10 Ten

Ten-Danielle

The dinner three days ago concluded with both the King and Queen's intervention. They both reprimanded us and use their authority to make us obey and promise to never do that kind of fight again. Of course we said yes but at the back of my head, I have to make that prince regret for looking so down on me and assuming that I'm up to something when I'm just as pissed as him that I'm stuck in this kind of situation. I even tried calling Michael the moment I returned to my room that night but sadly he couldn't answer my call because he was in the middle of a private negotiation with some country and as part of their deal, he was not allowed to take some calls. Though he promised that he'll visit me once he comes back from the negotiations but even with that, I was still mad. I needed someone to tell the idiot that I wasn't no one and that I'm much better than he could ever be.

Although, I could have told them that I'm in fact noble by blood but thats another revelation for another day plus, i'm pretty sure its not the right time to tell everyone who I really am especially when theres a killer on the lose looking for my head. Now that I'm sure he is just going to feed me to those killers, i'd rather make him think of me as someone who values nothing. And that irritates me even more.

Now I don't have any other choice but to obey the royal law and follow whatever the King and Queen orders me or they might just give me to the killer themselves. So here I am waiting for their orders while reading some book that i've gathered from the library yesterday. It turns out the library here holds a thousand of old literature books that are still in their good condition. They let me borrow some of them yesterday and thats how I've been spending my days here.

"My lady, the Royal Regent requests that you present yourself to her chambers. She requests that you also come with your most comfortable clothes" a royal lady servants interrupts me while I was just about to get into the best part of the book. I almost whined if it wasn't for the lady still waiting for me to move, I would have stayed a little longer and finished the whole chapter.

So the lady servant told me that I was to wear something comfortable, I was already wearing pajamas, does that count as comfortable. I look back to the servant hoping she say yes to what I was wearing but she gave a smile and a shake of head.

"I'm sorry my lady but you have to wear a much different kind of comfortable clothes than the one you are wearing" The lady servant didn't tell me her name but I can tell that she's entertained by me. I took out one normal shirt and a skinny jeans, since its too rude if I do appear in shorts in front of the royal regent, no matter how comfortable she meant for me to wear, I didn't want to show too much skin and someone else might be there so its better to be safe than sorry.

I changed into the clothes and went out of the bathroom after fixing my hair and washing my face. I decided to wear my glasses today since I was too lazy to put my contact lenses on.

I followed the lady servant as she led me to a place near the King and Queens villa, it was another garden and this one look like eden. I saw someone sitting by the flowers with a book on her hand and a tea on the coffee table , she almost look like a goddess if it wasn't for the other lady servants behind her I might have truly mistaken her for a goddess.

"Your highness, Lady Danielle is here to accompany you" the lady servant that fetched me bowed in front of the royal regent and I was left wondering of what should I do now, instead I bowed without saying anything else. I'm still getting used to the things around here. Everyone who is not part of the royal family should always bow in respect. Though I've also noticed that not all royal members wanted that, some of then are actually cool with people not bowing in front of them. Like the two brother Jude and John, I saw them excusing every lady servant who tries to bow in front of them. Though they do have this aura that they'll bully you if they want to but they are actually quite nice.

"You don't need to bow in my presence, if someone asks you why, tell them to ask me instead" The royal regent lifts my head and looks at me before smiling. She was too gorgeous for someone whose gone old. Royalty served her well, I feel like she bathe from milk at how soft her hands are. As fas as history can tell, the current royal regent started being this nations Crownprincess when she was just fifteen and her husband, King Tadeus, was nineteen. They were then crowned Queen and King of the country after four years. Since they were too young, many people actually doubted their reign so eventually, the King and Queen were pushed to implement power and authority upon their people. They ruled for almost fifty years until they decided to finally give the throne to their eldest son, now King Julius Francis.

