One

One- Danielle

My dad, whom I haven't seen since the day I was born, has finally decided to pay us a visit. I don't really like the idea of having him around, I hardly know him and for all I care he might be some serial killer on a run. He usually calls my mother whenever he feels like and whenever he needs something. I don't even understand the reason why my Mom has kept responding to the guy, he is nothing but a scum.

All morning my mom has kept me away from my room and made me help her clean the house. Its as if a royal would come to our doorstep. Those people won't even come to our small town to say hello and be beautiful if its not for publicity sake. I maybe a loyal subject but I too know this kind of stuff.

"Mom its not like the King is coming to visit us! Why do we have to clean so much" I whined. I don't really give a damn at how my supposed to be biological father would react when he sees a house not to his liking. He didn't care up until now why would I?

"Honey, just do this for me please" she begs "He hasn't been with us since the day you were born and I do understand that you hate him but he is still your father and we should always welcome guests with a presentable home" my mother explains

I didn't say anything anymore for I know we'll just keep on fighting about this and I'm just too tired to argue right now.

By the time we were done my mom pushed me up to my room to clean up and look presentable because according to her I don't look pleasing enough for my father. Like hell I would care how I'll look in front of her puppy love, so instead of cleaning up I changed my shirt and pants into one of my jumpsuits and went to my wide collection of books to read.

This is the funniest part of growing up without a father, I had no one to tell me what I can and cannot do, no one to ask me to go out and play, no one to tell to make friends and most especially, no one to stop me from staying inside my room all day long. My mom would sometimes do those things but seeing as I'm much safer inside the house than outside, she doesn't push me that much. So I grew up with books as my sole friend and companion. I've been reading tons of things that I even memorize some of them by now, they've been my safe haven.

I don't prefer any kind of genre, for me as long as I'm reading, I am learning. May it be a story about politics or romance or even mystery, I don't really care as long as it catches my eye and entertain me. I'll read it.

Don't get me wrong though, I do have real life friends. I did went to school and I've gathered some trustful people there, we don't hang out much but we do see each other from time to time. Its just that after finishing college, we've all been busy with our own lives and some of us are working inside the palace so its harder for all of us to meet. I could work inside with them if I want to but I did finish college earlier than the rest so I wasn't really obliged to choose whether to work inside the palace or outside.

You see in our country, our King, King Julius Francis, he didn't allow his servants to be illiterate. In some ways he wanted his people to experience life before entering the palace and serving him and the royals. So for that to happen, he made a law stating that after turning 21 and graduating from college any person will be allowed to apply for a job inside the palace. May it be as a chamber maid or a royal guard, they have to comply with the law. We, his subjects, are also given a choice, if we want to enter the palace then we'll have to take an exam to test our capabilities and we have to go on a strict training from people who works inside. Or we can just work outside and do whatever we want, then we cant just skip all those steps and be ourselves.

For some, working inside the palace is a dream, while others think its a duty, a responsibility. I am definitely not one of those people. I am still turning 21 next year and I am not planning on working inside the palace, I would rather work as a librarian at one of our community library and just be free.

I don't hate the royals, they've been nothing but good to us. The King and Queen are good but they don't usually mingle, they would appear from time to time, and they would do really good job at their duties but its just that, we don't really know much about them. We only know what they want us to know. If they do come, just like what I said before, its for their publicity and not to mingle. I have yet to see the prince and the princess in person. Unlike the King and Queen, the two royal sibling are much different, yes they are good to the people but they are still so immature. Though it was said that they act the way they are right now because of their late brother who was the Crownprince. He died after serving the country during a negotiation with the West kingdom. No one really knew what happened, only that he died after sealing the deal. A lot of rumors circled around but it was never confirmed. The royals kept quiet about it and their reason was they were mourning. After a year of his death, his brother was crowned. Ever since then its been ups and downs, they'd either appear on a scandal with a famous celebrity or they'll be on a news supporting community colleges.

My mom actually works at the palace as one of the lady head servants. That is how she supported me all this time. Though servants and palace people have a place of their own inside the palace, my mother was given an opportunity to stay outside and be with me. It was some sort of a reward, in return my mother has devoted her whole life in serving the royals. Even with my mom working inside the palace I still don't get any scoop on whats happening inside. All employees of the palace are sworn to secrecy, if it happens that they do say things about whats happening inside, they'd be put to jail for the rest of their lives so no one has dared to speak nor spread stories about whats happening inside the palace.

