The Perfect Prince (14 page)

with the limp had proclaimed her touch to be a miracle and now everyone wanted to see for themselves what she could do.

 

The superstitious villagers, for some reason or another, seemed reluctant to try a medic unit, which was a new contraption to the planet. They kept her busy until the late hours of evening. Sending the last one out the door, Nadja sighed, shaking her head in wonderment.

 

Olek was still gone and she was too tired to wait up for him. Taking a quick shower, she crawled into bed.

 

* * * *

 

“What exactly are you doing?” Nadja demanded, her eyes narrowing in displeasure.

She stood in the doorway of the bathroom. She’d just woken up and was going to brush her teeth when she discovered Olek on the floor of the bathroom. He was surrounded by the contents of her beauty bag.

 

“Please tell me you are not putting on makeup,” she demanded dryly, shaking her head. Olek gave her a sardonic frown, pressing his lips together at her statement.

 

“Zoran’s wife needs to grow her hair. Do you have something for that?”

 

“That is an eyelash curler,” Nadja said, reaching over to snatch if from his hands.

 

He was eyeing all her things with an avid curiosity, trying to snap them open and make them work. “I don’t think that’s going to help you.” Olek picked up a pair of electric tweezers and began playing with them. Taking them in his hand, he pushed at it to make its jaws snap open and shut in loud clicks.

 

Nadja grabbed it from him. He gave her a small grimace, before smiling slightly.

 

“Your brother, Zoran?” Nadja asked. She sighed, leaning over as she began putting her things back into the beauty bag the way she liked them.

 

“Yes.” Olek stood. He held a blush tinter in his hand and began clicking through the color selector. Absently, he said, “It seems she did something and he had to cut off her hair as a punishment.”

 

“That would be Pia, wouldn’t it?” Nadja said, remember what the Queen had told her. She frowned. Pia was perhaps one of the most beautiful women on the ship. She had the prettiest blonde hair Nadja had ever seen. Nadja grimaced. “Why would he do that to his wife?”

 

Olek shrugged. “I hear she shamed him at the Breeding Festival.”

 

“What kind of monster is your brother?” Nadja huffed, unable to imagine what she’d do if Olek tried to chop off her hair without her permission. Getting everything in the bag, she stood. Rolling her eyes, she held the beauty bag open for Olek to drop her brush tinter in it.

 

Olek frowned but gave the contraption back. “Do you really need all this stuff?”

 

“Yes,” she defended as if it were the stupidest question in the world.

 

“But, you’re pretty,” he offered, confused.

 

“Thanks,” came her wry answer.

 

“Well, do you have anything for Pia or not?”

 

“Yes,” Nadja answered absently. She put her things back where they belonged and went underneath one of the counters. “Here. It’s a hair extender. It will grow her hair back in about an hour or so.”

 

Olek took the hair-growing apparatus and frowned. It had a giant suction cup on one end, a funnel on the other and more buttons than a computer. He looked it over.

 

Then, glancing curiously over his wife’s body, he motioned meaningfully at her lower stomach and asked in manly curiosity, “Can you use it anywhere?” Nadja again rolled her eyes at him. He grinned, despite himself.

 

“How do does it work?” he asked when she refused to dignify his last question with a response.

 

Nadja smiled. Suddenly, she had an idea. She really would like to see some of the other woman--someone who understood her when she spoke and whose voices weren’t marred with a handsome burring accent. “Why don’t I take it to her and help her?”

 

“Would you?” Olek asked, almost relieved. He hadn’t relished playing the role of hairdresser.

 

“Sure,” Nadja said, in girlish excitement. She didn’t have a chance to make many friends before leaving the medic ship and, though they never really spoke, Pia had seemed very nice. “I have to charge it today, but I can go tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind visiting with her a little bit. I haven’t seen any of the other women since we got here.”

 

“Perfect.” Olek nodded. He looked her over, before turning away from her.

 

Clearing his throat, he said, “Now, I’ve got to go. I have to meet with the King and finish going over some trade agreements.”

 

“So, you’re not still mad at me?” Nadja inquired, biting at her lips. She wished she could take the words back because his face became a blank mask.

 

“No,” Olek replied softly, sighing. He wasn’t mad. He was hurt. She didn’t seem at all interested in having his children and it tore at his heart. The words were unconvincing, but he added, “I’m not mad.”

 

* * * *

 

Olek was gone with his father the rest of the day and Nadja didn’t make the mistake of opening the door to the persistent knocking of villagers again. She didn’t want to be the new village doctor. It was late evening before the knocks finally stopped and she wearily climbed into bed alone.

