Chapter 13

***

In a year and a half, a lot of things changed in Velvet's relationship with the prince, the little duke, and the werewolf.

Let's start with Ethan Portgas...

He became friends with Velvet Pattinson ever since her debutante ball. Ethan frequently trains with her brother, Lucas, in the duke's mansion and Velvet wanted to see how their knight's training is being held. Ethan and her always spar with each other. At first, he's going easy on her because she's a girl. But that decision was as dumb as ever. But his friendship with her became stronger.

Next is the Crown Prince, Caspian Throndsen...

He's always sending gifts and letters to Velvet, asking for courtship. But she coldly rejected him, as always. Sometimes, the Pattinsons and the prince had lunch with each other. He's still proving himself worthy of her hand. But the way she speaks and acts, the prince is wondering if his decision to be her fiance was a smart or foolish. Therefore, he surrendered to her being an empress, but he and her brothers became friends because of how often he visits the Pattinson estate.

And finally, the mad dog; Calixtar Zinitriou...

Ever since the town festival, Velvet caught his interest. And his cousin, Lilian as her friend, always invites her to her birthday and tea parties. So Calixtar is curious about her fighting style so he requests a spar between them. Velvet evidently lost to him. But obviously, she's amazing to keep up with the next strongest werewolf in his clan. He then became friends with her and she sometimes invites Lilian, Calixtar, and Kenji to her mansion for parties or training.

And then... Velvet Pattinson.

She's already 16 and she grew more beautiful. Her beautiful body became well-muscled and she has six-pack abs because of her daily training and exercise. From the moment she knew that she lacks calcium, she asked her maid, Dellie, to always bring high-quality milk and dairy products to strengthen her bones. She then became like her former self and can now use her techniques at full potential.

She always uses swear words with her language which doesn't suit her kind face at all. Her family and her friends are already used to her obscenities. But as a lady herself, she can't show her true color to the public, or else there will be rumors circulating how vulgar she is. But it's true tho.

She consistently bullies Ethan, Calixtar, and the Prince. But she only insults the prince when it's just their friends around, she doesn't want to get executed. And for some reason, Velvet, her brothers, Caspian, Calixtar, Lilian, and Kenji gradually became friends. Their parents became close too and some of them want a couple from their sons and daughters but Velvet and Lilian strongly rejected their parent's opinion.

In just a year and a few months, Velvet adapted to the ways of the world she got thrown into. The more she stays, the more she became happier.

And this is all the beginning...

***

Velvet Pattinson's Point of View

I and the guys are currently having a picnic with each other in our mansion's grass field where we train for the past few weeks.

We placed a large clothe in the grass enough for us to sit down comfortably.

We're having some bread with jams, cookies, refreshing juice, yogurt cups and homemade granola, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, fresh fruits, and chicken drumsticks.

I suggested all these delicious foods.

" Umm, isn't this too much? I thought picnics usually have slices of bread and fruits only."

Ethan started the conversation.

As he said, a lot of nobles here don't eat too much for them to always remain fit. But actually, you can still remain fit after eating many foods but you need to have a daily exercise enough to burn fat every day. One of my best options in getting stronger is to eat a lot because food provides us energy. So I don't need to control how I eat food as long as it's healthy.

" What? Then your picnics are boring... you need to have some of these!"

Haa... The food here is the best. These guys...really...

" You're weird, as always..." -Caspian.

What's being weird? I just carefully plan the foods for you guys to be stronger! It's me who's caring for you! Actually, I want you to be stronger so that I'll have more not-boring sparring partners. Some of them say that I need to weaken myself for them to keep up. So does that mean holding back? If you're not a brat, then there's no way I'm holding back.

" If being weird means preparing these delicious foods, thanks for the compliment, your highness." I said while smiling mockingly.

" Ha! I remember the night when I first met you personally. That phrase is almost the same." he said while scratching his chin. The warm, morning sunlight touched his flawless skin and silky silver hair. I'm actually thinking of cutting his hair when asleep and sell it for a hefty price. Not that I need money tho. We're already rich.

" Woah woah woah, what's this? What happened that night?" said Kenji curiously. The others wanted to hear the answers too. They look like a dog waiting to be patted.

Kenji's shining purple hair became a bit longer and already reached his shoulders I can see his excitement by wagging his tails and his ears are standing.

" You guys know that before, I'm asking her to be my fiancee, right?"

NOD

NOD

NOD

NOD

NOD

They all nodded.

They actually know that he wants to be my fiance and they were really surprised that I refused. The fact that I just rejected the Crown Prince's proposal is foolish. But I can't say it's a proposal, it's more like an investment and an offer. If I fall in love with him, and he falls in love with me, then the situation will be completely different. But I really don't want a loveless marriage because he will just use me to bear his child on my belly for an heir to the throne.

" I asked her that time to be my empress, but she refused. Then I said she's an idiot.."

Oh, come on!

" Then she answered 'if being an idiot means rejecting that dumb proposal of yours, I'll gladly accept that as a compliment' like a freaking weirdo."

...

"PUAHAHAHAHAHA!" -Kenji

" W-what was that??! PFFT!" -Cal

" As expected!!" -Lilian

" I KNEW IT!" -Red

*tremble (holding back their laughter) -Ethan and Lucas

Oh gosh! Can't they see my point?

