Chapter 40: The Royal Dinner
The next evening arrived with a calm breeze drifting through the streets of San Francisco. The sky had already darkened by the time Anshul finished adjusting the simple black suit he had purchased earlier that afternoon. It wasn't extravagant, but it was clean, elegant, and appropriate for a formal event.
A royal dinner was not something he intended to attend unprepared.
When he stepped outside the hotel, the city lights were already glowing across the streets. Restaurants and cafés were busy with evening guests, and the distant sound of traffic echoed through the buildings.
Anshul walked toward Mia's neighborhood, arriving just as the familiar limousine stopped in front of her house.
Joseph stepped out first, opening the door.
Queen Clarisse exited with her usual calm elegance, followed shortly by Mia.
But Mia looked very different tonight.
Her hair had been carefully styled, and the formal dress she wore gave her a completely different presence from the awkward girl who had nervously walked into school only days earlier.
When she saw Anshul standing nearby, she immediately walked over.
"You actually came."
"You sound surprised."
"I thought you might change your mind," she admitted.
"Why?"
"Because royal dinners are scary."
Anshul smiled slightly.
"I'll survive."
Mia looked relieved.
"Good. Because I need moral support."
Joseph approached them quietly.
"Miss Thermopolis, we should leave soon."
Mia nodded before turning back to Anshul.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
A few minutes later the limousine moved smoothly through the evening streets of San Francisco. The interior of the car was quiet and comfortable as the city lights passed by outside the windows.
Mia sat across from Anshul, clearly trying to stay calm.
"Okay," she said after a moment. "Let me explain something."
"Go ahead."
"At this dinner there will be diplomats, advisors, and people connected to Genovia."
"That sounds important."
"It is. And they all expect me to behave like a princess."
Anshul looked at her calmly.
"You've been training for that."
"Yes, but training and reality are different."
He nodded slightly.
"That's true."
Mia sighed.
"If I say something wrong, my grandmother will know immediately."
Across the seat, Queen Clarisse closed her notebook slowly.
"Amelia."
"Yes, Grandmother?"
"You will do fine."
Mia nodded, though she still looked nervous.
The limousine eventually stopped in front of a luxurious hotel downtown.
Large glass doors opened into a grand hall filled with soft lighting and elegant decorations. Several well-dressed guests were already gathered inside, speaking quietly while waiters moved between tables.
As the group entered, several people immediately turned toward them.
Queen Clarisse was clearly recognized.
A few diplomats approached respectfully, greeting her in formal tones.
Mia stood beside her grandmother, doing her best to remember everything she had learned during training.
Her posture remained straight.
Her greeting was polite.
Her responses were careful.
And to Anshul's quiet surprise—
She was doing extremely well.
Several minutes later Mia finally escaped one of the conversations and moved closer to him.
"Okay," she whispered. "That was terrifying."
"You handled it well."
"You think so?"
"Yes."
She looked relieved.
Meanwhile, several guests had begun noticing Anshul.
A tall man in a dark suit approached them.
"Your Majesty," he said politely to Clarisse. "And this must be Princess Amelia."
Mia smiled politely.
"Yes."
The man then glanced toward Anshul.
"And this gentleman?"
Clarisse answered calmly.
"A guest."
The man nodded politely.
"Welcome."
As the dinner continued, conversations flowed around the room.
But for Anshul, the most important realization had already become clear.
This room contained people connected to Genovia's political and economic structure.
And if his plans moved forward successfully—
He would soon become part of that world as well.