THE PREPARATION

Caroline’s POV:

The two weeks following my father's official announcement to my family were perhaps the quickest I have ever lived. I had the impression that there was a feeling of acceleration of time in the air, as when we do not want something that is in our future to happen to us. It seems that fate is running to find us faster. I do not know if that was the feeling or the fact that there were really many things to be decided before my mysterious fiancé’s visit, so my head and hands were always busy.

The day after my father's announcement, my mother and I started to work at the reception for the entourage. My mom always brought Madame Tremblay to our meetings, so I brought Lucille with me, and when my mom asked me why Lucille was there, I told her that she was there to learn from Madame Tremblay as much as the princess was there. to learn directly from the queen. My mom seemed to accept my logic, which was a good thing, but deep down, I did not really care at the time what Lucille had to learn and from whom she would learn. I needed all the support I could get, and if that support did not come from my own mother, I knew it would come from my best friend.

I had no idea what to expect from all this planning and execution, but my mother looked like the rabbit in Alice's fable, in such a hurry that she was in a hurry. All the time she said that there was not enough time and that my father should have warned her earlier, but that it was a good thing to have me and Lucille to help think and do it, because maybe the job would be lighter with more hands to do it.

At the end of the planning, we had already decided on the accommodations they would occupy: their rooms, their private areas and all other details, as well as we set up a schedule for cleaning and tidying these places. Not that the palace was not cleaned every day, but special guests deserved meticulous and special cleaning for their arrival. Everything had to be perfect, including his rooms.

Then, we move on to the schedule of leisure and sporting events where the guests would accompany us. There would be sports that the nobles would play, and when we discovered that my mysterious fiancé was apt to play polo, it was decided that the palace polo field would receive special attention, as well as the tennis court that his father liked to go to. The other modalities would also be tidied up and the rowing lake would also undergo a new cleaning and inspection just in case someone from my fiancé’s entourage decides to apply for sports.

After that we prepared the details planning for at least two balls. I thought it was a complete exaggeration to have two balls for an entourage that would spend about 20 days with us, but my mother insisted that there had to be at least two big events for the press. One to announce the arrival of the party and the other to announce our engagement. When she informed me about the second dance, my stomach jumped, and it seems that it was at that moment that I really understood that it was really happening. A certain panic invaded my mind, and I hyperventilated a little. Normally, I would ask to be excused for the rest of my day, but my mother denied my request saying that there was a lot to do, and that it would all happen anyway, and I would need to get used to it all.

Two days later we were concluding the choice of silverware and crockery for both dances and what would be used in everyday life. My father had told my mother not to save money in this regard. We did not want the guests to have the impression that our kingdom was bankrupt, although I had no idea about the country's budget and the amount that would be spent in just these three weeks. Virtually all the planning had been done, and my mother was making the last notes when Madame Tremblay called Lucille over to inspect some glasses. When we were alone, my mother said to me quietly:

"Honey, I know that none of this has been easy for you. Believe me, I know about the anxiety you are going through." Before the awkward silence that there was at that breakfast at which I had discussed their marriage, I suspected, but I was not sure that my parents were in an arranged marriage. "I wish I could help you in some way," she told me quietly.

I took her hands to get her attention, and when she looked into my eyes, I said with intensity: "But you can, mom. You can help me convince my dad that this story is absurd." I was not in the mood for this fight, but I sincerely would like her to understand me, and especially to understand that I did not want to marry a stranger at all.

She looked at me with compassion and said to me tenderly: "This story is not that absurd, good at least for me and him, after all that was how we got married, dear."

"You confirmed with your silence that day when we had a fight in the morning, mom. I already knew. So maybe that is why it is so absurd. I do not see love between you, so the example I have at home may not be one of the best, right? You do not look unhappy, but you do not look happy either, and I want more than that for me, you know? "

"Honey, you do not know us in our intimacy. Your father is stern and cold to everyone, but when we are alone, I know that he likes me, and I like him, believe me" my mother tried to convince me, but without success. "Besides, I wouldn't have you if that wedding had not happened, my love." she told me, and a tender smile touched her lips. I smiled at her back and she interpreted it as if I was accepting my destiny, then said to me: "Try to settle for all of this and hope for the best, and the best will come."

"Sorry, mom, but I am not so sure about that." I told her sadly.

She realized that our discussion was useless and then hugged me tenderly. I took advantage of the moment, because moments like that were rare, even though she was my mother, and I knew she loved me. My parents were cold to each other, and that coldness often extended to me as well. So, I knew that for her to hug me this way she was on a low guard. I hugged her without saying anything else, so as not to spoil this brief moment.

