After my senseless outburst, I ended up wandering aimlessly at Princess Odette's palace.
Afraid of asking the maids or anyone working for the Hell Bitch princess, I continued to check where was the exit of this damned place. No way would I trust those people with directions. Unless I wanted to end up in an old dungeon somewhere. Forgotten and isolated.
Never did I thought this morning that I would have missed the Duke's workplace so much. But then again, I never thought princess Odette was a pile of spoiled shit either. What a strange day...
I finally arrived at what seemed to be the outside of the palace. Hard to know for sure, since besides the palaces of the Emperor and the princes, the rest had no entry doors.
As the heat and the tiredness kicked in, I took my fan out, hoping to relieve at least one of them. I hated this 7-year-old body... couldn't go anywhere before tiring myself so much I only wanted to sleep the rest of the day.
While I fanned myself, my eyes caught a black-haired boy from afar. I almost mistook him for prince Cedric, until I realized he was taller, older, and had black eyes instead of the ruby ones of the Royal Prince of the Moon Empire. Yet the resemblance was uncanny, so much, it unnerved me... and that was not the only thing.
The boy's dead eyes also stirred my heart. I didn't like how they were stripped off of life and of energy. I did not like it one bit... So I decided to get closer, and it was then that I noticed his necklace, a silver wolf head with two little sapphires as eyes. Pretty and daunting.
I watched him being picked by some guards and taken in haste to the nearby palace. Similar to the Princess Royal palace, but bigger. While I took some steps forward, I wondered who was the owner of that palace.
"Miss Lucreatia." A polite voice called up and I already was dreading to acknowledge it. But I had no way to escape it since it was his royal highness Prince Francis.
I turned and did my obligatory bow, before locking my eyes to his. Lucky for me, he was only accompanied by Jenni, who had her arm on his. She looked concerned at me.
"Miss, I suppose you were looking for a way to the Duke's office." A polite smile formed on his face. It gave me shivers for some reason, which made me acknowledge the supposition by a head nod. "I am afraid you are going to wrong way, Miss." He continued with his polite tone.
No shit Sherlock. I tried my best to smile, hoping it wouldn't lead to any more questions. As I did, I noticed my sister's hands shaking, which the prince most certainly noticed as well.
"It's no problem at all. The Royal Palace is a big place, anyone who is not familiar with its many buildings may get lost easily." Again a semi-warm smile, never looking at anything else but me. Assessing. "But it would be better not to wander into the Empress Palace. Mother dislikes unannounced visitors."
At that, I ventured my eyes to where I last saw the boy, who no longer was there. So he was going to the Empress palace... Why? Was he a servant? Why did he look so much like an older version of Cedric? What a strange thing...
"Is something wrong Lucreatia?" Asked Jenni with her timid voice. Her face was worried, but his, not so much. Prince Francis smiled no more and had a serious expression, his washed down golden eyes darkened a little.
Before I could answer, however, someone bashful interrupted. Yes, the Duke of course.
"Your highness." He bowed to the prince, just like his aides behind did. "I was curious to know how the meeting went on, that I had to come to fetch my daughters. Didn't realize you had been invited as well." Though the Duke smiled, he too had a polite smile on his face. For some reason, he didn't seem pleased with the prospect of Prince Francis joining us for a tea.
"My sister invited me last minute, besides your excellency know better than me that she is a hard person to refuse." The duke said nothing but nodded slightly, while his two aides showed some discomfort. So the hell bitch princess had a reputation already. No wonder. "I was now going to bring them to you so you could show them the carriage. Allow me to accompany you and your lovely daughters out." Asked the prince with the brightest smile he could muster.
The Duke looked conflicted, and for a long pause stayed quiet. Only when one of his aides pushed him into answering, did he agree. But before they went, the Duke asked the question he so much wanted an answer for.
"So my daughters, how was tea with princess Odette?" He asked smiling like a proud father, waiting for the good news.
