"Your majesty, Father, may I know the reason why we had to greet her last night?"
I am preparing for my public coronation today.
I woke up early and the moment I opened my eyes maids have gathered around me, excited to "dress me up" for today.
I wasn't even able to see her for today.
I wonder if she's sick?
She didn't come yesterday and I even waited for her.
'Irie, where could you be?'
I don't know where she lives.
I promised myself that I will just be her friend but somehow, I began feeling weird.
Father is standing in front of me, criticizing everything that might be wrong in my appearance.
His hand is touching his chin as he think deeply while staring at my clothes.
"Well, I was curious. I thought they meant Princess Adelaide but they sent a different Princess. Someone who they just found. Also, only people with high status got to see her. Isn't it interesting ?"
He smiled, still staring at my clothes.
"Yes," I just answered.
I don't want to ask few more questions since he is a type who doesn't like questions about his actions.
Even that day...
He never explained why he betrayed South Kingdom and killed his childhood friends.
"My, don't you look dashing today, Prince?"
Michael, my personal knight and friend commented.
I just look at him annoyed.
He knows I hate compliments that are too obvious, I mean...
I am gorgeous as hell.
No one ever looked away from my handsome face.
But she, that Princess Bug, she smiled at me like an idiot.
No one smiled at me because their amazed face is all over the place.
They just look at me in awe.
And imagine if someone in awe smiled.
Wide eyes, wide smile, isn't that horrendous?
Yet she maintained that smile like, 'I have to smile at them or else I will look like I don't care which I really am.'
I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes.
"You still don't want to have your coronation?"
The King looked at me angrily.
"No, I was just thinking about something annoying."
I tried to smile at him but it didn't work.
My father and Michael are the only ones who can resist my smile.
All the other people felt blessed in the room when I smiled, especially the maids.
"And that is the coronation."
He turned around, ready to leave the room.
'Thank goodness.'
I really don't like being a prince.
I don't like the power.
Ever since I never saw the Princess of the south, a name I forgot due to some reason that I can't even understand.
I never wanted to be a prince if I can't see my princess.
And that is a result of my father's action.
She was not announced yet since she's only 9, and she's supposed to go with me on my coronation as my partner but before that even happened, their kingdom fell down in the hands of my kingdom.
I didn't tell my father about her.
No one knew about her.
But she's gone now.
Every member of the De Fenuelle family were killed.
And that is the reason I didn't do my public coronation on my 10th birthday.
And now, I have no choice but to do it or else the people will disown me and that will be a great disaster to the King if the heir of the crown is unaccepted by its own people.
"You have no choice, better wear that exhausting smile of yours while you walk around and never show tiredness. Only attend the Princess and be sure not to interact with other ladies or she will be embarrassed."
He left with that angry expression.
This is the fault of the Princess Bug.
If she didn't popped in my head, my father wouldn't be like this.
Though I was the one who thought of her.
I just sighed as the maids look at me like, of course, I am the most handsome Prince you'll ever see.
Irie's lucky to have my photos in her phone, though I don't look like me in my appearance in those photos, I am still gorgeous in them.
I am going to be accompanied by Michael, with other knights, some butlers and maids for the Princess and of course, that bug.
I went out of the room.
The royal blue rose gem is attached on my blaze, I can feel it on my chest so I look at it and moved it a little.
I didn't notice that the people around me bowed and I just stopped since they did in the middle of the hallway.
"What is it?"
I thought it's father but I was wrong.
I look straight and saw her.
'Princess Bug.'
She's smiling at me then she curtsied.
Why does she have to smile?
I hate it.
It looks like she's mocking me.
If Irie or that Princess smiled at me, I will feel blessed that there are ladies who look like goddesses.
But she looks like a demon.
Even though she's beautiful, that can't blind me.
I know she accepted to be engaged to me because I am going to be the King and of course, because I am handsome.
Every woman is like that.
I just look at her with no emotion.
She didn't even flinched and continued smiling.
The people around seemed to be in awe with her beauty.
I got more irritated because I have to compete with this woman for the people's attention.
I started walking and she's still in her position, I didn't tell her to rise and her maids are starting to get nervous for her.
If I will not tell her to rise, she won't.
And if she did without my permission, she's going to disrespect me and that of course can put her to prison.
I smirked while I pass by her.
Her smile didn't vanished.
I want to make her suffer but I can feel Michael's eyes.
If I will ever do this today, the coronation won't happen.
"Rise," I said.
