CHAPTER 21 (BOOK 2)

"His Serene Highness, Prince Jeremy Francesco Honoré Rainier Grimaldi, Prince Héréditaire of the Principality of Monaco Crowned Prince Of Monaco!" The host, together with the crowd stood up and clapped, announced, as Prince Jeremy was about to deliver his speech for the annual yatch convention.

For years, the annual yatch convention had taken place at Monaco and is recognized worldwide as one of the must-be destinations of millionaires and billionaires as words like exclusivity and luxury are attached to the said event.

"Thank you for the warm greeting!" Jeremy paused for a second. He glanced at the yatchs neatly aligned and recalled one of his experiences. "Looking at the Super Yatchs, I remember my days when I was still in the Philippines. Let me share a secret." He somewhat whispered but still clear for audience to hear. "As you know, the Royal family is not that wealthy unlike most of you here."

Many of the audience giggled by his words. His jokes are one of the reasons he easily gained the trust of his people despite being only in the public upon public announcement of his coronation.

The Principality of Monaco is a small country filled with the billionaires of the world and is governed by one family, The Grimaldi. Moreover, They are known as one of the most humbled royal families in the world. Unlike other royal families, The Grimaldi received only a small portion of the taxes and the rest goes to the real citizens of Monaco. They even rank one of the most trusted royal families in the world together with the British royals.

With just a few full blooded citizen of Monaco, The Grimaldi shares a unique bond with the community through gatherings either special occasions such as founding anniversary, Thanksgiving or charity events hosted by the Royal Family, the usual holidays filled with food, events and talks.

Monaco may just be one of the smallest states in the world but its association with glamour and affluence has made it among the powerful states of European Union and United Nation. Its contribution with its influence among the billionaires of the world is unparallel. As wealthy entrepreneurs and tourists are drawn to its natural beauty as well as its low taxes, which makes it accepted as destination for the rich and wealthy.

Throughout the years, Monaco has been widely recognized as nation powerful enough to dictate the billionaires due to the trust and confidence that the royal family has built with the rich with its good governance and discipline citizens. It has even been awarded multiple times by different governing bodies like the EU and UN.

"I had the chance to enjoy the only yatch of the Royal Family once." Jeremy was referring to the vacation he had with Kate and her friends at Boracay where they leisurely enjoyed the super yatch he asked from the Manila Embassy.

He smiled then. "It was actually given by someone present here who's name should not be mentioned in public as I was gravely informed by the royal secretaries due to privacy or I might lose billions of donation" Again, people delightfully burst in laughter knowing that he was talking about the donations that the Prince; he paused. "Let me clear it up. I don't want to be scolded by the King." The audience laughed again. "I'm not asking for the rest of you to also give luxuries to the royal family but if possible a continuous support to the people, my people."

Jeremy is known for his lighthearted speeches such as this. He never missed a moment to entertain the audience with hid simple jokes, anecdote or stories. However, when a situation is called for like speeches in front of governing bodies of the world, he can easily adapt his choice of words to express.

"Moving on, only now that I'm involved with the business of the Royal Family that I found out the cause of the maintenance of such thing. It was really a guilty pleasure experience and perhaps would hesitate to attempt of doing it again."

The audience again laughed, as many from the audience know what the Prince was talking about, as they own one or two yatchs.

Since his proclamation as the Crowned Prince, Jeremy has engulfed himself in fulfilling the roles of the Royal Family. Within three years, he has visited the Pope at Vatican which was mandatory as member of the Catholic Royals, traveled to other European Countries for goodwill visits as part of the European Union, attended American and Canadian business forums to attract more new billionaires of the world, delivered hundred of speeches, attended parties and charities, and meetings with world leaders. Yet, if there is one thing that he would do is to go home to the country he has considered his home for more than twenty years, the Philippines.

As Crowned Prince, After being crowned as Prince, Jeremy has taken another step to the milestone of his ancestors by expanding the influence of the Principality with the different associations and charities that he has established, which is not limited within Monaco but stretches far and wide from child welfare and education to environmental care. Jeremy has achieved dozens of noteworthy accomplishments and influence in the years after hid coronation. His way of dealing with the wealthy has given him free access to their resources as he can easily tap one of them for a support to an association or even to a certain extent, a government.

