Andy admired her surroundings while sitting on the gardens of that beautiful garden before she turned to the other two women who had been catching up apparently. She wordlessly rolled herself a cigarette not giving a fuck about the place, she wasn´t getting a beer so she may as well get to smoke. The movement got Clarisse´s attention
¨Well, I see I have a lot to learn about you sweetie¨ Clarisse said making Andy look at her untrustingly. She didn´t sense any danger from the woman but she was highly uncomfortable with everything that was going on.
¨Screw it¨ Andy thought before saying sharply ¨It appears as though you are not the only one who has a lot to learn¨ this surprised both women into silence while looking how the younger woman lit her cigarette and leaned back on her chair while looking at both of them untrustingly
Clarisse s, for her part, said softly ¨Joe, please¨ to one of the men behind them who gave her a round metal box.
¨Amelia, I know you must have many questions. This was a gift your father wished to have given you before…uhm, before his accident¨ Clarisse said softly and with sorrow on her eyes.
Andy took the little box and opened it to find the most beautiful heart shaped pendant. ¨It is a family treasure that has been passed along woman in the family and it´s only fair you have it right now¨ Clarisse continued while the younger woman stared at it
After a few seconds Andy found her voice and said with so much emotion that it hurt all of them ¨Why now? Why not reach out before? ¨
Clarisse had a few stray tears that she didn´t even know were there so it was Helen, surprisingly, who answer ¨Andy, we made the decision before you were even born. We wanted you to live the most normal life you could before any of this got your way. I hope you understand that we only had your best interest at heart¨
¨Amelia, I have always wanted to reach out, but as your mother says we knew what we are about to tell you was going to get your life even more complicated than it is now¨ Clarisse said when she found herself getting back in control of her emotions.
¨What is this that you were protecting me of? Why was it that you had to get out of my life? A life that I needed more than just my mother! ¨ Andy asked quietly and vulnerable. She was so out of control of her emotions and, after meeting the girls, she had an even lesser filter when speaking her mind. Why would this attentive and sensitive woman come out of nowhere asking her to trust her and why was her own mother so comfortable with her?
¨Amelia, my name is Clarisse Thermopolis Renaldy Queen of Genovia¨ Clarisse said while a butler set their teas on the table.
To say she was confused was an understatement so she let her grandmother continue.
¨That would make you Andrea Amelia Sachs Renaldy Princess of Genovia my sweet girl¨ Clarisse finished.
Andy had not heard her second name in such a long time that it shocked her even to have it say out loud. What the fucking hell was going on? Maybe she was in a coma and all of this was simply a joke or a dream.
At her lack of response Helen continued for Clarisse ¨ your father was the Prince for Genovia. That is why he had to leave us here. He was trying his best to give you as much as a normal life you could get. I hope you understand that all of this was our chance to help you develop into your own person and to try and not have you tied up to so many expectations¨ she finished with tears on her eyes
After a few minutes of silence Andy had her half smoked cigarette and said with huge eyes ¨Me?... A Princess!? Shut… up! ¨ she finished while getting lost on her mind
¨I beg your pardon!? Shut up!?¨ Clarisse said surprised and feeling insulted but was quickly corrected and informed by one of her employees
¨Your majesty, here in the States it mean ¨Oh my god¨ ¨Wow¨ ¨I can´t believe this¨ The man continued but was stopped by Clarisse who had understood what her granddaughter was trying to say
¨I understand, thank you. Never the less you are the Princess and I am the Queen Clarisse Renaldy¨
Helen was sat on her chair not knowing what to say ¨I know this is a lot to take in but you are the natural heir to the throne ever since your father died on that accident. The important matter at hand is that Genovia would cease to exist as we know it if the throne went to the next family in line given that they don´t share the methods that have had the country grow into such a beautiful and growing place ¨ She spoke with a quiet voice and trying to convey how sorry she was to be throwing all of this onto her.
