The Translator

Chapter 6: The Tea Party

*Erik's P.O.V.*

Later that night, we are all invited to attend a pre-dinner tea with the royal family and staff. A few of the selected are still quite shaken up from the sudden elimination, but Henri is back to his normal, happy, smiley self. He maintains his constant happy attitude all throughout the tea party, making his way around the room with me following in his shadow. Suddenly he freezes, his eyes locked on Princess Eadlyn as she chats with Baden and Gunner. Finally she turns away from them and as her eyes meet Henri's, he immediately begins to walk over to her with a grin stretching from ear to ear.

"Hello! Hyvaa iltaa!" Henri expresses, bending down to kiss her cheek.

"He says 'Good evening.'" I translate softly.

"Oh um..." she pauses, thinking about it for a moment before mumbling, "heevat eelah?"

"Good, good!" Henri chuckles cheerfully.

The Princess turns to me before asking, "How bad was it really?"

"I'm sorry to say, there is no way I could have even guessed at what that was," I say honestly, making her smile. Before the Princess can answer, a young girl around the age of fifteen comes waltzing up to us and interrupts.

"Great party, Eadlyn," she says loudly, turning her attention to Henri. "You're Henri, right? I've seen your picture." She extends her hand and I can tell Henri is a bit confused, but he shakes it anyways. "I'm Josie. Eadlyn and I are practically sisters!"

"Except that we're not related at all," the Princess adds quickly. I quickly try to convey the conversation to Henri, being as quiet as possible so I can go unnoticed, but it doesn't seem to work.

"Who are you??" Josie asks, sticking her nose up in the air. "I don't remember seeing your picture."

"I'm Sir Henri's translator," I explain, "he only speaks Finnish."

Josie looks incredibly disappointed, probably because she finds Henri quite attractive. She is quite for a few moments before stammering, "So...how does he, like even live?"

"If you're practically Her Highness's sister, then I'm sure the palace has afforded you an excellent education," I speak up, not even checking with Henri. 'So, of course you know the relations between Illea and Swendway are old and strong, drawing many Swendish people to settle here, making small communities, and vice versa. It's not difficult at all."

"Oh, of course," Josie stammers. "Ummm...excuse me!"

"I'm sorry," the Princess whispers once Josie is out of earshot. "It has nothing to do with you two. She's just terrible."

"No offense taken," I reply honestly, quickly turning back to Henri and relaying all that just hapened.

"Pardon me. I need to speak with someone, but I'll see you at dinner," the Princess says sweetly, giving us a curtsy before walking away.

Henri watches her walk away, completely in awe of her beauty and kindness, just as much as I. After a good five minutes, he turns around to join Hale and Ean's conversation, a very large smile on his face as per usual. I continue to stand in his shadow, whispering translations into his ear as I try my best to remain focused. I have to admit that my gaze falters a few times, wandering back to the lovely princess who is making her way around the room. Every time she glances my way and catches my eye, she gives me a small smile that warms my heart and I can't help but think, what if I HAD put name into the selection. Would my name have been picked? Would I have really been able to compete for the heart of the beautiful, kind, luminescent princess??

I am brought back to the present as Henri begins speaking rapid Finnish to me, wondering why I am not translating for him. I quickly apologize and put my thoughts aside...anyways, it doesn't matter now. I am here as Henri's translator, not a suitor, so there is absolutely no chance for me to win the affections of the Princess. Still...I can't help but feel like I missed a very important opportunity...