Principessa: The Truth & It's Troubles

Lenny picked up the phone and whispered a hello into the mouth piece. She heard the frantic voice of her grandmother on the other end, asking her if she was okay and if she had been hurt at all. Lenny hadn't known what Benito had said to them, but she wanted to reassure them for fear of them worrying about her. There was one thing that had been plaguing her, since she had returned to the Palace and that was the mystery of her parents death.

"Grand mama, what happened to my parents?" she said bravely.

There was silence on the other end and the sound of a phone being passed around, the next voice she heard was her grandfather.

"Lenora, I had hoped we would have been sitting face to face when I tell you this but of course, with obligations, this is probably not the best of circumstances, so I will begin from the beginning. I hope you have a comfortable place to sit, because we can be here a while," his Imperial began, "What do you know of your parents Lenora?"

"I was told my parents died, therefore being in foster care ever since I could remember," Lenora said on a breathe.

"Your parents did not die, not immediately... the thing is, it is hard to explain on the telephone but your parents were not who you perceived them to be, they did justice to this country but unfortunately they suffered a great injustice in their personal lives. Your mother, my daughter was Princess Clarissa De Luca and she had fallen in love with a man, who was a suspect in a case... we thought he did dealings on the Black market etc, those dealings I will not get into right this minute but it turns out, we had gotten our wires crossed, the man she had fallen in love with was a half of one... he had a twin brother, that twin brother had killed them out of jealousy, rage and we have searched for so long... and now we have found him, together with the evidence we need to put him in a cell," his Imperial said.

"But how... how come I lived?" Lenora said without thinking.

"Your mother found out about what her husband's brother was doing and begged him not to hurt you, he sold you off on the Black Market and you somehow ended up in London to parents that loved you, but they tragically died in a car accident.... we finally tracked you down, after I asked Benito to watch you for some months, make sure you were out of harms way... and then asked him to take you here to us, have you home," his Imperial said on a sigh.

"Right and Benito... how long was he watching me for?" Lenny asked.

"Several months," his Imperial replied.

"So I was being stalked, is that it?" Lenny said fury in her tone.

"No, I wouldn't call it being stalked, he was simply a guardian- to watch over you. You are our long lost jewel in the crown, we had to protect you... you are our link to what was taken away from us," he said with grief in this tone, "I'm just sad that you had to find out this way... that your life has started on such bad ground that we hope you stay here and stay with us."

"I don't know what to think anymore... I just want to not be here..." Lenny began and her grandfather spoke softly, interrupting her.

"Perhaps you should see more of Italy, perhaps it will convince you to stay... that what we have, will fill the void you are so experiencing and enlighten you of the ways of our great nation," he said pressingly.

"I... I don't..."

"Please Lenora, please do this one thing for me and your grandmother," his Imperial pleaded.

"I guess, I'm just going to have to... won't I?" she sighed.

"Thank you, that is all I ask..." and his Imperial smiled into the phone.

***

He found her sitting by the fountain, staring blankly at the ripples of the water the fish were making as they went up for air. He had been watching her from his bedroom window for fifteen minutes, she had looked so sombre, even Isabella her maid in waiting had mentioned the difference in her. She hadn't spoken a word to anyone since the conversation to her grandfather, the Imperial over the phone and he wondered what they had spoken about. He didn't have to wonder long because his phone had started ringing and the Imperial wanted one last thing from him, before he released him of his duties, that he take Lenora to Tuscany and the surrounding cities. He made it a rule, never to bring business home, but then he'd long broke that rule when he'd made love to the Princess. His gut was tied up in knots, every time he saw her, he had to calm himself down, this was so unknown to him, this feeling.

The Imperial had told him that Lenora wanted to leave Italy and return to her life in London, but he refused to let it end up that way. That acknowledgement made Benito's heart jump into his mouth but the Imperial was adamant that Lenora see what Italy had to offer and he refused to let her go, not without a fight and that was what he wanted of Benito. He wanted him to take her to Italy and show her around Tuscany and it surrounding cities. He wanted him to take her away from the craziness of the last couple of weeks, the last few years of grief... he was putting all of his hard earned searching of his grand daughter and was putting it into the hands of this one man. Benito was far from wanting to disclose to the Imperial that he had seduced and made love to his grand daughter- that information was between him and Lenora and there was just no way, it was going to be made public to him.

