XLIII

XLIII

The first time I put my feet on London's airport, I had never thought my days here would be the opposite of my life in Chicago.

In just two months of staying here, I had met a prince and his family. I worked for him. Lived in a beautiful palace where he also lived. Fought with him. Fell in love with him. And, became his wife. What was next after this? A happily ever after? I hope so...

Princess Victoria, who was now my sister-in-law, waved at me when I exited the foyer. She wore sunglasses, even though it was still winter in England. She had a thick jacket, which covered her entire identity.

I travelled alone. Alexander and I separated ways in Manila's airport. It was hard to be away from him, though he promised that it would only last for two days. How I wished those long two days would end in just a snap.

When I got near them, Ben took the bag from my hand while saying, "I got it, Princess."

Victoria grinned, but I still protested, "I'm not a princess."

The princess entangled her arm on mine, "But soon to be one, so stop arguing about it. Okay?"

I put my other hand on my forehead and just nodded. "Okay, fine."

The princess gestured her hands on the two other men in front of us. They looked familiar, especially how each of them grinned at me. "Remember them?" Victoria asked.

"Of course," I answered instantly, "Who will forget those two?"

"You," Hi suddenly became serious. He put his arms across his chest, but he still looked like a comedian.

"Me? I still remember you," I defended.

Shelton intercepted, "You forgot to invite us in your wedding."

"Oh my gosh," I gasped. That was true, I slightly forgot about them. Though, I was not the one who invited people in my wedding, I should still consider them in my list. They were good people. Although we only met once, I could consider them as real persons. "It's...you know. Just a small party."

Victoria jabbed her elbow on Hi's stomach. "Shirley, don't get serious. These two are just making fun. They're only social climbers."

"Your Highness, what the hell? We're not social climbers!"

"Hi, shut up," Ben said in a scary tone, "One more shout to Tory, I'm going to rip your neck."

Hi just cleared his throat, but he and Shelton could not prevent their laugh after a few moments. "We're just kidding, Shirley. We know that you'll invite us when you get married again publicly."

"You're really sure about it," I smiled at them, but suddenly became confused, "By the way, what are you doing here?"

Her Highness raised her hand like a student who wanted to recite in the classroom, "I promise Alex that I'm going to take care of you while he's in NYC."

"Okay," I nodded and looked at the boys.

Victoria put her hand in the air again so I transferred my gaze at her again, "They're here to fetch you and they'll drive us in the Warden's mansion. Actually, only Ben. The other two, like I said earlier, are both social climbers."

"Hey, Victoria, we're going somewhere!" Hi yelled. I saw Ben gave him a deadly gaze like a knife that could cut Hi's throat immediately.

"Yeah, they'll go to another place, but they'll drive us first to Ella," the princess amended.

"Wait, what are we going to do to Ella's house?"

"Mansion," all of them said at once.

"Okay, mansion."

"Let's say, we need to go there first before I'll tell you everything," the princess clapped her hands but smiled sweetly.

As though I had a choice, I just nodded and went with them.

---

Warden's mansion was beyond the word 'mansion'. It was more than that. Like a palace or something. The structure outside was a mixture of modern and ancient design. The columns in front were like those in Greek god's houses while the mansion itself could compete against the White House.

We stopped in front of the guardhouse. After the guards saw some familiar faces in the car, they let us in. Ben saluted and continued to drive until we reached the main door.

I was still thinking how people lived in this kind of house. It was more magnificent when you got near. Every detail was perfectly curved. The painted wall was like a masterpiece made by a great painter. The doors and windows were placed in the best location.

I was seated at the back, between Hi and Shelton. While the love birds were seated in their usual places. Victoria turned her head to me.

"Are you ready?" she asked that made me wonder what would happen inside. I just nodded, then she turned to Ben, "See you later."

"Sure, honey," Ben teased and kissed Victoria on the lips.

"Yuck, gross," Hi screamed.

"They always did that in front of us," Shelton whispered.

After their kiss-made out-princess and I climbed out of the car. There were ladies, with similar uniforms, greeted us. They bowed their heads as we approached them. The double door opened and my eyes became bigger and rounder when I saw the interior.

There was a wide lobby like in hotels. Expensive couches aligned symmetrically in two sides of the large carpet in the middle. Popular replica paintings like Monalisa, Last Supper and Pietá. Two staircases stood on each side and curved until they met on the next floor. I was confused if the stairs were made of marble or diamond.

Anyway, in the middle of the staircases, there was an arc that gave me the view of the living room. In what I could see, the furniture in the lobby where no matched with what were in that room.

"Your Highness," one of the uniformed lady moved toward us, "Madam is waiting for you in her room." She gestured her hand to the stairs on the left.

"Thank you," the princess responded cheerfully and held my arm to pull me.

"Madam?" I murmured.

"Ella," Victoria answered and her green eyes silently said that I was stupid. Not literally, I was only paranoid.

We went up to the second floor, and I was sure that the stair was made of marble. It only looked like diamonds if you stood far away. The carpeted floor in the second floor made me want to fly. I might put a stain on it.

A familiar boy met us in the middle of the hallway. The uniformed lady bowed her head to greet the heir of the Warden family. He looked at me first before transferring his gaze to the princess.

"What are you doing here, reaper?" he asked then glancing at me again, "Then, you brought a pal. Is she a reaper too?"