"Anyway, know that I am here if you need me, okay?" She told me after a few moments.

"Thank you, mom," I mumbled back to her.

In the days that followed, I thought we would oversee the task of the army of maids who were called or even hired for all this service, but I ended up making a mistake. We spent whole days deciding on color combinations, menus, decorations, sending invitations that were hand signed and so many other details that I would not particularly remember. Perhaps my mother was born to be a party planner, but unfortunately that was not my case. I forgot several details, which she called my attention to, and Madame Tremblay reminded me of so many others. Lucille, despite being the excuse to have my support with me, was the one who learned the most, and took notes of every possible detail.

"How come you do not feel lost in the middle of all this?" I asked Lucille at the end of a day while I was getting ready for dinner with my family.

"Madame Tremblay showed me a scheme of tables and schedules, so I think I am following all this movement through another look," Lucille explained to me.

"Probably a more organized look than mine," I mumbled in frustration, and she burst out laughing.

"Well, it wouldn't be impossible if it were." Lucille told me and continued to do my hairdo for dinner with your majesties.

The funniest thing about all of this is that I suspect that this was the way my father found me to stay away from strategic kingdom meetings. I was no longer expected for any departmental meeting, presumably because I was busy organizing the events that would follow next month. My father promised me brief summaries of these meetings, but he always talked about it when I brought it up, so if I already knew little to help with any decision-making, now I knew even less. My biggest fear is that with the arrival of my 'fiancé', I would be increasingly left out, but unfortunately now I should wait and see.

A few days before the arrival of the delegation, everything was decided, and all the employees who were chosen to work in the special cleaning were finishing their activities. Everything was practically ready. My mom started to worry about the weather, and I told her not to worry about it. Ironically, my concern about the arrival of the entourage and my mysterious fiancé grew exponentially, and my mother said that there was nothing I should be concerned about. Neither one nor the other listened to what we said, so each of us remained concerned in her own way.

Even my dresses and accessories for certain occasions were chosen, fitted, and perfect for every occasion. According to my mom, I should be always flawless. I was beginning to wonder if they had not fantasized about another Caroline, more presentable, more assertive, and not the real daughter they had raised. Both my mom and dad said they expected the mysterious lad to be up to me. In the meantime, I secretly hoped to be up to the Caroline they had created in their heads.

I was barely able to sleep for the last two nights before the entourage arrived. The funniest thing about it all was that the first night I slept badly, my dad interpreted my sleep in the morning as anxiety about meeting my future husband. I thought I made it clear to them that I did not want to be engaged to a stranger. Still, they interpreted my reactions as emotion and excitement, but that could not be further from reality.

I had been talking a lot with Lucille about this:

"I do not believe this is really happening," I told her.

"Well, neither do I, even so, the delegation arrives tomorrow around 11 am. I think we are past the point of avoiding at least that first visit," Lucille told me.

"And her next twenty days, as I understand it too," I replied to her mumbling.

"In my opinion, I agree with your mother. You should show him the best version of yourself, so that he does not really think he is up to you. As far as I can imagine, he must be a nobleman, but he must be away from the throne line in your country, otherwise you wouldn't be brought here, would you? " Lucille told me.

"Well, probably. Oh dear! I do not even know if he speaks our language," I exclaimed to Lucille.

Lucille burst out laughing: "I really wanted to see you guys trying to date when one doesn't speak the same language as the other," I laughed too. I had to admit that going through this experience laughing was my best alternative.

"And what does he look like? Have you seen any photos or videos of him?" Lucille asked me curiously.

"Not yet. My father has not mentioned many details about him. Probably so that I won't search for all possible information about him and find more defects than the poor guy might have."

"Your father may have complicated your life by arranging this situation, but you can't say that he isn't smart," Lucille noted.

"Yes, again you are right," I answered her.

Once again, time seemed to accelerate between the night of the previous day and the time scheduled for the retinue's arrival the next day. I was irritated by the lack of sleep again, and there seemed to be an absurd number of butterflies flying in my stomach. When we were informed of the arrival of the cars at the main gate, we went to the palace entrance to receive the guests. As the entrance to the property was very large, it still took a few minutes for them to arrive. Finally, the entourage's cars stopped in front of the entrance gates. I noticed that they all carried official Eurasian flags, so now I knew at least where all these people came from. Finally, our jacks opened the doors for the guests to get out of the cars, and a tall, slim figure stepped out of the car in the middle, and stopped in front of us, staring at us.

This was the first time that I saw him in the flesh.