The Prince's Unwilling Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #1) (4 page)

Macee glared at everyone in the room. As the shortest one in the family, she was often made to feel much younger than she was simply because everyone else was at least five or more inches taller than she was, but she certainly didn’t need some stranger pointing it out. At her mother’s insistent look, she sighed loudly and complied.

“Your legs should not be that wide apart when you stand,” Charles corrected her as she reluctantly stood up straight and reduced the width between her legs. As Charles issued instructions, his assistant demonstrated for Macee how to sit down and stand, like a lady. Macee tried to copy her movements, but it wasn’t perfect.

Mrs LeBlanc buried her face in her hands. It was clear that they had a lot of work ahead of them. Macee did not know the first thing about being a lady, which of course wasn’t her fault if Macee chose not to participate in the lessons provided to her sisters.

Charles spent hours with Macee teaching her how to walk at a more fluid and slower pace with less swing in her arms. They also worked on her body language whilst she spoke to people. Macee did not even realise that was a thing. With each new instruction, Charles' assistant demonstrated the correct position to her as Macee practiced.

Throwing up her arms, Macee gave up for the day. She had been at it for hours without a break. She was tired, hungry and simply couldn’t take it anymore. As her mother went to stop her, Charles told her to let her go. It was her first day and she needed time to adjust. As Macee left the room in search of food, she saw her sister go upstairs. She wished that Francesca had come in while she was working with the instructor as she could have used her sister’s support but she had been noticeably absent lately and barely spoke to her when she was in the same room.

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A
few days later, Mrs LeBlanc was informed that Macee needed to move into the palace. This way the royal family could keep an eye on her and see that she was trained properly. Mrs LeBlanc broke the news to Macee who immediately put up a fuss. She simply ignored her rants and dragged her to the car. She had to go whether she liked it or not.

On the ride over to the palace, Macee hunched down in the car. She was not pleased about it at all. She didn’t see the point of having to change how she walked and talked. People should like her for who she is, not how she sits in a chair. She knew that the coming months would be difficult because once she was inside the palace; it would be all royalty training all the time. She hoped that at least she would be able to bring over some of her stuff. Her mother didn’t even give her the chance to get some things together; she had simply dragged her to the car. 

Two maids greeted Macee as she entered the palace and took her to her new chambers. The chambers were large as expected and everything in there was beautifully designed and clearly expensive. She sat on the sofa unsure what to do with herself. Macee's stomach twisted in knots when the maids told her that the queen would visit her later. This whole situation was becoming more and more real. She felt like she was drowning, and there was no escape.

Princess Katherine was the first one to come visit Macee. The maids bowed to her as she entered and showed her to the balcony where Macee was sitting. She stood up when she saw the princess. She was not sure if she was to bow her head to her or curtsy. The princess sat down at the table and gestured for Macee to join her.

“How are you settling in?” Princess Katherine asked.

“I was surprised to have been brought to the palace so soon,” Macee replied.

“Normally, the crown princess has years to prepare but unfortunately you do not have that luxury. So everything for you will be accelerated to fit the little time we have.”

Well that was not her fault was it? Why did she have to suffer for it?

“I understand,” Macee said as she nodded.

The princess started talking about life in the palace, as she described what it was like to be a princess. Everything sounded ridiculous to Macee. How could one live that way? Every day she was to wake up early and start her princess lessons. She was not keen on the idea of working with Charles, as he  was constantly correcting her and Macee found it irritating.

“How do you feel about marrying my brother?”

Did she really want the answer to that?
Macee asked herself. “I don’t even know him. Everyone is telling me how I should act and feel, but no one seems to care what I think. Prince or not, the idea of marrying a man I barely know scares me,” Macee stated, as she looked miserably at Katherine.

Katherine couldn’t help but feel sorry for Macee. It was clear that she didn’t want this and she couldn’t understand her brother’s insistence at going through with the wedding. She knew that her brother saw something in her that everyone else seemed to miss and she hoped he was right. Squeezing her hand, “It is understandable. That was another reason for you moving into the palace early. It gives the two of you a chance to get to know each other.”

“The prince is a busy man, there probably won't be enough time before the wedding,” Macee said miserably. She’d never even kissed a boy before and suddenly she was getting married. This was all too much.

“Well, I can vouch for him. He can be pretentious and conceited at times, but he has a good heart.”

Macee agreed with the fact that he seemed conceited. She may have had one conversation with him but he was not slow to reveal it. “I hope so,” she said.

As Katherine rose, she looked down at Macee. “He’ll be back later this week and you will have some time together. In the meantime, the seamstress will come by later to take your measurements for your clothes.”

Macee had a horrible feeling that the clothes were mostly going to be dresses and skirts. Those were the very types of clothes she avoided like the plague. She sighed deeply. This was going to be her life from now on.

“I shall call on you soon,” Princess Katherine told her as she left.

“I’d appreciate it,” Macee said. The princess smiled before she left. She stayed on the balcony with her hands on her hips. She did not know whether to be pleased with the fact that Prince Louis was out of town. On the other hand, she was not keen on speaking with him or spending time alone with him
getting to know each other
. Having him out of town delayed the reality. They did not have to act like a couple. However, Macee needed to get to know the man she was to marry and hopefully convince him not to marry her.

I
t was a hard week for Macee. She had thought that Charles was difficult but he was nothing compared to Bridgette who had taken it upon herself to help the new crown princess. Macee could feel Bridgette’s dislike for her. Macee had not taken a liking to Bridgette either. She was too short-tempered and unfriendly. You would think that she was the queen by the way she acted.