I can feel her stand and her maids held her, "Princess..."
I looked back and saw her losing her balance for a while.
Her legs might've went numb.
"Aren't you being childish right now, Prince?"
Michael tapped my shoulders and squeezed it.
He's right.
Since she got here, which is yesterday, I am acting and thinking childish.
I don't normally approach people I hate this way.
I just play with them until I can pierce my sword through their dirty bodies.
But I can't do it to this Princess, war will happen if I did that.
"Princess, please do walk beside the Prince until the public coronation is done."
Michael went to her and held her hand until she's beside me.
I look at him sharply.
He didn't even look at me, but I can see his eyes stuck in the Princess.
Even my knight is stolen by this bug.
"I am honored to stand beside the Prince," she smiled at me.
I hate that face.
I started walking and I did it a bit faster.
Yet she didn't say anything, she walked with the same pace.
If I slow down, she too will.
If I walk faster, she will also walk fast.
I wonder if she'll run if I run?
'No, what am I thinking. I am really being unreasonable today.'
"Prince, bring your sword just in case something happened."
We are at the palace's gates.
Michael handed me the sword and I took it.
I am really acting like a child whenever it's about the Princess.
I kill.
I command.
But most importantly, I never forgive anyone who acts according to their likes.
Yet here I am.
I wish Irie's the one with me.
There are a lot of people outside waiting for me to announce my presence.
Michael and the other knights are alert.
There are at least fifteen behind us and three in front, which includes Michael.
I saw the maids trying to cover the bug with umbrella but she refused.
Now that I look at her, she's not that fair for a Princess.
Her skin's like Irie's.
Maybe it's because she's only found to be a Princess yesterday.
She might've lived a life like Irie.
I hope I can see her in the crowd, though I know she's not interested in me, the Prince.
When everyone's in their position, the gates opened.
Princess bug is beside me with her usual smile.
It's cloudy so it's fine for her not to be covered.
I am supposed to hold hand but I don't want to.
As the gates opened, I judged my feelings.
The people might think that I am against this engagement if I don't hold her.
I slowly folded my hand, "Here, hold me. They might think I am against this engagement if we are not acting close."
Even though I'm looking straight, I can see her smiling face as she put her arms around mine.
'She's so small.'
I know she's wearing high heels right now but she still looks like a kid.
We waved at the people with the smile in our face.
And everyone's hearts are captured twice.
By my face and by her smile.
They already love her.
I don't know why no one's suspicious of her.
She just became a princess yesterday!
There are rose petals falling in the air as the royal palace's aircars shower it where we are walking.
I saw the bug look up and is amazed by the aircar.
These vehicles can only be used and seen when there is a very important event or transportation by the palace.
If Irie saw this, she will have the same expression.
She's always curious about technology so I bought her a phone.
Sometimes she still forgets that she has one and leaves it in her basket.
And... yeah, no one greeted me happy birthday.
We stopped for a while to rest, I sat under a parasol while drinking water.
Princess bug entered a bakery, 'Is she hungry?'
Her maids and a knight is with her so there won't be any problem.
Or so I thought.
When they got out, the maids and even the knight are eating bread.
My eyebrows flinched, 'What the hell is she thinking?'
She's buying from a public bakery.
What if it's unhealthy?
Oh, wait, Irie used to buy one from that bakery and we ate the bread together.
I sighed.
"Are you tired, your highness?"
Michael asks and guess what's in his hand, bread!
Princess bug suddenly appeared like a bug she is, and is handling me a bread with that smile, but as a royalty, I will refuse.
And it's because she's the one giving me that.
What if she put love potion?
Women are scary when they want something.
And who wouldn't want me?
If she's Irie, I will accept it without any thought.
Even if the King's watching me.
"No, thank you."
I refused and stand.
She still didn't even sit.
She went to the people and is having talks and somehow, she's good at it.
Most commoners will brush her off or even tell her things that she might find disrespectful.
But the people loved talking to her.
"Have you done a background check on her?" I asked Michael.
"Yes, your highness. She was born on the far side of West, she grew up to be a cook in one of the restaurants around their area. The people said that they loved her so much because she's very kind and hardworking."
His eyes are somewhat glittering with how he described the Princess.
I look at her smiling at a child who even wanted to be carried.
'Huh, she's a princess now, she won't carry her.'
I was about to look away when the people cheered and clap as she sway the child in her arms.
"Wow, people love her already."
I am amazed.
No noble lady want to carry a commoner's child.
