ALYSSA
An invitation. An invitation from… Prince of Lundy. From Aren.
Greta wipes away the emotion when she sees that I don't react the same way she does.
—What's the matter, don't you like the idea? —I see her.
—… Get me thermal boots, hats, and gloves, I'm going to climb Mount Everest. —She laughs—. When did he send this and why did it take so long?
—I am not sure, your highness, but we just received it this morning when you left the palace with the prince of Kastoria.
I knew it was inappropriate to send a request after the ball.
—I see that, with how little you have interacted with Prince Aren, you already know him. You were right when you said you wouldn't be sending an invitation anytime soon.
—... he seems to be predictable —I comment without giving him that much importance.
—The king has already accepted the invitation. We just need to know if you wish to make a similar request so that Prince Aren can visit Corfu... or when you are there you will tell him that_
—No~, I don't want to embarrass myself and invite him to visit Corfu. Better send him a letter yourselves.
—I understand, we'll do it that way then.
—...the first three suitors were ruled out at the first time...with Einar I don't see myself in something serious..... do I have a choice with a better one?
—They are the five best prospects that benefit the kingdom, so it must be with one of the five of them. And it goes without saying that your grandparents and father, The King, agree to send the request to Lundy.
—... well, if it doesn't work with Olaf, I'll resign myself to Gingy. -laughs and I laugh too to relax a little—. At least tell me that the terms don't include traveling without a cell phone.
—They didn't put terms, princess, which shows that you can travel as you find more comfortable. The only thing they asked is that the Lundy royal family jet will be in charge of coming for you.
—Traveling on a Lundy jet, what an honor. —I snort—. At least I'll be able to travel with my cell phone. And what if you come with me too?
—Although it's not in the terms, I can't travel with you, ma'am, it's part of the protocol that you travel on your own. Lundy's staff will take care of giving you the most comfortable stay —Sigh with anxiety making an act of presence—. Let's look at the bright side, the current Queen of Lundy is originally from Corfu, do you remember Duchess Elin? She...
—... yes, she was my mother's best friend. I have seen pictures of them together —I mumble and she prefers to keep quiet; she knows that the subject of my mother is something very delicate for me and with nothing I start crying about it, especially if I am in moments that remind me of her, but today is not the case and I pretend not to give free rein to my emotions—. I'll skip lunch, I'll go out for a moment to take a walk.
—I understand. I'll take care of everything right now.
—Thank you. —Curtsies and I go for a walk in the garden while my assistants take care of the clothes I will take to Lundy.
I wish they throw in some cold clothes and an oxygen tank.
I sit down near the pool and my father comes out of I don't know where and sits down next to me.
—How are you? —he asks, stroking my back. I think about it for a moment, I know he loves me, and he doesn't want this either, but he made the decision as a king, not as a father.
My mother wouldn't have wanted this either and I bet she would have been the only vote against it.
—I'm fine. What about you?
—Not bad. I just saw your grandparents; they are at their residence.
—I almost didn't see them these days, we were supposed to be with Einar as a family.
—It's just... your grandfather didn't like Prince Einar very much —He whispers, and I let out my laughter—. And I don't understand why if he's a good boy.
—Maybe my grandfather sees something we don't. —I shrug my shoulders—. Greta already told me about Lundy's invitation.
—And what do you think of this?
—... Well, I don't have a choice.
—Does he still look cute to you?
—Father~. —He makes fun of me.
—I still remember when you showed him to me and said, 'Father, that's the child, look'. —He imitates me, and I cover my face with shame —. He is the son of Queen Elin, an old friend and citizen of Corfu, treat him well, please.
—I'll try, but I don't promise you.
—... Your mother managed to meet him when you were in her womb, and she thought he was a very cute baby. You even met after you were born, it just that you don't remember it because you were so small, there are even pictures of you together.
—Really? I've never seen them.
—I don't know if we have some saved in the albums or if Elin kept them all. —He laughs a little and sighs —. Your mother wished you were good friends.
I see him again. My father is the only one I feel comfortable talking to about my mother and not crying on the way.
—Good Friends, not couple.
—Are you sure about it?
—… I know my mother.
Laughs —Have you and Leah not dreamed about your children getting married?
—Stop, father —mocks at me again—. The only time I remember living with him was on the anniversary of Corfu's independence, fifteen years ago.
—Yes~. Then only the kings came for important matters. We have treaties with them, don't break them.
Although I'm being forced to get married, at least it wasn't a father who tied me up to someone as a child... But it's almost the same, isn't it? I will marry someone I did not choose out of love.
—Well, I promise not to ruin it.
—I love you, daughter, don't forget that, okay? —I nod and kisses my forehead —. Remember that we do this for Corfu, as a future queen, there are sacrifices you must make.
—What was yours? As far as I remember the story, you married for love, not out of obligation.
—... It was an arranged marriage, some of us are committed since we are small and that happened to your mother and me ... But we fell in love and that was cause enough to continue with the marriage. —He smiles slightly.
—I don't see the sacrifice to that. —I snort.
—... My sacrifice was to raise you alone, without a queen or a wife, or a mother for my only daughter. —Squeeze the grip of my hand—. My biggest sacrifice was that. I wish it hadn't been that way.
—... She wouldn't have wanted this for me.
—Of course not, I was already hanging from a tree. —We laughed—. But there are things we can't avoid, and you know it. —I slightly nod so as not to continue with the subject—. I'll go riding for a while, do you want to go?
—Later on, you know that the stable is not my favorite place even if I like horses.
—I know, that's why I make the effort to always keep it clean and under surveillance. —He smiles slightly and stands up—. See you later.
I wish that time would stand still when the day arrives when I must travel to Lundy. It still seems strange to me that he sent the invitation a month after the dance, surely he was forced to do it, or someone did it without his authorization.
