Rosangela: The Half-Blood Princess

After leaving the palace gates, we drove through a thick forest. It felt like hours until we reached a city. The street was bursting with cars and some people were walking on the pavement.

I wished to find the landmarks that I usually see in London, such as: Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Eye, and etcetera. But all I could see was a foreign city surrounded by mountains.

“Wait! We’re not in London anymore?” I asked Prince Maximilian in disbelief.

“Of course not,” he answered with a chuckle.

“Then where are we?” I posed another question confusedly.

“You don’t have idea where we are?” he asked me back instead.

I shook my head.

“Welcome to Transylvania, Princess,” he said with a grin.

My eyes widened. “Transylvania? You mean we’re in Romania now?”

He nodded. “Yep! The city we are in right now is called Brasov. It’s a part of Transylvania region.”

'Oh no! No! No! It can’t be happening. If I am really in Romania, how can I get home?' I thought, panicked.

'Calm down, Rosanne!' I told myself, 'Just try to find anybody who can help you and tell the first person you meet what happened to you, and then ask him to call the police.'

“So where do you want to go first?” Prince Maximilian’s question brought me out of my reverie.

“I want to go to the mall,” I replied quickly.

He frowned. “A mall?”

“Don’t you know what a mall is?” I teased him.

“Of course, I know what a mall is. But I mean, why do you want to go to the mall?” he retorted.

“I want to buy some clothes. I don’t want to walk around the city in this ball gown,” I responded.

“Okay then we’re going to the mall now. But do you know where the mall is?”

“How can I know? I’ve never been to Brasov before. You should know it.”

“Well, I don’t come from here too. And when I am here, I barely go to the city. So I don’t have idea where the mall is.”

“Why don’t you ask Casper?” I suggested.

He looked confused. “Casper?”

“Your driver.” I pointed to the man sitting behind the wheel.

Prince Maximilian burst into laughter, meanwhile his driver complained to me, “I’m sorry, You’re Highness, but my name is Jasper not Casper.”

“Yes, I mean Jasper,” I corrected, “Do you know where the nearest mall is, Jasper?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, Princess,” he answered with a shrug.

“So what shall we do now?” Prince Maximilian asked us.

“I think we have to ask them.” I jerked my head to the direction of the people standing in the pavement.

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea!” Jasper commented.

I was about to open the door, but Prince Maximilian stopped me. “Wait!”

“What?” I asked, annoyed.

“Do you speak Romanian?” He inquired.

“No, I don’t,” I answered, “Why?”

“If you can’t speak Romanian, nobody will understand what you’re saying since most people here cannot speak English,” he explained.

'Just my luck,' I thought, 'Now how can I ask for help?'

“Wait here! Let me ask them myself!” Prince Maximilian said.

“Great! At least now the prince wants to do something by himself,” I mocked him.

Jasper suppressed a laugh and Prince Maximilian glared at him.

“I’ll be right back.” Prince Maximilian got out of the car and slammed the door shut after him.

I watched him walking towards a couple in the pavement. They seemed to have a conversation before Prince Maximilian finally returned to the car.

“That couple recommended us to go to Star Department Store. They said it’s nearby from here,” Prince Maximilian told me.

“Okay, what are you waiting for? Let’s go there now!” I said.

“Okay. Jasper, drive now! I will tell you the way there,” the prince ordered.

“Alright, Your Highness,” Jasper responded.

Jasper started the engine again and then drove us to the department store.