EIGHTEEN

[LADY SULTAN]

"Dearest readers, It is another hot day, favourable for sports. The life of the princess keeps moving slowly and tiresome, every day. The palace is either a prison room or a graveyard for the lady. Silence all through the nights, dry falling of trees all through the day and no letters coming into the palace...

Apologies, dear Princess."

"Now, Kleopatra, choose your mallet and let's begin." Father laughed. I take the black metal one that belongs to my brother. While father took his own... He would call it 'my lucky mallet'

"Alright! Let's begin, father."

I start with a soft hit to the ball, shooting it the opposite way of the field.

"Ooh!" Rashida laughs. [CHUCKLING LIGHTLY] My father takes another shot into the hole.

[HATSHEPUT'S GASPS] The guards around, Rashida and my mother clapped at the well-perfect play.

"Here! Allow me." I take another hit this time, shooting it into the whole, smoothly.

"Yes!" [LAUGHING] I jumped up happily.

[GUARDS EXCLAMING]

"What a shot! A good shot indeed, Kleo! You are really good." My father smiled, shaking my hands as I giggled.

"It's a pleasure. I can be your mentor." [CHUCKLING]

"Seriously, Kleopatra, just in one game."

[LAUGHING]

"Your Majesty, you have a visitor." Ahmed rushed into the field.

"Oh, dear, I am tired of receiving visitors daily, all in the name of different issues, who is it, Ahmed?" Father asked.

"It's the Prince of England! He wishes to see the princess, Sire!" [GASP] Rashida smiles immediately." Princess Kleopatra" Rashida's smile dies down immediately.

"Kleo! Why?" Rashida screamed. The anger in me started to boil at a speed rate.

'We will be in there in a minute, Ahmed."

"Kleopatra, Hurry, the prince wishes to see you, get cleaned... immediately." My mother ordered with a proud smile on her face.

Why has he come looking for me? I do not wish to see him or talk to him at all, he accuses me of betrayal but he commits the same sin.

"Haste Kleopatra!" I run through the garden gates, then to my dress room, taking off my golf dress and then replacing it with a Blue velvet gown.

********************************

"Your Grace!" Charles approaches me and I curtseyed.

"My Princess!" He takes a bow.

"Charles, hadn't I made it clear that I do not wish to seek your face, so tell me, what makes you visit my home out of the bloom?" I asked.

"I only come to apologize for my wrong behaviour at the ball, I should have told you and whereas, and you do the same, but I was only scared that you would act like every other girl."

"[SCOFFS] Other girls?"

"Yes, they only want riches and the fact that I am in a high position."

"Hmmm...[NODS HER HEAD]"

"[SIGHS] Look kleo, I am sorry."

[INHALES]

"I will think about it.." His face falls flat at my words.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

"Prince Charles, You are welcome to my palace," Father spoke behind me.

"My pleasure, your majesty... You got wonderful paintings and views from up here, I would say it's a fascinating area you own." He smiled as he had already practised the lines.

"Perhaps you would like to stay for dinner?" My mother clucked.

"Oh! I was about to return to my place but what will I say, yes, how can I leave an offer by the queen herself."

[LAUGHING]

[KLEO ROLLS HER EYES]

"Evening Your Grace!" Rashida walks in with a smile.

"Evening Princess, I do remember you at the ball... "

"Oh yes, it was a splendid, memorable..." She rubbed his arms. Kleopatra stared at them in disgust, has he come to mock me in my own home. 'splendid memory' What memory did they share?

"Good! I will order the cook to serve us something special tonight." My mother smiled, showing off her beauty.

"Come, Prince! Why don't we talk about England" My father pulled him walking to the balcony, and he kept staring at my face, I did not bother to look him up in the eye, I was boiling in anger.

"Kleopatra, why is the prince staring at you?" Rashida asked.

"What do you mean, by staring at me..." I pretended to not know of the situation.

"Do not lie to me, Kleo! He wouldn't spare me a glance but instead, he keeps gawking at you..." She asked but this time with a growl.

"Shida, do not be delusional, and perhaps I should ask you my question... What did you mean by 'Memorable' " I questioned.

"Oh, I see someone is jealous I got her prince. Anyway I will share the memories with you, we danced and shared our ideas at the dance hall and the rest is nothing for you to know."

"Jealous? That's absurd... Why should I be jealous of you Uhn...?" I walked out to clear my head, why had he come to make matter worse?

******************************

[PLATES RATTLES]

[CUTLERIES CLINKING]

"Your grace, I should say, your cook makes the luscious meal, I have ever tasted " Charles spoke up.

"Yes, indeed, they have worked and served us for many years so I doubt if I would be changing them." Father laughed.

"Your Majesty, Princess Rashida was just telling me of her glorified training in Playing the piano and I would love to listen to you play it," Charles commented to Rashida who was seated by his side in the dining. Kleo stayed quiet, studying the two who were seated opposite her.

"Oh yes, My prince, she is a lovely pianist. Kleopatra tells the prince about your exemplary play with the violin." My mother said.

[INHALES] "Mm, I play the violin and the flute." I said dryly.

"I do know that already, you are great in so many things." Charles smiled.

[CLEARS THROAT]

"You already know? You say! How? " Rashida questioned.

Oops, I guess the prince spoke too much about my accomplishment rather than complimenting me.

"I, uh, told him once.." I stuttered.

"She told me today when we took a walk to the garden." He lied smoothly. That was a close one, I was about to pee on myself because I did not know which lie to come up with.

"Oh!"

