Chapter 6: Not a warm welcome

Prince Zuerien woke up early and feeling really sad. Today was the day he was meant to pick up Lady Sophie. He was suddenly feeling headache at just the thought of getting married to her. He did his normal morning routine and put on his clothes.

While still dressing up, he heard a knock on the door. 

"Come in", he called out and the door opened revealing his mother, the Queen. "Good morning, Mother."

"Good morning. How was the night?"

"It was fine", he lied. He didn't wanted to bother his mother about the headache he was feeling due to what was bound to happen today.

She smiled. "You do not know how to lie. I know you are worried but I have a plan."

He looked at his mother. "Plan? What plan?"

"You have to make her hate you."

"I don't understand."

"During her Saturday here, you have to make sure she hates you. I know the both of you have been friends since you were little but I think if you change towards her, she is going to hate you."

"Are you sure it will work out?"

"I am not sure 100% but it is worth a try, isn't it?"

He smiled. "If you are the one coming up with this idea, then it will work out. Can I please just hug you?"

She laughed and opened her arms. "Of course."

He moved to her smiling and wrapped his arms around her small body. "Thanks, Mother. You are the best."

"I have to be the best mother for my babies."

"Why is it that Zue gets a hug and I don't?", Princess Leah said coming into the room.

"Why are you always jealous of me?", Zuerien asked.

"Jealous? I am certainly not jealous. I am just wondering why you are being a baby. You're 18. I should be the one acting that way with Mother."

Queen Anne laughed. "The both of you are still babies as far as I am concerned."

Princess Leah pouted. "No. I am the baby here. He is not a baby."

"Just admit it, Leah. You are jealous", Zuerien said sticking out his tongue at her.

She moved closer to him and pushed making him loosing his balance and falling and she moved her Mother to hug her.

"Princess Leah! That attitude does not befit a princess", Queen Anne said.

"Sorry, Mother. But he definitely deserves it."

"You little!", Zuerien said standing up and holding his butt.

Queen Anne and Princess Leah burst into laughter holding their stomachs.

"It is actually not funny", Zuerien said pouting.

"I am afraid it is. You look ridiculous", Queen Anne said.

"Mother!", He said.

"I apologise. Come", she said and opened her arms and he came back to hug.

Queen Anne stood there hugging her children and was happy her children where free to do anything whenever she was with them. Whenever they are with her, they do anything out of the normal Royal routine they were taught and she likes it like that.

"Aren't you going to the Airport to pick up Lady Sophie?", Leah said.

Zuerien checked his wristwatch. "Not now."

"But I thought her plane is to arrive by 9:00. This is 10 minutes to 9. You should be going."

He shook his head. "No. I think she have to wait."

Queen Anne smiled.

"Is there something I am not aware of?", Leah asked.

"You cannot know everything, little princess. Stop being a curious cat", Zuerien said.

She shrugged. "Mother?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Can you please give my tutor a break?"

"Why? What's wrong?"

"She's been acting strange lately and somehow depressed."

"Okay. I'll do just that."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thanks, Mum", she said and hugged her mother.

"When do you plan on going?", Queen Anne asked facing Prince Zuerien.

"To the Airport?"

"Yes."

He checked his wristwatch. "In 30 minutes."

"Okay. I'll see you when you are back. Leah, let's go."

"Okay, Mother."

The Queen and Princess left the room and went to their respective chambers while Prince Zuerien continued doing unnecessary things in his room.

After some minutes of making Lady Sophie wait at the Airport, he decided to go pick her up.

"Marco, start the car. We are going to the Airport."

"Okay", Marco replied and they headed to the Airport.

*~*~*~*

"It's been 20 minutes. Where in the world is he?", Lady Sophie said already getting annoyed and seated in a restaurant close to the Airport.

"He'll be here, Sophie. Calm down", Jacob said trying to pacify her.

"You've been saying that since we got down from the plane. And you are also saying we shouldn't take the Cab that he would be here. Now, where is he?"

"I think we should take the Cab now. I said that before because I didn't know he was going to be this late."

"Ugh! I swear I'm going to kill Zuerien. I swear it."

Jacob chuckled and shoke his head before his gaze landed on Prince Zuerien who was coming out of the car and looking around. "Oh! I see him."

"Where?", She asked looking around too.

"There", he said and pointed to where Zuerien was standing.

"Finally. Let's go", she said and took her hand bag.

Jacob took her remaining bags and they went out of the restaurant.

"Now, where is she?", Zuerien asked still looking around. 

"Why are you late?", Lady Sophie said bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Hi there, Lady Sophie. How was the trip?"

"It was fine until some Prince decided to waste my precious time waiting for him here."

"My bad", he said raising his hands and chuckling. "Get inside the car and let's go", he said and entered the car.

"What? You won't even open the door me?", She said throwing her hands in the air.

"Your guard can do that, right?", Prince Zuerien said smiling.

Marco shook his head and opened the door for her.

"Thank you", she said and got in taking a seat beside Zuerien.

Marco and Jacob also got into the front after placing the Lady's bags in the car trunk.

"What was that for?", Lady Sophie asked.

"What?", Prince Zuerien said.

"I have never seen you like this. You changed."

He shrugged. "Humans are bound to change."

"Whatever", she said and looked out the window getting angry.

Zuerien smiled a bit knowing that his mother's plans are becoming a success.

Minutes later, they were at the palace and Prince Zuerien opened his own side of the car and walked inside without waiting for Lady Sophie.

"What?!", She asked again with surprise. "What has gotten into him?", She asked facing Marco. During the time she do come to the palace when she was a bit younger, she was quit familiar with Marco. 

Marco doesn't know his parents and never seen them before but the Queen took a liking to him since she saw him and raised him alongside her son. She doesn't want him to be in the orphanage and took him in even when the King was against it. Marco and Zuerien may not be brothers by blood but they are brothers by heart.

Marco shrugged to Lady Sophie's previous question. Marco wasn't the type to talk to much. He talks like someone was going to charge him for the amount of words he is speaking.

"He has really changed", Lady Sophie said and walked inside.

She got in and saw Prince Zuerien conversing with the Queen and moved closer to them.

"Good morning, Your Majesty", she said and curtsied to the Queen.

"Good morning, Lady Sophie. I trust your flight was pleasant."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I enjoyed it."

"That is great. How is the Duke Bartholomew?"

"He is very well, Your Majesty. He sends his regards."

"That is nice. Zuerien, take Lady Sophie to the King and have her settled in her room."

"Yes, Mother."

"Lady Sophie, I'll see you later."

"Okay, Your Majesty", she said and curtsied again as the Queen left them alone.

"Let's go", Prince Zuerien said and led the way to the King's Chambers without even checking if she followed him or not.

"What is wrong with you?", She said with anger as she dragged Zuerien back.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you acting all strange? You are not like this."

"I already told you. Humans are bound to change", he said and left.

Lady Sophie groaned and followed him.

Prince Zuerien felt bad for behaving in that manner to his friend but there was nothing else he could do if he truly doesn't want the wedding to hold.