Tap tap, My high heels pounded against the floor, growing faster and louder as I ran. Damn, I was almost late.
“Your Highness, please don’t run. It’s dangerous!” Elvie, my personal assistant, called out.
“Hurry, Elvie. We’re almost late. We can’t be late for the meeting with the ambassadors, you know. Today’s agenda is crucial to the progress of our country and our people. I’ve been preparing this program since last year, and now I can finally present it. If we hadn’t run into Bima, we wouldn’t have had to rush like this,” I hissed irritably.
Bima was the son of a senior Democratic Party parliamentarian who kept pursuing me. It would be better if he pursued me because he genuinely liked me, but he was only interested in my status and background.
My name is Arindra Pitaloka, the youngest of three siblings. My father, Prabu Arya Galuh, is the King of the Kingdom of Indonesia, a modern constitutional monarchy known for its cultural diversity and abundant natural resources. As a princess entrusted with leading the country as Minister of Foreign Affairs, my duty is to ensure that our international relations with other countries run smoothly. It has also become my vision to introduce our culture to the world beyond our borders and strengthen our position on the international stage. I want the whole world to know that this country I love is filled with legendary beauty, and through this, I hope my people can live increasingly prosperous lives and achieve their happiness.
Bang!
I accidentally opened the door far too hard. Everyone in the room turned to look at me.
“Sorry,” I said briefly, offering a small, apologetic smile, embarrassed and a little ashamed. I straightened my posture and walked confidently to my desk before sitting down. I glanced at the nameplate on top of it.
Princess Arindra Pitaloka, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
My name, title, and position were written in English because this meeting was with ambassadors from various countries.
Knock knock.
Someone gently tapped on my desk.
“You’re almost late, Your Highness,” he said with a smile.
I turned toward the voice.
“I know, Mr. Lawrence, but fortunately, that didn’t happen,” I replied as I opened the documents I had prepared and read through them for what felt like the hundredth time. From the corner of my eye, I saw him give me a brief smile before quickly shifting his gaze toward the meeting chair’s table at the very front. The meeting chair had entered the room, and the meeting was about to begin.
Maximilian Lawrence. He was the United States Ambassador stationed at his country’s embassy in Jayakarta, the capital of the Kingdom of Indonesia. His short copper-brown hair was neatly combed to the side, with a touch of gel keeping it perfectly in place. It was the hairstyle he always wore to formal events like this meeting. Before I could finish looking at him, the meeting chair suddenly spoke loudly into the microphone on his table and announced that today’s meeting had officially begun. I straightened in my seat and followed the meeting attentively.
The meeting’s opening proceeded smoothly. The meeting chair delivered the opening greetings and a brief speech, then the meeting secretary took their turn to explain today’s agenda. Shortly afterward, the meeting secretary gave a brief introduction to the agenda I would be presenting, and it was finally my turn to present it.
“Good morning, everyone. I’m here to present—”
Before I could finish speaking, one of the officials suddenly interrupted me.
“Your Highness, on what basis did you include your agenda here? Aren’t you just a puppet princess who was given this position through connections?”
I was shocked by the sarcastic words that so openly looked down on me. I realized that this meeting might not go as smoothly as I had imagined.