" What a bloody... that just explains that the prince was a dummy..."

I said that and carefully used a rhyme.

" What?!" -Prince.

" I used 'was', alright? Thank goodness you stopped that silly idea of yours!"

" Her poems... want me to tell a story?" Ethan interfered.

They all stopped making noise.

O-oh no...

" Once upon a time, I and the vulgar lady over there had a tea on a restaurant in the town..."

Oh, that time!

" She gave me a poem as a return for treating her to a tea..."

"..."

I'm having a cold sweat!

" We're in bad terms that time, so she said..."

The guys became closer so that they can hear him clearly.

Oh for heaven's sake...

" She then said 'roses are red, violets are blue, I have five fingers, the middle one is for you'"

"..."

I remained speechless.

" WHAT?!" -Lucas

"PFFFT!" -Caspian

"THAT'S TOO GOOD!"-Kenji

"HAHAHA!" Red is laughing while holding his stomach.

I feel a bit embarrassed.

" Oh come on, you guys! Is this conversation all about my coolness?! I'm embarrassed!" I said sarcastically.

" Coolness, my ass!" -Cal.

These guys are as noisy as ever...

" I've got a story too!" said Lilian while raising her hand.

Oh come on, is this one of my coolness too?

" It was last year's town festival..." Lilian said. Lucas, Cal, and Kenji burst out laughing.

I knew it, another one of my coolness too.

Ethan, Red, and his highness, who's not present on that night are interested in the story.

" She went to a punching machine, pays the fee and punch it... you know, marquess Pattinson and uncle Felixus' punch strength is 100... but she then punched the machine and the score is 26..."

" Uh-huh..." -Caspian and the others nodded.

" She then tried again, paid the fees, removed her shoe, fixed her dress, and perfectly kicked the machine!"

"!!!" -the three boys who're not present at that time.

" And...and... the score is 96!!!" Lilian exclaimed.

" What?!?!" -them.

"And the next thing she said was that she could've had 100 if she's not wearing a dress..."

...

" PWHAHAHAHAHA" -ALL of them.

What's the point of telling stories about my past? Is my coolness that funny? Since when did I become funny? F*ck them.

" And the next thing happened, she gave the fish stuffed toy to Lilian and then said 'dogs like fish, right?'" said Kenji.

Up to that part?!

" And then brother said that cats like fish and werewolves are not dogs... can you believe the next thing she said?" -Kenji.

"..."

Kenji continued...

" She said that Canis lupus and Canis familiaris are almost the same and the wolves are the dog's ancestors. I didn't know about it in the first place so I read a book about it. And she's right! That lady is a genius!"

Kenji pointed at me.

" Haha, the idiot is a genius?!" -Caspian.

"HAHAHAHAHA, my sister....my sis... hahaha" Red's still holding his tummy.

" pffft... Cal surely is bummed." Ethan said while holding back his laughter.

"Grrrr..." -Cal.

Okaaayy! I need to change the topic now!

" Hey, you guys... I've been thinking of going to our estate on the other side of the country this week, we can just relax there, after all, we're tired from the duties and training we made. Do you want to come?" I suggested.

" Velvet, the crown prince must be very busy..." said Lucas.

" Oh, is that so?" I weakened my shoulders.

" Not at all. I've been thinking of having a vacation too after organizing so many documents. I can just leave it to my aide." -Caspian.

" My cousins and I don't have any special schedule next week. We'll tell our parents... Oh my goodness! A vacation with you is so much fun that I can't let this miss!" Lilian exclaimed while having a shade of red on her cheeks.

" hmm... a vacation huh.. not a bad idea" the little duke scratched his chin.

" So... you all agreed then, I'll tell my papa to prepare the estate for guests." I said while smiling sincerely.

" Umm..."

It's Caspian...

"Huh?"

" If it's alright with you guys, I want to bring my sister." -Caspian.

!!!

" Oh, you mean the princess?" -Red.

The princess? I've never seen her before. I just knew that his highness has a sister a year younger than me.

Well, I won't mind at all. The more the merrier.

" Sure. I want to meet her too." I said.

" Thanks..."

" Oh, I can't wait to meet her highness! I wonder how she looks like?" -Lilian

" Excited about making friends again?" Kenji asked his cousin.

" Of course! Making funny, reliable, and trustworthy friends is never a bad idea!" she answered.

" Is her highness ready to make her appearance and join our vacation?" said Red while being quite worried.

"... I've been thinking.. she's really...depressed and I don't know the reason... please, when she came with us, bear with her a little."

Caspian said in a sad voice.

"..."

" of course! We'll be happy to make her acquaintance." I said.

"...?" -him. He looks puzzled. I think he's wondering why I would like to be friends with someone I've never seen before.

" I guess you're wondering why. It's because, it's not the crown prince's order, but a friend's heartfelt request, right?"

As I said those words, everybody fell silent. The silence is deafening me and I soon realized that what I said is not like me at all.

" And, she's your little sister so I'm hoping she's an idiot too, that would be great, we'll get along then because I'm an idiot in a good way." I said while looking on my right just to avoid their gazes.

They burst out laughing

But...

For some reason, my heart's not calm.

As if, this thing is getting excited.

Who is that person to make me feel this excited?

Hmmm...

Princess

I think we'll get along well...

To be continued~~