MRS RÓDRÍGUÉZ - EPISODE 8

Audrielle flashed her eyes open to the bright rays of light that shone into her room.
It’s morning already. She thought within, slowly dabbing her eyes to create a clearer vision.

“I made breakfast already”

The voice startled her.
She turned to see her mother staring down at her with a tray of food on her hand

“Mother? Good morning. Did I sleep over?” She asked, fixing her legs out of the bed.

“No my dear, I figured you needed some rest. That’s why I prepared breakfast myself.
It’s mashed potato porridge and beef salad. It’s all that’s left from yesterday’s Dinner. I dished out a little since it’s your favorite. ” She said.

“Thank you mother. I feel hungry” she attested feeling her stomach make a slight rumble.

There was a small silence before Rachel spoke out

“You haven’t told me why the queen sent for you yesterday”

Audrielle breath in huskily.

“An evening stroll with the prince” she replied, getting up from her bed

“So how was it?”

“Wish I’d say it was anything better” she retorted.

“He’s just playing around. He’ll come along” Rachel assured. Placing the tray of food on the small table before her.

Audrielle packed her hair into a rough bun and walked over to the mirror.

There’s a question still ringing bells in her head. A question she hasn’t been able to answer herself even if it was asked by the prince the previous evening. It’s a question she doesn’t seem to have an answer to either.

“Mother?..” she called out. Slowly.

“Yes, my dear?”

Audrielle swallowed a heavy breathe before mustering the courage to speak out.

“Why was I never allowed to keep male friends? Or even a lover while growing up?”

Rachel had a cold feet almost immediately. The question coming from her daughter, it made her blink nervously.

“I thought I already told you what you needed to know”

“No mother. That isn’t an answer. I really wanna know cause I’m the only one at the dull end here.
Right since I was little, even when prince Antonio moved out. I never got a chance to be around any male , not even have one as a friend. If it’s about the debt and my bethrotal to the Prince, why wasn’t it same for him?”
Audrielle felt utmostly confused .
Even if she was bethroted, at least a male friend?

“Like you just said, you were bethroted. Do we really have to make a big talk out of this?” Rachel replied.

“Why wasn’t same measure of abstinence used for the prince?”

“What do you mean?” Her mother arched a brow.

“Prince Antonio has a lover mother! He said so himself yesterday. And do you know the most unbelievable aspect?”
She c0cked a small laugh, throwing her hands in thin air.

“He proposed an offer to me. An offer to run far away from this kingdom and forsake this agreed marriage. Tell me how am I supposed to feel about that? Happy? My would be husband wants me out of his life by every means!
He thinks I’m half as Happy about this arrangement.

“For goodness sake I am a victim too. How can he be so selfish?
I am human and I have feelings. I can’t tie a bond with someone who uses every second to taunt me.
This is all a disaster!”

She lashed out her frustrations to her mother before finding her way out of the room

Rachel stood with her tongue tied.

Prince Antonio has a lover?
She never really knew. Did he keep it a secret from his parents too?

This wasn’t what they agreed on.

She really has to see the queen about this.

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

“Alex I want you to meet Richard Tobert. We’ll be having a business transaction with him, you precisely will handle everything cause I’m booked for a flight already by weekend.”

Mr Wells said to his daughter who stood watching the two men seated before her.

She rolled her eyes.

“I’m Tobert Richard” he stretched his hand forth.

Alexa gave him a narrow look.
“My father just said so”
She smacked her gum so loud.

“Alex act responsible by throwing that d@mn thing from your mouth. Where are your manners? ”
He shot her a dead glare obviously irritated by her addiction to these irritating gums.

It entails irresponsibility and lack of humour. He had countlessly queried his daughter about her obnoxious attitude.
But all seems to fall on deaf ears.

“Fine!” She grunted with an eye roll. Spitting out the ball of gum from her mouth into a close bin.

“I am Alexandra Wells. The daughter of my father” she spoke out in a sarcastic tone.

The gentleman nodded slightly and from Alexa’s guess, he would probably be in his late twenties, no more or less thirty.

“Now you’ve met. She’ll be in charge of everything while I’m away”

Mr Tobert nodded curtly, as he adjusted his tie.

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

“You summoned me Rachel, anything the Matter?”
Lady Castel walked gracefully into the palace room.

It hasn’t been long Rachel arrived the palace and she requested to see the queen immediately. Claiming it’s urgent.

“Are you aware you son has a lover?” Rachel stated, nailing the reason she came.

“A lover? It’s nothing serious trust me” lady Castel waved off, taking a proper seat.

“Well it is, are you also aware you son proposed an offer to my daughter..?”

“What sort of offer?” The queen corcked her ears.

“An offer to run away from this land to another all because he wants to be with his woman”

“What?!” Queen mother yelped. Half suprised and half infuriated.
“How dare he? Does he know the implication of that single act?” She bulged, getting up from her seat.
“And what was your daughter’s response?” She went further to ask.

“She declined Even though she was tempted to take it seeing how hurt she was”

“It’s good she didn’t. She’s smarter than I presumed. Worry not. I’ll talk some Sense into Antonio”
Lady Castel assured.

“The Truth remains my queen, you and the king didn’t keep your side of the bargain”

“How were we supposed to know? Our son was away for twelve years. You kept your side because audrielle was always with you. You deprived her of schooling yes, that’s thoughtful of you but we couldn’t do Same to the prince. He has a great responsibility which requires the knowledge of great men of the past.

“Unlike us, you saw your daughter through till this day, you watched her every move. That’s different for Antonio”
Lady Castel ranted out.

Rachel was silent.

“Then bring him to order while it isn’t late. You know the very importance of this union. You know why this two people must be joined as one.

I had to feign up something worth believing for my daughter about some debt her father owed the Royal house and it convinced her.
Do same to your son too. … I won’t lose my daughter, my only hope. And I bet you don’t want that for your son too”

The queen sighed out, really really confused.

“I’ll …. I’ll find a solution to this. I’ll certainly do.
Just do whatever it takes to convince audrielle more. You know this matrimony is for both the benefit of our children. It’s their Destiny, and only hope for a better future of Scotland as a nation.

“I give you my word Rachel, I’ll talk to him. Nothing must Happen to the plan we’ve mapped out for years ”
The queen assured, a bit terrified as she said the words.

“Please do quickly your highness. Your son is hurting my daughter emotionally. She isn’t happy. This is a hard decision for the two obviously.

Or do you suggest we tell them the entire truth? The deep truth behind this marriage?”

“What?! No. This is a deep truth we’ve managed to keep from them thus far. It has been buried behind the hearts of our people, no need to arise any fear. … We will do no such thing.

” They don’t have have to know about it. Once they consumate their marriage and audrielle conceives a child, there is a glint of safety. We are all safe. They really don’t have to know this.”

Rachel nodded vigorously in support to the Queen’s words.

“Okay. Your highness” she turned to leave when the queen abruptly stopped her.

“Get your daughter prepared. tonight, she moves into the palace and on the next morrow, she Weds my son”

The suprised look On Rachel’s face soon replaced with a satisfied smile.

“I’ll ready her your grace. As you have said”
With one final bow, she walked out of the palace room…