Isha

Has anyone ever fallen in love with an architecture? I have. Right here. Right now.

"We are here, Miss Sen."

The guard sitting on my left was generous enough to not wake me up when I dozed off on his arm. His little jerk of my head made me realize where I am, my purpose there and what I shall prepare myself for. Humiliation? Embarrassment? Anything is better than death.

Whatever it is, I force myself to look outside the tinted car windows and have my mind refreshed.

Did the scenery take my breath away? Absolutely.

After receiving verification from the authorities guarding the huge, front gate, which had taken approximately about forty-five seconds, two more guards, all dressed in well-tailored suits and ties, hold the gate wide open. The car drives through in no time, while I take my sweet time in cherishing the stunning panorama. Who would have thought that there was such a magnificent place, away from the hustling bustling city life of Euthensia, the capital of Syncitia? In fact, I had no idea I lived only thirty minutes away from Nirvana, (the Royal Palace's name).

As the black Jaguar rolls over on the delicately built stony pavement, covered by a smooth coating of light red paint, I notice the gigantic lush greenery on either of my side. Flowers that bloom year round like shining bright yellow Marigold; Zinnia in colours of red, pink and white; red Daylily designed naturally by splotches of yellow Chrysanthemum; purplish Aster and the list goes on. Wherever I look, however I look, I can only see and scent the fragrance.

My feet itch. I want to step down from the car and explore the entire garden so bad because this? This is just one half of the gargantuan garden.

The car circles around the colossal and pompous fountain, its crystal clear water sprinkling around. The basin is carved into complex structures of miniature mermaids, mermen, other sea creatures I cannot understand and even a mythical being, which appears to me as a sea monster.

In contrast to the fountain, I am very sure that I did catch the glimpse of what looked like, can be a large pond, at the back of the palace.

When the car stops, my jaw hangs open and so do my eyes. Not because of the sudden break the driver has taken, but because of the palatial structure in front of me.

I have only seen the Royal Palace on TV, or in pictures in news articles. But to get the opportunity to see the actual big deal in front of my eyes (despite the unexpected circumstances), it feels surreal. Almost as if I have stepped into a whole new world in a Disney movie.

With its mighty edifice, the Royal Palace, sturdy and strong, overlooks onto us. It isn't like the palaces shown in historical movies or, let's say, Disney royal movies (I'm obsessed with Disney). The Royal Palace, Nirvana, is the monumental version of what we know as a mansion. It is a huge, spread out building, built on thousands of acres of land. If my calculations are correct, the palace is about 25 metres high, give or take a few metres. The monotonous white colour of Nirvana, juxtaposes well with the light hues of ivory and few shades of walnut cream colour. I recognize the Red Valerian, creeping around the walls and some windows. Although, I am not sure whether they have grown naturally or artificially been put there for decoration purposes.

I sigh dreamily at the sight. This is just the front view of Nirvana. I wonder how the interior, or what an aerial view of the entire palace, might look like.

The security breaches aren't one to be underestimated either. Almost everywhere, suited men in black suits akin to the two escorting me, or in guard uniforms of golden and black with the artistic picture of a phoenix on their chest pockets, are keeping up their guards. These are the signature colours of Syncitia's flag and the national animal of the country (even if it is a mythical bird).

"This way, Miss Sen."

As I climb down from the car, clad in my cheap but good quality casual wear, a white T-Shirt which has the quote, 'You can't understand Twenty-first-Century Politics with an Eighteenth-Century Brain', a realisation strikes me. Well, definitely not a good choice of shirt to wear, when meeting the King and his eldest son. Apart from that, I am wearing a black palazzo, and a black overcoat. I wonder if I should excuse myself to the washroom, and take some time in brushing my hair. Because having a messy bun while you are going to visit two important members of the royal family, is more scandalous than a royal scandal.

"Excuse me, if you could tell me where the washroom—"

"After the meeting." The man who has been on my right side all this time grumbles in a terrifyingly low and deep voice. The other guard is nowhere to be seen.

"Okay." I answer tight-lipped, like I have the privilege of going against anyone's words here.

If only I had been sent a prior notice of my visit to Nirvana for a meeting with the King, rather than the Royal Executive Guards appearing at my workplace out of nowhere, I would have dressed more formally than putting on whatever I found in my already messy cupboard.

