Mondo Pastello | girlxgirl | Comple... - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

"You want me to go where?!" I was furious, or at least it felt like that. After what Sarina did to me, what she said to me, my emotions were muddled and nothing felt ordinary anymore. My heart began to pound each time I thought about it.
"Spain," the Queen repeated, my head shaking unbelievably.
"Why? Why send me off to another country? For how long?" I demanded, the breakfast table tense whilst I forgot all my manners and demanded these questions.
"Two weeks," she answered, gently eating her food as if nothing was wrong. "The King of Spain offered to take you in as an ambassador to symbolize the harmony between our countries until you are required back here," my jaw was agape at this entire situation.
"When will I be going?" I inquired.
"This weekend. You will return the day before your eighteenth. It is better this way. You will be kept out of the media's spotlight until the most valuable time. Although, our initial plan was for your identity to only be revealed at the coronation, we might as well now have a nationwide celebration," she almost sounded apathetic, more troubled about the events happening so close to each other. My leaving to Spain in a week, my birthday in three weeks, and then the Royal Variety Performance in five weeks and the very next day my coronation. It was almost unsettling.
"What will I be doing in Spain?" I questioned, sitting back with my arms crossed.
"Nothing official. You will explore the country and form important relations. Especially with the Prince," I frowned at her revelation.
"The Prince of Spain?" I inquired. She nodded.
"Yes. The King will have minimal to do with his exchange and instead you will be in the hands of the Prince. You do not need to fret. I have met him before and he is a true gentleman. He's only a few years older than you," my mother spoke gently, thinking back when she had met the Prince when he was still a child.
"You're going to leave me in the hands of someone who I had never met before!" this entire thing was disbelieving.
"Melanie, he is nothing to worry about. Even I respect and trust him," the King piped in, which astonished me. My father was a very appreciative and nice person and rarely raised his voice at anyone. Even when he was dealing with an enemy, he always made it look as if he completely cared about what the person said and genuinely liked the person. He would only be honest about whether he enjoyed the person's company later on. An example would be how he absolutely dreaded to have a conversation with the Adams household, but enjoyed Sarina's company. It made me feel giddy that my parents liked Sarina.
But because my father actually trusted him, it meant that he truly thought the Prince was a good person. I would just have to wait and see.
"Alright. I will go quietly," I told them, my eyes a little cold but internally I was excited. I had never been outside the United Kingdoms before.
"Well now that it is sorted, you have a hospital appointment this afternoon," recently my injuries had begun to fell normal again and I could even walk again. It itched more than anything else. I suspected that they would remove the tape from my foot and my hand, but the brace was going to stay for a month more if the internet had anything to inform me about it.
"Finally," I responded, continuing to eat my food.
"Yes, and I have made a salon appointment for you straight after," my father said, and at this I was back to square one of trying to understand my family.
"Salon?" why would he do that? Did he not like how I looked? I could even see the twins tensing up, who I had begun to start forgiving. I was unfair to them. They did bring Sarina back to me, after all.
"To clean up that hair of yours," right. I had forgotten about that. I took a piece of my loose hair into my hand, staring at the gentle colour I've been wearing for so long. I touched up on the colour so often that it became something I looked forward to each time. The fading purple to the bright violet. And now it was going back to the boring caramel colour I had avoided for years. Honestly, if the salon could actually get back my normal colour hair, then I will be impressed.
"Fine," I grumbled, not looking forward to this one bit. We wrapped up breakfast, the twins completely silent throughout the meal. They had been raged upon after what they pulled in the dinner and with Sarina and now they are completely silent. They were being punished by having Royal Guards follow around their every move, which was so much worse than anything that my mother could have done to them. It meant they could not sneak out or plan anything discouraged. Also, they had to be careful. The jet incident was still being investigated.
The meal ended with everyone wishing each other a nice day, and then I returned to my room where I took out my phone and dialled Sarina. If I was going to have to go through something as terrible as going to a salon, then I'm not going alone. Luckily, Sarina agreed to come with me. This encouraged me to dress up a little, but I still could not understand why.
A crochet hoodie, a butterfly printed skirt, lace up high heels and a wool beanie to keep my hair tucked in. Also a pair of sunglasses, because now I was famous and had to hide my identity. How enjoyable.
Ian and I took a normal car to the hospital, my hoodie pulled over the beanie and my sunglasses over my eyes. We entered the hospital without any attention and made it to the correct Doctor without anyone recognizing me. The Doctor was also sworn under an oath to keep my visitation a secret and he agreed without any problem. He had patient confidentiality anyway, so this was no trouble for him.
