I woke up the next morning as relaxed and happy as I could be. I woke up in my own time, not in my mother's early hours! I made my cereal happily as I looked through the papers, not the chef's usual Danish breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I love some Danish buns and rolls but some days, I just want Corn Flakes or just coffee. I carried my laptop and headed to the tea shop across the apartment. I just wanted to stay there and work on my laptop. And what's a worker's best friend? Coffee!
"Please can I get a steaming hot cup of coffee, black, average sugar," I said nicely to the young waiter.
"Of course. Will that be all?"
"Yes please." He smiled and walked away.
"You know, when someone orders coffee in London instead of tea, it's considered weird." I turned around to see him standing behind me. Everyone around seemed surprised by his presence and I could understand why. His Royal Highness, Prince Arthur was standing behind me?! I might just pass out.
"Your Highness," I said staying calm but freaking out in my head.
"Please, call me Arthur. May I?" He pointed at the seat across me and I nodded. He smiled at me and sat down. "I hope you got that peaceful sleep last night?" Wait what? What?! He was the stranger from last night?!
"That was you?"
"Ah, she forgot me. And here I thought I was so unforgettable."
"It's not that," I said laughing. "It was dark and in truth, I could barely hear your voice over that music. I have a question for you though."
"Shoot."
"Pardon my language, but is your friend always such an asshole?" He laughed lowly. I sipped my coffee while I waited for his reply.
"Not always." I saw a sudden change in his countenance. "No, don't turn. Don't give them something to look at. We can leave through the back door, my convoy is waiting for me out back." What is he talking about?!
"Please tell me you're not talking about the press." I hate the press! All my life, they have plagued me everywhere I go.
"Yep. Shall we?" I nodded and quickly carried my laptop. We both got up and ran out. "What are you waiting for? Get into the car so we can leave this place."
"No. The press will notice your convoy and they'll follow it. Your car can go and we'll hide out at my apartment until they leave."
"Fine." He said hesitantly. I can already see that he's quite the troublesome one. So we let his driver leave with the empty car and soon enough, the press followed, giving us room to run back to my apartment complex.
"Nice place." He said as we walked in. It was nice. The view was beautiful.
"Thank you. Tea?" He smiled and nodded as we walked into the kitchen. I started making the tea as we engaged in our conversations.
"So, you're not from this side of the world, what brings you here?"
"A clean slate."
"So where are you from?"
"Denmark."
"Ah! Beautiful place. I've particularly taken a liking to Copenhagen."
"Yeah. I grew up there. It's very beautiful."
"So you're not from an average home?"
"What gave it away?" I said laughing as I poured the tea into the cup.
"Copenhagen isn't cheap. I haven't seen a single person who isn't stinking rich in this apartment, talk less of owning one. You also carry yourself with such dignity and style, like that of a noble home. Plus, I might have had someone look into you last night." Ah...so the cat's out of the bag.
"Ah... well, I guess that's out."
"Help me understand this; most ladies of noble blood that I've met are eager to make that fact known to the world, why aren't you?"
"If you could live in a world where no one knew who you were without googling you first, would you?"
"I would."
"Exactly. It's exhausting and I'm here to start afresh, away from all that."
"Then I guess I'm here at the worst time. And yet, I don't plan on leaving anytime soon."
"Really? Cause I hear I'm very bad company for people trying to keep up a good reputation. "
"Says the girl who has nothing but the perfect record in school and outside. I have to leave Toria, but I'll be seeing you around." Toria?! I hate it!
"Tori."
"Excuse me?" He said as he got up and walked towards the door.
"My name is Victoria but I'd rather be called Tori." He let out a small laugh and said nothing until he got to the doorknob.
"I'll see you again... Tori...a" Ugh!!! Tori! Not Toria! Tori! He left laughing loudly. He's cool but nope, I can't have myself around anyone that gets me relatively close to the press.
Weeks passed and Arthur's visits became more frequent. At this point, you could say we are acquaintances. Every time he comes by, he looks like a spy just because he's respecting my choice to stay away from the press. Today, he asked me to pick something up for him from George's place next door, and man, I don't even want to be there.
"Well look who we have here. If it isn't my noise complaint neighbour, please come in." So he can open the door? I've been out here for 10 minutes!
