"I was only doing what I was supposed to," I replied.
A few moments later, we arrived.
"Thanks for the treat. Drive safely," I said to Maximilian.
Elvie and I got out of the car.
Maximilian added, "My pleasure. See you again, Arindra."
I was startled. It was the first time he had called me by my name. Not “Princess” or “Your Highness,” but Arindra.
Maximilian smiled and waved at me. Then his car pulled away and headed back toward the main road.
I was still standing by the side of the parking area.
After making sure Maximilian had driven away, I went inside the office. Our work had only just begun. My team and I had to contact the ambassadors.
After a while, Elvie and I sent emails or letters to the ambassadors.
"All right, that's enough for today. Let's go home," I said to Elvie.
The next day.
By morning, we had received email replies, and the phone kept ringing nonstop. I was happy that so many people were enthusiastic about this student exchange and cultural program.
Elvie and I were busy all day and didn't even have time for lunch. We had to prepare a proposal and schedule meetings to discuss this program further in person with each embassy participating in it.
“Elvie, I think we should call it a day. It's been more than two hours since the end of the workday,” I said. “Of course, Your Highness,” Elvie replied quickly.
I giggled. She seemed more than ready to go home.
We packed up our things and left the office together.
“Oh, right, Your Highness. Don't forget that you have a lunch scheduled tomorrow with the entire royal family. Don't be late,” Elvie reminded me.
“Ugh. Do I really have to go? Can't I just skip it? Besides, we still have so much work to do,” I pleaded.
“No, Your Highness. You have to attend. Don't you remember? Six months ago, the King called you over and over because you still hadn't shown up for the previous family lunch?” Elvie reminded me firmly.
“All right, all right. I give up. I'll go tomorrow,” I replied in despair.
I really didn't want to attend that extended royal family lunch. It wasn't that I had anything against them, but some members of the royal family were arrogant and thought they were superior simply because they had blue blood. In my opinion, the higher our position, the greater the responsibility we carried. But they never paid any attention to that—or even wanted to hear it. Fortunately, my father was King. Otherwise, this kingdom would have fallen apart if they had been the ones in charge.
That night, I arrived home. I opened my laptop and went over the work we'd done that afternoon to make sure everything had followed procedure. I was being extra careful because I didn't want even the slightest mistake. Everything had to be perfect.
But tomorrow afternoon... wasn't there some other way I could avoid that lunch?
Oh! I had an idea.
I picked up my cell phone, searched for a number in my contacts, and called it.
Beep... beep... beep...
After a while, someone answered.
“Hello?” my mother's voice came from the other end.
“Hello, Mother. There's something I want to ask you,” I replied.
“What is it, my youngest daughter? You hardly ever call your mother.”
“Mother, couldn't I be excused from tomorrow's extended royal family lunch? I have so much work to do. I can't just leave my work behind,” I pleaded.
I could hear my mother sighing on the other end of the line.