I greeted the next day with the mother of all hangovers, again. Shit. I really needed to do something about that drinking problem. I got the usual coffee and cigarette breakfast, while checking my phone for emails and texts.

Jo had answered. She congratulated me for a job well done and hoped I didn’t drink too much. Well, she was hoping in vain for that last part.

I couldn’t get to the office and had nothing planned until after school hours, so I settled on my laptop and started reading up on what I now knew was the kingdom I lived in. If I was to get Eileen married to Gianni, I needed to know more about him and his history.

The kingdom was called Aurora, from the name of a once beloved queen. Looked like Gianni was her direct descendant on his mother’s side. His father was from another kingdom, in Italy. Obviously.

It was a small area, with our city at its center. Guess it must be the capital. The kingdom’s main resource was magic. It didn’t have much of an agriculture, and only one University where they taught mostly magic, history, and English. It was well known and quite a few people from neighboring kingdoms came to study there.

It was also a refuge for magical creatures, which explained the number of them working at the Agency.

Gianni at 23 was the official heir, for now. He had a younger brother who was already married at 20, and a sister of 15. That explained his urge to wed Eileen, his brother must be trying to get the throne from him. Well, if all went according to plan, he wouldn’t have to worry for long.

Jo had supposedly already called Eileen but hadn’t told me about it. I shot her a text asking what was up. While I waited for an answer, I went to take a shower. Just because I worked from home didn’t mean I had to let myself go.

The answer awaited me as I got out of the shower. I still had a towel on my hair as I reached for the phone. “Talked to the girl, she wants to see you. Jo.”

That didn’t give me much of a choice. I didn’t know if Eileen was working or at school or what. I called her. She answered almost immediately.

“Hey Tina, was waiting for your call. How are you?” I smiled. She was always so nice and polite. “I’m doing fine, what about you? You wanted to see me?” She did. “Yeah, I’m good. Josephine told me about your arrangement with the prince you want me to meet, so I figured you and I could talk it out in more detail before anything happened.”

That was fair. “Also, maybe we can call him together, I don’t want to meet him in person right away.”

That was also fair. I agreed, and asked when I could pass by. “Oh, I’m free all day today. Come by whenever you want, I’ll make coffee for you. And no you still can’t smoke in my apartment.” I laughed and told her I’d be on my way.

I still took the time to dry my hair and find some comfortable yet classy clothes before I left. I wasn’t going to give Jo the satisfaction of knowing I wasn’t ready for this.

The subway ride was thankfully quiet at this time of day. I could have flown there but I wasn’t dressed warmly enough.

As soon as I rang, the door opened. She wasn’t kidding when she said she’d be waiting for me. I was glad I had left almost right away and hadn’t made her wait too long. I got my headache up the stairs and arrived at her place out of breath. Again.

“You look like shit, Tina!” Eileen greeted me as I walked inside. I could smell the coffee waiting. I grunted “yeah, I made a magical mistake last night and am still dealing with the aftermath”, I lied. She wouldn’t take my bullshit. “You mean you drank too much and you’re hungover.” I grunted again, and took a seat on one of the chairs.

Eileen brought me a steaming mug and sat down across from me. “Can you work in that state?” I stared at her, outraged. “Of course I can! I could make the trip all the way here, I can make a phonecall!”

She didn’t seem so sure, but dropped the topic. We both blew on our coffees and took small sips in enjoyable silence for a while, content in each other’s company. Then Eileen decided enough was enough. “So, this prince, what is he like?”

I was caught off guard. I hadn’t expected that question, although I probably should have. “Well, he’s… Italian on his father’s side and it shows. He’s 23 years old, relatively tall, with dark eyes and a charming baritone voice. He’s also a little arrogant from the little I’ve seen, and in a hurry to get married. He’s the prince of our kingdom, did you know that? You’d become my queen.”

Eileen laughed. I liked her laugh, it was very distinguished and clear as crystal. Unlike mine.

“And then you’d have to do everything I tell you, huh? That would be something.” It was my turn to laugh. “I didn’t even know this kingdom existed before yesterday, don’t think that will change a thing love.”