Thinking about this stuff, i've always wondered if they are actually happy? The royals I mean. Yes it may seem that they are happy from our point of view but once they are inside, no one really knows what happening between their families. They are served all their lives but they are never free, they will never be one of the people, because they will always be above the people. They have to always make choices, choices that could either help the subjects or worst. They have to carry the responsibility of protecting the people and making their life easier. I can't even imagine myself doing those things without causing a problem.

I've read tons of stories talking about life inside a palace, love stories that end up being a tragedy because of the political issues inside the palace and questionable deaths because of power and greed. I've thought about this stuff and I just can't imagine living like that. Having a constant fear of what tomorrow may bring, I just can't be in that situation. Thats one of the reasons why I'd rather be outside than inside the palace.

Flipping through the pages of my book I sighed just thinking how miserable the life of the royal may be then I heard a car pulling over our front yard. I guess the time has finally arrived. I went to my dresser just to see if my hair is on the right place because my mom will definitely kill me if she sees me not minding how I look in front of others.

I never actually bothered how I may look in front of others, to some I look pretty decent. People tell me that I actually look more like my mom and I highly doubt what they say is true because my mom is beautiful and a lot of people kept saying its a shame that she is still single and with a daughter to take care. A lot of her co-workers kept coming here just to visit her, but she would always reject anyone who confesses to her. Thats how beautiful my mother is. Thats why I doubt it when people say we look alike, she looks ravishing while I'm just simple, more like casual. I don't hold any distinguishing quality so I could never compare myself to my mom. In my eyes she'll always be divine.

"Dani, could you come down now please?" my mother calls out which means she already let her guests in. Thats how excited she is that I didn't even hear our doorbell ring, she must have opened the door the moment his car pulled over.

Deciding that I look decent, I wore my glasses because it was too much of a hassle to wear my contact lenses and just went out my room to meet the man who gave me fifty percent of my whole being.

My mom was the first person I saw as I went down the stairs, she was dressed in one of her favorite shirt dresses and it suits her well. The man in front of her was facing the other way, his back was turned to me so I could only assume that his my father. He looks like he was waiting for someone else to come inside our house so that made me curious. My mom saw me descend and when she saw how I look she only smiled meaning that I did okay, safe.

"Sam?" my mom started, the man that was facing the door now looks back to my mom just in time when for mom to walk at my side and hold me "This is Danielle" my mom pushes me to move a little closer to the guy that was looking at me. He looks a little different from the dad I knew in the pictures. He looks a little mature and a little strange. Its too obvious that he was well off since his suit looks like it was made just for him. His shoes are pretty much the same.

He eyed me for a second before faintly smiling, I smiled awkwardly but my heart is aching for some reason. He was about to say something when someone suddenly entered and took all our attention.

A fine young man who was about the same age as I am looks to me and my so called father. After a few seconds of staring contest my mom cuts us.

"I'm guessing you are Michael?" My mother steps in to offer her hand.

¨I guess thats me¨ he smiles extending his own hand ¨You must be Lady Val, my father has told me so much about you¨he politely greets my mom then he turns his attention back to me. ¨And you must be Danielle?¨

¨That she is, Michael I want you to officially meet your step sister, Danielle¨ The man who I assumed that is my Dad is both looking at me and Michael waiting for some sort of reaction. I didn't know how to react, I never knew I had a brother. My mom never mentioned my father having another family or that I actually have siblings. Does that mean my mother was actually a mistress or something? Was she played by my father? Is that the reason why shes all alone this whole time, is this some kind of a punishment?

My mom noticed how my emotions changed from okay to a complete curious little bee but she held on to me like shes telling me she'll explain everything later.

Michael, my so called step brother seems to be okay so that only means that he knows everything.

¨Sam, Michael, why dont we move this conversation to the dining room. I've prepared some food that may be to your liking¨ My mom offers, urging me to move forward to the kitchen where our dining room is also located. I definitely need to ask my mom about this whole situation later. I'm feeling like this little reunion isn't just about meeting my brother, judging by how my father looks, he doesn't seem like he is here just to see and visit us.

My mom led us all to the kitchen, my so called brother was sweet enough to help both me and my mom prepare all the dishes. My father was a different story, he just sat there watching my mom.

We all sat in silence, eating rather awkwardly. I couldn't even look up without seeing my brother looking at me and my father eyeing me from time to time.

My father suddely coughs out then eyes me ¨So Dani? Is it fine if I call you Dani?¨ He asks and I didn't have a choice but to nod ¨Your mother has told me that you enjoy reading tons of books on your free time?¨

¨Thats true¨I simply answered.

¨Then do you have any thought about politics and monarch?¨ my father suddenly asks. I look to my mother first before answering because a subject like this is very dangerous. A person who knows too much can end up being dead because they might post a threat to the royals. I've been reading my whole life and it is obvious that i've read tons of books about the law and about the monarchy but my mother has never allowed me to speak about it once we are outside our little home.

