The Love of a Prince

Chapters 14. Engagement

Laura and Charlotte cross paths with Edward at the front door as they were about to exit.

"Where do you want Miss Laura to go ?" Edward asked holding back Laura and Charlotte's steps.

"We want to go out and relax in the garden." Answer Laura.

Edward nodded in understanding then continued his steps.

"Is that how he reacts ?" Charlotte frowned in surprise.

"What do you want you to be like ?" Laura asked back to continue her steps without waiting for a response from Charlotte.

Charlotte follows Laura out to the park. They sat together in a chair facing the garden.

Laura let out a long sigh with a grim face.

"Why is your face so ?" Charlotte looked at her best friend's face. "Is there a problem ?" Added.

"Yes, I got some bad news but for others it might be good news."

"What news is it ?" Charlotte was curious.

"Tomorrow the night of my engagement to Prince Albert."

"Really ?!" Charlotte asked in surprise in disbelief.

Laura snorted annoyedly at the manner of her best friend. "Your reaction is excessive, Charlotte, it's normal."

"He he he sorry, I'm just surprised and happy for you to hear the news." Charlotte said grinningly.

"This is like being happy above my suffering." Laura said dramatizing.

"You're overdoing it Ara." Complain Charlotte.

"Come on Charlotte." Laura leaned back in the chair.

"Is it that bad for you to marry a member of the royal family ?"

Laura did not reply just taking a deep breath looking forward at the flowers that were blooming in that season.

The two of them fell silent and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere at night until the sound of footsteps approaching caught their attention in the passing of Edward's voice which sounded from behind.

"Sorry to bother you." Edward said what made Laura and Charlotte turn her head.

"What's Edward ?" ask Laura.

"It's almost late at night, miss and the wind is blowing a little harder, you better get inside."

"True what Ara said, the weather was getting cold windy." Charlotte agreed as she rubbed her arms to warm her up.

Seeing Edward made Laura remember the intention of Charlotte's arrival at her home.

"You two have met before, haven't you ?" Laura smiled. "Edward introduce this to my best friend Charlotte. Charlotte, this is Edward Adam." Laura introduced them both.

Edward extended his hand first. "Call me Edward."

Charlotte welcomes Edward's hand and smiles. "I'm Charlotte, nice to meet you."

"The two of you will meet often." Laura said.

"Better you get in Miss Laura." Edward did not respond to Laura's words.

"All right." Laura according.

"Your bodyguards aren't friendly at all." Charlotte's whisper was sniffled in Laura's ear, they walked towards the door with Edward following them from behind.

"Husss." Laura whispered back in Charlotte's ear.

"Leave it." Charlotte said cute.

Behind Edward just silently followed, pretending not to listen.

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"You should go to Ara's salon first, see how you look tonight is no better than your sister Bella." Reproof Mama.

"I didn't have time to prepare for this show Mama." Laura tried not to sound cranky.

"An engagement I don't want." Denying Laura.

"Of course, you're too noisy. Take care of your attitude, this is in the royal palace not at home." Papa's reprimand made them speechless.

They had now been in the meeting room inside the royal palace awaiting the arrival of the royal family.

This is the fate of ordinary people who must wait patiently for the rulers of the country. I can't imagine what my life would be like after I married Prince Albert.

Laura let out a long sigh thinking about her life's fate.

Waiting for about twenty minutes, the royal family entered the room with the King and Queen walking ahead after Prince Albert and his sisters and then royal advisers, the prime minister, and the Queen, last palace secretary.

Laura's attention was on Prince Albert's sisters. Prince Albert was the first and only son of the King and Queen, while the second, third and fourth children were daughters.

All the King and Queen's children have not been married so this engagement event is the first engagement of the royal family.

The King and Queen sit first in the afterlife of everyone in the room.

The event that night according to Laura was very formal and rigid, the installation of engagement rings on Laura's ring finger by Prince Albert was done in the presence of the King and Queen. The ring pinned on Laura's ring finger is the engagement ring of Prince Albert's parents who were bequeathed to Prince Albert for his future wife.

The smile that appeared on Laura's face was very stiff just for the sake of honoring the King and Queen who were before her. There was no conversation between Laura and Prince Albert.

After the embedding of the engagement ring the next event is followed by dinner together.

After dinner, the King and Queen left the room as did all of Prince Albert's sisters while the others still in the room had no intention of going home.

The prime minister was still in talks with Prince Albert while Papa appeared to be seriously talking to the palace secretary.

"Isn't it time we went home, Mama ?" ask Laura.

"Not yet dear."

"But didn't the King and Queen have left and the event was over."

"The King and Queen don't need to be in your engagement photo shoot sessions."

Laura frowned not understanding. "A engagement photo ?"

"Yes, you and Prince Albert will be taking part in a photo shoot that will be published to all television stations to inform the public of the news of the Crown Prince's engagement."

"To be like that ?" Laura said, horrified to imagine it.

"Dear, it's mandatory." Mama stressed.

Laura was helplessly listening to Mama's words.

The palace secretary and Papa walked up to them.

"It's time for the engagement photo shoot, we move into Prince Albert's private library room." The palace secretary.

"Isn't the beginning of the conversation the photo shoot was done in the meeting room ?" Papa asked in wonder.

"It's a direct order from Prince Albert, I can't resist his decision." The palace secretary.

"All right then." Papa.

"Miss Laura please follow me." The palace secretary.

Laura pointed to herself. "Only am I there ?" ask her wonder.

"Yes, because it's Prince Albert's private room so not everyone can enter." The palace secretary explained.

"O." Murmured Laura mangut understood.

"Mr George and family if you want to go home now, please. Miss Laura can be escorted home by the palace guards after the shooting session." The palace secretary told.

Papa thought for a moment before answering. "Well then, we'll excuse you to go home." Papa said to the palace secretary and turned to Laura. "It's okay if we go home first ?"

Laura's reflex is to say don't go but to think her parents would rather go home and rest at home than wait for her here

"Yes Papa it's okay, you can go home first." Answer Laura.

"Then please come with me Miss Laura." The palace secretary's birthday invites Laura to the photo shoot room in Prince Albert's private library room.