in Denmark then Greece and then as queen. She knows her own children well and gets along with them, she knows how to do PR.
No, the orange beast will not be featured here, I promise, though they might mention him a few times (sorry to any fans, but I don't think people generally like him).
No, Dimitri would never go for Penelope or Maribel- ever! Even when dead-drunk. He's too damned smart! But he does go for someone. ;)
Yeah, the poor doctor. She knew her treatments were among the best in the world, no joke, but she never imagined she would get herself into the mess that is Penelope, Maribel and their parents.
Aglaia lives a healthy lifestyle (as compared to the two cousins mentioned why in the previous chapter). She maintains a good figure that's a balance between curves and slimness. And of course, Robert worships her.
Yes, there's a flashback here! Or maybe something else… ;)
Speaking of which: documentary profile coming up soon where the family learns more about Aglaia- to their surprise.
No- no more. Besides after placing the bug on Robert's desk and sitting room table- and the couch- they've had enough and no one can blame them!
If Music be the Food of Love, Play On, Give me Excess of It… The Appetite may Sicken and so Die
The royal Christening dawned on a day bright and clear.
Royals from around the world were attending- not so much out of the hospitality of the Henstridges as for the popularity and the affection they held for the new queen and king.
Princesses Penelope and Maribel were picking at each other's clothing and bickering- same as usual.
In the meantime, the guests were pouring in. Many wore crisp and fresh morning suits, some pale coloured, some dark. Women wore floaty florals or bold short knee-length dresses, coats or skirt suits. Many of them wore hats, brilliant fascinators by milliners like Philip Treacy the genius.
Unfortunately the person whom Princess Penelope and Princess Maribel picked to design their hats for them wasn't the most brilliant.
And there was someone new in town.
A young, beautiful Asian woman stepped out of her limo. She had an oval face with very pale, jasmine-coloured skin which stood in sharp, frosty contrast to her black hair, gleaming and shining like faceted obsidian. Her eyes scanned the palace coolly, almost disdainfully, before making her way forwards.
Aglaia was dressed in an exquisite apricot dress bordered and accented with gold. Instead of a hat, she chose to wear flowers- a fluted headpiece of cream-coloured blossoms, like a bandeau.
Her hair shone and glowed with the vitality if polished jet, artfully draped down one side in a cascade like a waterfall. Her skin glowed fresh and radiant. Birth and motherhood only served to make her even more beautiful than was truly fair and could possibly ever take place in a human's imagination. It had deepened those famous liquid, almond, emerald eyes and brought a rose hue on her cheeks. She was the most heartbreakingly, devastatingly beautiful person anyone had ever seen and nobody- repeat, nobody- could ever take their eyes off her. Not a single person that saw her did not have their breath stolen from their very lungs and could remember how to breathe. She was so radiant, it actually hurt for Robert to look at. Everybody else's jaws dropped and he actually wondered how they would be able to go without oxygen.
Her smiled just made her shine even more. To his unbearable distaste and secret anger, there had been talks that Captain Dimitriou would be there, but thank God that he had opted to stay out of it. Robert's only regret was that he couldn't arrange for an 'accident' with that man, but Alexios was undeniably smart. He knew Robert would probably kill him, even in cold blood.
The Christening was a milestone for royalty. It always was. Now that William, Andrew and Selena were to be Christened into the Church of England, this signified that they would be first, second and third- undisputedly- in line for the British throne. Unless something monumental- God forbid- happened and they would be required to convert to Greek Orthodoxy, and William would take the Greek throne- or maybe just Andrew or Selena, they would be remaining. And Aglaia would be Robert's queen- nothing could change that- ever.
The Asian woman strode through the halls of the palace, surprisingly not surrounded by bodyguards, which was astounding as to other members of her own social rank that would be equal to suicide as walking through a hailstorm of bullets in the Henstridges' own home. Or straight into a nuclear bunker which was about to launch.
But this was no ordinary woman.
She headed straight for the nursery, and her bearing and charisma was as such that no one dared, even to think about questioning her.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Mizuki of Akishino would be the babies' unofficial guardian- she could not pledge and stand at the font because she was a Shinto and not a member of any Christian denomination but she would be taking her unofficial duties no less seriously.
Goodness knows the babies and their parents were going to need it.
Aglaia had just finished dressing up the babies in their Christening gowns. They were now two months old. They'd been fed, burped and changed, bathed before the big occasion. Now they looked extremely fetching in their exquisite costumes.
Aglaia was picking them up and taking measures for the babies not to soil their robes before putting them in the perambulator especially made for the triplets. It had the royal crest emblazoned on it.