Olek was awake when she got up the next day. He reminded her to go to Pia’s, 
giving her directions to Zoran’s home. He was quiet as he again gathered up his case and left, telling her he wouldn’t be home until late.

 

Nadja hated his inattention to her. However, the idea of visiting Pia lifted her spirits some and that afternoon she went to go see her. Moreover, she didn’t relish another day of avoiding answering the door.

 

“Nadja?” Pia hazel eyes blinked in surprise when she opened the door to Nadja’s knock. She glanced around the hall in confusion.

 

“Hello, Pia,” Nadja said. She patted her light brown hair into the bun and smiled pleasantly, a little nervous. It wasn’t as if they were great friends. Instantly, her eyes went to the woman’s hair. Olek was right. Zoran must have cut it. Gripping a small bag in her hands that held the hair extender, she asked in hesitation, “Do you mind if I come in?”

 

“Oh, yeah,” Pia said, with a forming smile of apology. “I’m sorry. It’s just I’ve been cooped up in here for so long, I feel as if I forgot my manners.” Nadja smiled. Her nerves relaxed as she stepped inside. For a moment, she thought Pia was going to kick her out and she desperately wanted to stay and talk. As she stepped into the beautiful house, Pia ordered the door shut behind her.

 

“Can I get you anything?” Pia asked, beginning to move towards the kitchen. “I think we have juice.”

 

“No, I’m fine.” Nadja looked around the Japanese style home and smiled to herself. The walls were wooden planks of straight lines. A floor of matching wood was placed together in an intricate pattern of long cut strips, in the center of which was fashioned the impression a giant dragon on the front hall’s floor. A chandelier hung beneath a giant center dome. The crystal shards reflected the light, brightening the room.

 

The interior doors separating the one level of rooms were paper thin and had no locks on them. From the front hall, a single step down led to an open living room with a marble fireplace, which had straight lines carved into the plain surface and a dragon head in the center top. A step back up, led to a dining room, complete with low table and cushioned floor seats.

 

A tapestry hung on the far wall, just behind the table. It was red with the depiction of a black forest. In the middle was a noble phoenix.

 

“I see you got the Princess suite, too,” Nadja mused by way of starting conversation.

 

“You, too?” Pia laughed, almost seeming relieved that she spoke first.

 

Nadja nodded and an instant camaraderie was struck up between the women.

 

“It’s just so nice to see one of the other women from the ship,” Nadja admitted shyly. “This planet has entirely too many men, which wouldn’t be so bad except they are all so mannish.”

 

Pia chuckled, instantly seeming to understand.

 

“So which Prince did you get?” Pia politely inquired.

 

“Olek.”

 

“Ah, the ambassador.” Pia nodded wisely.

 

“What about you?” Nadja asked, though she already knew.

 

“Zoran,” Pia answered. The women’s eyes clouded softly as if she were in pain.

 

Nadja politely looked away. Pia pointed at the bag Nadja was clutching before her. “What do you have there?”

 

“Oh!” Nadja lifted it up. She hesitated, feeling a little presumptuous in offering.

 

“Before I show you, I have to apologize in advance.” Pia frowned, looking worried.

 

“It was my husband’s request,” Nadja rushed, not wanting to be rude. She reached into the bag and weakly pulled out the hair extender. “He said your husband cut off your hair and asked if I could….”

 

Nadja’s voice trailed off weakly and she shrugged.

 

Pia gave her a wry grin to put her at ease. Easily, she finished, “Grow it back for me.” Nadja nodded.

 

“Zoran didn’t cut my hair,” Pia confessed impishly. “I did.”

 

“Oh,” Nadja said, horrified. “I didn’t mean to insult you. I like your hair short.”

 

“It’s all right,” Pia laughed, trying to put the nervous woman at ease. Nadja had been quiet on the ship but Pia found she liked her agreeable, unpresuming nature. “I guess it’s called disfigurement. It means I shamed myself or something. You should see the looks the people gave me when I went outside. It was like an evil spirit came into their midst. I was waiting for mothers to rush their children away screaming.” Nadja giggled, relaxing once more. How could she not relax in Pia’s laid-back presence? Sheepishly, she said, “Well, it’s a planet of men. Go figure they’d come up with a tradition to keep their woman soft.”

 

“The Queen stopped by just to look at it,” Pia continued with a look of vast amusement. “I thought she was going to throw up on me.”

 

“Mede was probably mad at her son. She says they are a handful,” Nadja admitted. “The Queen isn’t so bad.”

 

Pia eyed her in disbelief. Nadja could tell the woman didn’t know what to think of the Queen, so she thought it would be best to change the subject.

