The Prince (Harry Styles)

Chapter 3

"Are you not one of Queen Anne's?" my mother asked.

"No, no," Trish shook her head. "When she was pregnant with the princess, I was pregnant with my oldest. It was a messy one so I was reassigned to the kitchens until I had her. Each one of my kids I was in the kitchens."

"I'm sorry," my mother said.

"No need to be," she smiled. "Poor timing on my part."

My mother smiled to her old friend and the rest of us silently followed behind her. I felt knots forming in the pit of my stomach. Realization just hit me because I am about to meet the royal family. I feel my chest begin to constrict in fear and I feel my breath become hitched.

"Emmy, are you okay?" Lucas asked me quietly.

"I can't breathe," I coughed out. His eyes widened and told the others to wait a few minutes.

"Emmy, listen to me," he said taking me in an embrace. "Listen to me breathing,"

I listened to Lucas take in exaggerated breaths and let it out loudly. I did it with him and I admit, it's not the easiest thing to do when one is having a panic attack. I stood in my older brother's arms breathing in and out slowly as he continued to make exaggerated noises.

"You okay to go now?" Lucas asked me when I stood up after a while of breathing with him. I nodded and fixed my hair so it wasn't messy. I felt so embarrassed that this happened, in front of a palace maid nonetheless. 

Trish went up to the guard and told him that the king's guests had arrived and were ready to be seated in the dining hall. The guards opened the doors and we were permitted to enter the grand dining room. The one we were placed in seemed small, like it was one they used for small, intimate meetings. 

There was a long dark brown table that gleamed under the glow of the chandelier. There were at least thirty chairs lined up along the table at least. There were large silver plates in front of each seat with clear water glasses off to the right. Large serving items were placed evenly down the center of the table. Gravy boats and pitchers of iced water were amongst some of the items. 

"Miss," someone said snapping me from my thoughts. I turned to the source and saw a butler holding a chair out for me. I thanked him with a nod and brushed my hand along my backside pulling the cloth of the dress tight against my legs as I lowered myself into the soft cushioned wood chairs.

I glanced over at my mother to see what she was doing. She was reorganizing her silverware into a fashion she was comfortable. She took a hold of the cloth napkin and placed it on her silver plater, I did the same thing. 

"Here, here," someone said. "His Royal Majesty, King Desmond, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Anne, Princess Gemma, and crowned prince of Ula, Prince Harry," a guard said as the doors swung open. When they entered, I lowered myself into a curtsy.

I bowed my head lightly and when I stood back up, my foot caught on my dress causing me to summable a bit. I steadied myself as I felt my cheeks redden in embarrassment. I pulled the gown on top of my feet so the likelihood of tripping wasn't all that possible.

"Your highness," my father said placing a hand over his chest, "My name is Richard Price, this here is my wife Dorothy, our sons, Michael, Lucas, Timothy, and Joseph. This here is our beautiful daughter, Emerald."

"What a pleasure to meet you, Richard," King Desmond grinned at my father. He extended his hand and my father hesitantly took it in a firm handshake. "Dorothy, my old friend, it's been a while, hasn't it?" he asked.

"It has indeed, your majesty," she smiled kindly.

"What have I told you before? Call me Des," he laughed. "Your mum always insisted on being proper, I assume you all are the same way?" the king asked addressing us. A laugh circled throughout us.