"I'm afraid I've caused enough trouble already. If I do another one I might be questioned your majesty" I have to be careful from now on, I can't offend anyone else or they might just be done with me. Even if the Royal Regents asks of me to act casual with her I must remain as one of her loyal subjects.

"Nonsense!" She bursts out then slams her book on the table making everyone in the garden gasped in surprise. Have I offended another royal? I really have to control my mouth from now on. "You don't need to act so weary when you are under my protection. As long as I'm alive you are safe and no one can hurt you unless permitted to. So you don't need to worry so much and just be yourself. And if you are worrying about my grandson attacking you again, don't you worry, I already gave him something to do so that he won't bother you anymore. If he does bother you, he'll have me as his enemy" the royal regent proclaims. Everyone gathered in the garden was too shocked but all they could do was to stay in respect to the royal regent wishes.

"But why?" I stood up straight and face to face to the royal regent "why are you so helpful to me?" Curiosity got the best of me that's why I dared ask the Royal Regent about her intentions. There are things that I do understand and maybe with some clues I might be able to think of a reason but i'm still in the dark. The Royal Regents actions just don't add up. She smiles to me before raising her hand excusing all the servants in the area and leaving us both behind.

"You see child people know me as the Queen who reigned at a very early age but what most people don't know is that my family, just like you, were hunted and assassinated. Its like someone had this big vendetta against my family that they had no choice but to send every young kids of the family to different places and that's how I ended up here. You see just like you, I'm also hiding my true identity because someone wants me dead, I only got to where I am today for hiding such a secret and now you are going through the same" she holds her hand for me to take so I gently grab it, careful not to cause her any kind of discomfort "I failed to protect both your mother, that's the reason why I'm doing everything in my power to make sure that you are safe. I don't want you to suffer the same I did. No one knows about this truth except the royal family and now you. I want you to become the next generations Queen, not just because your life is in danger but because I see great potential in you. You have a very quick and wise decision as lady of your age, your mother, Lady Val would always tell me how you can come up with great ideas from a limited number of time. She didn't you to be someone so bright but you managed to become so wise on your own and that made her so happy. She thought she was doing a horrible job at being your mother but I always tell her that you'll do great things. I'd rather have you lead this kingdom than that sassy spoiled little noble girl who my grandson used to date. The fact that she is the prime ministers daughter makes her eligible to become Prince Luke's wife, but that just it, she can only become the wife but she can never be a Queen" her words and her actions are really contradicting, she was calmly telling me all of this things and yet I do feel that hate she has with the Prime Ministers daughter. Though I only heard some rumors about her from the outside of course but no one was really able to confirm the rumors about her only that she is always seen with the Crownprince. Knowing the Prime Ministers patience, no one dares to insult him or his family. They are more fearsome than the Royal family that's why people see the Prime Minister as an executioner. He shows no mercy whatsoever once he sets his mind to it. Fortunately the King and Queen still lives so he can't always do whatever he wants.

I got curious with one thing though "Your highness, did you ever discover who was the person who wanted you dead?" The Royal Regent smiles but she shakes her head.

"This is why I never told the public who I really am. I wanted to come out and tell everyone but I can't because if I do, the rest of my family will be in danger. That why I also believe that the person who wants you dead may actually be involve to my families killer as well. For years Ive been gathering evidences of my own, as the Royal Regent, they don't usually need me for anything unless its a gathering inside the inner palace which doesn't happen as often as it sounds. So when no one is watching I simply slip away and gather whatever I can to solve my families murderer" That explains her sudden absences and why her own people cant find her. She's been roaming the whole palace her whole life, of course she knows different ways out of this place.

"How much have you gathered so far?" I ask her still out of curiosity and because I wanted to help her if I can.

"So far all my leads are of dead end, but that shouldn't concern you now. I'll bring you to my secret place someday, for now you need to get my grandsons heart and take him away from that sassy girl" the Royal Regent grunts.

"If you don't mind your highness, may I know your real name? If Clariza Ormia Kristianna-Eidenton wasn't your real name, then what was it?" The Royal regent smiled at my question then she kept walking.