 

“So, do you want me to grow it for you?” Nadja asked, lifting the extender. “If anything, it should give us something to do today.”

 

“Why not,” Pia answered with little consideration and an easy shrug. Then, she turned her hazel eyes to Nadja and began looking her over.

 

“What?” Nadja blushed at the bold look and seemed shaken. She glanced down over her clothes.

 

“Do you think you could help me with the other stuff too?” Pia asked, her voice dipping timidly.

 

“Other stuff?” Nadja blinked in surprise to hear the woman speaking so modestly.

 

 

Pia waved her hand at Nadja. “You know, beauty stuff--dresses, hairstyles, makeup.Nadja softly chuckled, a smile coming to her face. “Sure, I’d love to. But, honestly, I don’t think you need all that.” Pia looked down.

 

“I mean,” Nadja said, detecting something amiss in the woman’s response to the compliment. “You have a strong, natural way about you that the men around here seem to respond to. I wish I could be more like that.”

 

“What?” Pia asked. Her brow furrowed in question. “You want me to teach you how to defend yourself?”

 

“Oh, could you?” Nadja practically gushed in excitement. Her face lit up with a force of excitement. She hadn’t been asking that, but the idea fascinated her. Her father never let her learn such things as self defense. Quickly, she warned, “I mean, you’ll probably hate teaching me. I don’t even know … I don’t know anything.”

 

“I’d love to,” Pia insisted. Nadja could see she really meant it.

 

Nadja bounced in giddy anticipation. Grinning like a fool, she said, “All right, let’s get started.”

 

* * * *

 

By the time Nadja left, she felt as if she and Pia were long time friends. The woman was modest and didn’t seem to know her own beauty. They finished her hair and Nadja invited the woman for dinner. Pia refused and Nadja had the feeling she was anxious about her husband coming home. She frowned, feeling Pia’s apprehension when she mentioned the man. She’d also see the slight bruise in her chin and wondered if maybe Zoran hit his wife. She was too polite to ask.

Pia showed her a couple of self defense moves that Nadja could practice on her own. They tentatively scheduled to meet with each other in a day or two, thinking it would be best to hold off the real training until a later date when they were both up for it.

 

Saying their goodbyes, the women smiled and Nadja bounced all the way home. She couldn’t wait.

 

“Where did you learn to do this stuff?”

 

Olek had been watching his wife in silence, liking the way she twirled her hair when she was in deep thought. He’d been standing in his office door for some time, just watching her. She didn’t notice he was there, but he was always aware of her.

 

Nadja blinked in surprise, looking up from her notes. She sat at the table, figuring different formula combinations. It was a like a giant riddle that begged to be solved, and she loved every agonizing, headache-making moment of it.

 

“What?” Nadja was surprised that Olek was talking to her. When he hadn’t been working with his father, he’d been in his office getting ready to work with his father. She hardly saw him and when he was there, she hardly felt like he was. He was always so preoccupied.

 

“Like what you did with the medic unit,” he said. Lightly, he set a glass of wine before her and took a seat across from her.

 

“My father taught me,” she answered, lost in his eyes for a moment. They seemed so kind and gentle, not like the hard eyes that had stared back at her for the last couple of days. Just one soft look from him and her heart would flutter.

 

“Your father?” he questioned, mildly surprised by the admission. Olek was all too aware of how little he knew the woman before him. Now that his trade negations were well in place, he could concentrate more on his home life.

 

“He’s a doctor,” she said, swallowing nervously. Her hand trembled and the pen fell to her paper. She closed her notebook and took up the wine.

 

“Where?” Olek didn’t miss the way she all of a sudden avoided meeting his gaze.

 

“He travels all over,” Nadja answered the best she could. She swallowed, unable to meet his expression. It was too kind, too inquisitive. “I couldn’t tell you where he is at the moment.”

 

Well, it’s the truth, thought Nadja in dejection.

 

“Will he travel here? He’d be welcome to visit. We have a wing specifically for guests.”Nadja wasn’t so sure how welcome her father would be in a place like this. She gulped her wine nervously. Olek gave a quizzical smile as she set the empty glass down.

 

“More?” he asked.

 

Nadja shook her head. “No. I have work to do. Too much wine and I won’t be able to concentrate.”

 

She tried to stand. Olek reached a hand out to stop her. His fingers wrapped her wrist and he felt her pulse racing beneath his fingers. Instinctively, he smelled her fear.

 

“I don’t want to talk about this,” she said. “My father won’t visit us here. He doesn’t know where I am and I prefer to keep it that way.”

 

“Nadja,” Olek began, only to sigh. To his people family was very important. “But, he’s your father.”