"Who knew," Mizuki interrupted the calm silence. Aglaia turned up in surprise. "That you would be holding your own children? I always thought you wanted a religious life?"
Aglaia smiled and went to greet her. "I did," she said, kissing her on both cheeks. "But something changed." Mizuki smiled.
Temple life and a spiritual existence dedicated to a higher being was something they both longed for at one stage. But due to the country's lack of succession Aglaia could not take the veil and become a nun like she wanted to. Mizuki on the other hand could become a Miko- a Shinto priestess or Shrine Maiden.
"Now," Mizuki announced. "Where are the babies- which ones are which?" She asked brightly.
"Well," Aglaia began. "This is William Simon Alexander Constantine." She gestured to Will. "We call him Will. This is Andrew Dimitri Philip Edward. And this is Selena Sophia Anastasia Helene." Mizuki smiled down at the infants. Selena cooed. Mizuki's smile was warm, but her eyes were… Clever. These kids were living in a viper's nest. She needed to safeguard them- Aglaia's children.
The Christening guests attended and Aglaia came, pushing the pram. Occasionally one of the babies would be picked up and carried by Mum or Dad.
Cyrus rolled his eyes. He looked terrible. His face was sallow, his eyes were rimmed red and the colour itself was washed out.
The nannies strolled along in their uniforms, humming to themselves.
Willow looked lovely in an emerald knee-length dress with a cropped black jacket, a fascinator that flattered her face with gauzy leaves dangling at the front left side. Her brown hair was glossy and went loose to her shoulders. Aglaia smiled radiantly when she saw her. Willow flushed very deeply.
Aglaia had to be the most wonderful woman she ever met. Willow admittedly felt like she was bathed in light every time she saw her. That was more than what she could say for anyone else, including Helena.
Prince Dimitri stepped out as well. He was beautiful as well, though his sister shone so brightly it was seemingly impossible to get over her mere presence. She could not help but stare. He had features that were between beautiful in a feminine fashion and outright handsome in a masculine way; smooth fair skin with a hint of a bronzed honey tan, obviously Mediterranean, straight, fine Grecian profile, chiselled cheekbones and mouth. His eyes were liquid, very deep and clear and like jade, not quite the emerald of his sister's. It was a stark contrast to his dark, smooth hair that Willow admittedly, found it tempting to run her fingers through. He had looked that could capture and enchant all the same.
As soon as Dimitri saw her, he broke into the most handsome and brightest grin. Willow felt her own face burning. Seriously? Those Greek royals!
"Ah, there she is… The beautiful and totally spectacular Wilhelmina," Dimitri smiled charmingly.
"Well, ahem, actually it's just Willow," Willow struggled to regain her composure, which was practically impossible.
"Well, named after a beautiful tree, as graceful as could be, of course, it suits you the best." Dimitri stated, looking straight into her eyes.
"Dimitri," Aglaia rebuked softly. She had an affectionate, but exasperated look in her eyes.
"My apologies, little sister. I don't think it is possible to not admire Willow, here." Dimitri remarked.
"No, I don't think it is possible either," Aglaia admitted quietly. "I did name William after her and Liam. If he has half his godmother's intelligence and bravery… Safe to say, none of the babies would have been here if it weren't for her and you." She looked straight at Willow.
Gosh, could Willow feel any more abashed than she already was?
"Right." Aglaia sighed. "I think the ceremony should commence before one of the babies become fussy from the long wait." Dimitri nodded solemnly. Willow was relieved. She was just too embarrassed. "Are all the godparents here?"
"Well…" Dimitri began. "There's me and Willow here," he winked charmingly at her. "Alexios and Artemisia are at the entrance. There's your bodyguard, and not to mention, the babies other uncle and aunt." He didn't look overly pleased at that, and Willow did note that he didn't think too much of Liam. His unbelievably attractive face clouded over and she wondered why.
Suddenly, Liam appeared, dressed in a suit.
Eleanor trailed behind him with Jasper. Len sighed. "Now, I really, really wish Dad was here." Her father would have loved nothing more than to hold his grandkids on this special day.
Just then someone else appeared: Beck.
Jasper froze as he realised just who he would be sharing godparenting duties with. Len barely noticed Beck's arrival and went off to greet her mother.
Penelope and Maribel appeared in the chapel, looking hopelessly lost and confused. Their mother appeared behind them, dressed in a stylish hat and skirt suit, in a similar cream or eggshell shade to her second wedding. It made her red hair even more striking. The girls' outfits had been toned down to what they would normally wear, thanks to her intervention. She needed them to appear as attractive as possible, though their hats were sadly lacking in sensibility.
