There was no mention of work at the royal lunch. Kayla had expected the family to be all formal and too eager to take their money's worth on the team they brought into their country, but she had been wrong.
Prince Leonardo, who looked tenderly at his Lady Madeline ever so often, was beyond hospitable. He shared stories of what had been and how the country came to be, the wisdom the people in it harbored and the treasures they kept that meant more to them than all its gold.
Although Kayla had heard stories about the country before, even its hidden riches, there was nothing more endearing than hearing it from the man who was born and destined to rule it. That went on for an hour or so, until Eric shifted to his usual self and began teasing Prince Sebastiano about some childhood memories. It was here that the other guests began to take their leave, apologizing to the Crown Prince and his brothers.
When it was time for Prince Leonardo to be at a meeting, his personal adviser let him know and he rose from his seat without delay. Everyone followed suit.
"You must forgive me. I must take my leave. The Council awaits me." The Crown Prince looked at each of his brothers and nodded at them.
Lady Madeline accompanied him out.
Prince Sebastiano turned to Eric immediately upon hearing the double doors of the dining hall close. "As we are the only ones left, I take it is time for business, brother. Shall we move to one of the boardrooms?"
"Of course," Eric nodded.
He mirrored Prince Sebastiano's gesture of offering his elbow for Kayla, but she refused to take it. It wasn't her place to do so for she was nothing more than an employee. Although deep within in, she knew she would do it in a heartbeat had they been in her country.
The boardroom they were brought into was rather small and cozy. It only allowed about twenty people inside and that included the dining area that comfortably sat six people by the balcony. The round table they were seated on was meant for at least twelve. Just about right for them.
Prince Sebastiano sat opposite Eric, but without his Lady Athena, who had to run some errands in the market. She spoke so wistfully about a new boutique that sold silks and jewels imported from Europe that Kayla wondered what the market actually looked like. She could imagine a medieval one from the movies, where cream and grey bricks caved in wooden carts of local sellers, and it excited her a bit. She would have to remember to visit it soon.
The doors opened to the boardroom and four men entered. The fifth man, whose face has been concealed by the others, had a familiar stance. The way he walked, his shoulders and his stride weren't too hard to miss. Kayla knew who it was immediately, even before the crowd before him parted and he stood in the middle of two empty chairs, right in front of her.
"Good afternoon." Alexander regarded each of the person, now seated around the table, and stopped a second longer at Kayla. He didn't linger, nor did he show any emotion. He was formal in his suit and he gave an air of authority. Sort of like Prince Sebastian. Only lighter. "My apologies for being late. My brothers took too long to get here."
"Ah. Racing again, I see?" There was delight in Eric's voice as he turned to the two men standing on each side of Alexander.
Alexander nodded and chuckled, his eyes suddenly glimmering from the ray of light that truck it. "Testing their new cars, bought all the way from Germany."
The man on his left, who had a crude haircut and sharper eyes, laughed. "Had to get those machines on the road to the palace. Exhilaration before we get to deliberation eh?"
"Oh, come on. Palace duties aren't so boring," Eric said, though Kayla wondered if it was them he was convincing. Or himself.
"Speak for yourself," the man on Alexander's right said, laughing. "Esteban would run away to the oceans if he could."
"Never to return again, I bought a yacht just a week ago. Found the spot in the Pacific where people say a crater looms. I have yet to discovery the truth to it," the man called Esteban said proudly.
They were playful. Unlike the Van Laningham princes, there was an easiness surrounding them.
Alexander curved his lips into a smile. "Well, shall we begin?"
"Please." Prince Sebastian referred to the three empty seats, where they then settled down. "I would like you all to meet the man to lead your team. Sir Alexander Bosai Van Laningham. First of our cousins to the late Lord Alexious Van Laningham."
Kayla expected to meet Alex upon her arrival to Khazkatia. It was unlikely that they didn't cross paths; him, being the cousin of her new employers, a free man roaming around his country and a famous singer, at that. But never did she imagine it to be like this – him, as his immediate superior.