 

He’s a madman! her head screamed. She took a calming breath. “He’s not in my life anymore. So can we drop it?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Nadja relaxed greatly at the admission, though her eyes seemed to dart around the room as if searching the darkened corners for something that wasn’t there.

 

Olek wasn’t finished talking quite yet, and asked, “What about Pia? Did you get her hair fixed?”

 

Nadja smiled. “She actually cut it herself, but she did let me grow it for her. I don’t think she knew that everyone would consider it a disfigurement. She’s really nice and offered to teach me how to throw knives.” At that Olek grinned.

 

“She’s very good,” Nadja defended.

 

Olek’s smile widened. He was glad she had a woman to talk to. “I’m sure she’s wonderful. Just be careful. I would hate to see you hurt yourself.” Nadja blushed in pleasure at his concern. She nodded dutifully.

 

“So, how’s your work coming along?” Nadja asked shyly. She hated to admit it, but his secretive nature when it came to what he did had her very curious. Several times she almost dug through his office for a clue. Only her self-respect kept her from going through with it.

 

Okay that and the fear of him catching her in the act.

 

“It’s coming along,” he said, sipping his wine. “I’m almost finished with what I was doing and will start a new project soon.” The vague answer caused her to frown. “Can’t you tell me any more than that?

 

What is it you’re doing? What will you start on next?”

 

“It wouldn’t interest you. It’s just intergalactic politics--very boring stuff.”

 

“A very diplomatic answer,” she answered hesitantly in the Qurilixian's language.

 

Olek laughed, “Not bad. I see you’ve been practicing.”

 

“Thanks.” A little blush fanned Nadja’s features as he studied her.

 

“Ah, Nadja?” Olek began, looking down at his glass. He swirled the wine. “There is something I need to ask you.”

 

Nadja frowned, worried. “What?”

 

“I know you don’t like being a Princess,” he began in apprehension. He’d been avoiding this conversation, but with the coronation in a couple days he had no choice but to bring it up. His father had been relentless in asking him about it. Olek couldn’t blame the King. After all, he was practically hiding out in his father’s office.

 

“Yes,” Nadja said carefully. Her heart beat in panic. Was he going to get rid of  
her? The idea terrified her more than she thought it would have.

 

Olek sighed. Hesitantly, he reached forward, taking her hand in his. “There is a big celebration in two nights and I want you to go with me … as my Princess.” Nadja blinked. Her heart let loose in her chest. His green eyes were studying her expectantly, as if weary of her answer.

 

“It’s very important to the kingdom for you to be there,” Olek said, “or else I wouldn’t ask it of you.”

 

Her heart stopped.

 

“It’s to be your and the other Princesses’ coronation into the family.” Olek traced the long line of her unmoving fingers beneath his hand. “There will be some diplomats there from a neighboring kingdom to bear witness. It’s very important that they think you’re happy, that all the brides are happy here with us.” Olek studied her face, wanting desperately to ask her if she was happy with him.

 

She never said anything one way or the other, except to state she hated being a Princess and wished for a simple life. Thinking of the politics involved with this celebration, he knew that simple was the farthest thing from it.

 

“I know it’s a lot to ask, being as you are … that you didn’t want this,” he said carefully. He drew his hands from hers.

 

Nadja nodded. He wasn’t asking her because he wanted her there with him. He was asking her because duty required him to bring her.

 

Olek saw the look in her eyes and mistook her disappointment for displeasure. He was sorry for it. An ache started in the pit of his stomach. He really wanted to take her with him. He really wanted her to want to be there as his wife, proudly proclaiming herself as his bride.

 

“It’s fine, Olek,” Nadja answered softly. Her eyes dipped, trying to hide her worry.

 

“It’s just a planetary event? There won’t be intergalactic nations attending will there?”

 

“No, we don’t really hold intergalactic events. Occasionally, we will entertain a foreign ambassador, but it’s rare and often it’s only one or two people, never a large group.”Nadja was glad for that. An intergalactic event would mean cameras and reporters and, worst of all, her name being printed all over the galaxy like a walking advertisement for trouble.

 

“What will happen?” she asked, softly. “What do I need to do?”

 

“Just show up and smile.”

 

Nadja chuckled, liking the way he was looking at her. Her eyes dipped to his mouth, longing to kiss him.

 

“The coronation is simple,” Olek added. “The Preosts will crown you as you are seated in your chair. You aren’t required to make a speech or to do anything special.

 

We’ll have dinner, dance if you wish, and that’s all.”

 

“I think I can do that,” Nadja murmured. Her eyes again dipped to his mouth, 
wondering if he tasted of wine. A party didn’t sound all that bad.