However, she did notice the suspicious, and even outright hostile gazes or at least very cool ones, she received from other royalty, politicians and even celebrities. Elton John was supposed to be performing and he was keeping his distance. Veruca's eyes tightened momentarily before she fixed a brilliant smile. No one could blame her girls. Unlike Cyrus, their name had not been stained. Therefore, she would get her chance.
Extreme dieting had left Penelope and Maribel both sleepy and starving- which meant that they would be less likely to open their mouths and say something… Regrettable. All men liked a wilting flower, Veruca was sure. Their faces were thinner and more attractive. They still had enough meat on them for men to like, but they were slim. Good. Just the way she wanted… Only that they might be sitting near Cyrus. Veruca frowned. No, that simply would not do.
Cyrus had had a bad reputation now with the other royals. Whether her girls were going to be queen in England or anywhere else, they needed to not be associated with his bad reputation.
Veruca pasted a smile on her face. "Come along girls," she ushered them.
The babies were cooing. Aglaia picked up William and gave him to his father. Selena and Andrew were held by her, until Eleanor came forwards and took Andrew.
The Christening commenced. The babies' names were officially given out and the priest poured water on their heads. Andrew howled but Will and Selena barely showed any discontent.
Liam was silent as he held Andrew and the water was poured onto his head. He saw how radiant and breathtakingly beautiful Aglaia looked, practically heart-breaking really, and how Robert and she looked at each other and the babies.
Liam had never really thought about children. Funny, but it was true. But now… He could see why Robert shone. Not the throne, not the crown, not the spotlight, but the love he had, his wife and children. He didn't need anything else.
He very carefully, like Aglaia had taught him, gently supported the baby's head as he tipped Andrew upwards. His nephew gave him a terrible scowl like he wanted to break Liam's face, but thankfully did not howl further.
As soon as that was over, congratulations poured in. Mizuki was the first, followed by various other peoples. Andrew squirmed and hissed- could babies hiss? Liam wasn't sure. He eyed Liam like he wanted to crush him- which really shouldn't have been possible since he was just still an infant.
Willow beamed as she was photographed with Will.
Liam caught saw her and didn't realise how much she glowed. He was surprised. But then again with Aglaia…
Suddenly someone strode over.
"And there's my nephew and the Wonderful Willow," Prince Dimitri gave a grin that would cause many women swooning. Liam felt a powerful rush of irritation flood through him. "My lovely Willow and my handsome nephew… You make such a perfect pair. Do you mind if I cut in?" He asked, charmingly.
Willow blushed, causing Liam to want to scowl. "Of course, your highness."
"Please." Dimitri looked straight into her eyes when he said this. "I would prefer it very much if you called me Dimitri." He wasn't as playful or flirtatious when he said this. In fact he seemed… Sincere.
Damn, Liam thought, for some reason, scowling. He hoped he wasn't going red. His nephew eyed him knowingly… And was that a little amusement?
He felt like breaking Dimitri in two, but somehow, he knew that Dimitri would be the one to break him. And he didn't fancy being broken.
A photographer took a snapshot of Prince Dimitri with Willow, carrying Prince William Henstridge. They smiled. "Thank you for agreeing to be my nephews' and niece's godmother," Dimitri said quietly. "He needs someone strong and intelligent- like you." He said quietly.
"He has his mother," Dimitri looked at her sadly. "Aglaia might be like that, but even she's not invincible. Honestly, you did save her life and the world she lives in now…" He shook his head. "It was a quiet life in Greece. Now it's all gilded walls and family drama. And shootings. You're like, the only pure and safe thing here. Wonderful, really." He looked her in the eye. "It's like everything else has started to rot. This world… Isn't a good one. But you make it good."
Willow didn't know how to respond to that. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Dimitri nodded. "For someone who is unappreciated for all that you do, I think you deserve by far, so much more than that. You deserve to be happy and to be appreciated. Tell me, am I good enough for you?" He asked, only half-joking.
Willow laughed nervously.
"Am I?" Dimitri asked quietly.
Liam stared. His jaw was near dropping when Willow met Dimitri's eyes on her again, to find that he had not moved his gaze from her face.
Shit.
"Beck," Eleanor stated. "Eleanor," Beck smiled. He and Jasper eyed each other with mutual distaste. But concealed on Jasper's part.
"So Aunt Eleanor now," Beck announced. "And godmother." Eleanor smiled.