Calming my nerves, I focus on the interior as the guard leads me. Nothing but never ending corridors, and light golden coloured walls, where framed pictures of the royal family from centuries are hung, greet my eyesight. Expensive and intricate statues, ornamental candles, paintings, vases with carefully grown and taken care of flowers which possibly cost more than any average person's monthly income, surround me creating a suffocating but oddly satisfying, luxuriant ambience.

"Your Royal Highness, we need to move fast."

"Calm down, Jonathan. The President won't start arson if we reach there half an hour late."

"That is the thing, Your Royal Highness! The President of Southern Loca Islands is an extremely punctual man—"

"Who will not complain against the future ruler of Syncitia, would he now? He knows best that Southern Loca Islands still falls under the authority of Syncitia..."

My eyes dart towards the painting of a little girl holding fruits when our eyes meet unexpectedly.

I hope he didn't notice that I was accidentally eavesdropping on their conversation. And by their I meant, Crown Prince Carlos Mercuro Sonata Liorsa Tiore, the twenty-five-year-old younger brother of Prince Calix, the man whom I had kissed a week ago. Jonathan, the tensed person beside him must be his secretary and the other muscular man, most obviously, his bodyguard.

I feel bad for struggling while deciding whether to bow or curtsy when they near, and eventually stand there like a non-living statue, while the guard escorting me, does a little bow and shares small talks with the Crown Prince.

From my peripheral vision, the amused glint visible in Prince Carlos's eyes as he watches me curiously in silence, doesn't go unnoticed by me.

Speak up, you fool.

The voice finally thrusts some sense into my head and I realise I am being extremely rude by ignoring the Crown Prince. "Your Royal Highness," plastering a smile, I do a little bow, copying the guard, "It's a pleasure meeting you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Sen."

As I shake his hand, I can only think one thing.

He knows my fucking name. I am getting executed today.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

Whatever I may do, how many times I may chant calm down like a magical mantra to relive my stress, I become more agitated.

One of the guards in uniform, who was guarding a door to a room, knocks. An authoritative, hoarse voice answers after a moment or two. "Come in."

The suited man, who has been accompanying me all this time, outstretches his hand, motioning me to step inside. The man, whose name I have learnt is Broody, receives a gaped stare from me.

Broody cannot seriously be asking me to go there alone, when all this time I have been walking throughout Nirvana like a noble lady with a bodyguard.

"Please step inside, Miss Sen. His Majesty does not like to be kept waiting." Broody's words are enough to make me dash through the slightly ajar door.

Perhaps I should have controlled my speed because I find myself stumbling forward, in the presence of King Richard and Prince Calix, both of whose faces remain indifferent but with a slight touch of bewilderment. Thanks to the round table, I manage to steady myself, an awkward smile creeping onto my face immediately. I ponder whether I should bow 90° or curtsy. What do the aristocrats do even when greeting? Perhaps a formal handshake?

In the midst of my dilemma, I do a greeting which looks less than a greeting, more like a bird trying to do something between a curtsy and a bow. Improperly, I might as well add.

"Please, have a seat. Thank you for agreeing to meet His Majesty and His Royal Highness on such a short notice." Sensing the awkwardness, a man in his late fifties, whom I had not noticed until now, politely says. He motions me towards the end of the table where King Richard is seated on a relatively bigger chair than the other ones, and on his right-hand side, Prince Calix.

His unreadable stare at me causes redness to appear on my cheeks, as memories of the kiss from that night rush through my mind. I hope he doesn't think of me as a pervert.

Following the polite man's direction, I take a seat beside Prince Calix. I bow my head at him with a smile; he doesn't return it. Instead, gives me a subtle nod before turning his attention to the other man. "Robert, you may leave us now."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," and with that said, he exits the room in no time.

Silence prevails. Uncomfortable, strangling silence, with only the sounds of our breaths and the tick of the grandfather-clock, can be heard. Now that I notice, a huge picture of the late King is hung, right behind the chair of King Richard.

"Miss Sen."

"Yes—" my voice embarrassingly breaks. I clear my throat, before trying to answer in a steadier tone, "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I hope you are already aware of the reason you have been brought here, in the middle of the day." His booming voice, although he is not yelling, causes shivers to run down my spine. It is not every day that I get to talk to the authoritarian ruler of Syncitia.