He approached her, his hands in his stone linen trousers, his hair tousled and his eyes never leaving her face which was partly in shadow now, as the sun had disappeared behind the Palace building.

"We need to talk," he said simply.

She didn't look up at all but replied sullenly, "What orders has my grandfather given you now... seduce the Princess and make love to her and perhaps leave her in the morning, for her to make up and realise there's a million other things she should be more worried about, like the fact that her past is even more inconceivable then she thought it was?"

"Lenny, that was my un-intention..." he began but he was rudely interrupted.

"Please spare me your lies... I don't want to hear your explanation... everything I thought, everything I believed in was a lie... I've had it up to here with lies..." she said.

"I did not lie to you... yes, of course your grandfather asked me to come out of retirement for my help in getting you here... but this... us..."

She stood up and looked at him sternly, "What part of, I don't want to hear it, did you not understand?"

"Fine, we might not talk about this now... but we will when we get to my Tuscan villa," he said.

"No, I'm not going anywhere with you..." Lenny said with alarm.

"Actually, you are.... you gave your grandfather your word... so I suggest you go up to your room and pack what ever you need, because we'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

"I'm not happy about this..." she said stamping away.

"And at this rate, neither am I!" he said to himself.

Principessa: Inside Killer

I've been dreaming of her for so long, everything is etched into my memory of the way she walks, the way she talks, even the way she smiles and the way she was with my hands around her neck... she was begging me then... she fell in love with the wrong man and so, as by luck, I took care of it... we were supposed to be together- not my brother... as fate and the planets aligned who would have thought I would see her standing in front of me, her back turned... I knew instantly it was her because of the photos in the papers, she was much taller then I had originally thought, she had the same hair as her mother but there was something different about her, something less fragile. I only realised when I tried to take her away from prying eyes... she was like a piston... she fired back, she tried to kick me where it supposedly hurts but I wasn't going to allow it. She was like a spitfire, she was struggling to move, get out... spread her wings... I just wanted to take care of her, this is a second chance to show her that it was me, that I was... that I'm...

He put down his pen and shoved his chair back, there was commotion going on outside... he lived by the river for a reason... he longed for peace and tranquility, away from the noise pollution and madness of the City. He opened the door and stepped outside and saw a wall of plain black dressed police holding guns, targeted on him. They asked him to put his hands up and surrender, he looked around... trying to find a way out, but there was no where to go, his gun was back inside sitting on his desk but he didn't want to force a shower of bullets his way... how the fuck did they get to him... he hadn't left any evidence behind. He felt a bolt of electricity at the back and he collapsed to the floor and blacking out and around ten men grabbing a limb and hoisted him to the nearest blacked out van.

Principessa: Calling Card

The Italian sunshine shone all over the furnishings of Benito's bedroom, filling the room with light and making Lenny's hair appear a rich mahogany. She lifted her head from the pillow and her eyes skimmed the vastness of his bedroom, he was no where in sight. She reached down for her dress that was draped on the head board of the bed and tugged it on. She could feel the soreness between her thighs. They had made love twice after and each time, both climaxed and now, he wasn't here which brought her spirits down a few notches. She opened the door and retreated back to her bedroom, only to realise that her bedroom window had been boarded up and the glass had been swept away.

She strode purposely towards the bathroom and had a shower, she pulled on some jeans and a jumper with her much loved converses and put her wet hair up in a chignon and made her way out of the palace and into the town.

***

Benito had woken up early, he glanced at Lenny as she's slept on the pillow beside him in his bed. Her luscious hair displayed all over the pillow and the sheet barely covered her exposed breasts but he loved looking at her, loved the feel of her when he was inside of her. He really ought to get his head back to reality and away from this dream like phase, he was obviously in. He didn't want to wake her up, as they'd made love three times that night and he just couldn't explain the wonder of being with her, he just didn't want to get too heavy. He had got up and changed, made his way down the stairs and met up with the head of security regarding the threat posed last night on Lenny. He was going to do his damn best to make sure the Royal family stayed alive and out of harm's way.

As he sat down, his colleague and chief of security Luca Arturo informed him on the progress of their investigation into who, why and what and so far they hadn't found anything. There was a brief silence, when Luca spoke again, "There is something a bit more distressing, that I'd like to make you well aware of Ben. Whilst help was packing up some of Lenny's belongings back in London, they came across these," Luca dropped some letters on the table.

Benito only had to stare at them to know that these were written by a mad man, a stalker or some sort.