"Yup," she announced proudly. "That's me." The godparents were taking photos with the babies. Eleanor was holding Selena. "Shall we?" Beck gestured. He stood between Eleanor holding Selena and Jasper, the latter who looked far from pleased. The photographer captured the moment. Beck looked almost smug.
"Right," Len stated. "I have to hand this little princess back to her mother, or her Dad, so…"
"I'll come with you," Beck said. Jasper scowled and followed, much to Beck's distaste, but he concealed it this time.
"So… What are your plans?"
"Hm?" Eleanor asked, turning towards him.
"What are you planning to do after this?" Beck persisted.
Eleanor gazed at Aglaia with Robert receiving presents. Will had been given back by Willow and Dimitri, Liam had given Andrew back as well, and they were both resting in the pram, which weirdly enough, was gold-plated with a little chandelier mobile. Seriously? Who sent that? The guy in the White House?
"Well, I'm going my own way," Eleanor decided. "I've decided to help Aglaia with the babies and with her various organisations. There's one that tends to improve the public standard of children's education and health in schools, and there's one that helps kids in foster care and after they've left it. She tends to delve rather deeply in that, and… I think I want to do that." She smiled down tenderly at Selena. "I think I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her, so I think I'll go."
Beck looked at her, trying to mask his surprise. "Auntie-hood becomes you," he stated, rather seriously. Eleanor laughed. "And so does godmother-hood. I think you'll do great. You always did tackle and live life to the fullest. This is just different, but I think you'll do great." Len smiled at him.
"Thank you." Behind them, Jasper had a face like a thunderstorm.
To make things worse, the nannies came whistling in. Great, just great.
At the party, Veruca instructed her girls to smile. "Smile," she advised them.
The girls did just that. But Maribel was nodding away and nearly tipped over.
Veruca hissed at her. The girls jumped slightly. Two months of waking up early and eating healthy food in prescribed quantities, no drugs and alcohol, apart from the Chinese medicines their mother gave them from time to time, had taken its toll.
"There's someone coming." Veruca hissed through her perfect teeth.
That someone was a tall, blond and handsome prince from Norway. He gave them a cool stare, unimpressed. Veruca was smart enough to shrink back.
Cyrus guzzled a bottle full of liquor down at the bar, oblivious to the other guests' look of distaste.
Thankfully, he was at a distance away, Veruca realised.
Unfortunately, the prince instead went straight to another girl- a model by the looks of it. Veruca scowled inwardly. Next up came the prince of Sweden. He gave an outright grimace when he saw Veruca and the girls and Veruca resisted the temptation to throw something at him.
"Right." She almost growled. "Come on."
The girls reluctantly followed her and she led them to where the royal couple stood with their babies.
"Hellooo," she trilled. Aglaia looked up, and so did Robert. "Aunt Veruca." He said. She was his aunt again. "Please," he gestured to a seat opposite them. They were sitting with a group of people, including their godparents.
"Oh, no thank you, your majesty," she fake-simpered. "I need to get going and find my husband. But these two would love to stay, don't you, my darlings?" Penelope and Maribel gave dopey, sleepy looks. "Right then," Veruca placed a firm hand on one shoulder each and pushed- more like, shoved- them both down. "Off I go."
Aglaia's eyebrows were up, but she quickly managed to continue the conversation.
She knew how to keep the conversation going: she had been well-trained. Even if you had all the social abilities of a bean, she knew how to make conversation.
"Penelope," she smiled brilliantly. "Maribel. We are truly glad you could come."
Robert nodded politely. "It's been a while," he remarked. Andrew stopped fussing and he looked to be sleeping. Aglaia gently put him back in the pram and picked up a squeaking, smiling Selena.
"We didn't think you'd make it, my husband said we barely managed to see you around nowadays." Aglaia admitted. "Even before his coronation and during your father's."
Mizuki's- the Japanese princess- head snapped up when she heard that.
So these were Cyrus' daughters.
The other royals and other famous persona sitting around the king and queen exchanged dark looks with one another.
"I barely ever saw you, let alone met you," Aglaia kept going. "All I ever heard was from Robert." She smiled. "I certainly hope we will be able to see more of you soon. Your cousins speak rather well and fondly of you." She said sincerely and gently. She felt rather bad for them, having Cyrus as a father. That can't have been easy for the girls' reputations, never mind it was hardly their fault.
"Eleanor misses you," she stated. Eleanor blinked. She did? Right- she did!
"That's right!" Len spoke up. "So tell me, what do you girls enjoy doing, that we can invite you sometime soon?" Aglaia asked, politely.