His nurse led me to his examination room where I waited patiently for him to come in. I looked at all of the pictures hung on his wall, all of his family with his three children. They looked to be fairly young. He also had all of his university certificates around, and he even had a reward to his name. Of course my parents would only get the best.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Highness," I turned to see the Doctor enter, his voice in a whisper. He bowed before me before signalling I take a seat on the examination bed. "I see you are walking around just fine, and in heels no less. I assume it doesn't hurt anymore?" I shook my head in response.
"Not for a while. It just itches," he smiled with satisfaction, waiting for me to take off my shoes before looking over my feet.
"Your feet were healed a while ago, but we always give extra time. Luckily the cuts weren't that deep anyway," the examination continued, the tape being taken off my feet and hands just as I had expected. It felt so strange that after all this time, my skin now felt fresh air again.
And yes, I still had to wear the brace. My next examination was the day I got back from Spain and he gave me a contact from a Doctor in Spain if anything happens.
I spend about only five minutes at the reception before Ian pulled up in the car, having had picked Sarina up who was now having a lovely conversation with Ian. I don't know what they were joking about but they refused to tell me as soon as I entered. Sarina didn't have any makeup on and I was a little confused as to why. She usually seemed so loving of her dark makeup.
"So why are we going to the salon anyway?" Sarina questioned in the car as we headed to our destination.
"To colour my hair," I answered, staring at the window. I was a little afraid to look her in the eyes after what happened last time we were together, but I knew my worries were for nothing. It was just Sarina, not an enemy.
"Are you going to change the colour? I really like the purple," she admitted and I sighed, nodding. I turned to face her with a sad expression.
"I have to change it back to its original colour," I revealed. Her face contorted to one of confusion and disappointment.
"Why? Do you not like it? Is it because of what I said last week? I'm sorry, I know I made you feel awkward," I shook my head at her with a smile.
"None of that. It's just I have to change it back because of my royal obligation," I revealed, shrugging my shoulders. Her brows furrowed.
"Royal obligation? That's bloody terrible," she shook her head. "It's so unfair,"
"But it has to be done," I told her, but she could only nod her head. When it came to royal obligation, I had my hands tied. It was the one thing where no matter how much I talked back and disagreed, it wouldn't change.
We got the salon fairly quickly, and we took a back entrance. The salon was closed for the day, only accessible to us. My father had everything planned out. There were three employers inside, greeting me on the knee as soon as I arrived. I could feel Sarina tense up a bit when they did, probably because she of what she had told me before. She felt strange bowing to me and I told her she didn't need to, but when it came to being a commoner she felt even more guilt-ridden when she didn't. She jokily called me Princess when we spoke, but I knew she had an internal battle about my title.
I had not yet told her that I was thinking of requesting a title for her.
Friend of the Crown.
But the process would go smoother once I'm crowned.
"We can fix the Highness's hair, yes we can," the hairdresser spoke as she examined my hair as she washed it, Sarina sitting next to me. She decided that she might as well get a haircut and a top-up of her black hair. Her hair was quite long and decided that it was time.
"It might take a few tries," another spoke, looking over.
"A few tries, yes, yes," I had an idea that the woman who was handling my scalp was not completely right in the mind.
"We can do it,"
"Do it, yes, we can," was she trying to make a reference of some kind?
♕♥ ♕♥ ♕
"But guess what though? He was actually a she all along!" Sarina excitedly told me about a series she watched as we sat completely relaxed at the salon. We later learned they didn't only do hair and began treating our nails and gave us beauty masks. It felt so strange to be treated like this but I took the relaxation seriously. A lot was going to happen so if I could get some pleasantries from a make-shift spa, then who was I to complain?
"Really? But I thought you said his name was Sam!" I responded, having listened to her entire jolly ranting of her favourite show.
"Yes! I thought it stood for Samuel, but no! It stood for Samantha! I was so shocked, because it explained so much. Especially why he became so grumpy suddenly in episodes," I couldn't help but laugh at her. My hair was wrapped in a towel and we waited while more chemicals seeped into my skull. I felt violated.
Ian came in earlier, bringing with him drinks he got from the café and was now on a shopping mission to get me clothes for Spain. I had not yet told Sarina about it, but she did hear I was leaving the country at the dinner. Why had she not brought it up yet?
"Is it still ongoing?"
"Ugh, no. They cancelled it after five seasons because it wasn't getting the publicity it deserves," she grumbled to herself, examining her pitch black nails. She didn't like painting her nails but when someone else did it, it was okay. She didn't like the effort of doing it herself. My nails were a baby pink. But the thing was, neither of us had typically long nails for the employees to work. Neither gymnastics nor ballet gave room for long nails. With gymnastics it was obvious, and in ballet Madame absolutely hated it when our nails could touch the barre. Maybe that would change now.