"It seems the Princess is being stalked," Luca said.

"Then why was someone trying to kill her last night... it makes no sense," he replied.

"That's what we're trying to figure out... but I was thinking, maybe they aren't connected..." Luca said thinking out loud, "I know you hate waiting but maybe we need to wait for another calling card...."

"Have you seen Princess Lenora?" Isabella said as she stormed into the meeting, "I'm sorry to interrupt but she was due to meet with the stylist but I cannot find her anywhere!"

"Calm down Isabella," was all Benito said as he stood up and marched upstairs to his bedroom, where he had left Lenny. Upon arriving at his bedroom, he noticed that the bed was empty and he grimaced. Of course, her clothes were no longer there. He ran towards her bedroom and found last nights clothes in the hamper, she must have gone somewhere, but where? As he turned around abruptly, he came face to face with Luca, who announced that two security guards guarding the driveway had noticed what resembled Princess Lenora leave about an hour and a half ago towards the city centre. Benito headed down to the garage and slid into a Ferrari and started the engine.

***

Lenora always enjoyed walks especially ones where she had no idea where she was going, nor who she was going to meet. The confines of the Palace were somewhat getting to her and she needed to be free of her gilded cage and so, what better way to get away from it all then a walk to the city centre. She loved the scenery, swamped with architecture and numerous faces of her people. It didn't take her very long to reach the city centre, after about half an hour's walk. She wanted to soak up Italy, learn about the place she would eventually take on. There were crowds of people milling around and she chose to take the more intimate route around Rome. She stepped down the cobbled streets and passed various vintage shops and found a bookstore- as she only had British currency on her, she decided to surpass it and move on. She eventually found herself somewhere else and there were far less people about, so there was no one to ask for directions.

She looked around and decided to go back the way she came, only to bump head first into something hard. She looked up and apologised to the bearded man before her. She was about to move out the way, when he grabbed a hold of her arm and she winced in pain. He held her captive, as she tried to shake him off but there was no way to prise his hold off of her.

"Let go of me!" she said in her British accent.

He still refused to and that left her with no choice but to hoist her knee up and hit that target. He managed to avoid it by moving to the side, his other arm taking a hold of her and dragging her down an alley way. Lenny was panicking, he had a hold of both her arms and she couldn't get away. She started screaming to attract more attention but his other hand clamped down on her mouth. She bit hard on his fingers, until he yelped in pain and his hold of her relaxed a little. She punched him and screamed at the pain shooting down her arm, from the pain of hitting him square in the face. She started running the opposite direction but could hear him running after her, "Come back here you bitch!" he shouted at her.

Lenny ran as fast as she could but her legs felt like jelly from the situation she had brought upon herself. She ran up the cobbled steps two at a time and went straight for the trickle of people appearing on the other side. Suddenly she was jolted back and when she turned around, she saw he had once again glued himself to her with a deathly grip. She tried punching him again but instead, he slapped her squarely on the face. She could see stars on the horizon but told herself not to go down.

"You fucking bitch... just like your mother, she was just like you when I got my hands on her... she deserved to die..." he said with such evilness, it made Lenny sink down.

She raised her foot and kicked him in the balls and he released her to cup his genitals as he scowled in pain. She continued running towards the trickle of people and found herself back to the square with the milling crowds. She looked around panicked.

Benito slowed down when he got to the square and jumped out and looked around, something was definitely wrong and he could feel it. He scoured the place, looking for her and suddenly she ran out of no where and he found himself running towards her. When he reached her, something definitely had happened. She knelt down for air and then stood up, "He tried to kill me."

Principessa: Union

"Your Highness, dinner will be served in fifteen minutes," Bella said quietly from the door to Lenny's quarters.

Lenny was seated on the edge of her gigantic queen sized four poster bed, she was stuck in a book she had found in the library and was working her way through it when her chamber maid Bella had walked in. She had been introduced to Bella that first night at the Palace and that she would be here at a ring of a bell, but Lenny never used it because she just didn't feel comfortable with it. Calls via bells, were like whistles for dogs. It didn't sit well with her.

"Bella, please call me Lenny... 'your Highness' just sounds too formal," Lenny smiled.

Bella nodded and walked to the tall closet on the furthest side of the room and opened the door, "What would you like to wear your... Lenny, would you prefer the turquoise dress or..."

"You pick, I don't know," Lenny said, leafing through the book.