It seemed like she totally missed the way everybody around her stared at her in disbelief. They practically did not understand Aglaia's sudden, but sweet innocence. Aglaia generated this aura that made people want to love her- mostly romantic, but also familial love- and protect her. And these were Cyrus' daughters!
Robert drank from his glass, eyes not blinking, staring out into the distance.
Len looked… Hopelessly lost. She knew what Penelope and Maribel liked doing, and it wasn't something Aglaia could ever bring them to.
She and Liam exchanged looks.
"And your father- I think we need to have more gatherings," Aglaia laughed softly. "This Christmas, for example, it's fast approaching. And of course, you're going to have to come. But I didn't see your father last Christmas." She frowned wonderingly.
"Robert also mentions that you weren't there the Christmas before that when your father was there."
"Oh-" Penelope spoke up. "We barely spend time with Dad- or rather- Dad barely spends time with us. He just… Doesn't like us." She said, without thinking. Or rather, without knowing what could possibly be wrong with that sentence.
Everybody froze. "He's too busy being king- or rather, being former king now that Robbie's in charge," Maribel put in, blinking away sleep, and drinking from a glass.
"Really," Robert leaned forwards. "So… How often do you see your father? I mean now that your parents are living together again…" He trailed off, expectantly.
"Well…" The sisters looked at each other. "He's mostly drunk and passed out most of the time, Mum has to be the one to get him out of bed and into the shower."
Everybody apart from the poised king and queen, leaned back, like Too much information.
"Besides, he's always called us, like the two idiots of my loins or something like that." Penelope continued.
"Or the Half-Wits," Maribel put in, dopily.
"Oh." Aglaia said quietly. "I'm very sorry to hear about that girls." She stated.
"Well, it appears that Prince Cyrus would prefer to spend his time at the bar but I for one am glad you girls are here." She continued.
"I agree." Robert said. He and his wife were up to something that was what most people didn't know.
He put on a smile. So Veruca wanted them to be married? Very well, then. Married off to royalty, bearing royal heirs? Fine. He wouldn't get in their way.
Now Selena was almost sleeping from her mother's rocking. Robert picked her up gently and she nuzzled against him, comfortably.
Veruca wouldn't realise she would lose her two most important weapons, he decided. And neither would Cyrus. They didn't deserve to have children, anyway.
He smiled brightly. "Now, girls, there are a number of people we would like to introduce you to…"
"So…" Dimitri began. "Life in the spotlight, then? Not something you want?" He asked gently.
Willow shook her head. She laughed nervously. "No. I mean, no offence or anything, but I… I'm not an attention seeker."
Dimitri nodded seriously, not taking his eyes off her. "I understand." He said quietly. "I wasn't always second-in-line for the throne, you know."
"Yes, I heard." Willow said softly. She had done some research on Dimitri's family. It was too horrifying to comprehend. She couldn't sleep after learning what Metaxas and others had done.
"And all of a sudden, things change. But they don't always give you the credit you deserve," Dimitri said quietly. His liquid jade eyes bore into hers. "Especially Helena. You didn't do what was expected of you, and should be congratulated for that. You did your country a great service and Liam a great honour: a far greater honour than he deserves. I don't mean that he's a bad person, but if he forgets the service and honour you gave him so quickly and Helena simply acts like you did what was expected of you to do, then maybe they don't deserve you." He stated. "I know what it's like to have your country crumble down to the dirt and ripped apart by dogs because of the whims of selfish men and women. Royal or not, you helped prevent that and no one should ever forget that: Aglaia won't and I never will." He finished firmly.
Willow opened her mouth, but couldn't manage to say anything. Dimitri sighed. "I think we should be getting back." His jade-green eyes filled with regret. He gestured and when Willow nearly stumbled, his strong hand, warm through her sleeve, helped her up. "Thank you."
Dimitri smiled, but said nothing. "Will I see you again?" He asked. "Can I see you again?"
Willow didn't know what to say. She only smiled. "I hope so." She said quietly. Dimitri smiled, his jade-coloured eyes twinkling not in a mischievous way, but something else entirely. Shining.
Nearby Liam watched… And he looked shocked to say the very least.
"So… You're actually changing your country," Beck remarked. "The queen- the new queen- told me. She says that most of the things that happened here since she came wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you."
Eleanor scoffed. "I think she could transform the whole world by herself for the better."
"Still," Beck insisted. "You're turning your life around and the whole world. Everything's changed and now… You're happy. Glowing. I've never seen you like this." He said. "Never. I'm glad, truly glad to see you happy." He grinned.
"And healthier than ever," Eleanor put in. "No weed. Not for Godmother Len."