But she... well, she only became a Princess yesterday.
If she is a Princess since her childhood, she wouldn't do that.
I turned around to have a talk with the leaders of the people to gather information about their living.
I also need to report to the King about issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------
'You really will leave me in this position? That's so bad, Prince! If this is the Princess, I know she'll stay like this until you tell her to rise, but I am not the Princess. Do you even have human rights in this place? You can't leave me like this, my legs are already starting to go numb!'
I thought as he pass by me.
He looks so handsome in his clothes and of course, because of that blue eyes, but he's still arrogant!
I want to greet him happy birthday first, though I know the King already did, but my mouth won't move with his piercing stare.
The maids are looking at me worriedly but I still try to smile at them.
He's whispering with someone until he let me stand.
"Rise," I heard him say.
It sounded like it's forced but I immediately stood up and it was very uncomfortable.
My legs lost it's strength for a while.
A knight went to me, so I smiled at him.
It's the Prince's knight, I have to look nice.
"Princess, please do walk beside the Prince until the public coronation is done."
He said as he assist me on walking beside the Prince.
I smiled at him but he seemed displeased.
At least I can get some information from his knight who looks like he's in love with me already.
He started walking but I know he wants to irritate me.
He either walks too fast or too slow.
I just maintained to keep up to his pace to annoy him.
I know he doesn't like me.
And he's acting very childish about it.
We got to the gate and everyone is preparing.
The maids wanted to cover me with an umbrella but I don't like them being uncomfortable throughout the walk.
Just imagine holding a big umbrella for someone when you can't even cover yourself from the sunlight.
I went beside him and smiled.
I don't know why I am even smiling at this prick.
He's arrogant, he doesn't deserve to see this pretty smile.
As the gate opens, I can feel him being uneasy.
'What is it?' I thought.
"Here, hold me. They might think I am against this engagement if we are not acting close."
I was shocked but I just smiled.
I put my arms around him and I can sense his cold stare.
Why does this beautiful being have to get the ugliest character?
We waved at the people and they seemed to love the Prince so much that I feel so small.
I know I look pretty with this face.
But somehow, I still feel insecure.
They don't smile for us, they are just smiling because of him.
I took a glance of him while he's looking away.
And I can say he really is dashing, if he's not that arrogant, I might've liked him already.
His 'fake' soft smile.
His blue eyes that makes me calm.
His arm that is so warm and safe.
No wonder people love him.
I look up as petals fall down from the sky.
'An air car?'
The company also has a prototype like that one in the company though this one looks cool.
I wonder how they make it work.
Everything here is so advanced and amazing.
This is such a great place if only the Kingdoms don't go around killing their friends.
And here I am, stuck on being a kingdom-less Princess who sought to take revenge without even knowing what to do.
We stopped for a moment and my stomach acted up.
I got hungry just by walking for 15 minutes.
If I am in my own body, I can endure it for an hour, but seems like the Princess is well taken care of that she gets hungry just by walking.
I saw a bakery, the Princess loves the bread sold in there so I plan to buy a bread but as I was walking towards the bakery, I felt that my maids and a knight are following me.
I just smiled at them as I buy bread.
I only intend to buy one for me, but since they are here and the others are also tired, I bought bread for everyone.
I saw the Prince looking at the bread the maids are eating to I thought he's hungry.
Michael approached me and I gave him a bread.
He smiled at me warmly that it makes me think that my life isn't miserable.
"Are you tired, your highness?" Michael asks to the Prince who's out in the blue.
He looked at Michael's bread so I took a bread from the bag, it's the last piece and gave it to him but he refused and walked away,
I just smiled at Michael who looks sad for me.
I walk towards the people to have a little chat with them.
They asked me things about the palace and if I can really rule the kingdom with the Prince someday.
It kind of a bit disrespectful to ask a royal but I know how they feel.
I will also ask the government official questions like that if I can.
And I gave them the answers I want to hear my from government officials, as honest as possible and as reliable as they want.
They smiled at me and began chatting like normal people do.
"What food do you like, Princess?"
An old woman asks.
This is weird but I know I dont't really have to eat the food I will tell her if she ever makes one.
"Fruit salad, cookies, ice cream.."
I stated almost every sweet I know.
Then a little girl came tugging my dress.
She raised her hand saying: "Please, carry me, Princess!"
I smiled at her.
How can someone refuse with that smile?
Her front two teeth are missing but her smile screams all the sweetness in the world.