"Kleopatra is not only a lady with musical skills but also does outdoor games." My father added, that his word made my mom so angry and my sister turns

"Yes, your grace, I play golf, I fence and I climb trees." I smiled at my accomplishments.

"Wow! Never thought I would see a lady different from the ones I had come in contact with, you captivate me, Princess."

[HATSHEPUT CLEARS THROAT]

"Fencing... is no place for any young lady to be found" My mother gritted through her teeth.

"I need not remind you of your duties as a princess, Kleopatra..." My mother whispered beside me.

"I know mother, to smile always, seat by the shade with the other ladies and let the men do what they love, Dress like a lady..." I nodded in flatness to the rules of a lady

"Only! Dress like a lady and do what a lady is expected to do and nothing else."

"Yes, mother" We only spoke to ourselves in whispers, not causing a scene.

***********************************

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[OPERATIC SINGING]

[VIOLIN AND FLUTE PLAYING]

[PIANO PLAYING TENSLY]

Charles was overwhelmed by the princess's multi- skills, she is everything a man with eyes would want. His eyes never left hers as she sang and played the violin and then the flute in unison.

[PIANO PLAYING FINISHED]

"How wonderful!" My father and my mother cheered.

[APPLAUSING]

"Thank you, thank you." Rashida chants. Kleo takes a bow and seats by the window.

"I must say, you have so much in you, Kleo" Charles walked up to her with a grin on his face.

"Well, it's what keeps me going in the palace." She said

"Your grace! Rashida will be playing another style of music." My mother called for Charles.

He seats beside Rashida as she tells him the types of music she plays. Kleopatra stands by her father's side. Rashida notices that, if she was to stand up from her seat, Kleopatra would make herself comfortable with the Prince. So she sat there thinking of possible ways to have the prince to herself.

"Rashida, allow some room for his lordship, will you?" My father asked with a smile faced with seriousness. [RASHIDA GOANS] She stands and makes her way to her piano.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

"Kleo! Come!" Charles rubbed the seats beside him, alerting her to the seat by his side. She thinks for a moment before seating beside him.

"I must confess, seeing you quiet the whole night makes things uncomfortable for me" Charles looked into her eyes.

"Mm. how very sad."

"Why sad? "

"You are a lady full of happiness and joy but tonight you seem distressed, why?"

"You must not concern yourself with my troubles or what I feel, Your grace... I assure you I am perfectly fine." She doesn't face him

"[INHALES SHARPLY] My apologies, Miss." She feels her heart pinch as he called her formally.

[PIANO PLAYING FINISHED]

[APPLAUSING]

"Thank you!" Rashida smiled... She looked at me with jealousy. I take two steps away from Charles.

"We should call it a night."

"Your Grace, we have a room prepared for you in the west wing. Since the is a storm tonight..." my father offered.

"And it will not be kind of us to let you return home in the storm." My mother smiled.

"I will be delighted to be your guest for tonight, thank you My king and Queen" He bowed.

***********************************

[LADY SULTAN]

"I have always thought love starts from somewhere, well this story, the love that exists between these two young royals, starts with friendship but will I say, they are fully in love or it's a one-sided love? This author hopes, the princess's eyes open to see what the Prince thinks about her."

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[RAIN PATTERS ON THE WINDOW]

[FIRE CANDLES CRACKLES]

The princess turns, and shuffled in her bed, sleep wasn't knocking at the door this time, she knew the time was late, so reading would not be the solution this night. Why can't I sleep, her thoughts keep pondering on the conversation at the dining, and the ball. Why did he have to come to her, what was his reason to come up with that idea?

[INHALES SHARPLY]

[KLEO GROANS]

[KNOCK]

"Who would be out of their room at this time." I thought.

"Kleopatra, are you awake?" Charles whispered.

What is he doing? [SIGHS]

"Do you find your chambers comfortable, your grace?" Kleo asked

"Oh yes, but..."He paused.

"Why are you awake and knocking at my door?" I questioned before turning the door knob.

"I can not sleep, I have been thinking."

[SILENCE]

"Thinking?" I open the door slightly.

"Yes, Thinking and I want to talk to someone ...you ." He said

"Talk to me? " I asked with my eyebrow arched up.

"Yes! Will you accompany me for a walk in the garden ?" He asked.

"[SIGHS] Mmm, it's late and it's raining heavily."

"Please, Kleopatra" The way my name rolled down his tongue made me feel unsettled in my stomach. I pretend to think for a moment.

"Okay, Okay, let me grab my scarf." He waited behind the door, while I hurried to grab my scarf from my closet.

Charles tucked my hand into his proffered elbow, I tried to ignore them. As we walked through the gardens, the rain kept pouring, I asked him how long he has been in Egypt.

"Nearly a week." He said. "I wrote letters to you but you never wrote anyone back to me informing me that you were okay," he said.

"[KLEO BREATHES DEEPLY] I read all of it but choose not to write to you ." She said with a straight face.

"And why is that?"

"[SIGHS] I am not ready to feel the pain of another betrayal from you especially, but I realised in your letters you were sorry for everything and I do not know if I am ready to think about it."

"[INHALES] Kleo!"

"I accept your apologies Charles, but please do not lie to me again, stay real with me." I pleaded. He hugged me tightly before releasing me.

I smiled and the cold breeze from the storm rustled through the trees, coaxing some of the rain droplets to fall to the ground. We sat in the garden and talked about England, sports and my family.

As the rain stopped he indicated to me that we should return to the House, as my family would wake up and would be wondering after me.