The only thing that reassures me is that he probably doesn't remember me; At the dance she would have made a gesture, said something or anything that would make me understand that still remembers me.
Fifteen years have passed, I must have been forgotten if it was not of importance. Or maybe he does remember me but pretends not because I am not worth.
I arrive at the airstrip of the palace. My family is waiting together with Greta.
—I'm not leaving for years; I don't need so much formalism (not even when I went to Kastoria were my grandparents there).
—It's the best choice you have, I come to wish you the best —my grandfather confesses, and my father sees it seriously.
—Einar is a good boy too.
—Aren's mother is from Corfu, reason enough for me to like him —my grandfather loves anything that is from Corfu or descended from Corfu—. And he has what suits us.
—Father_
—Enough —My grandmother interferes, and I sigh at the beautiful farewell they offer me—. We did not come here to see who a better match is, we come to say goodbye to my granddaughter and if you do not calm down, then leave.
—... I'll come later —I speak in the face of brutal silence— Take good care of yourselves.
—You too, honey. —My grandmother is the first to hug me. I say goodbye to everyone and get on the jet of the royal family of Lundy. It is a very refined jet and in leagues you can tell that it costs a fortune. Lundy's nation logo lies both outside and inside the object and there is also a family photograph inside.
—We take off right now, princess, we hope you enjoy the trip —the captain tells me over the radio, and I prepare for takeoff.
I'm very comfortable in my seat, but I want nothing more than to disappear because I don't want to get to Lundy, see Prince Aren and realize that...
—Is there something you wish, your majesty?" —asks the flight attendant once we can move through the ship.
—I'm fine, thank you very much. —I smile and leaves. I close my eyes and try to keep my hands still, but I end up doing the opposite: my eyes wander all over the place and my hands touch everything nearby. They have very curious relics, paintings I saw in famous museums, high-quality drinks, photos of the main branch of royalty, among them are those of Ivar and Aren, future ruler of Lundy.
My eyes continue to find you even when I don't look for you.
—We are ten minutes from the airstrip —notifies the captain—. Through the window you can appreciate the sea that surrounds Lundy and part of its mountains. Princess, welcome to the nation of Lundy.
I prepare to descend while my eyes appreciate the clear waters that the nation has, the great mountains, it seems a paradisiacal place and I must admit that I have loved it, I am excited to be my first time here. In the middle descent I see the people who are on the track.
—It's safe to come down, Princess —the assistant informs me, and I thank her. I go down while she takes care of my luggage.
I try to stand firm and pray that my legs don't fail me, and I face to face against the pavement. The royal family awaits me, the monarchs, the current kings, and princes of Lundy, six people watching me as I go down the steps and I feel like an alien who doesn't know how to walk when I address them.
—Welcome to Lundy, princess —his voice is a hammer to my chest. At last, I can detail his full face and yes, I recognize that these ten days will be a martyrdom, but also a VIP pass to appreciate a masterpiece alive.
—Princess Alyssa! —Ivar is the next to say hello, pulling me out of the trance and I smile at him trying to throw the nerves away from here.
—Hello. It is an honor to be here —I pay respect first to the monarchs, then to the kings and finally to the princes —. Thank you for inviting me, it is a pleasure to see you.
—We thank you for accepting, princess —says the current queen and I smile at her when I see her, I feel a twinge in my chest, and I refuse to cry at this moment—. I regret my boldness, but may I hug you? —The youngest of the family looks at her with confusion, but the others do not, as if they already know why she wants to do it.
—I wouldn't mind at all, your majesty —I confess, and she comes over and gives me such a warm hug that I end up wrapping my arms around her too; She was my mother's best friend, I feel like I'm hugging her too. I can't stop my lump in my throat from forming and tears from blurring my eyes—. Thank you very much, I wanted to feel that —I say low, and she sees me—. I'm sorry, I couldn't hold it.
—You're as beautiful as she is. —wipes away the tears I couldn't hold back, and we smile, her eyes are red, but she doesn't shed any tears.
She is stronger than me. I must learn from her.
—It's your first time in Lundy, right? —asks her husband, King Sebastian.
—Yes, majesty. —Queen Elin returns to his side, and I continue in front of all of them—. I could appreciate the clear waters and the mountains as I came, it is a very beautiful nation.
—Wait for you to see other places —says Ivar—. I'll make sure you enjoy your stay here.
—Thank you very much.
—Well, let's not stay here all day, walking —the monarch speaks, and the attendants take care of my suitcase as we get into the vans driving the royal guard. I go up to one with the kings and Prince Ivar. Aren and his grandparents get in the other. Ivar likes to talk a lot and helps me to get in trust with his parents who are also very open with me, and I appreciate that.
—There are so many things I'd love to show you —says Ivar's mother as we get out of the second van that arrives at the palace—. What would you like to know first? The beaches, mountains, food? I know! —she stops me, taking me by the shoulders before entering the palace and startled— How about we go to the sports center? There is an archery area, I know you practice it, you could_
—Dear —her husband interrupts her.
—Oh, excuse me, I should have harassed you so much. —She laughs and I deny with a smile—. I'd better let you rest first; it was a long trip.
—Princess, your room is ready, Ivar can guide you. The itinerary of activities begins tomorrow.
—Okay, thank you very much.
—Feel comfortable, see you at dinner. —I curtsy as a farewell and let Ivar guide me.
—When you get to the bottom, turn right, there will be your room —he tells me and sees me with a big smile—. I feel happy that you are here, for real.
—so do I —I don't lie if I pretend his brother doesn't exist—. See you later.
We say goodbye and I follow his instructions. There is only one room after turning the corridor and the door is ajar, so I approach it and open, but I am paralyzed by what I see.