Clarie, Cathie and Nannie: Chapter Six

Clarisse looked at herself in the mirror as she took a deep breath.

For the past two weeks, she's been meeting with the queen, Queen Marlena, to be educated on how to be royal.

Luckily, her natural accent seems to please the queen and as well her as manners. She easily got in their good graces as she created a flawless and decent character of herself in their eyes.

Today, she'll be meeting the Prince.

The man who's going to be her husband someday.

Prince Rupert Renaldi.

At first, she felt no big deal. But once she dug deep within her mind. She already knows it is a big deal.

She looked at herself once again as she gently moved her nose, as if it would mold on her touches. Trying to distract herself, she can't help but think, He's someday going to be your husband and he'll step on the throne one day… He's going to be a King and you're a queen.

Queen…

For a seventeen year-old girl, it'll be a dream come true.

But certain words from someone brought her to another vision.

.

"Do you know that it's harder to be a queen or princess than to be a king or prince?" a middle-aged woman said as she tied the dress of a girl.

"How come it is harder, Ms. Josephine? I mean- a Prince is supposed to save a Princess, right? And a Kings will run a country while Queens support them? That's how papa sees them." another girl asked, identical to the one being dressed as the woman smiled and shook her head.

"Prejudice and narrow minds," she mumbled.

"What's a preju- prejuice?" asked the same girl.

The woman smiled again as she said, "Someday you'll understand. Now get up and you three are supposed to meet your father in five minutes."

The two girls smiled as they ran out of the room, leaving the woman and another girl.

"Do royal men really have prejudice on women?" the girl as she looked at the woman, "I once heard mama talking about her friend in Geno- Genovia? And she commented about stupid men or something."

The older women smiled as she patted the girl's head, "Royal women are just more clinged to their duties than men. It's hard to work in a toxic workplace. You have to keep that in your mind, Clarie. Now enough about stupid men and let's get you to your father."

.

It's hard to work in a toxic workplace. the teenage girl in front of the mirror repeated as she blinked her eyes.

A knock on the door brought her back to reality as she stood up and opened it.

This is the day she'll not only meet the prince but also stay at the palace to get used to the facts.

So when she saw the man who became her father, she can't help but to blink back tears.

In a month, she'll be married to the Prince and she'll be Princess of Genovia. Once her husband ascend on the throne, she'll be his queen.

And while those things are happening, this man in front of her will be left here in this house.

Unsure of what will happen to him, she hugged him and apologized.

She shouldn't have made the decision. She shouldn't have agreed to the arrangement.

But it's too late now… she already gave her answer to the Queen and King. Clarisse Grimaldo never backs away on her decisions.

Even if how much I wanted to… she thought as she closed her eyes and let some tears fall.


Moments of his waiting is now done as he heard the announcement of her arrival.

Prince Rupert, his mother and the other staffs waited at the foyer for the arrival of his betrothed.

He have no idea who she is yet but his father gave a hint that he gave her some candy eleven years ago.

And that doesn't help at all because I don't recall giving anyone else some candy aside from small Lady Grimaldo who is young enough to be my daughter… he thought as he remembered the charming little girl he spent time with while his father talked with Lord Grimaldo.

And his eyes widened when he saw the charming little girl enter the palace as a grown young lady.

It's her…

No it can't be…

She's too young…

"Rupert?" he heard his mother call him as he blinked and saw that they're now being introduced.

He looked at the young lady again as she has her eyes down with a small blush on her face.

He suddenly felt guilty as he tried to speak softly, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Grimaldo."

He kissed at back of her hand as her voice instantly soothe his tension.

"Likewise, sir.."

Clarisse blushed when his lips made contact with her hands as she summoned her strength to say something.

Feeling their hands still in contact, the two people made no move to avoid or cut the contact as the prince's mother introduced her to the staff.

Clarisse tried to memorize the names as she was introduced to the Royal Housekeeper, Royal Kitchen Chef and to the Royal Head of Security.

"And this- is Mandy. She'll be your maid till the end of her internship. If you wish to keep her, then we'll have her hired as a permanent palace staff." Queen Marlena said as she looked at the guards aligned next to the young maid, "And these men… will be your guards. They are to know where you are at what time. They are to protect you with their lives so when there are security problems, you are to trust them."