"You'll eventually know who I really am, for now lets focus at your tiny argument with Luke, the servants told me that you dared answered back to the Crownprince and both my son and daughter-in-law use their authority to make you both yield. What was that about?" Now that I'm hearing from the Royal Regent the fight I had with the Prince, it sound a little funny because a simple lady dared to insult the Prince and not just any Prince but the next ruler of the Kingdom I'm standing on.

"My actions has no excuse your majesty, Prince Luke accused me of doing something I didn't do and don't plan on doing. He treated me like some random lady and he insulted my late mother. He spoke bad things about my family so I had to stand up for them because both of them could no longer do that. I also decided not to tell them who I was or who my real father is because, I honestly want reality to slap your grandson on the face and see him regret for insulting me and what I have. I apologize that I'm talking about your grandson like this but you have to understand where I'm coming from" I finish explaining and I was waiting for her punishment for my words against her grandson but instead of that, she was laughing.

"I can't wait until you two realize that you are both made for each other. My grandson needs people like you. He needs to understand how normal people should interact before he becomes a great ruler" the Regents sits on one of the benches then she grabs a single daisy admiring its vibrant color "My grandchildren has never experience the world like I did. Thas why they need people to wake them up. They maybe royal but they are also human beings. How can they rule when they have zero understanding of what they are dealing out there. People are always hard to handle, some may bow their head while others will lift a knife, you need to realize this things for you to become a better ruler. That is why, I really wanted you to become my grandsons partner. he needs someone to balance the way he is thinking and the way he decides on things" she looks at the daisy with sadness on her face as if she was remembering something that made her sad.

"Are you okay your highness?"i ask in concern but she waved me off.

"Call me grandma and I'm okay" She smiles but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I just remember how Luke used to come here and ask for my help. Since he is the second Prince of the first royal family, Luke was always neglected by his parents. He once told me that he only had Mark to remember him because his parents were too busy to even notice that he was gone. When Luis came, that made things more difficult for Luke. His brother Mark was being trained for the succession of the throne, his little sister was so young and the only person he can play with was Luis. They were good at each other at first but then people started comparing them, saying things about who deserves to be called the second Prince. Luis was obviously higher by age but he was born from one of the Kings ladies and not from the Queen. Luke was both the King and Queens son so in royal law he deserved the title. At a very young age, both boys had to compete for some petty title and that gradually changed Luke's perception. He didn't used to be so bad as what you see him now he used to have a heart" I can't believe that a stone cold guy like Prince Luke could have a heart, but I should have known this. People from royal family tends to hide tons of stuff.

"Look, Im in no position to ask you but I am asking, not as the Royal Regent of the kingdom but as a Grandmother, help him get pass this. He needs people that could remind him of what he used to be. If he keeps going like this, he'll rule the kingdom with a stone cold heart and I can't watch him become a tyrant king" she grabs both of my hands "You don't need to decide now, but atleast get to know him better, this is also for your own safety. I was married to the royal for the same reason and because of that I was able to live this long. You can do so as well. You can also have all the luxury and books if you want, but please stay and help Luke he needs you" She begs and I saw that she was desperate . I can see it all now in her eyes. There no question that she only wants nothing but for her grandson to wake up from his own nightmare and come back to reality.

I thought stories such as the Royal regents and the Prince only happens in books and old literatures. They are not the family thats dysfunctional, its the system that they believed on. I atleast knew that being a royal requires more than just a pretty face or a graceful look. They hold thousands of lives in their hands and they always have this idea that they need to care for all, the pressure is always on them that they sometimes forget that they are also human beings. They don't exactly need to carry the world, they only need to sympathize, show the people that even in adversary there is hope. They are hope and not heroes.

At least this is what I really think and I'm only basing my thoughts now on the things I've read from books and of the things I've witness inside the palace. I can't really confirm anything unless I get to know everything.