I even got a foot message, which was weird because of how injured it was. But it looked weird to have painted nails and a brace on.
"Time for the reveal!" the hairdresser called, washing out the fifth wave of chemicals through my hair and drying it. She turned me to face the mirror, and I absolutely regretted not fighting enough. I looked so strange, so out of place. Sure my hair was a beautiful caramel colour that I knew most girls wished to have naturally, but this wasn't me. I wasn't this mediocre girl who stared at me through the mirror. Nothing of my old hair was there.
I could see in the mirror's reflection how saddened Sarina looked. Who knew that the colour of my hair had such a great impact on my life?
We exited the salon fairly silent, as I did not want to speak. I felt like a different person, but not for the better. I felt worse, as if I was returning to the terrible state I was in before I met Caleb and had freedom in the outside world. I was that terrified little Princess who couldn't do anything but be a damsel in distress.
"It's not that bad," Sarina tried to coo, hoping to make me feel better.
"It's bloody terrible," she didn't respond, nor did Ian say a word as we headed to back to the palace. It was silent in the ride, my anger calming on the journey. I took my beanie and tucked all my hair underneath it, refusing to reveal my hair to the world. We pulled up in front of the palace where we were assisted by Royal Guards. We headed to my room, Guards following behind us with their arms full of everything Ian bought on my behalf. I could tell Sarina was curious and after everything was dropped in my room, she finally asked.
"What's all this stuff?" she questioned, throwing off her shoes and choosing to walk around with only her socks. Technically it was more hygienic than walking with the same shoes she walked outside with, so no one would be able to complain. Besides, I did the same.
"You remember how my mother mentioned that I would be going to another country?" she nodded. "Yeah, this is for that," I answered in a soft tone, regarding the clothes Ian got. It was appropriate clothes for summer, but still wasn't formal or boring. It was fashionable like floral patterns and geometric designs. Ian knew my taste.
"Where are you going?" she asked, helping me unpack everything from the shopping bags onto my bed. My handmaiden had asked to assist, but I wanted to spend quality time with Sarina. Alone.
"Spain," I answered, mentally comparing clothes with each other.
"That's not so far," was her response. I shrugged.
"I'll be going for two weeks,"
"Two weeks? Wow. What about your birthday?" she asked me, helping me rearrange the clothes.
"I'll return the day before that, which conveniently is the day I have another hospital appointment. The next couple weeks are going to be incredibly tedious," I admitted, sighing in defeat. I was winging my life so badly. I was unprepared for anything thrown at me, and now I didn't even feel as confident because of my appearance. I know it was silly, but I felt as if a part of my life was taken away.
"When are you leaving?" she asked, mentally trying not to blow up. A lot of things could happen in two weeks.
"Friday," Sarina looked up at me with surprise.
"That's like... almost," I nodded in response.
"Yeah. I just found out about all this today,"
"That sucks chicken nuggets," I chuckled.
"What is with you and chicken nuggets?" I asked, shaking my head.
"I learned it from Molly. She loves them so bad, which is terrible. She's a gymnast, she should know better," a spark was missing from Sarina's emotions and I noticed it. It must be because of my departure. I felt the same way. I didn't want to stay away for that long.
"So there's this app that you have to get..." I started talking, bringing up a recent app I discovered that allows video calls over long distances. It was my answer to this problem, and frankly I thought it was better than just texting.
"So I'll see you tomorrow? At the café?" Sarina asked at the end of our day, her tone full of hope. I smiled and nodded excitedly.
"I can easily manipulate my appearance now. I wouldn't miss coming to see you for the world," I told her, leading her through the palace halls to Ian who was waiting outside to take her home. She was learning her way around the palace, which made me glad. Although I had yet to discover if she told anyone that she was frolicking around the palace, I doubted that she did. She was Sarina, and I trusted her.
"Your Highness, the Queen asks for your company," a Royal Guard said, stepping out of another corridor and delivering the message before taking his leave. I sighed annoyingly and turned to Sarina.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized but she just waved her head dismissively. I felt a bit panicky whenever I was requested by my parents, because it was rare to be called in to something that wasn't of importance.
"You don't even need to mention it," a little caught up in my state, I took a hold of her shoulder and planted my lips against her cheek in a kiss before heading off. Sarina remained behind, shell-shocked at my action before a wide, enthusiastic grin grew on her face.