None of his daughters answered initially. Jenni didn't, because the prince gave her a silent pressure through a stronger grasp in her arm. I didn't either, because I caught his deadly silencing look, that rivaled the Duke's angry cold look.
"I cannot answer for your daughter Duke, but I can tell you both me and my sister were happy to see them for tea. We enjoyed their company tremendously and we hope to see them again." The prince again returned to his polite smile and posture. While both, me and Jenni continued silent.
She probably scared to counter a royal prince and I thought of the nightmare it would be to repeat this experience again.
Before the Duke could pressure us for an answer, the prince gave Jenni's arm to the Duke and took mine. I could see the Duke's face grow paler by the minute. Again he had to be pressured into moving by his aides.
There was not much he could say, the oldest daughter always took her father's arm unless she was married or engaged. The younger took the gentleman's arm, going always by ranking. If not for Prince Francis being there, I would have been led by one of the aides. Or just switched with Jenni, since the Duke cared shit over those customs.
But no, prince Francis "had" to take us to our carriage. Because it seemed polite and nice of him, yet that was not the real reason for taking my arm.
While the aides and father, with Jenni at his arm, moved forward away, never too far and always with the Duke giving a glance back, me and a prince Francis walked behind and a slower pace.
"I hope you have the heart to forgive my sister princess Odette. Since she is the only princess, my mother dotes her a little too much which can lead to being somewhat spoiled. Because of that her etiquette may be lacking in some areas and some innocent pranks may happen." He whispered, close to my neck with the sweetest voice and a very soothing grab on my arm. "Can I also hope that the spider incident is kept just between the tea invitees?" Now the grip turned stronger and his voice no longer carried sweetness, just a commanding sound.
And here was the real reason for the polite walk back to the carriage. The assurance I wouldn't run to tell the Duke what happened. Wasn't going to before, since I didn't want to be responsible for a confrontation between the royal family and the Duke of Mountnero. But right now I just wanted to spill the beans. I hated being "forced" into hiding the Hell Bitch shit. Truly hated it, yet I still wouldn't spill anyway, too risky. Nonetheless, my mouth was filled with a bad taste after this exchange.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry, as a Sun Empire follower nothing fills more my heart than being in the company of the morning sun of the Empire and the royal princess. What happened is of no consequence and shall be forgotten." I gave a bright smile, but each word hurt deep down, as I knew full well they were all lies, except the secrecy part.
The prince laughed softly away now from my neck. And for the first time, I thought I saw the real smile from the prince. He looked at me and stopped his walk, his golden eyes shining.
"It was an honor to meet both daughters of the Grand Duke of Mountnero. Especially the infamous Lulu." He gave a warm smile and then continued the walk, as the Duke was giving us very angry looks and something told me if we didn't walk he would come for us.
The rest of the way to the carriage was made in silence. At least on the outside, inside I was having a screaming contest about how infamous was I already to have the Royal Prince know my nickname!
Still, on the outside I was calm and lady-like, wishing that each step was the last till the carriage.
When we finally arrived, I was ready to leave this damned prince and this damned place. But before I could seek refuge on the carriage, the prince grabbed my hand and kissed it, prompting a horrified Duke to almost yell at the prince. Luckily he was stopped by the helpful aides.
"I hope to see you again Lady Lucreatia. Have a safe journey infamous Lulu." He whispered the last part and gave a cheeky smile before going to Jenni and repeat his goodbyes at her.
While I recoiled into the carriage, I saw the angry look the Duke was given to the prince as he kissed Jenni's hand as well. If looks could kill...
As I watched them, I thought of the prince's last words, reaching a logical conclusion. To avoid him at all costs. True, princess bitch was indeed a bitch but she was kind of easy to deal with as she was very open in relation to her feelings. She was spoiled and not as bright as she thought. He, however, was much more deadly and hard to read. Not a good combination.
Yes, avoidance was the key to my survival. Problem was that the writer seemed to have a sick pleasure in creating death traps for me.
With a heavy breath, I gave a silent scream while spewing bad words to a really bad writer.
Screw you, writer!!!!
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