Being a Royal is not easy and I know that now. They have to push their kids to the limit and when they become monsters they ask other people to save the very monster they created. The system of this kingdom is crude and full of lies. The very foundation of this family is a lie herself. But of course I can't really say that in front of the Royal Regent, she is also suffering because of this lies. They can't help it, they had to do what they needed to do.

As I walk out of the garden after being excused by the Royal Regent, I kept thinking about what the royal regent told me, she obviously expect me to tell her yes and take up the responsibility of returning his grandson from what he used to be. It all sounds easy and maybe really possible but I don't exactly have the nicest encounter with the Prince. I still feel irritated even with just the thought of him. He hates me and I know it because he didn't have the hardest time to hide it. How can I help someone who seems to hate people the moment they meet each other? Its like its his initial response to anyone who interacts with him for the first time.

Maybe he can change, but I still feel like it has to be his decision and not because he was influenced to. A person who decides for themselves usually ends up doing it until the end without second thoughts, but a person who was influenced can change back anytime and I dont want to be blamed when that day comes.

This whole living with the royals are making me crazy, if I do end up dying its not because of the killer on the hunt for me but because of this damn royals drama.

As I was walking Lady servants kept bowing their heads to me and if I told them to stop they'll just shake their hands then walk away. If I'm not someone who is new to all of things I'd think they are afraid of me, but that's impossible because I hardly know them and I'm not that fearsome. Or do I look like one? I should probably ask Christie about it when we see each other, may she knows something.

"You seem confuse about something?" Someone asks me from behind so I turn around to greet whoever it was, it turns out it was the Crownprincess, I immediately bowed in respect then rose to formally greet her.

"I apologize your highness, I didn't notice that you were behind me please excuse my action" I explained. I must have been assuming things awhile ago, the reason those ladies were bowing and not listening to me because they weren't really bowing for me but because of the Crownprincess who was behind me. But how long was she walking behind me? I've been thinking things all this time and I don't know how long have I been walking, did she really just allow me to walk first and deliberately made me think those ladies were showing respect to me. Did she want to catch me in the act or something? I am overthinking and I know that, but what of my thoughts are right and this is her way of getting rid of me since I did cause her to bow her head to me when she needed to apologize for her son but people who admits mistakes don't usually end up messing around other people.

"I feel like you are overthinking things, if you keep doing that, your eyebrows might stay like that forever. Together forever" She smiles heartily then she points to one of the random benches place within the palace. "Can we talk for a second, if that's fine with you?" She asks and I don't really have a choice with this kind of requests so I nodded. We both sat on the bench and now that I'm in the same level as her, I can see that she actually looks like a doll, its impossible to believe the she already has a son and that shes older than me. Between me and her, I look like someones maid rather than a companion. Its doesn't help that I'm dress comfortably and here she is, presented in fine garments and dressed in white laced dress showing all her sculpted bodies. She sits straight then faces me with a smile plastered on her face.

"I saw you exit the royal regents garden, I wanted to talk to you so I followed you. You seem to be in distress so I didn't bother you and just followed you. The ladies you talk to were being silent because I told them to do so behind you. I was observing you that's why so please excuse my actions" she fixes her dress, no one was with her should she be with her lady servants and why was she observing me?

"Why were you observing me your highness? I'm sorry for asking" I think sorry in now part of my most used word.

"Well for some reason my son really likes you and wont stop begging me to let him see you. Second is, I'm the current Crownprincess and I would like to know what the King and Queen found in you that led them to a decision of giving you one of the highest rank in the royal hierarchy" she explains then adds "and since Mark died, I've been trying to keep the throne to myself not for power of course, but for Prince David." She suddenly grows sad. "When I heard you defend your name and your family in front of Prince Luke. I thought you were awesome, you didn't care that both the King and Queen was there, you have this strong sense of justice and I admired you. But.." she pauses "You also need to survive. Especially when you are inside this place. You can't go around making enemies, this place is like a battle ground. You need to have strong allies to defeat those who want you down. Having the power and title is not enough, you need people. Like a chess game where you own pons to sacrifice when the need arises" she sits here with me but I feel like shes a thousand miles away. Her eyes are deep set with sadness and hate.