Beck chuckled. "Well Godmother Len, would you mind if Godfather Beck escorted you back to the party?"
Eleanor snorted at the absurdity of the nicknames. "I can't set a good example to my god-kids if I'm wasted, can I?"
"Well, I think they'll have the best godmother out there now," Beck said.
Jasper saw… And he bristled.
The nannies hummed as they changed the babies back, putting aside the Christening gowns to be preserved for future royal babies.
"Is everything done yet?" James Hill asked. They smiled at him. It just made him queasy.
Meanwhile, Maribel and Penelope were getting drunk. Unfortunately while the royal couple had left, others remained.
Unfortunately some guests were getting rather drunk as well, not least their now-clearly ostracised father, Cyrus. His face was remarkably pasty and sallow, with splodges of red on his cheeks. And he just kept downing those martinis.
And no one realised just how drunk some people, of which Cyrus was only one- were getting.
Outside, someone took a tumble and fell into a pond. Several people sploshed around, trying to get her out, with little success.
Liam was boiling. For some reason her… Ugh! That damned, attractive bastard! Why did he have to be one of the most handsome men in the entire cosmos?! Heck, why did the three of them have to be the world's most gorgeous brood? Not that it was something against Aglaia, but come on! Willow? Why Willow? There were plenty of other girls- so many of them in fact. Why did he want to, or seek to corrupt Willow?
She was sweet and pure and kind… And wait- did he want to corrupt her? Liam had seen the light of honesty shining out of Prince Dimitri's eyes and for some reason… It only made him want to smash and pummel Dimitri further.
Why? If he treated her well then…. Because he's untrustworthy, Liam scolded himself. Because you know his type: you were like that, once…
The thought of Dimitri merely touching Willow, even skimming a finger over her soft, fair skin made Liam burn. But that wasn't it. Dimitri did not flirt that much, Liam had seen. Of course he knew a guy with looks like that would naturally attract women like iron fillings to a magnet. Not even he or Robert had that kind of sex appeal. If Aglaia was a reborn Helen of Troy, Dimitri was Adonis.
And that only made him angrier.
Why? Because you're kind to her, Liam told himself. Because you don't want to see Willow get hurt.
But what if Dimitri was serious with Willow and treated her well? Based on what Liam had seen with Aglaia's family they generally had happy marriages and loving relationships. Compared to his parents' sham or disaster of a union, Konstantinos and Anastasia's relationship was strong and loving. They shared a genuine bond. And they must have passed on strong values and raised their daughter well, because Robert and Aglaia were as happy as could be. From what he had seen of Alexios and his new fiancée, this beautiful brunette with sapphire eyes, they were also happy and Alexios doted on her. Intimidating as he was, that was the truth. What if Dimitri genuinely wanted to have a relationship, even marriage with Willow?
Liam froze dead.
That was the last thing he wanted. To see them together, to see them kissing on their wedding day on the balcony like Robert and Aglaia, to see her getting round with Dimitri's child and the two of them steal a kiss on the baby's Christening and have them cuddle together, watching the sunset as their babies played by the seashore… Whoa.
What just happened? When he just thought about it… Did he feel uncomfortable? Because she was getting cosy with Dimitri, and he might have to see glimpses of that or…
"I sense a green monster somewhere inside you," Cyrus said gleefully, making Liam jump.
"Fuck!" He swore. He glared at his smirking, snickering uncle with the pasty, waxy and splodged face, holding his ever-present impertinent glass of martini. Cyrus giggled- that's right, giggled when he saw Liam.
"I saw you the whole time," he said, tauntingly. "You… Couldn't keep your eyes off your brother's wife… Or that girl with Prince Dimitri, the new godmother." He smirked. "You… Liam… Who knew you could be such a naughty boy? Well, I already knew, of course we already knew," he sniggered drunkenly. "And now you know what it's like… Big brother. You couldn't take your eyes off his queen when she was around."
"No one could." Liam scoffed. That was Aglaia's power: her beauty and charisma. And her grace, poise and genuineness. Especially today when her beauty and radiance shone brighter than ever before no one could…
"You have feelings for your brother's wife, sicko," Cyrus mocked. "And then to make things worse, you have feelings for that girl who's apparently decided she's done serving you and posting your hashtags on Twitter and gone to Prince Dimitri who's welcomed her with open arms, and rumour has it, he's going to be popping a ring and a question to her sometime soon. And not just to secure the line of succession." He tumbled backwards slightly.