Bella pulled out a floral summer dress with a bejewelled collar, some flat open toe sandals and laid it in front of Lenny. She put down the book and looked at the dress.

"You have exquisite taste Bella, I swear you are meant for the catwalks of Milan with this choice. Thank you," Lenny smiled.

Bella curtsied and returned the smile.

*** ***

Benito was making his way to the dining area when one of the kitchen porters stopped him, he listened to what the young man told him and nodded his sympathies. The young man disappeared and he was about to walk away when from the corner of his eye, Lenny emerged on the top of the stairs. Her hair fell to her shoulders like messy spirally heaps and she was wearing a dress that looked like flowers had attached themselves to every curve. She smiled and he smiled back.

"How are you this evening Ben?" she started.

"I'm very well, your Highness and how are you?" Ben replied.

"What is with this place and titles? First Bella and now you... I don't address you by Sargent, Corporal, Lieutenant Mancini of the Regiment and besides we're friends, aren't we? So shouldn't you just call me by my name?" Lenny installed some sense.

"We can be whatever you want us to be Princess," Ben replied as they proceeded to walk past the dining area.

"Are you always this robotic with your answers Ben? Don't you want us to be friends, is that it?" Lenny said noticing that they'd strayed away from the dining area, "Isn't dinner going to be served in the Dining area tonight?"

"No, unfortunately your grand father and grand mother have been called away, so they won't be joining us tonight, so I thought we'd take dinner out on the veranda, if that's okay with you?" Ben said.

"That's fine, is everything okay?" the alarm written all over the question she posed to him.

"Everything is fine," he smiled, drawing out the chair and sliding her in towards the table. She tucked into her first course with haste and he laughed out loud, "You are very hungry indeed."

"I'm so sorry Ben, I'm starving..." she said in between mouthfuls, "Not exactly the picture of Principessa you expected, huh? This is great by the way, what is it?"

"It's Polenta, made out of cornmeal... my mother used to make this for me and my siblings when we were kids, it's very good." Ben commented as he took a bite with some fish.

They talked mostly about Ben tonight, his childhood, the friends he made and kept. His life in the army. He didn't mind talking about himself, just wasn't used to it. He was mostly a listener, but tonight he was the talker. By the time dessert was served and a bottle of wine demolished, he was all to happy to just sit back gaze at the stars and listen intently to what she had to say. She took a spoonful of Tirimisu and he watched as the cream grazed the side of her mouth, impaling her with a smudge of cream. She closed her eyes and made an orgasmic sound that shot right through to his nether regions. The look on her face made him envisage what it would be like to have her under him but he thought better and dismissed the thought from his head. She was taking another bite but that smudge of cream was calling out to him.

"Lenny, you've got some cream on your..." he directed with his finger. She tried to wipe the excess cream from her mouth but missed it a mile off, he nodded and she leaned forward, which he instinctively took as her wanting him to take it away for her. He reached for her handkerchief and wiped it off softly. He didn't know what it was, was it the ambiance of the evening or the absence of the drunk wine creating havoc with his senses? He wanted... what he wanted, didn't fit into the equation. He was about to draw away when she leaned forward and closed the space between them. He could feel the softness of her lips on his, the warmth shooting through his body like a tasser of electricity, except this was far more lethal, yet intoxicatingly sensual than he had ever imagined. He prised her lips open with his tongue and met hers with full demand. All of a sudden, her hands were grazing his cheek and she was leaning into him. God, he wanted more of her, this kiss wasn't going to satisfy him but he couldn't allow himself to think, he just wanted to feel.

She withdrew from the kiss momentarily, to look at his lips and then found him staring at her with such a great intensity, "I want you Ben, I want you so bad," the whisper came out.

"I want you..." he whispered, barely. He stood up and took her hand in his gently and guided her inside and towards his bedroom. He wanted to make love to her, he wanted to bury himself deep inside her... as they reached the top of the stairs, he pushed the door open and they both walked in. He closed the curtains and turned towards her, she was standing so statuesque in the middle of his room and he wanted nothing more then to kiss every curve and taste every part of her. He walked up to her and kissed her with such urgency, she melted into him. His right hand found her breast and he squeezed it, playing with the now erect nipple and heard her gasp of satisfaction, he couldn't stop kissing her... "You're wearing too many clothes Lenny..." he said, as he tried to tug the dress away from her.