"You look like like you've been through a lot? Is this your way of telling me to back off?" I dared ask and then she slightly chuckles covering her mouth, like a gentle lady she was told to be.

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you to back off, I'm simply warning you. If you are going to be the next Crownprincess, you should start gathering your own people or side with the people that can help you get to where you want to be. This is something you should ahead" I feel like I was told to gather my own army and go on war with the royals.

The Crownprincess stood up from where she sat then she glanced back to me. "While you still have the time, make up with Prince Luke, by far, he can be your best ally" she slowly smiles then she suddenly stands up, raising both her hands, stretching her whole body from left to write, an action I never thought I'd witness from someone who was called graceful princess.

She suddenly turn her body from side to side causing a lot of cracking from her body. She took another glance at me smiling "I should take my leave now, my son might be looking for me and I already showed you enough. You should be able small things from now on so make sure to open your eyes and ears for everything. Don't miss out a detail because even the slightest detail can safe you. I hope you make it Lady Danielle because I do have a good feeling about you and David likes you. He is very picky to the people he likes so you must be something else. I'll look forward to your success" she tilts her head smiling, then without waiting for any response from me, shes left me confuse.

When she took some time to stretch her whole body, every piece of grace and beauty I saw from her before was replace by thoughts of her lying all this time. Everyone knows that the Crownprincess is too gentle that she easily cries when something bad happens, she would always look like an angel send from the heavens to show hope to the people and give life to those who are barely hanging. She was always describe as someone who is of high etiquette values, a very refine woman and someone who would never put dirt on her name. But when she showed me those movements awhile ago, I'm pretty sure I felt the real her for a second and the words she told me, They are not to throw me off but they are to show me of what happens next of things go on for me. Things are getting more difficult and confusing the longer I stay here, maybe I should just run-away, tell no one where i'm going and just live a life of a run-away person. Maybe I can have peace then.

I went back to my temporary refuge and buried myself into reading the book I left earlier. I didn't want to think about what was said to me today, I just want to drown myself into reading so that I could forget everything that I've learned. I already feel lost without my mother and now I have to decide for my own and every option that was given to me could potentially put me in trouble.

I miss Lori.

I miss my Mom.

I miss my life.

I don't really care anymore about any of the things said to me. Life inside the palace is not something people should dream about. Every wall in this place feels like prison, and what is more disheartening is that, I used to think that the walls signify that no harm shall come to those who are inside but right now, I feel like its more of no one from the outside should know that everything is a mess inside. All the walls in this place are façade hiding the true colors of the royal family. I don't want to bad mouth the royal family but they are all full of lies. What's the point of giving hope to the people when it is founded by lies?

I wish I could just turn back time and ran away. The palace is no longer a safe place, it is packed with dangerous beings hiding from their own build up masks. I haven't met everyone still but I feel like they'd all be the same. I maybe judging them now but I won't lie on something I witnessed. I have enough secrets of my own and now that I literally have to hide myself, I feel like sooner or later, a mask will be place on me and hide the real me.

There's a killer hunting for my head, a Prince who hates my guts, a Regent who happens to have the same situation as me, a father who is for some reason out of reach. A King and Queen who both watching and waiting for my response, a crownprincess who showed me the real her and a whole Palace watching my every move. Now my life is a total drama and I'm going crazy, I maybe I should just bury myself into the ground and never come out until the next alien invasion happens. Maybe I should just offer myself to the killer, maybe things will get easier that way.

I slumped myself to the people and kept hoping for the day to just pass by. I just had so much fill of drama today that I just really want some peace and quiet. Even for just a second.

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