The people whispered about how disrespectful the girl is.
I didn't mind them and went on to carry her on my arms and swayed my body as if we're dancing.
People began clapping and cheering about how kind I am.
If I am the Princess, I won't do this.
I know because the body resists my actions.
I put down the child and bid goodbye.
I suddenly thought about how dirty the people and girl are.
I brushed it off because it's not nice.
I wonder if this Princess is nice or arrogant like that Prince.
We began walking again.
I grew tired as we get back to the castle.
The Prince might've noticed because he holds my arm to support me.
'Aw, he cares,' I thought until we were able to go inside the castle and then he lets go of me.
"Take her to her room, she's tired."
He look at me coldly then walked away first.
He looks so sad even though the people accepted and loved him.
I just smiled as he disappears.
The maids assisted me on changing my clothes.
After taking a bath, I fell asleep.
I just woke up when someone's knocking on my door.
"Come in," I said lazily.
The maid, who's always with me, enters.
"I am Bea, the King appointed me as your personal maid starting today. I apologize for waking you up, your highness."
She bowed down.
I know she won't raise her head if I don't tell her.
I sit on the bed staring at her.
She was fine for the first minute but she started trembling for the next minute when I didn't tell her to rise.
'They really won't raise their heads, huh?'
"Rise, I am sorry, I was just thinking if you won't raise your head even if you're tired."
I smiled at her, but I got shocked when she's already crying.
"Oh, gosh! I am sorrry, does it hurt?"
I ran to her and checked her neck.
"No, I was afraid if you were angry because I woke you up, your highness. I am sorry for this imprudent reaction. I will accept any punishment!"
She bowed down again but she winced and touched her back.
It might've really hurt her.
Bowing for 90 degrees is really absurd.
I pull her shoulders to make her stand straight.
"You know, if it makes you uncomfortable, you should stop. You already showed your respect, if the person doesn't acknowledge it, then stop tormenting yourself."
I said with a smile, "But that only works for me, okay? I know the King and the Prince will really kill you if you suddenly raise your head."
I laugh, I know she might raise her head without being told so by the King or his highness if I won't specify that it only works for me.
She suddenly cried harder, "Why are you so nice, Princess?"
Because I am not the Princess.
If it's her, she might've killed you for waking her up.
Wait, the sun is almost setting.
I haven't given my gift to the Prince nor greet him.
I asked Bea to help me get dressed because the clothes I have now are very complicated to wear unlike those simple dresses.
I tied my hair in a bun and damn those shoulder and collar bone.
She's really pretty.
I stared at my eyes for a moment.
The West King used "magic", that blue light to make my eyes looks gold without having to use contact lenses.
'I wished I can see that pretty eyes again,' I thought and then stood up.
Since I can't properly sleep last night because I can see the Prince's blue eyes every time I closed my eyes, I just painted him.
But of course, I used my imagination to make him smile in that paint.
Since I am very talented, it only took me 2 hours to finish it.
I brought my art materials and Ren's sketches with me because I feel like I will die if I don't have them with me.
I took the painting from the drawer and showed it to Bea.
And what would you expect, "My! You really love the Prince Tris, Princess! And this looks like you just copied his face and put it here. His eyes are very well detailed... Kyaaa you love those eyes!"
She shrieked.
"You look good together, like the ones out of the fairy tales, you love him don't you."
I smiled at her, "Yes, I do."
But I got shocked by what she said, "No, you don't."
She smiled at me, "I know what love looks like, Princess. And I am sorry if I will tell this to you, but since I know you're kind, I don't want you to get hurt."
My eyebrows furrow by her words, she seemed scared to continue her words but she look at me sadly, "The Prince has someone in his heart."
I am dumbfounded.
I look at her with wide unbelieving eyes.
"Yes, the Prince once wrote a letter for a lady for her birthday. No one knew who she is or where she lives."
A letter?
He writes letters?
That's unbelievable.
I laugh hysterically.
My tears can't be stopped due to laughing so hard that I have to take a seat because my stomach' aching.
"No, way. He really can't be in love! That arrogant prick!"
I wiped my eyes as Bea looks at me surprised.
Nah, she won't tell the Prince that I called him like that since she's my maid now.
"Yes, Princess. No one believed it when I told them."
I looked at her.
"You're the only one who knew?"
"Yes," she bowed her head, ashamed.
"The Prince asked me to give it to a lady who sells artworks in downtown."
My eyes got wide, "Sells artworks?"
