Chapter 33: |People Do Change When You Open Up |

"How is the crown still standing on the king's head when he is completely bald?.. "

She asked innocently as my jaws opened in utter shock. My mountains goodwill were ruined in instant seconds.

I abruptly placed my hands over Drizzella's lips. .

Waaaaah!! Drizzy-chan!! That is no way you should talk with a king! (Now, I understand how my mother felt while controlling Drizzella 's innocent insults!)

I looked nervously at the king who was literally now fuming with anger. His head become so red..purple. Like it was gonna explode! He looked that insulted. The first prince immediately smirked with amusement at our pathetic scenario and gave the 'I told you so look' to his brother who simply ignored him with his unchanging face.

"I-I a-am extremely sorry! For my sister's rudeness, Your majesty! I know, there are no words I say to find pardon from your eyes. But, she's just young and... And.. That's why, I request you to please forgive us!"

I abruptly bowed before the king and beg for forgiveness. But, still insulting the king of our country is no ordinary matter. Insulting a king meant insulting the country.. It could even be reported as a treason!

An extremely awkward silence filled in as everyone stared at the annoyed king waiting for his response and my mind literally danced with a series of boring monologues.

That's it! We are dead. We are dead. We are dead. We are dead. We are dead. We are dead...

I mentally prepared in my head,

for another trip to prison or getting hanged at the worst case when the Queen, the queen of Fairytale suddenly burst to laughter, out in the blue.

"Hahaha, honey.. Your head really does look that way. That's the reason I have always told you to wear a wig! Haha, You must just accept the fact that you are getting old, your majesty.. " she nudged her husband and continued laughing.

A smile slowly replaced the frown of the emotionless king and soon enough he joined his wife's laughter.

"Hahaha, you have a great gut to mock me, my queen.. " he joked.

"But, I guess, the most bravest of them all is this cutie sweetie pie.. You are fortunate enough to have made the most popular, 'Princess who never smiles.. ' burst to laughter and find your pardon before my eyes, little Rottenstein.. "

He said bending in front of Drizzella to match her height.

"But.. It won't be the case in another scenario. I will have you executed if I wasn't in a good mood." he laughed and affectionately rubbed her dark hair.

W-What.. What is happening here?

The king smiled at Drizzella's mockery, even though my perfect plan in finding favor in the King's eyes was totally crumbled to pieces! What in the world is happening here?

Drizzella-chan's face colored with a gorgeous smile in response to The king's praise.

"No. I know you won't. Your Majesty.. "

"Huh? Why do you think so, kid? "

"It's because, You are the second most nicest male, I have ever met. Kind Grandpa..san "

I mentally felt a big rock smash my body to pieces.

Grandpa-san!?.. Drizzy-chan, he is a king, a king, remember!!

But, fortunately, the king seemed to have turned a blind eye to her insults, yet again.

"Then, who is the first? " he asked curiously snuggling in a chuckle.

"It's Big Brother Zeno! He is the most nicest man in the world!" she said widening her little arms up in the air and grinned with her cute milk teeth as abruptly runs towards Prince Zenon and hugged his legs.

The King and the Queen laughed again at her childishness.

"Seems, like you have yet again charmed another young lady, Zenon. Mmm... Zeno-chan's so popular..fufu.. " The queen teased when Prince Zenon simply rubbed his blonde hair and gently patted the hugging Drizzella's black ponytails.

"It's not like that.. mother, it's just that..."

The affectionate family continued their chatting in the royal courtyard as I was literally struck dumbstruck by the entire scenario. I felt my brain almost stop function and I bit my lips in confusion.

It has been a while since our mother died and Prince Zenon suggested us to reside in the palace. I was totally against it at first. I told him, it was impossible that I will be stereotyped again. That I, a villainess, must know my place.

But, after much compulsion from the prince, I had to gradually go along with him though I was still convinced that the royals would hate me at first sight.

I had just thought I could make the delusionary Prince Zenon take a glimpse of my life's true reality.

But..

Eh..? I blinked at the strange turn of events.

What is this?

Aren't they supposed to be mean to us? We are your villains, you know..? The people you are supposed to overthrow. That's what happened to us throughout many of my reincarnation. We are the outcasts.. But.. Why are they still...

"I guess, I can allow them to stay in our palace for a while." the king said. "It would be bad if I see this innocent one feel miserable. So, you request is granted Prince Zenon. They are allowed to stay for a while in the castle."

"Yes, father."

Prince Zenon looked at his brother, after his parents had left the room.

"I told you, it will be fine, didn't I brother Jul?"

He chirped. But, his brother simply rolled his eyes and shook his head in disapproval.

Ignoring his brother, Prince Zenon turned his head and suddenly looked at me who was currently drowing inside the flood of bafflement.

He smiled gently and suddenly drew closer to my ears.

"And, Lady Rottenstein, didn't I tell you before? I didn't do anything this time to convince the king, as you can clearly see it.. Because,.. The real stereotypes that you think your life is based upon only exist on your mind.. "

He whispered repeating the words he had said to convince me then.

"People aren't really monsters, they will open up when you do the same. You just have to take courage to do it.. Lady Rottenstein. Drizzella-chan?.."he called her.

"Huh? "

"Do you want your brother Zeno to show you the room?" he squeaked excitedly in a childish voice, repeating her own words in calling him, to my little sister.

"Brother.. Zeno..? Ah, yes!... Yippee, take me there! Big brother Zeno! Take me there!" she chuckled and childishly hopped towards him as I stood still, lost in thoughts.

It.. It.. is just as he had said..

I.. I guess, Everything, I had felt before was because.. I had never trusted people. The bullying, I had in my younger days, had scarred my heart so much that.. The way I speak to people had itself become very rotten.

I don't trust anyone. And, I hate depending on others.

But, I know, It was very hard to live like that. All alone and that's the reason I used to always vent my anger on other people.

I have build an invisible barrier around myself and.. I smiled.. I am glad that Prince Zenon is the first person who is slowly breaking them down. I am happy.. I am so happy..

But.. This is me.. We are talking about..

Do.. Do I really deserve to feel this way..?

Geez, I never realized, I had such low self esteem on myself. I really suck, don't I?

I slowly walk along with them when Prince Julian, The first prince suddenly called me.

"Lady Rottenstein.."

"...."

"We need to talk..."

"....."

".....Y-Yes.. Your majesty.. "

I said and slowly followed him.