Clarisse gave a smile and a nod to the men as she look one by one to their heads, slowly memorizing how they look like so she'll know who are the ones working for her.

Though she knows it'll be hard to memorize names and head at a small amount of time, one face kept attached in her mind as she straightened herself with his gaze.

He's looking to her with a mixture of confusion, surprise and curiosity. Like as if he's observing her closely.

At first, she thought she have something on her face or her hair but she knows there's not after some discreet glances at herself in the mirrors.

Why would he look at me that way then?, she thought as she quickly pushed it to the back of her mind and tried to pay attention to the Queen's words.


Joseph have no idea whether he's hallucinating or anything.

That lady over there looked exactly as Nannie

Or not exactly but they have the same face.

Maybe Nannie have a shorter hair and more rugged look but they have the same face.

Then he remembered Nannie talking about her sisters and how they used to confuse people with their names because they look exactly the same.

Could it be…

No it can't be…

.

"Mama used to be confused be'ween me and my sister Ca'hie. You see, we used to 'ave our necklaces backwards so she can't see the color. Clarie always 'ave hers neatly though, she'd rawther wa'ch than be a part of it." Nannie said as she chopped the vegetables, "Ph 'ow I miss them. Do you 'hink they missed me too, Joey?"

.

He took a deep breath as the lady smiled and greeted the staff people.

It's possible isn't it?

That the lady who's going to marry the Crowned Prince is Nannie's sister?

They looked alike and there's the necklace… he thought as he saw the blue pendant that hung around her neck.

Seeing that it's identical to Nannie's green one.

He have to know her..

He have to know why she's living a regal life while Nannie grow up to the orphanage with Robert.

He have to know what happened.


After the lengthy introduction, Clarisse and Rupert are sent to the library to get to know each other while sharing a nice cup of tea.

"So… uh- You've grown…" Rupert cut the awkward silence as Clarisse looked at her cup while nodding.

He took a small breath as he observe her.

Somehow, despite her shyness, she managed to got a good posture. She's incredibly groomed-

-and too young to marry a middle aged man like me… he thought as he awkwardly asked:

"You're -uh- eighteen right? I mean- you're seven when I first met you." he said as she finally lifted her head and tried to look at him.

Clarisse don't know why on earth is she blushing. But she certainly knows how to speak.

"I'm turning eighteen this October.." she said in her low voice, "-I uh… I forgot to thank you about the caramel by the way.."

Rupert smiled at he brushed it and refilled his tea, "So… uh- how are you taking it.."

"Taking what?" the teenager asked as she refilled her own cup, feeling her confidence and comfort once again as she managed to look at him for twenty seconds straight.

Rupert swallowed his tea as he clarified, "The life here.. I mean- most women would be already on my mother's dark side but you managed to charm her."

"Well that proves that I'm not most women, sir. I just did what she said and I guess I did it properly, that's all.." Clarisse said as she took a sip on her tea, wondering where did her confidence come from.

Rupert smiled at her response as he nodded, "Yes, I am certainly sure that you are not most women, Lady Grimaldo. Now you may call me, Rupert. Since we are -you know."

Clarisse nodded as she took a sip on her tea, "Then if that's the case then you may call me, Clarisse."

The two talked for a while, getting to know and getting more comfortable with each other as time passed.


"Do you think their marriage will last?" asked Kenneth, another intern, as he looked at Joseph who's taking the 'guarding the door' task very seriously.

For minutes, they've heard some occasional laughers inside, and Joseph tried to figure out whether he should tell Nan about the identical lady over here or what.

Kenneth keep on talking and talking about age gaps, royals and other things as time passed and finally the door opened.

Sending both guards on a slight jump before they straighten up.

The Prince and his future betrothed left the room, sending and receiving nod from both guards.

Kenneth informed the security about the couple's exit as Joseph followed them from behind.

He can't help but compare her to Nannie while he's tailing them behind.

She's a bit more posh than his friend, maybe because Nan learned most to Robert while she live on an aristocratic life.

More questions entered the young intern's mind as he tried to do his job seriously.

I've got a lot of things to do.. he thought as he added contacting Nan on the top of the list.


A/N: Been a while since I updated here and I have to apologize for that. Didheifhdhd anyways, what do you think? Lemme know please and I hoped you enjoy! (⊙-⊙)