"Yes, she's very beautiful, but you're the most beautiful, Princess. She looks at me weirdly when I gave her the letter, but she accepted anyway. Maybe she just got suspicious. It seemed like she doesn't know the Prince or I might've given it to another person."
I stand up, "Yes! You might've given it to another person!"
This can't be.
No, it's not me- I mean the Princess, right?
"But he said that it's a girl with long curly brown hair with brown eyes."
I froze.
That's the Princess.
That means they met before?
But that's impossible, I don't remember meeting the Prince.
If she did, I should be able to remember it.
Who would forget those blue eyes?
"Princess?"
No, I might be missing something here.
Letter?
What letter?
Princess Irie should have it still.
Or she might've burned it already.
"Princess?"
I got shocked when Bea pulled my dress.
I've been walking back and forth that I forgot she's here.
"Don't worry, the Prince might still fall for your charm."
She handed me the painting and pulls me towards the door.
'She's getting comfortable now, I somehow dislike it since people around her should be showing their utmost respect but I love it too because she'll be my best friend if this continues.'
She opened the door.
"Let's go to the Prince."
I suddenly heard music and noises while we were getting near somewhere.
As the guards open the wide door, I knew where this is and what is happening.
I knew that Bea's acting weird when she insisted on putting a fancy dress and even make up.
"A ball?"
I whispered at her.
She looks at me confused then her expressions went to surprised, "I thought that's why you asked me to dress you up! The King said I should not insist you on attending the ball for the birthday of the Prince. But when you said that you need to greet his highness, I thought you were planning to go to the ball."
I looked at her emotionless.
I didn't even know that there's a ball.
"Don't tell me you didn't know?"
She covered her mouth in disbelief.
I roll my eyes, somehow, I know I can show her the real me.
The me- me, not the Princess me.
"I am sorry! The Prince told you earlier, that 'You don't have to attend if you're tired,"
She mimicked a voice of a man with sweet loving low voice, which is not the Prince's.
I might be too tired that I didn't hear him.
I sighed and is about to leave when the Herald suddenly blurted my name loudly, " Princess Lorainne Emersyn Superio Luoie, the rose of the West Kingdom and His Highness' fiance!"
The doors opened even wider.
As the light that blinded me ease, I saw the crowd clapping and staring at me in the ball room.
"Go on, Princess."
Bea pushed me softly and I walked inside, curtsied and smiled.
The people got silent.
As I stand up, I criticized my looks.
Does my hair look messy?
It's only a bun.
Is it the dress?
Too fancy or not so fancy?
Do I look like I really just woken up?
Is it the painting that I am holding--- wait, where's the painting?
I looked back at Bea, thank goodness she has it.
I think she noticed that I didn't move an inch.
She went to me and whispered, "You're the most beautiful of all, Princess. You're the only one who's wearing lilac."
I noticed, I am the only one who doesn't wear blue.
The blue gowns and suits are drowning me already, and when I looked at my dress, it somehow refreshed my eyes.
I smiled at her.
She handed me the painting and I put it behind me to hide it.
She went to join the other maids on preparing foods and things.
Now, I don't know where to go.
Everyone's looking at me.
"I thought you're tired?"
I turn left, Prince Tris is wearing the same color of his boutonnière, lilac.
'What the hell, Bea!' I looked at her and she just winked at me.
"I see someone messed up with my boutonnière, such a boring color."
He looked at my dress while he fingers his boutonnière but he smiled genuinely for a second.
'Why lilac? It's the same shade of purple!' I thought.
I was about to give him the painting but noble ladies suddenly went to him and totally ignored my presence as they give him fancy expensive gifts.
He smiled fakely at them but they fell for it and even blushed.
'Ignorant ladies,' I still smile even though I am being completely ignored.
I feel bad for my present.
It's only a painting.
I began to step back, "Where do you think you're going?"
He turn around as the ladies go back to dance.
I really want to run away now, but a Princess shouldn't run.
It's a shame if she did.
"I am not going anywhere, Prince Tris. I just changed my position to be comfortable."
"Then, you're not comfortable near me?"
He look at me like he's being disrespected.
I still smile and shake my head.
"No, your highness. I am sorry that you saw it that way," I still smile but I frown a bit to at least make it look like I am sorry and the he's so stupid.
It's his fault.
He ignored me, duh?
"Then tell me, what are you hiding in your back?"
His eyes seem... suspicious and annoyed and angry and sad?
What's this mixed emotions?
Thank you for reading!
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