When we were done laughing, Eileen wiped a tear from her eye and took on a more serious face. “So tell me, what’s the arrangement you’ve made for me?” I told her about the prince paying for school and giving her a big garden, about the deadline and the agriculture thing. I also told her the prince came in a bundle with his arrogant, selfish prick of a butler.

“I don’t care about the butler, Tina. But you seem to. What did they do to you that you seem to loathe them so much?” I was taken aback. I didn’t expect that question. “Guess it was the butterfly net, the weird magic, and the insufferable smile…”

I told her about my first meeting with Cecile and how bad it had been. She laughed again, this time at me. I didn’t like that but hey, at least she was laughing.

I changed the topic as soon as I could. “So you would agree to the prince’s demands? In theory, of course. If you meet him and can’t stand him, we’ll find something or someone else. We’re still trying to track your father down by the way.”

We had indeed been trying to find the father to make him rescind the contract, or at least modify it. But no luck. Of course.

“Thank you for that. I do miss him, you know. He was infuriating with all this marriage talk, but he was a good dad. I was sad when he left me. As to the prince, I’ll want to talk it out with him directly if that’s all right with you. Can we call him?” Of course we could. I had the number in my phone.

Cecile answered. “Miss Tina, to what do I owe the displeasure?”

I looked pointedly at Eileen, in a “I told you so” way. She nodded with a smile. They’d have their hands full if she married Gianni.

“Well as you know we’ve been making arrangements with a certain princess, who is currently next to me and would like a chat with your master. Directly.” My tone was harsh but they deserved it.

Cecile didn’t answer but I could hear footsteps and hushed voices. I was sure they would put the phone on speaker, so I did the same. I was too curious anyway. And this case had gotten me in a hell of a mess, I deserved to know all the details of it. Eileen raised an eyebrow but didn’t protest. I took that as an agreement.

“Hello? This is Gianni.” I recognized the voice. That sweet, charming baritone that had invaded some of my dreams. I nodded to Eileen and dragged myself out of my reverie. 

“Hello Gianni, I am Eileen. I am told you want to marry me. I am willing to at least consider it, but first I need to know who and what you are. You see, I am not interested in marrying at all. So if I dislike you, this is not happening, no matter if you pay me ten scholarships and a dozen gardens. Is it clear?”

That wasn’t the softest way to introduce herself, but it was efficient. Gianni barked a laugh on the other end of the line. It seemed he liked her spirit, at least.

“As I already told your… what is she, your assistant? Your pet? Whatever. As I told Tina, I am looking for a queen, but not a wife. This marriage would be of pure convenience and you won’t have to see much of me. I-” She interrupted.

“Tina is my fairy godmother and I would appreciate it if you didn’t insult her. And I won’t be marrying someone I’ll never see, no matter if it is for convenience. We have to at least get along. I am not a luggage you open and leave on a shelf. I am a princess and you owe me at least the respect of learning to know me.”

I refrained from whistling. She was handling herself very well. Jo would be so mad to have missed this. I hid my giggle behind a cough.

Gianni seemed to be annoyed. “Yes, yes, no disrespect meant. And of course we’ll have to get along, I don’t want a queen I can’t stand either. How about a meeting? With chaperones of course. I’ll bring Cecile and you can bring your fairy godmother along. Tomorrow?”

Eileen looked at me, and I nodded. I would have to let Jo know, but I was okay with this. “Well, mister prince, I work all day tomorrow. So it would have to be in the evening. Would you take us out for dinner perhaps?” I was shocked at her temerity, and my respect for her grew even more. She really was something else.

Gianni took his time answering, probably looking for advice from Cecile. Eventually, he agreed to dinner the next day, and we ended the call.

Eileen gave me her brightest smile. “I think it went pretty well, no?” I had to laugh. “Yes, yes it did. You’ll have him running at your orders won’t you girl” She giggled at that, and went back to the kitchen for more coffee.

We spent some time chatting about the conversation with the prince and the upcoming meeting. I sent Josephine an email recapping what had transpired, and telling her I’d be on my best behavior on the morrow. We drank our coffee and chatted some more, spending a pleasant time together while she tried to explain what she was working on and I pretended to understand.