"There's a zip at the back," she whispered. She was standing in front of him, as he tugged the zip down revealing her soft curvaceous back and the black thong she was wearing. He almost lost it there and then, the site of her buttocks almost threw him to the edge, if it weren't for her soft whisper, "Is there something wrong?"

He looked up at her worried expression, "Yes, I was just admiring how beautiful you look and admiring your very sexy behind." He saw her blush crimson, "It is true, I only say what I mean." She blushed even more and turned away, stepping out of her dress, he saw her for the very first time, "Lie down on the bed Lenny."

She did as she was told, Ben took off his shirt and then unbuttoned his trousers and took off his shoes, as soon as he'd discarded all his clothes, he stood stark naked in front of her. He could see her eyes taking in every detail of his physique and her look of approval sent chills down the length of him. He never really bothered about the approval of women before but he did, somehow with her. He strode up to the bed and leaned down, his head coming towards her tightly bound legs, "Lenny, open your legs for me."

She did as she was told, he took her black thong off gently and put it to one side and pushed her thighs apart, gently he tugged the folds back and saw the pinkish flesh of her femininity and with his tongue he caressed her inner core. She gasped and he could feel the nub tighten and as he sucked and licked, it became more pronounced. His hand found her breast and he seized it, squeezing it, caressing the erect pebble, he could hear her panting, feel her moans escalate and suddenly they all careened into one, he could feel her bulk underneath him and then there was a long sigh. He sat up on his knees and saw the dreamy allure written all over her face, she had reached the peak and shattered into a million billionaire flights of ecstasy. He slid up towards her, towering her with the enormity of his broad shoulders and his six pack torso and he kissed her and she kissed him back willingly. He was hard and he wanted so much, to be buried inside her. As he positioned himself at the apex of her legs, he could feel the wetness of her orgasm emanating onto the tip of his penis, he reached into his side drawer and opened a foil packet, he must remember, protection was vital. As he slid the latex along the length of his penis, he pushed in, only to have her words freeze him in stance.

"I'm a virgin," she said.

He looked at her, his face a mixture of emotions, he drew back.

"No no, please... don't... I want you, I want this..." she said exasperated.

He nodded and then slid in slowly. She was tight, too tight but the feeling was overwhelming, "Are you okay?" She nodded. "I'm going to pick it up, would that be okay?" She nodded. He kissed her and began thrusting into her, her moans fillings his ears, generating more pressure and it was all heading to that exact same place. He could feel an oncoming feeling gathering in the pit of his stomach, he was on the very edge of climaxing himself and then he felt her muscles tightening around his, she was deep breathing and suddenly, she was engulfed as he was, spilling into her.

Principessa: New Contours

A few days later, Lenny sat in a plush leather upholstered seat, on a private plane heading out to Italy. The sky was cloudy and overcast, mirroring her exact mood. She didn't know what to expect. She had to come to grips with her new heritage and her new family. The only thing that seemed to be stable in this chaotic world of hers was Benito, the man who had delivered this untimely news to her. He sat opposite her, with his feet crossed at the ankles and was reading an autobiography of some sort. Lenny exhaled, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Princess, I assure you everything will be fine, you do not need to worry," Benito said looking up from his book and smiling at her.

"Ben, how can I not worry? What if this is a mistake or what if they do not like me... or... that I'm not made of Royal material..." Lenny said panicked.

"Principessa, you are every bit a Royal, as I am my father's son... you may not see it but I definitely do... and so will the people. Please try to relax," Ben said.

Lenny leaned back and closed her eyes. The last couple of days, she had been trying to conjure up memories of when she was a child, but the only ones that came to light was her time in foster care and that was a side, she didn't want to revisit. She told herself to relax, to unwind... and suddenly, an idea sprung to mind, could she ask Ben to remain at her side? She opened her eyes and caught him staring at her, she thought he would look away, but his gaze held hers.

"What are you thinking Princess?" Ben said quietly.

She had to get used to being called by that title, "Ben, when we get to the palace, what will happen to you?"

"As King Rinaldo, will no longer require my services, I will go back home," Ben replied, putting his book down.

"And where is home?" Lenny asked.

"Home is in Tuscany, your Highness," Ben replied softly.

"And is Tuscany like Rome?" Lenny asked.

"No, they are very different Princess, you will see once you get there," Ben replied, "Tuscany has rolling green pastures and Cypress trees, the smell of lemons and stone houses. Rome has it's architecture stemmed in history, it's shopping, the tourist trappings and all sorts. Everything a tourist could possibly want and if you enjoy books... you will very much enjoy what there is on offer."