 

“I appreciate it, Nadja.” Olek was unaware of her thoughts as she stared at his face. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.” Nadja wanted to stop him as he stood to go. His boyishly handsome grin as he paused to look at her made her heart contract. Her hand twitched to reach for him, but he turned away before she could get up the nerve to touch him.

 

* * * *

 

Nadja took a deep breath, looking pointedly at Pia. They were in the long exercise room in Pia’s home. The wood floors were perfectly smoothed and polished. There were weapons everywhere--some of which Nadja had no clue about. The paper thin door leading between rooms was opened and Nadja could see Pia’s dining room table from where she stood.

“Okay, Nadja,” Pia said, trying to draw her friend’s attention back to her. Nadja was drifting off again. “I want you to kick my hand.” Nadja was in comfortable black pants and a cotton shirt Pia had lent her for the lesson. Her own clothes hadn’t been suitable for what they were about, according to Pia.

 

Taking a deep breath, she looked at the woman’s hand high in the air.

 

“Just like I showed you,” Pia urged.

 

Nadja kicked, giving a light jump as she did so.

 

“Again,” Pia said. Nadja kicked a second time and then a third and fourth on command. Pia smiled. “You’re getting a lot better.” Nadja blushed. “I’m sorry. I’m just so distracted today.” Pia lowered her hand, sensing a talk. “What’s going on?” Nadja shrugged. “Have you been told about our coronation?”

 

“We have a coronation?” Pia asked, before laughing.

 

“I guess not,” Nadja said. “Olek told me about it last night. He says it’s important to the kingdom that we go and act happy.”

 

“Ah,” Pia said, perceptively. “He didn’t say that it was important to him that you go.”

 

Nadja blushed, but nodded in agreement. “He’s just so frustrating! One minute I want to … kiss him and the next I want to….”

 

“Kiss him some more?” Pia said with a laugh.

 

“Exactly,” Nadja said with a bashful grin. Pia lifted her opposite hand and Nadja kicked it repeatedly, as she continued, “And I shouldn’t want to. He’s not what I wanted at all when I came here. I wanted a sweet country doctor who was old and didn’t make me want to kiss him all the time.”

 

“Instead you got a Prince.”

 

“Exactly,” Nadja said, kicking harder and faster. Losing her breath, she paused. “I 
got the perfect Prince. Sometimes, it’s like I married a title, not a man. I have no clue what he does all day. I know he’s an ambassador and working on trade agreements, but every time I ask he changes the subject like I’m some kind of alien spy.”

 

“Now a low kick,” Pia instructed, holding her hand down low near waist level.

 

Nadja turned to use her other leg.

 

“Nadja,” Pia began. “Why did you come here?” Nadja froze. Her leg dropped down without striking. Pia dropped her hand.

 

Taking a deep breath, Pia began reaching for a glass of water. Nadja, mistaking her as wanting her to kick, did.

 

Pia bent over just as Nadja’s foot struck out. It hit her in the stomach, sending her off balance in surprise. Nadja gasped. Pia stumbled back, right into a standing display of swords. Her mouth opened in astonishment.

 

“Oh, Pia,” Nadja gasped, running forward. She reached to grab her. “I didn’t mean to. I thought--”

 

“No,” Pia gulped. Her somber expression kept her back. Pia looked down at her side. Blood was spilling onto the floor. “Get a medic.” Nadja paled. She ran for the front door.

 

“Open,” Pia yelled weakly. She heard the door slide. Her breath became shallow as she pulled forward, urging a blade from her back. She fell to the floor, whispering,

 

“Please hurry.”

 

* * * *

 

Tal, the royal household’s personal medic, said Pia was going to be all right. She lost a fair amount of blood and her wound needed to be seared shut with a laser. He did the back first, before moving to the front. Nadja felt awful, standing pale and worried in the background. Pia told her to quit fussing, that it was just an accident and she’d been through much worse.

Nadja didn’t feel better. She had never hurt anyone like that before. To think that her only female friend ever might have died because of her stupidity made her want to retch. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her father’s laughing face. He would think it a great irony.

 

Pia flinched, barely making a sound as the medic worked. She lay on her couch, arm raised above her head. Her clothes were drenched with sweat and blood. Lifting up to watch the medic work, the injured woman sighed.

 

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to deaden the pain, my lady?” the medic asked when she jerked at a particularly deep section of the wound.

 

“No,” Pia answered between her tightened lips. “It’s fine. Just keep going.” Nadja stood behind him, worrying her hands. “I’m so sorry, Pia. I didn’t mean to kick you that hard.”