"Yes, Your Majesty." I should have prepared a speech rather than dozing off during the car ride. "I deeply apologize for my actions—"

"It is not my place to interfere between my son and his—uh—sexual partner, however, Calix is still the member of a royal family."

My eyes immediately shoot over to the rigid man sitting beside me.

What the fuck did he mean by sexual partner? Did the prince feed his father with something amorous about me, based on assumptions?

"I am sorry, but I am not a courtesan, or prostitute or whatever you mean by your son's sexual partner." I blurt out to the King, interrupting him mid-sentence which I'm aware is rude, but hello, the question about my dignity is going on here.

"I think you misunderstood me, Miss Sen," King Richard says making me relieved that he did not think wrong of my profession. But his next utterance is enough to make me ricochet into the outer space and back to Earth.

"You and Prince Calix, how do they say these days? Oh right. You both were friends-with-benefits, if I am not wrong."

Oh, he is definitely very wrong. I open my mouth to deny the accusation when a warm hand grasps my wrist from under the table, where my hands rest on my legs. I shoot a curious glance at the suited man beside me, who doesn't spare a single look. Instead, he answers with a tight-lipped smile to King Richard. "You are absolutely correct, Your Majesty. We were friends-with-benefits for some time. Right, Isha?"

Prince Calix saying my name sounds odd. Him pleading through his eyes to agree with the statement is weirder.

Trusting my hunch, I agree with the false assumption of what we supposedly once were.

King Richard masks the distaste on his face with a polite grin before forwarding his next statement. Calix in the meantime, releases my wrist, making me relax into the chair somewhat more.

I get to brag to my sisters that the Prince Calix had held my wrist, even if it was for a brief period and to signal a message.

"Well, Miss Sen," King Richard, all glorious in his buttoned up grey suit, clasps his hands together, "I have a proposition to put forward, which I hope you will try to understand."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Very well then," and so he begins, "About a week ago, you and my son shared a kiss which was unfortunately captured and sent to every broadcast channel of Syncitia, by an anonymous sender. This particular matter has resulted in a commotion in the public, who are eager to know your and Prince Calix's relationship status.

It is a known fact only to me, Calix, you and both of our secretaries, that what you two had was not a romantic association in any way. Rather it was, to put in simple words, a fling."

I am going to kill Prince Calix. My hands shall get bloody today.

Still, I wait and listen until the King finishes speaking.

"It is extremely dishonourable if the public or other aristocrats get to learn that the first prince of Syncitia was engaged in casual sexual activities for some period of time, with a common citizen, no less."

I do not know whether I should be offended by the King's words or furious at the lies Calix has fed him.

As His Majesty keeps speaking, I feel a light tap on my thigh. I glance down and find the prince beside me, showing his phone. Or rather, the words written there.

"If Father learns that you kissed me without us being not even acquaintances, he will go berserk, and you will be in grave danger. For the sake of not ruining your career life, please bear with the lies and whatever he is going to say next."

I gulp down a lump. Every anger, every offence, all fade away in a moment. I only want to travel back to that night and slap some sense into my drunken self. So much so for mistaking Calix for my ex.

"...hence, I had to come to this decision. Miss Sen, I would like you to engage in a false relationship with my son, Prince Calix, till the coronation ceremony of Crown Prince Carlos, which will take place in the Summer of next year. After that, you can publicly announce a breakup and well everything will be alright thereafter. It does not matter if a citizen of Syncitia is in a relationship with Prince Calix, since he isn't the Crown Prince. Besides, it is temporary and for a short while, so that wouldn't be a problem, right?"

I laugh awkwardly at the King's humourless joke, but Prince Calix remains eerily silent.

"I see." I gulp, think, and place my deal, "Would I receive security?"

"Yes."

"Would the Royal Palace take responsibility of clearing the crowd, appearing everyday around Syncitia Public High School?"

"Yes, we will."

"And, would I be allowed to live my life freely, like before, apart from attending social events as the Prince's date, if ever required?"

Thanks to my knowledge of watching enough royal movies, I put forward every single query I can think of. Surprisingly, King Richard agrees to all.

"I have no problem then." I say, even though I do not have a choice. Who am I to reject the ruler of Syncitia even? I do not want to be homeless and bother my sisters by crashing down at their residences.

I can simply hope that I have not taken the wrong decision in readily agreeing to the King's proposal. No doubt, only time will tell.

Even if I do not want to admit, the scandal did begin because of me and I must pay the prices.