"How do you know, I like books?" Lenny asked.

Damn, he slipped up on that one. How on earth was he going to explain that to her, he was about to open his mouth when the captain's voice came through the speakers and pronounced, they would be landing soon with a welcome return. He watched as Lenny buckled herself in and so did he. It was as if she had forgotten her previous question and went back to staring outside the window. He could see the worry and fatigue all over her face, she had been frowning the last couple of hours, since they had boarded the plane. She was going back to a life she did not know, nor how to start and yet, he realised she was very bit a Princess dressed in a maroon dress, the bodice cupping her ample breasts and clinging to her every curve as it sashayed out from her knees like a mermaid fish tail. Her hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail and her make up was simple, not that she needed any, she was beautiful as she was but he had gathered, she was very unaware of how beautiful she was, because she was fretting so much. He had spent the last couple of days by her side, only opening his mouth when she had asked his opinion. She was thoughtful, witty but now she had slunk back into her shell and was afraid to come out again.

As the plane hit the tarmac, he saw her eyes widen with surprise and she leaned forward to take a closer look outside the window. He followed her gaze and noticed the crowds of people waving Italian flags and cheering for their new Principessa.

Ben walked out of the plane first, standing at the top of the stairs, looking around for any impending threat, but Italy was a peaceful country. He stood aside and watched as Lenny entered into view, the crowd erupted, engulfing her with loud screams as if she was the next best thing to the Beatles. Gone was the shy young woman and here was a confident young woman waving and smiling at the crowds. He held out his arm and she took it and they walked down the stairs together.

*** *** ***

Ben helped her out of the bullet proof black Rolls Royce and felt her tremble, "You will be fine Princess," he tried to sooth her but she smiled weakly. He led her away from the car, towards the walkway to the palace. He watched as she took in the vast extremity of the Royal Palace with it's white washed exteriors and high walls, angular square windows with their matching white shutters and a Moroccan coloured terracotta roof. It's grandeur was breathtaking, as were the gardens full of blooms. Ben led her up the stairs to the open gallery, where the walls were covered with floor to ceiling portraits of past Royals and a chandelier bigger then her room back in London, it was breathtaking and Ben heard her exhale. She was mesmerized by the frescoes on the ceilings standing in the centre.

"This is absolutely breathtaking," she managed to murmur.

"Yes, it is exquisite," Ben said, "But we must meet his Royal Imperial in the Library for refreshments," as he guided her towards the library. The door man opened the door and if the gallery was stunning, this was beyond imaginable. Lenny walked in, her mouth half open, stunned.

"This is so so beautiful," she gasped with utter surprise.

"I'm glad you think so," came the voice from behind her.

She spun around and there standing amidst the gold embellished furniture was an elderly gentleman and a woman by his side. They were casually but smartly dressed and the elderly woman walked towards Lenny and drew her in a hug, cupping her head in her hand.

"Il mio nipote, it' s così buona infine vederlo e tenere," the woman said, drawing away from her and touching her cheek, "You' re mai così bello e you' la ve viene a casa,"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand Italian," Lenny apologised.

"Your grandmother expressed how happy she is to finally meet you and how beautiful you are and that you're home," Benito interjected. He faced the elderly woman and spoke back in Italian, "La vostra altezza, Lenora non capisce l'italiano ma ho tradotto che cosa avete detto ed è felice di essere qui, se non una punta nervosa."

"What did you just say to her?" Lenny asked Ben.

"I told her, that I am happy to translate for her, as you don't speak Italian yet and that you are happy but nervous to be here," Benito smiled.

Lenny smiled, "Thank you." She looked up and saw that the elderly gentleman was standing behind his wife.

"Welcome to your new home, my sweet. You will excuse my poor English, it is not my first language but I am Rinaldo De Luca, your grandfather and I will like you to come and sit with us for some refreshments," he showed them to the table and chairs.

Lenny sat beside Benito and her grand parents sat opposite her. Benito had agreed to translate for them as they could be there for a while if Rinaldo were to speak English. He spoke.

And so Benito said, "Your grandfather wishes for you to stay at the Palace here, he hopes you will find a place here that you can call home. He does sincerely apologise that he could not come to get you himself, due to his commitments to the country and his ailing health, but does not want you to worry yourself. He will explain in due course, the way history has been laid out, why you were in Foster care but of course, there is a time and place for everything and they will show you around the Royal Palace."

