Finally,

part 36 - N

"Elena, here's what I'm gonna do, tomorrow I'll introduce you to my parents, I really shouldn't delay this cause its getting out of hand, so I'll get you to the palace, introduce you so that they'll know that you're a proper person, you're not.. whatever they expect you to be," I said

"They will not like me, Nic" I argued

Nicholas sighed," True, but its not like there are other choice Elena" 

"They perceive me as a whore, Nic" I argued again

"No, Elena, please don't listen to them, they.. look, there are 3 girls, eliminated from the palace because they wear minimal clothing and one masturbated in public, they are not any better despite their background" Nicholas replied

"That's one strong point" Fitz added

"Then what?" Elena asked

"I don't know, we'll see where it goes from there yeah?" I convinced, Elena stayed silent. What is she thinking

"I don't know Nic, is this too fast?" She questioned

"Welcome to the palace and its politics, its fast, its furious, it plays tricks, they are smart but we need to be smarter" Timothy said

"Its not making me feel any better" Elena replied

I chuckled, sat next to her, " I know it may seem crazy to you, trust us on this would ya?" 

Elena still stay quiet, the suspense is killing me mentally, I sighed and held her hand, " you know I love you? We love you" 

"Yeah, okay, we'll see where it goes from there" Elena finally said

"Okay" I responded, kissing her forehead. Hopefully everything goes well. 

***

The next day we're on our way to the palace, its only me and her together. I drove in silence, not because I'm nervous, more like I'm constructing my words so I can spit out the perfect sentence to my parents. 

"Nic?" Elena called

"Yeah baby?"

"What should I do, when I meet them, what should I say?" Elena asked

"First you bow, address them as your majesties, for around 5 seconds and come back up, you don't speak unless spoken to, or asked," I replied

"I'm nervous" she admitted

"It's okay baby, I'll be there with you, trust me on this" I convinced her, grabbed her hand and kissed it. 

We reached the palace and I park on the front door. As expected, my parents are already there, with Anastasia. 

"Nicholas" mother said

"Mother, Father" I greeted, "This is Elena" Elena bowed and greeted them as well. They didn't pay attention to her

"Explain yourself" Father scolded

"I always have my choice, I was never fond of the five women you've both chosen for me," I explained

"Well what makes you think you can choose some random woman to be your wife? This is a future queen we're talking about Nicholas, have some sense into it" Mother argued

"Elena is not some random woma.." 

"A whore" Mother interrupted, "from the manor" 

"Exactly, the manor that we built." I stated

"So you know exactly what she is, what she's working as" Father objected

"If it's so bad about her background, then why approve of building the manor? Why provide a place of prostitution?" I reasoned

"Nicholas, Anastasia is a better suitor, she has gained a good public reputation, she is educated, she comes from a proper family" Mother bragged

"And I promise you, Elena is not less than that" 

"How so?" Father disputed

"What happened with the 3 girls that were eliminated in the first place?" 

Then there was silence, "thought so," I added

"Let's have a debate then, I'll have Daniel prepare the topics, let public be the vote" Father suggested

"Alright, we can do that in 2 weeks time" I confirmed. Father nodded as he walks away, mother and Anastasia followed suit. 

I looked at Elena, she looks scared, I hugged her, whispering, "It's all going to be alright, we have 2 weeks to prepare" . I led her back to the car as we drive back to the mansion. The drive back is silent, we have time to chill until Daniel prep the topics. 

"Hungry?" I asked

"A bit" Elena answered

I called Tim to prepare us brunch, we could stop at a restaurant but I don't want to waste time, I want to rush home and tell the others so they could help Elena and I with this. 

"Nic.." 

"Hmm?" 

"When you said you built the manor, is Finabatten manor actually owned by the kingdom?" She asked

I nodded, "It is, it has been our plan since we received reports of rape or harassments almost four times a month, on average it's one per week, we figured, it's probably due to lack of entertainment for the men, it's not an act to be glorified, nor it's a correct way, but somehow it is effective. You see, men have their needs, psychologically and biologically. It has been our nature, it's wrong that people use force to get what they need, so that's when we label them as crime offenders, but what will be the solution on this? Hence, the manor, people pay to have sex, women sell their bodies. Hard truth, but we never receive a complaint of rape ever since its built."

We soon arrive at the mansion, Elena opened the door and asked, "Do you happen to know everybody who works there?" 

"I happen to be the person in charge of the project, so yes, I approve every woman that wish to work there," I closed the car door and held her hand," I happen to know that you applied, so yes, I knew you, before you start working there" 

"How was it?" Zane asked

"There will be a debate, between her and Ana, topics are to be determined by Daniel, he'll send it to us, 2 weeks to prepare" I explained to everyone

"Aw fuck, we'll be ready, I promise" Elijah assured. 

"Hey, food's ready" exclaimed Tim

"Thanks Tim, I'm starving" I replied.