¨This whole situation is simply unfair from all of you! How could you not tell me something like this to at least know where I came from! I have always asked about him and you had every opportunity to tell me and help me prepare mentally!¨ Andy said softly to her mother
¨I know now that it was a mistake and we could´ve handled this different but it is not something we could´ve talked over a coffee or that was a dinner type of conversation¨ Helen said while graving her daughter´s hand and squeezing it softly
¨Amelia…¨ Clarisse started but was stopped but Andy´s rose of hand
¨Please call me Andy or Andrea. I do not respond to that name. I have always failed to mention it and only a few people know about it¨ Andy finished softly. She understood perfectly the thought of all of them and, even if she was not happy about any of this, she knew that had her father not died so suddenly she could´ve develop her life normally and not had any pressure like she was having right now. She was thankful that she was, at least, a grown woman and that it hadn´t happened when she was younger.
¨This came up right now after your father´s death. I have tried to postpone it as long as I could but, given that I am Queen only by marriage it is only fair that the natural heir stepped in after him and the blood line to be kept in motion. You are the only heir to the throne and we can take the risk to teach you how to be a Princess!¨ Clarisse said before continuing ¨I can give you books! You´ll study languages, history, art, political science! I can teach you how to walk, talk, sit, eat, and dress like a Princess! I am completely sure you will come to love Genovia as much as I do; as your father did¨ she finished with words full of passion and strength.
At Andy´s lack of response Helen continued ¨You´d be expected to live there honey but you can finish college before any of that comes to be¨
¨And what if I don´t want to? What if I refuse to step in? I can barely make decisions for myself for Christ´s sake! What would I do with an entire country!?¨ Andy said while standing up and pacing softly
¨The Deveruox family would take the throne as theirs and expropriate, as they´ve made it known, lands from our people and sell them to other countries; this would stop Genovia´s growth¨ Clarisse said and paused to let it all sink in.
¨Even if it would pain me and our people to see you decline this, it is your decision entirely. Please know I would be there to help you no matter what you decide. Now that you are aware it will be easier for me to reach to you¨ Clarisse continued softly with loving eyes before continuing ¨Which ever path you decide I would only require for you to share this at Genovia´s Annual Independence day Ball. I was… well, I am hoping to present you there in front of the press and the public which well be in a matter of weeks¨
¨Mom, what about Miranda and the girls!? I can´t leave! What would I do?¨ Andy sat with tears on her eyes
¨Oh baby I hadn´t thought of that¨ Helen grabbed her daughter´s hand
¨Who are we speaking about? ¨ Clarisse asked surprised. She had been informed by Helen that Andrea had recently separated from her recent boyfriend whom she would personally arrange to get what he deserved.
¨I am… uhm… getting to know a woman and her beautiful daughters and I just… I don´t want to leave them! Queen Clarisse please I haven´t known them for long and yet I cannot imagine my life without them¨ Andy told her grandmother while crying. It was obvious that she wasn´t even aware that she was crying
¨We can try and find a solution Andrea. I know that being Royalty comes with a lot of sacrifices but that Is what your father had to decide as well. His love for you was immense but he knew his people and his country needed him. It was the hardest decision he had to make and nobody but him made it.¨ Clarisse finished
¨What do you say Andy takes princess lessons but neither accepts nor declines until the Grand Ball? Would that be ok with you Clarisse? That way she could have time to think about what I could all mean for her future¨ Helen asked always trying to be the voice of reason.
¨I believe we could work with that, Amelia…uhm, Andrea, would you be alright with that?¨ Clarisse asked while grabbing her granddaughter´s other hand and giving it a squeeze
¨I guess we could work with that¨ Andy said softly, she was somehow feeling at peace with her grandmother even if the circumstances weren´t common.
¨Not a word to the press! That is the only requirement I have¨ Clarisse said firmly which earned her a chuckle and a raised eyebrow from Andy before answering ¨Duh! ¨
-.-.-.-.-
I can not thank you enough guys! I´m so glad you´re enjoying this as i´m writing it just to get it out of my system!
I´m trying to be a bit advanced on the story so i have more updates coming! Let me know any comments or ideas you may have
:)