*** ***

Lenny was shown to every room in the Palace grounds, introduced to all the staff and shown the exquisite gardens. She decided to take everything in her stride, but the grandeur of it all but suffocating to say the least and she excused herself and headed out into the gardens. She ran from the ballroom, down the stairs and towards the fountain in the centre of the gardens. It was all too much to take in, she sat down beside the fountain and touched the clear water, watching the exotic fish circling the statue. The water was cool beneath her fingertips and she looked up, the enormity of the palace was striking in the foreground. This was hers... and one day, she would inherit it all. It suddenly put everything into perspective.

She looked up to see Benito walking towards her, she watched as he handsomely strolled towards her. He had worn black suit trousers and a black shirt, that he had miraculously rolled up by his elbows to show steely bronzed forearms with a light dusting of fine hair. His hair was still immaculate despite the blazing heat and sun and his eyes, piercing. He stopped in front of her and sat beside her.

"Are you alright Lenny?" he asked.

"You didn't call me Princess..." Lenny said surprised.

"Princess is your title but not who you are, you are Lenny... softly spoken, nervous Lenny," Benito smiled, "So, how are you coping with the new found information?"

"Not as well, as I'd like. What if I'm not made to be this Princess after all? What if I fail miserably? What then? I'm a failure and a disgrace to my family..."

"You already speak like a Princess... if you see Lenny, you worry too much, when you should really be enjoying this... you are of blue blood, as they say right? You are not a failure and you would certainly be no disgrace and you have just mentioned your family... who you have met merely a few hours ago and only a few days ago, you had none, not that you knew... so what does that tell you?"

*** ***

Rinaldo and his wife Emeline watched from the second storey window out onto the gardens, to where Benito had just arrived and sat next to Lenora who seemed quite taken a back by the whole experience. Rinaldo spoke to his life in Italian, "I'm sure this experience must be very daunting for her,"

"Daunting is too a tame word Rinaldo, she must be scared, unprepared for what's to come... or how to handle the position. It was a few decades ago, when you asked me to marry you and I was a mere commoner brought to this position but she... she is of noble blood... this is what her fate is, but I find that she is finding it extremely hard to take it all in... how will she cope for the Ball?" replied Emeline in her natural tongue.

There was a pregnant pause, Rinaldo studied the two lone figures happily talking outside and his eyes never leaving their faces, "She seems comfortable with him, with Benito, don't you think?"

"Yes, are you asking him to stay?" Emeline asked, reading his thoughts.

"I think I will be, yes," Rinaldo replied.

***

Benito never left Lenny's side as they walked the Palace grounds. There were prolonged silences that lingered in the air, they weren't uncomfortable but the complete opposite. He watched her from the corner of his eye, she was looking at the grass and she had been for quite some time.

"Why do you look at the grass so much? You may miss out on the bigger picture," he asked softly.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know I was staring at it so intently," she giggled, "I've just never seen grass so lush and so green before, silly me. I was just amazed by it... were you saying something?" she said looking at him.

"No, nothing at all," he smiled. At that moment a gentleman appeared in a smartly dressed suit and announced that his Imperial Rinaldo De Luca would like to see Benito at once. He excused himself and left Lenny by herself.

He was brought back to the Library, where Benito was staring outside the window and from what Benito could see, he was staring at his grand child, "She is beautiful, isn't she? Like a treasure waiting to be unravelled."

Benito remained silent, waiting for orders to leave the palace as his mission was done. Instead his Imperial Highness, turned around and looked at him, "Benito, I understand that you have for filled your mission and brought back my grand daughter to me... but I wonder, if it's possible you could stay a while longer."

Benito tried to silence the beat of his heart, as he could suddenly feel it ringing in his ears, "What are you proposing?"

"I'm proposing that you stay here... it seems my grand daughter has taken a liking to you... she seems comfortable with you and in order for her to settle here and find her way as a Princess, you would be the next best thing. Of course, you will be here living in the Palace grounds and all your needs taken care of, would that be suitable?"

Benito thought long and hard, "And what if I choose to decline?"

"You don't have a choice," Rinaldo spoke softly but the authority was masked somewhat.

"Then that's settled then," Benito said.

"Yes, indeed it is." Rinaldo replied, pleased with himself.