"Me and Violet… Simon and Domino… Now you. We're all the same, Liam. Except for Robert, we're cursed. Cursed to want the throne, cursed to want to bang you'll never have… All our days."
"I don't want the throne," Liam said coolly. Cyrus' smirk returned. "Are you sure?" He asked. He stumbled around. "Aglaia will be there… Taunting you. At least the other girl will be off to Greece soon… Though the first girl of your dreams will probably invite her to the palace often… And you'll be here and I'll be gone… Dangling the sweet treats in front of the little dog while the big dogs nibble on them all they want…"
Liam had heard enough. "You're obviously very drunk," he retorted. "And I'm not."
"Believe me, you'll wish you were drunk once this is over with," Cyrus slurred, before he fell sideways, splashing into the pond.
Liam didn't stay to see the security guards running forwards to fish him out with a stick. He left.
But he couldn't deny this… He had felt an enormous attraction, and even feelings for Aglaia ever since… Well, ever since he first saw and met her. But she was his brother's wife! The mother of his children! Not just his girlfriend, and he had never seen Robert as he was with Aglaia! And then there was Willow…
Every time he thought about her and Dimitri, he felt… Anger. A green monster, he thought, grimly. Then to make things worse, someone else fell into the pond, knocking Cyrus over who was being held up by his bodyguards, soaking them.
"Seriously, who put that pond there?" Liam grumbled as he left.
"I'm afraid I don't know, sir." James Hill responded.
Unfortunately that was not the end to all the drama.
"Penelope?" Veruca trilled. "Maribel?" She frowned. She was so sure her girls were there.
"Hmm. That's strange," she wondered aloud. She tiptoed daintily, trying not to disturb the security guards trying to drag her husband out, wondering where her girls had gone off to.
She decided they went back inside. She went near their rooms. To her surprise, she found a pair of sunshine-yellow, blue-and-pink polka-dotted bra lying around in the hallway. Her girls must be close.
She kept going. A pair of knickers, pink and blue candy-striped… A bottle of gin… Make that two bottles… A weird hat with a pooping chicken… It was some kind of breadcrumb trail…
Now, to find the gingerbread house…
Veruca's eyes narrowed as she crept forwards.
And finally… The end of the treasure trail: a door. A door with a pair of panties hanging off it and someone's Calvin Kleins. Veruca grimaced delicately and gingerly used a tissue to open the door.
Inside looked like some crazy hurricane or typhoon had swept in and dumped crazy-land on it, particularly the bed. Lipstick marks and scrawls were everywhere and bottles of gin and tonic- mostly gin. A pile of clothes- seriously how many layers can one wear? Her girls were snoring, wasted and passed out… With two men.
Princes. She could smell it from the undies which had royal crests and crowns emblazoned upon it.
Veruca's eyes gleamed.
Cyrus was out of the pond. It had sobered him up a bit. Unfortunately there was a lily pad hanging from his shoulder, some frogspawn hanging from his Mohawk, and spitting weed and water out of his mouth.
What a sight the former king of England made.
Unfortunately the worst had yet to come.
Out there, somebody held a gun… And pointed it at Cyrus' head.
And fired. Only to miss when Cyrus, still suffering from the effects of alcohol, tumbled forwards and hit the pavement, snoring.
Security agents shouted the alert and began aiming their guns at the target who scrambled safely away. As if on cue, more people in ski masks dressed head to toe in black began shooting at them.
Guests screamed and ducked, running for cover. A table was throw upwards.
"Your majesty- there are assassins, sir!" Someone shouted to Robert and Aglaia who paled. Helena stood with Len and Liam.
"Get the royal family!" James Hill shouted outside. "Alert those nannies!"
But those nannies were ready. With the pram in one hand, the nannies yelled a cacophony of battle cries consisting of the word: "NAUGHTY!" while a stereo for some reason, played Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. Nanny Marge pushed the pram with a ferocity that made her look like a charging bull. Nanny Pam had an umbrella and Nanny Stacy wielded a magnificent frying pan. They'd been cooking, and the latter had a Nappy bag in case the babies needed a change. Pam carried bottles with her, in case they needed a feed.
In the meanwhile, on the concrete, Cyrus snored.
Yelling their battle cries- if you called it that- the nannies charged, leaping over Cyrus' snoring figure wielding their weapons and when the assassins charged, Pam gave a yell and shoved the umbrella up his groin. He yelled and doubled over. She began successfully wielding both karate skills and umbrella to good use, taking out intruders/assassins one by one.
Nanny Stacy was no less outstanding. Who knew a spatula could do so much damage? Or a diaper bag? One masked guy howled when his eye was taken out. Nanny Pam kept pushing that pram, karate-chopping and kick-boxing anyone who got in the way, intruder or otherwise.
