At the Exit Door
After Carson's closing remarks, everyone waited for the King and his family to leave, before they rose. Meanwhile, the King walked to the four tables and appreciated his guests.
“Thank you for honoring my invitation.”
“Thank you for inviting me. I have learned a lot. I wish the youths of my country were here. They would have learned one or two things from the young man,” one of the Kings explained. King Churchill VII smiled proudly, and responded, “I'm delighted to hear that.”
“It is not yet late. You can invite them for the next event,” the Prince, who was beside his father, proposed.
“The Prince is right. I have purchased the tickets for the coming event. I will come along with two youths,” another King added. At that point, they were walking towards the exit door, and their Knights and security guards were vigilant. Now, other dignitaries had followed behind, and Carson's father, who could not wait to flaunt his son, caught up with him, at the exit door, and commended, “Thank you for being proud of my son, my King.”
“Your son? Who is he?” The King curiously asked.
“Yes, my King. He is the organizer of the program,” he declared proudly.
“Oh! He is such a big boy that I could not recognize him anymore.”
“It is possible, my King.”
“I'm truly proud of him.”
“I appreciate, my King.”
After the greetings, the Prince and the Knights ensured that the other Kings were comfortably seated in their cars, before he joined his parents, who were waiting for him. Nevertheless, since the program ended, the King had looked out for Mirabel, and hoped that he would see her, but to his disappointment, he could not spot her.
“Has the acting not ended?” He murmured to himself. To his chagrin, the Queen, who was sitting calmly by his side, was unperturbed. Soon, the team, moved, and the Queen complimented, “It was a fruitful evening, after all.”
“Yes, it is,” the disturbed King responded curtly. Likewise, the Queen turned, and looked into his eyes, and noticed that he was disturbed. Then, she asked with concern, “Is anything the matter, my King?”
Among other things that the King taught himself as a child was not to talk when he is worried, so he was mute. Nevertheless, the Queen was familiar with such a mood, and she sat mute, too.
After they drove off, Diane, whose evening was ruined, joined Fanny in the courtyard. She was watching the Prince's car driving away, when she heard a voice, “How did it go?”
She turned quickly, and saw Diane by her side, and answered, “He is so preoccupied with his daughters, and would not look at any woman.”
“That is a good one. If you succeed in getting him, you will have him to yourself.”
“You are right, but how will that be possible? The tight security around him would not even allow me to get close to him.”
“There must be a way out,” Diane consoled.
“You are right. What about Alfred? Did you get him to speak with you?”
Now, Diane pulled a face, and spoke, “I dislike actors. He is so different from what he displayed on the stage.”
“What do you mean, Diane?”
“He is a horrible snob, and primitively saucy.”
“What! Are you saying that he was only acting?”
“You got it. Let's go.”
After Sir Gilmore's discussions with the King, he walked towards his car with his wife. Carson preferred to move without a security team, but that night, his father imposed one on him.
“Ensure that you accompany him back home. Did you get that?” He ordered his Chief Security Officer.
“I got it, boss.”
“That is good. I will return with the other team members.”
“It is noted, boss.”
Afterward, Sir Gilmore left with one security team, and left the CSO with three cars and five security guards.
Presently, it was a few minutes to past 9 o'clock, and Carson's staff members were almost through with the packing of their equipment. Meanwhile, Mirabel's staff members had left, as well as other partners. Carson looked at Pearl, who was sleepy, and consoled, “Give me a few minutes, and I will take you back.”
“It's okay, but my fear is that the road may be too lonely by now,” Pearl responded.
Carson looked at Alfred for his opinion, and he confirmed, “She is right. The hostel road is always lonely.”
“In that case, you will go home with me. Tomorrow is Sunday, and there is no lecture. Or what do you think?”
She showed worries, and Carson smiled. She had avoided spending the night with him, and Carson was aware of that.
“I won't be physical,” he whispered.
“I haven't said anything….”
“Good evening, Young Master,” the Chief Security Officer greeted, and interrupted their discussions.
“Good evening, Mr. Allen. What brings you?”
“The boss asked me to wait, and return home with you.”
He looked at Pearl, and noticed that she was happy, before he replied, “That is good. I will take my friends home, before I retire for the day.”
“That is not a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Carson's staff members had a challenge. They needed an additional vehicle to convey their instruments and the remaining cartons of perfume back to the office, and they called his attention to it.
“How did you bring them to the event center, and how come you are asking for an additional vehicle?” He asked his secretary.
“We didn't transfer them at once. It is late to do that again,” the secretary pointed out.
“I see. You can use my car, then. I will always find my way,” he promised, and looked at the security officer, who gave him a nod.
“Thank you, boss,” the secretary appreciated, and left happily.
At the Palace.
The family arrived safely, and the guests, were ushered to the guest rooms after the dinner. Afterward, the couple retired to their chamber. The Queen was aware that her husband was distraught, but could not think of anything that could be responsible for that.
“Ain't you bothered that Mirabel is not home yet?” The King demanded when his wife had laid on the bed. She got up with a start, and requested, “Who said so? She should be in her chamber,” the Queen pointed out.
“Really? Why didn't she join us for dinner?”
“She must have been exhausted from the day's event.”
The disturbing thing about the situation, was the Queen's calmness, and he inquired, “Can she be too exhausted to say good night to her family, and you are not bothered.”
“It is not what you think, my King. I feel that after the engagement, she needs to be alone.”
“The acting,” the King corrected at once. Nevertheless, the Queen looked at him, and he continued, “I wish to get this clarified. Was she in a relationship, and she never hinted to us, not even you?”
At that point, the Queen was short of explanation. The King was not aware of her numerous dates that ended in agony, and how she had prayed secretly for a man to find her attractive.
“I see your point, my King. Can we sleep over it, and discuss that tomorrow?”
“No. This night. Or is there something you are not telling me?”
She avoided the question, and responded, “I think she is old enough to marry. Or what do you think?”
“Not when we are not part of the plans. Or do you wish to allow her fall into the wrong hands because she is not our biological child?”
The Queen could not think of any defense again, and she remained mute. Then, the King commanded, “Get her. I wish to see her.”
“She must have gone to sleep, and I doubt that disturbing her is the best,” the Queen argued. Instantly, the emotionally disturbed King, gave the Prince a call, and he picked, “Hello, my father. Is there anything you want me to do?”
“I apologize if I disturbed your sleep.”
“It is all right, my father. Is anything the matter?”
“Yes. I wish to know. Did Mirabel ever discuss that she was in a relationship with you?”
“Not at all, my father.”
The, King, who was already out of the bed, gave the Queen a searching look, and continued, “That is weird. Get her, and come with her at once."
“All right, my father.”
Cut.
Cut.