"Yeah. Look, I'm not here for small talk so I'll just go straight to the point. Arthur asked me to pick up some documents that he left here, so please." He just stood there, arms folded, looking at me like I was mad.
"Arthur huh? Most people call him Prince Arthur but you seem to be comfortable with just Arthur. That's fine. Well, did my good friend specify the documents because there are a lot of them?"
"He didn't."
"Well, I'm sure you see the problem with that. I can't just release all documents to you without truly knowing your intentions." Asshole!
"I have a lot to do and I don't have the time to get into it with you today so maybe I'll just leave and he can pick it up when he gets here." I turned and started walking towards the door when I heard George.
"Stop. The files are on the living room table."
"So why didn't you just say that? Look, I don't know you and you don't know me, but for some reason, you seem to have an issue with me and I don't know why but I also don't care. I've had to deal with people like you all my life and I don't see the difference in adding one more person to the list. Just get me the file so I can leave." He went and got the file and passed it to me. I turned to leave but he stopped me, again.
"Look, maybe you're right about me being rude but you seem to be creating an impression on Arthur which means you'll probably be sticking around for a while. I don't want to be on the wrong footing with you so I'm sorry. For the noise and also for my rudeness. It's just your apartment as much as it is mine and you have every right to want your peace. So I'm sorry." Ah...It's a good start.
"It's fine."
"Sure?"
"Absolutely. There will be days when I make much worse noise, you'll be the one complaining then."
"I'll bet. Tell you what, Arthur and I are having some friends over tonight, I'd love it if you would come." When he's not being rude, he's quite lovely.
"I'm not making any promises, but I'll try my best. And if I end up not showing up, I'll make it up to you."
"Ok. But I'm cooking tonight and anyone who knows me knows that I'm just as good a cook as Gordon Ramsay." I laughed at that statement. He looks like a horrible cook.
"I'll keep that in mind." I turned and walked out the door and right into my apartment only to be met by surprise visitors. "Freja? Mom? What are you guys doing here? How did you even get in? How did you even know where I was?"
"Too many questions Victoria, you were raised better. You always start by making your guests feel comfortable by serving them something. I would personally like a cup of tea. Black and a drop of honey." Where does she think she is?
"Only welcomed guests are supposed to be comfortable. You're not welcome here."
"And yet, here I am. And at least pretend to be happy that your sister's here. "
"She's here with you so I'm not exactly sure I want the both of you here."
"Don't be like that Tori." Why would Freja bring her here? She knows full well that the reason for this entire trip is so I could get away from my mom and yet she does this?
"Don't Freja. I'm disappointed that you allowed her to trick you into bringing her here."
"I wasn't tricked. She said she wanted to apologize." I laughed hard at that statement. My mom? Apologize? Yeah, and maybe I might book a flight to the land of Oz. You see, both impossible things!
"And you believed her?! You've known Mom for all 27 years of your life and you believe she's capable of apologizing?! I never took you to be dumb but maybe I should've."
"That's enough! Both of you are sisters and you know better than to engage in your squabbles right in front of me! Look Victoria, I'm not here to apologize but I am here to clear something up with you. The Schleswig house ball is in three months and all members of the bloodline are expected to be there and that includes you. You will not embarrass our family by not being there. The invite of you and your date will be delivered by next week and I expect that I'll get your acceptance reply." I knew it. Freja looked at my mom surprised. Why? I've known her all my life and I expected this. Before I could say anything else, there was a knock on the door. Please let it be anyone but Arthur, I don't want my mom to have any ideas.
"Come in!" I yelled and guess who walked in? "George, did I forget something at your place?" I asked wondering why he was there.
"No. I heard yelling and I just wanted to make sure everything was fine." He looked between my mom and my sister and then back to me. "But from the looks of it, I think this is personal." I nodded and faked a smile.
"Thank you, George." He smiled and left. As soon as the door closed, my smile disappeared. "I'll come to your stupid ball but I want you both out of my house. Right now!!"
"We'll leave, but I'll see you in three months at the ball. Look pretty and get a suitable date. We wouldn't want the press to be disappointed." She got up, picked up her bag, and walked out.
"Tori..."
"Stop Freja! Just stop. I can't believe you'd bring her here." I said. Yes, I was disappointed that she would let my mom manipulate her like this.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't want to hear it, please leave."
"Victoria.."
"Leave!!!!"