The royals in the meantime, were being escorted to the tunnels.
"The babies!" Aglaia gasped. Robert went white as well. "You go, I'll stay," he actually grabbed out a gun. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Aglaia shrieked.
Husband and wife raced each other to the end of the tunnel. Hill followed them.
"Your majesties!" Hill tried to reason. "Robert!" Helena and Liam raced after them followed by Len and Jasper who was wielding his gun.
But the nannies already had help. Someone appeared out of nowhere wielding a katana- a Samurai sword, and a number of weapons including Shurikens or throwing stars. She threw them at two attackers reaching the nanny, tossed a throwing knife at another and sliced a gun in half with a katana before throwing the guy backwards.
It was Mizuki- the Japanese princess. She kicked arse like a ninja- which she must have been. Nunchaku, swords, daggers, even a bamboo rod, she whizzed through the air like a pro.
Security guards kept coming but the intruders had yet to retreat- except for the ones that were injured. It was clear that they didn't want to leave any witnesses from their side or clues like dead bodies.
Aglaia and Robert raced to where the children were. "Aglaia- go back!" Robert hissed. "Are you mad?!" She hissed back. "I'm not leaving the babies or you-"
Robert opened his mouth to say something but he was spotted.
He shot the intruder down before he had a chance to do anything else. James Hill shot a few, and someone else- the princess from Japan- sent a throwing knife their way.
Then they spotted them: the nannies. Nanny Marge and the perambulator full of babies, kick-boxing anything in her way, Nanny Stacy with her spatula and Nanny Pam with her umbrella, heading right towards them.
They charged together, yelling, "NAUGHTY!" Taking down a few assassins on the way to the parents.
Aglaia gasped and she and Robert looked at the babies. They were fine- more than fine, actually. Selena was cooing and giggling, and Will was chortling- a rare sight. Andrew meantime was flapping his arms up and down like, Again, again, again! And grinning like a maniac.
Aglaia nearly collapsed in relief.
"Right," James took charge. He gestured the nannies to go back. "We'll cover you," Jasper promised and began firing his gun.
Cyrus kept snoring, forgotten on the concrete.
"Well, that was strange," James Hill shoved aside an overturned table.
"What's strange?" Jasper asked, though he knew full-well why.
"No casualties. Bullets firing everywhere, weapons involved-" he spared a glance at the cool and composed Japanese princess, the royal babies' unofficial godmother. "But no one dead either side. No dead bodies."
"Not a single one," Jasper agreed.
He and Hill exchanged grim looks.
"So what do you think it is?" Jasper asked. "A hoax?"
"Perhaps," Hill replied coolly. "Or… A threat of a different kind." He paused and stopped to stare at the snoring former king.
"Who put him here?" He wondered. Hill knelt down and shook Cyrus awake.
"Wh-what?" Cyrus asked irritably. "Can't you see that I'm miserable, dethroned, ridiculously drunk, soggy and passed out on the concrete?"
Jasper sighed.
Aglaia was holding onto her babies, Robert was speaking to various security guards and witnesses. They were both trying to calm them down- though the ones who remained were likely dead-drunk when it all happened and weren't at all traumatised.
Veruca emerged. "Yoo-hoo!" She trilled. "Cyrus, what are you doing humping the concrete?"
Penelope and Maribel had emerged, sloppy and dishevelled, but Veruca had got what she wanted.
Beforehand…
"Hello, there." Veruca smirked devilishly as the princes scrambled awake.
"Wha-" the first prince jolted up. He was a handsome one, but apparently he must have been really drunk to have banged Penelope or Maribel. Why, because he scrambled backwards in shock and horror, nearly jolting the other guy forwards.
"WHAT?!" That was him. He saw the girls, his eyes widened and he fell onto the floor.
Veruca sighed. "Young love." She looked at them. "What are your names?"
"Who are you?" One of them demanded, imperiously. Veruca bristled.
"Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Essex." She murmured. "Wife of the former king Cyrus. Mother to Princess Penelope and Princess Maribel whom you just banged and humped dead-drunk apparently." The guys looked appalled and queasy. "And now, I believe I just asked you a question."
The first guy flushed. "Prince Adriaan of the Netherlands."
"I am Prince Shabangu of Swaziland." The African prince- the second one to wake- replied, haughtily. "Son of King Sobhuza."
Veruca smiled wider. "And I'm Royal Granny." And she would outdo both Helena and Anastasia in Hottest Royal Granny.