"While I spearhead the project, you will report directly to Ms. Judith and then to Sir Alexander," Prince Sebastiano continued. "He reports to me."
Kayla turned to Eric with pleading eyes. She thought Eric would be in on this project.
"Calm down," Eric whispered, the assurance in his voice ever-present. He placed his hand on top of hers on her lap and squeeze it, careful not to let anyone notice they were communicating.
"I am sure my team shares my sentiment in wondering if you have certain expectations." Judith was careful with her words, speaking slowly and altering her accent a bit to show that she could speak with royal people.
Alexander smiled, hearing her. He must have caught what she was doing, as well, but responded to her just the same. "I believe I speak for all Van Laninghams when I say you are expected to return our people's money's worth with your hard work." He paused and looked at Kayla. "But if you are asking what these expectations are, please allow Prince Sebastian to give you his visions for the school."
"Our country is deeply rooted in its traditions. We care for what our ancestors handed down to us in a hundred different ways you can imagine and we respect each of these traditions so profoundly that even as our late father and the Council believes it is time to open our gates to the new world and its trades, we wish to keep our history intact." Prince Sebastiano rose from his seat and tucked his hands inside his trousers' pockets, which inadvertently emphasized his broad shoulders.
He rounded his chair and proceeded to a table at the corner of the room, where books lined up in a perfectly organized manner. He took one of those books, walked back to the table and placed it in front of everyone. "The only nuisance in our attempts to keep our identity at bay is the tendency for our people to no longer believe in the need to advance. Our artists, most especially, have remained true to the roots of our culture that the artistry they create – be it onstage or in any medium – appear to remain the same."
Prince Sebastiano continued, "Here is a book to help you understand where we are now as and who we are. Your job is to assist our people introduce our culture through arts and literature by any means deemed modern by the world. Yes, we will keep our roots, but we will advance. That is what our late father wants and that is what this project will do."
Eric cleared his throat, as if his cue to speak has arrived. "Help us build bridges. We want the world to know that Khazkatia is a land of bountiful immaterial resources that we could share should the world need it. Wisdom. Happiness. Secrets to a great life. You will find all those here. And we are not keeping them to ourselves anymore."
Kayla smiled at the thought of immaterial resources being shared to the world. It made sense, when one actually thought about it. A country who had closed its doors to the world for many centuries would indeed be rich on its own. The many times the princes mentioned how deeply rooted they were to their history and culture and inheritances proved this.
"I say you hired the right team," Cindy said cheerily, almost bouncing off her chair as she spoke.
Eric chuckled. "I know we did. I trust each of you would not do anything to disappoint."
"Of course," Judith said, the sharp intake of her breath clearly ascribed to Cindy.
"Thank you for the trust, Your Graces," Kayla finally spoke.
Alexander turned his attention to her, and he smiled, as if trying to appease her. She had been tensed since he arrived, and it would be pretentious to think he didn't notice.
"Good. So on to the details of your jobs." Prince Sebastiano nodded at his personal adviser, who pointed a remote to the widest wall of the room. The lights dimmed and a slideshow enumerated each of the team's tasks, starting with Judith's.
Oh, if she could only record the way Alexander mentioned her as the team's leader, his assistant to be exact, she would, if only to justify the prolonged smug on her face.
When the slideshow ended, Kayla shifted on her seat. She was not on it.
"My apologies. Am I not to work on this project?"
Alexander turned to Eric. "Please, Prince Eric, enlighten us. I am beginning to wonder about that, as well."
Prince Sebastiano and Eric exchanged glances. It was Prince Sebastiano who spoke. "You will be assigned a special task."
"And what task is that?" she asked, her voice tight as she looked at Eric.
"You will know soon," Eric replied, avoiding her gaze.
It's moments like these that Kayla knew she should be concerned.