Charles and I walk into the paddock a couple of hours later. It's always so excited to walk in here. I feel like I'm in another would, where I'm not the princess. Where I am just me. An ordinary girl.
As soon as we walk inside Isa runs into my arms to hug me tight. She's the best. The best friend I could ever imagine.
I: I've missed you so much.
E: It's been ages.
I laugh and hug her shaking around a bit. She lets go and points on my baby bump while taking to it.
I: Hey little one, you're not a secret anymore.
E: It's growing more and more.
She gets excited but Carlos wants to hug me as well. We say hello. It's good to see them again. I've missed all of them.
I: Oh yes, also hi to you Charles. This is just so excited.
C: Yeah I see, I'm not important anymore.
He jokes. He always wanted to baby to be priority, now he has to live with it. Ha. Also Pierre and Kika joins us. We talk for a while until Chris walks over.
Chris: Your highness, the media is insane. Please come with me for a quick interview to calm them down.
Isa leans over to me to whisper in my ear.
I: Uh, your highness?
E: The prince of Monaco.
I raise my eyebrow with a smile. Charles laughs. Looks like he noticed what we did. Sorry not sorry about that. Charles tells Chris, that we will do the team meeting first before we should do an interview. I'm so proud of him how he's stepping up, not doing what people tells him all the time. He's doing what is the best for him, for the baby, for us.
Chris leaves to let the media now, that we're doing an exclusive interview.
C: Alright, ready for the baby to meet the team?
E: Everyone is so excited and it's not even born yet.
Kika: Yeah, but look at the parents.
She's the sweetest girl. I give her a cute smile back before I walk with Charles and Carlos to the Ferrari hospitality. Isa stays with Kika. I'll join them later again.
We tell the team about the pregnancy and everyone congrats us. Mattia wasn't really happy about that. But this is our life and we do what's the best for us. This is our world.
I quickly leave them again to do their meeting and join the girls for a little talk. After Charles is finished with his meeting, Chris immediately walks over to get us ready for the interview. We never did this together without any preparation. I hope, it turns out okay. I kiss Charles as I notice he's getting nervous again. I hope he will deal better with the royal pressure as soon as the baby is there. I wish for him.
Chris chose Sky Italy. A young woman is doing the interview with us.
Sky: We're so happy to be here with the F1 royalty. A real life princess and prince. Princess Elisabeth of Monaco, good to see! Charles, it's been a crazy year for you. How do you feel?
C: Amazing, I hope I can win the championship this weekend.
He looks over to me and takes my hand in his. I smile happy, giving him the shine. I don't want to get in the focus on the race weekends, even tho this interview is about the both of us.
C: I'm a very lucky man.
Sky: It's amazing how you're able to handle the championship, a marriage and now even a royal baby. Congratulation.
She looks also to me smiling. Charles squeezes my hand to show me to answer this one.
E: Thank you, we're very happy.
Sky: There were already rumors before your marriage, that you mind be pregnant. Also your baby bump is very big already. Everyone is asking when is your due date?
E: Well every baby bump is different. We're very lucky to be able to let our family grow this quickly.
I look to Charles. We have to do everything to keep everything safe and sound. The rumors were there but Dad doesn't want a scandal or more rumors that this is a staged marriage. We love us, we want us, we want the baby.
C: Yes, we can't wait to meet our baby in March.
Chris: Okay, that's it. The time is done.
He comes between us. We thank the reporter and leave.
C: I didn't know, this would be so hard.
Chris: You did good.
E: Except the fact, that you just told them my real due date.
I look at Charles. He gives me a shocked glance not knowing what just happened.
C: What did I say?
E: March.
I get teary eyes. What is Dad going to do now again? We wanted to tell them, it's coming in May, but at the end it's coming earlier in April. So we only need to keep it safe for one month. Charles gets frustrated. He kicks his feet against a wall.
C: I'm so sorry, baby. I'm sorry. I messed up. I forgot. I was too excited. Sorry!
E: I need time for myself now, sorry.
I don't want to put the pressure I have on him. I don't want to bother him before the race. I need to leave the situation to not make it worse.
C: Elisabeth!!
I can hear him calling after me but also how Chris tells him not to fight in public. I want to protect Charles now.
CHARLES POV
Chris: Stop, you can't fight now. Let's think about how we deal with it now.
C: How Chris? What should I do? George will kill
me.
Chris: I don't know, it's gonna be too obvious if we tell them the baby came earlier. They all expect the baby in March. You married in October. That's 3 months too early. We can't deny it anymore.
C: Can't we just tell them the truth? We're married now. The baby will be royal.
Chris: But it will still be a scandal. That's up to you. You should talk to the king.
It was just a matter of time that our secret and biggest lie of our life would blow up. And it was obvious I would be the reason for it.
C: I have practice now. I don't know Chris.
I'm torn about what to do. This weekend is so important to me but I need Elisabeth Dad to be on my side. I made a mistake and I need to make it up again.
E: I'll call Dad.
I turn around and see Elisabeth standing behind me. I hug her, happy she already came back.
C: I'm gonna do it. I'll cancel the practice.
E: Hey. We said we're in the together. Let me do the call and you go and do your practice.
C: I'm so sorry.
I put my hand on her cheek. She leans into it and sighs. She's scared. I can tell in her eyes. Because of me. Again.
E: You're working too much, Cha. You need to take care of yourself.
I sigh. She's right. But if someone would've tell me at the beginning of the year, that I'm a married guy and dad to be, I would've laugh. Now I'm here. Happy, excited but stressed. I kiss Elisabeth.
C: You're the best person on earth.
She smiles softly, but I know it's fake. She pretending everything is okay, but what I did will never be okay. I fucked up. I made mistakes and this way too often.
**************
Thanks for over 50k reads!! So happy. ❤️
How will King George react to this?