My mother didn't neither stopped me nor indicated that I should not say anything so I answered. "Yes, I know a few" My dad nods but my mother was obviously in discomfort. I was getting anxious and I can feel that something is really up.

"Dani, there is actually something we need to discuss with you" My dad speaks "Your mother and I have spoken and she already agreed" I looked to my mother confusedly but she wasn't looking at me.

"Agreed to what?" I was growing impatient and I can feel my heart beating loudly.

"I know that I haven't been the best father to you and for that I want to apologize and even if you get mad at me after hearing what I would say next, I could only say sorry. But there was no other choice" My dad stares at me dead in the eyes, I don't even see any remorse or sincerity towards his words. "I asked you if you have any thoughts about politics and monarch because Danielle, you are not just an ordinary girl. You are my first born and you are noble by blood. You are not just Danielle Gonzales. But you are Lady Danielle Claire Harington" My father declares with nothing but a serious look on his face. I never followed my fathers last name, I've always been a Gonzales. My mother never really told me what my fathers last name is and he was never around so I never asked nor complained about it. But hearing all this now, this is all insane. Me a noble lady. Thats just too much. To some this might be a good news but really it isn't. This only calls for trouble and nuisance. I can't be a noble, I've never been educated to become one so I won't be one. "And because of my position in my own country, as a sign of peace and equality, together with the high royals of this country. We have agreed to an arrange marriage between one of the princes and you my daughter" He slowly told me.

And then I was shaking! No! I was furious. How dare they decide this kind of things for me? Why am I hearing this now?!

"Honey, please don't be mad first. You must listen, everything that happened and everything that became of us was for a reason" My mother saw how much all of this is weighing on me. She always have the eye to know what I really feel. I guess its a mother thing but that doesnt change anything. I am mad and I just can't calm down.

"How dare you decide on my behalf? You were never around and you were never a father to me, Who gave you the right to make decisions about my life?!" angry and disgusted at the same time, I looked to my father with complete hatred and no respect.

"Show me some respect young lady!" My so called father yelled but I can see that he was holding back. This guy has obviously never experienced being put to shame before.

"The moment you entered this house, you've been nothing but a complete snob and you expect me to just agree to your demands!" I felt my eyes ringing with unshed tears. "You speak of respect but you yourself doesn't have one! I grew up not knowing who you really are but that was fine. I hated you but because my mom loved you so much, I didn't dare say anything" I let my tears flow while my mom kept watching me "You come here, looking all good but you never even ask once how did we even survived without you, but that is still okay because now I see that you have another family to take care of" I looked to my so called step brother who is now silently just witnessing the mess happening inside our house. "Don't expect me to just sit and bow down to all your nonsense because I won't. I'm not your puppet and you are not my father!" I quickly stood up but I wasn't able to leave the table because Michael stopped me.

"You need to calm down, we can still talk about this in a rational and civilized way. I know you hate dad, but he is not a bad person. You need to hear the whole story first before you decide that his a scum" He talks to me in respectful tone but I can't just agree to his words. If I sit with them any longer I might do something crazy that could end up my mom getting hurt.

I looked to my mother who was now crying silently and my so call father trying to calm his nerves. It was obvious that he wasn't used to being answered back disrespectfully. I didn't really care though. I only cared for my mom but she did something crazy too, she agreed to my fathers nonsense without telling me. How does she expect me to react? She knows I was never fond of my father.

She raises her eyes to me and I know that shes begging, even is she doesn't say it. I know her too well as much as she knows me too. She will always have a weakest and softest part for my dear old man. I felt my tears fall down, I was hurt and I felt betrayed.

"Please Dani, just listen" my mom begged but I wasn't saying anything I just kept looking at her but then my father suddenly stands up and looks at me straight in the eye.

"You are an ungrateful child" He suddenly slaps me and I was too shocked to even raise my head back again. I can feel my mother looking at me and so did Michael. "How could you stand seeing the woman who raised you cry her eyes out when you are not even her own child!" and that was it. I snapped my eyes back to my father and I slowly watched my mother looking at me in so much hurt.

I couldn't explain what I felt inside? but at that moment, I was in so much agony that I wasn't able to answer. I only held on to my face, the only thing reminding me that everything is really happening was the throbbing pain on my cheek. Too shocked with the sudden news, no one spoke another word. I could only hear my mother crying harder and my brother trying to console her.

I left them behind and went to room, I collapse on my bed and everything just went dark. I was lost.