“It was a little…harsh, shall we say.”
So, I'm going to be rapped over the knuckles for reporting on man-child Max.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I simply reported the facts. Your son made some interesting decisions that ultimately resulted in his landing in a pond.”
“You’re absolutely right, and your sources, whoever they may be, reported the events accurately.”
His words surprise me.
“They always do,” I reply, sounding one hundred percent more confident than I am.
The King and Ronan Clementine share a look.
If he's going to bring out the firing squad, now would be the time. My eyes dart nervously to the door, half wondering if there's a row of soldiers with rifles waiting for their cue.
King Frederic leans toward me. "Ms. Fontaine, I'm sure you'll be surprised to learn that I greatly admire your work.”
I blink at him in shock. “You are?”
I mean,what the heck?
“Of course I am. Although you tend to dwell on the negative traits of both my family and me, your writing can be insightful and well informed. On top of that, you have a sharp wit I appreciate.”
Huh.The row of armed soldiers marches away.
“Thank youvery much, sir,” I reply, my muscles relaxing for the first time since I climbed into my car to drive here.
Who knew the king admired me?
Or…is this a trap?
“I have a proposition for you,” he continues.
And here it is.
“We would like to work with you on a project.”
Wait, what?
This meeting is getting weirder by the minute.
“Work...withme?” I'm fairly certain my expression resembles that of someone who's just been told gravity no longer exists and we're all about to float around the room.
“That's what I said,” the King replies evenly.
“I'm sorry. What do you mean you want to work with me, sir?”
“Ms. Fontaine, my son, Maximilien, has found himself in something of a public relations predicament.”
That's one way to put it.
“You're referring to my most recent report about him diving onto the slip n’ slide and landing in the pond,” I say, cringing inside.
He might just be a prince to me and the rest of the country, but he's the King's son. He can't love that I've written that story, or any of the other stories I've written about Max and his siblings over the years, despite the fact they’ve all been true.
“That was the latest incident in a string involving the prince,” Ronan Clementine confirms. “Although we have had concerns about Prince Maximilien’s choices for some time now.”
Choicesis a nice way of saying horrible decisions that have landed him in all sorts of pickles, including a pond.