Such influence is also one of the reasons; other states and governments for various agreements have invited him. Moreover, great power and influence, he has kept on reminding himself about his father's teachings, selfless service. Simplicity and humility are among the traits he has always exemplified in practice of such teaching, which made him lovable by his constituents.

The Pope, who has made him an Ambassador of Faith, an honorary title only given to Catholics with good moral standing, has even heard his simplicity and humility.

His desires and longings, he understood clearly, should be disregarded. The last time he's visited was when he attended the graduation of Kate. He would love to go back but the weight of the crown should always come first.

Even though he hasn't expressed such desire, some people around him noticed it. His grandfather, His sister and His longed time manager slashed best friend and now His Royal Aid, Tobby, he couldn't hide the condition of his heart to them and none of them dared to knock on it. They knew that behind his smile is a longing especially when they decided to walk a path alone but not disregarding fate that one day they may come across each other again and walk together on a new journey.

Like other good acts, there are moments that sacrifices are involved. In Jeremy's case, his freedom, desire and most of all, his heart has only been second to none at all compared to his dedication for Monaco.

No matter how Jeremy tried to hide his loneliness and aches behind his smile, people close to him are aware, his sister, grandfather and his attendant.

After giving his speech and some short tour of the new yatch models, Tobby whispered in Jeremy's ears, "His Majesty would like to have a word with you," showing the text message he received from the King, "In all caps" he added.

"You're to be blamed for teaching him how to use one." Jeremy tapped Toby's shoulder.

"Why me?" Tobby placed back the phone on his pocket. "You and your sister started to teach his Majesty how to use one," trying to justify.

The organizers of the event started to looked at one another as Prince Jeremy and Tobby started to converse casually which most of them finds awkward.

When Jeremy felt that people around them started to get uncomfortable, he stopped walking and looked at them, "Don't mind us. We're like brothers," he started while tapping Tobby's shoulder again, "Besides if he will be more formal towards me than what I'm wearing now, he'll receive a royal punishment," he tried to break the atmosphere.

People started laughing at what the Prince has said. The Principality of Monaco has always been ruled by royalty, which exemplifies in royal conduct and grace. Yet in the past decade starting with Prince Jeremy's grandfather, the royal family has began to blend in with the citizens gradually. People, though uncomfortable, are optimistic that Prince Jeremy would finally open the doors for the bridge between the royal family and the citizens with his youth and vigor and has done starting with his speeches and conversation with the people.

Jeremy concernly glanced at Tobby. For the past years, his grandfather has never asked for an emergency audience with him except for emergency cases that he needs to address just like the early retirement of the Prime Minister or the death of the former pope.

"What do you think is it this time?" Jeremy asked.

"I was informed that a letter came from the Phillippines." Tobby consciously answered.

"And..." Waiting for Tobby to lay out all the cards.

"That's all I found out from the royal household."

Like Prince Jeremy, Tobby has been adjusting himself from being a simple manager of an artist to being a royal aid. He even prepared himself by having crash course on the what's and how's of being a royal aid from Mr. Spes, who has loyally served both Jeremy's grandfather and his late father.

"Your Highness, this is the latest model of Sea Haven Company." Thomas, one of the organizers, pointed at the yatch near him.

"Hmmm." Jeremy glanced at the super yatch. "It's huge. How much did you say it cost again?"

"With the given set up it cost around 3.5 million, Your Highness. It has the advanced technology and luxury that modern yatch have. Plus, it was even awarded with advanced mechanism for a swift ride."

"And this has already been bought?"

"Yes your Highness. Would you like to take a peek at the inside?"

"It's okay. I don't want to bring it in my dream tonight. Looking at it from the distance is already making me itchy." They started to laugh.

As they reach the convoy of the Prince, he thanked the organizers for choosing Monaco since His late father offered them the Principality as their venue.