Every single day, Macee woke early. Immediately following breakfast, she was to report to Bridgette and Charles for princess training. Learning the so-called graceful walk was not easy for Macee and Bridgette had quickly grown frustrated with her. When she spoke to the queen, she suggested finding a more suitable candidate who already had the basic training, but the queen refused. The preparations for the wedding celebration had already begun; there was no turning back now.

Macee couldn’t understand the point of many of the lessons, which she felt were useless. She was a science major; she couldn’t care less about history or geography. She didn’t see the point of memorising all those points on maps or historical dates, that’s what the internet was for. The seamstress had provided her with the beginning of her new wardrobe and she couldn’t stand it. Gone were her comfortable leggings and t-shirts. Instead, she was expected to wear calf-length pencil skirts with funny looking blouses or calf-length dresses. At the very least, the skirts forced her to slow down when she walked, but they were so uncomfortable.

She was relieved when the weekend finally came as she was allowed to sleep in and did not have to attend any lessons. Macee was grateful because her body and mind needed the rest. She tried to call Francesca, but was quickly rebuffed when her sister told her that she was too busy to talk. Macee called Liane immediately after.

“Annie, you need to speak with Frannie,” Macee said. Liane laughed.

“You know she hates you calling her that,” Liane replied.

“I know,” Macee smirked. She only called her that because she hated it. “She won't talk to me. I think she feels that I stole her opportunity, but I didn’t. She can have it,” she added.

“Oh no, she would not feel that way. What makes you say that?” Liane always saw the best in her sisters.

“Annie, she hasn’t spoken to me since I was forced to come live in the palace. I could see it in her face before I left. It's not like I asked for this and it's not like prince is the love of her life, or mine.”

“And that’s exactly why I don’t think she would be angry with you.”

Macee sighed. “I tried my best to decline all of this. Mother actually dragged me to the car and forced me in. I even told the prince that I did not want to marry him.”

Liane gasped before she broke into laughter. “And what did he say to that?”

“He kept telling me that I should be delighted to be marrying him.”

“That is Prince Louis alright. Always so conceited.”

“What about you? What has been happening with Jean Pierre?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? Annie you must tell him.”

“I know, but not now. It would cause too many problems for everyone.” Liane knew that she had to tell him but she did not know how. Once the secret was out, there was no turning back. Macee hung up the phone and went to have breakfast. She felt a little better after Liane said that she would talk to Francesca on her behalf.

“What are your plans for the day, your highness?” One of the maids asked Macee. She was still not used to them referring to her as her highness.

“I want to relax today. It was a busy week,” Macee replied as she sat at the table.

“Yes, it’s a good idea. You need to recuperate.”

That afternoon, Macee was sitting on the balcony enjoying the sun and painting. Her father had finally brought over some of her stuff. She felt so relaxed. She had missed these simple things, like having her wavy hair tumble down her back. Every day, the maids tucked and pinned her hair up. She had also missed painting and simply enjoying the sun and breeze. If life was that tiring now, it was going to be much more difficult when she was the queen.

Macee heard someone clearing his throat. She turned around and found Prince Louis standing there with his hands behind his back. He completely caught her off guard. She stood up immediately with her eyes wide open.

“Prince Louis, I did not expect to see you,” Macee said and bowed her head and then quickly curtsied. She still got confused as to which one was the right one to do. Even though Bridgette had told her to curtsy and showed her many times.

“How have you been?” he asked as he studied her. She had some paint smudges on her face, which reminded him of the first time he saw her.

Does he really care?
Macee thought to herself.
And why was he looking at me so intently?
“I have been well, considering the fact that I was dragged here without my consent,” she said.

What makes her think she can speak to me how she pleases?
Prince Louis asked himself. Ignoring her comment, he pulled out a chair and sat down. “You paint?”

“No, I’m sky diving.” Prince Louis looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, I paint. I find it relaxing,” she added.

“You are still not delighted to be wedding me?”

“Your highness, I barely know you.”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does, it matters a lot.”

“Why?”

Macee narrowed her eyes. How could the prince not understand that you cannot simply marry someone you barely know? She sat back down and picked up her paintbrush. “Don't you think I am too unkempt to be your bride?” she asked. By now, she thought she would have put him off.

“You can always be taught how to look and act your best,” Prince Louis answered calmly. His voice was a smooth as butter.

“Would you not like to marry someone you actually love?”

Prince Louis shrugged his shoulders. “As the Crown Prince of Monaco, I have no time for love. I have to marry for the benefit of my country.”

Macee laughed and turned to face him. “Marrying me would definitely not benefit you or the country.”

“Elaborate.”

“While I may come from a good background and a family as old as yours, I have not been trained for the position. I have no interest in becoming the queen. You would have been better off marrying my sister. She’s the one who really wanted it.”

“I have made my decision and I will not marry her.”

“Why not?”

“She is not suitable.”

Macee frowned. “She has been training for this since she was ten; she is far more suitable than I am.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“Why haven’t I what?”

“Trained like your sisters?”

“This was their dream, not mine.” Macee exhaled loudly. The conversation was not going anywhere. She still did not understand why he wished to marry her and she doubted that he understood why she did not want to marry him.

“Macee, this marriage is happening whether you like it or not. You are mine. Your parents were eager for one of their daughters to marry me. So you have no choice but to comply,” Prince Louis finally said.

“Well, I do not like it,” Macee muttered.

“Tough luck, ma cherie,” Prince Louis told her as he rose to his feet. Macee looked at him. How could someone so handsome be so arrogant and lack understanding. Prince Louis turned on his heel and left.

I
t had been a few days since Macee and Prince Louis had spoken and now they were meeting once again. The wedding date was drawing close and they had to get their measurements taken for their wedding attire. Even though Macee did not want to be in the same room as the prince, it was far better than spending half her day with Bridgette and Charles.