"I'm not a reaper, idiot," the princess threw her tantrums, "And, she's also not a reaper! Stop calling us reaper!"

"Um, why is he calling you a reaper?" I asked in a low voice.

"Because I told him that I want to experience to be a reaper someday," she explained further when she saw the puzzle forming in my face, "Reaper like soul reaper."

"Do you believe on soul reaper?"

"Of course not, I only read them in novels. Sometimes, it is nice to try to live like those in fiction books," Victoria cheekily smiled, but before she could speak more, Ella popped out.

She entangled her arm to Eleazar's neck, "What are you doing here, kiddo?"

"Obviously this is my house that's why I'm here!" Eleazar had difficulty to breathe because of what Ella was doing.

"By the way, have you already congratulated Shirley?" Ella removed her arm to Eleazar so the younger man could stand properly.

"You don't need to remind me," even though he only whispered, I still heard it.

"Well?"

"Congratulations Ms. Woodman to your wedding," he solemnly said as if he was speaking a eulogy.

Ella just shook her head, "And?"

He glared at Ella first, before turning to me, "I promise to dad that I'm going to protect your child no matter what."

I did not know what to respond so the only letters came out from my mouth were, "Huh?"

"Isaac, my husband, is the Prince Alexander's best friend, but not only that, he is also the elite guard who protects His Highness. Since that bond is unbreakable and Isaac is being faithful to the prince, he also made the promise that he will protect Prince Alexander's wife and children," Ella explained to us and tapped her stepson's shoulder, "And here is Eleazar to help his dad to fulfil his promise."

I looked at the young man, who I first encounter in Ella's wedding. At that time, I saw him as a young man who fell in love with the girl who could not return his love. But now, he looked more matured as if he already wanted to see my child to protect him.

And that thought struck me. What the heck? Seriously, he promised to protect my child as if they all assumed that I already had a fetus in my tummy!

But his words were incomprehensible. So sincere, even though it put embarrassment in him. If only my child was a girl, she would surely fall in love with this man someday.

"That's amazing," I said out-of-nowhere.

"It's not amazing. It's my job," Eleazar retreated and never looked back at us.

"Don't mind him, he always like that if people became dazed," Ella held my arm, "I think we need to move faster."

We quickly strode toward a door in the end corner of the hallway, even though I wanted to stop and asked them what was really happening. Ella opened it and a very feminine room filled our surroundings.

"Wow," Victoria gasped, "Is Isaac also sleeping here?"

"Sometimes, but most of the times we're in his room. That door," she pointed the closet, "It only looked like a closet, but that is a connecting door."

"Okay, so where is it?" Victoria suddenly changed her tune from curiosity to excitement.

Ella grinned and looked at the bed. We followed her gaze and I saw three dresses lying there. One black. One red. One gold. All looked sophisticated and if ever someone wore it, her value would increase three times or more.

"Which one is for her?" the princess sat on the edge of the bed and touched each of the dresses.

"I think the red one fits to her, but the gold one will make her a real princess," Ella put her hands on her hips and said, "We need to prepare now or else, the program will start late."

"Wait, enlighten me. Give me a minute to understand what's happening in here," I stared at both of them.

"Okay, Shirley," Her Highness stood and walked in front of me, "Listen and don't run. Women society decided to have a tea party here, where the newest member of the society lives." She used her hand to express more. "Since, I was the elected chairperson, Ella and I decided to invite you."

"Women Society?"

"Yeah, it is an association of prominent women in England."

"Prominent women? I'm not-"

"Shirley," now it was Ella, who would convince me, "I'm not a member before but after I became Isaac Warden's wife, they let me in. We are in the same boat. You're now the wife of Prince Alexander."

"But, no one knows about it except for...for us," I did not understand why I needed to attend this Women Society. I was a kind of person who did not want to socialize with strangers.

"But, they will learn about it soon. Trust us, you won't feel degraded if you join the Women Society," Princess Victoria held my both hands. "And, if you don't come to the tea party, Ella's effort in making our dresses will be wasted."

---

I would do this just for this day. I was going to accept the invitation because I was almost kidnapped by the princess and the billionaire's wife. If only I knew that fetching me in the airport would be ended up with a party with these rich women, I should run to the palace after seeing them.

The gold dress was an off-shoulder half sleeve that matched with a bracelet and necklace that Princess Victoria and Ella gave to me earlier. They said that these were their late wedding presents. Blargh. The dress fitted from my chest all the way down in the mid-thighs. A pair of gold killer high heels put more difficulty for me to accept this party.

"Ella, I think you should leave Isaac now and be a fashion designer," Victoria could not believe what she was seeing in front of her. She wore the black dress, which was sleeveless on the right arm and long sleeve on the other. It was fitted in her torso, but loosed from her hips to the knees.

"I can be a fashion designer, although I'm Isaac's wife," Ella brushed the sleeves of my dress, "Okay, Shirley, take a deep breathe. These women look scary at first, but they all have at least a little piece of kindness in their hearts."

I nodded and we finally entered the living room where several ladies piled up. I had a habit to seek for a familiar face, then I found one. However, it was more necessary if I did not meet her gaze. She might not recognize, but then, she did.

"What does a trash doing here?" Leilanie Jayei spat out as if she would vomit seeing my face in this party.

(A/N: Waiting for your reactions...)