Chapter 5

Mr. Robert locked the door and watched her daughter sleeping soundlessly. He went upstairs and brought a pillow and a blanket. He carefully put the pillow under her head and covered her with the blanket. Diana adjusted herself in the blanket. Mr. Robert watched her for a while, smiled, and kissed her forehead before going upstairs to his room.

Mr. Robert sat on the corner of his bed. There was a photo of a young man and a beautiful woman on the side table. They were smiling and looked happy. He lay down on his bed, deep in thoughts. He thought about the prince and his friend who came today until he went to sleep.

When Diana woke up in the morning, she found herself covered with a blanket and a pillow under her head. She rubbed her eyes and looked around. She was in the living room. She remembered she slept in the chair last night. She got up and searched for her dad.

"Diana! Are you up?" Mr. Robert's voice echoed from the kitchen.

She replied, "Yes, Dad!" still rubbing her eyes for removing the little bit of sleep her eyes still had.

She went into the kitchen and hugged Mr. Robert. She kissed his cheek and rested her cheek on his shoulder. "What are you making for breakfast?" She asked sniffing. "Bread, omelet, jam, and tea. And yes, there is some butter too in the fridge." Mr. Robert replied without looking away from the frying pan.

"Mmm… It smells good. It should taste good, too." Diana said while reaching her hand for a piece of bread. Mr. Robert slapped her hand and snapped, "Go wash your face and freshen up. Only then you can have your breakfast."

"Uhh….. Dad….! Why are you so cruel? I hate you." Diana dropped her head behind and whined while leaving the kitchen to wash her face.

Mr. Robert smiled and said loudly, "Love you too, dear."

She sat down on the chair near the table in the kitchen. The smell of tea and omelet was making her hunger rise. Mr. Robert brings the plates and settles them on the table. "Mm…Dad, it smells so good."

"Then eat lots, ok?" he said ruffling her hair. Diana smiled and nodded. She took the fork and dig into the food. Mr. Robert smiled at her and took a sip from his tea.

"Dad…" Diana said while eating. "Don't talk when your mouth is full." Mr. Robert frowned. "Oh sorry!" Diana apologized and swallowed her food in a hurry. "Diana, eat slowly." Mr. Robert snapped.

"Tonight, is a festival in the next town. Melissa told me that there would be a lot of stalls and that she wants to go there." Diana informed. "Can I go, please?" She clasped her hands.

Mr. Robert asked. "Is Melissa going too?" Diana nodded. "Okay, then you can go there. But…." Diana sighed waiting for orders. "I'll come too if you both are okay." Mr. Robert said.

Diana jumped from her seat and exclaimed, "OKAY? That'll be amazing. Ah…! It will be so fun." She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I love you." She kissed his cheek and squeezed him.

"But before that, you'll have to complete your punishment for today. Don't forget you still have a month left of punishment." Mr. Robert said.

"Huh?" Diana loosened her grip and look at him. "Uh… Dad! I thought you forgot about that today." Diana whined and left him. Mr. Robert shrugged.

"Go into the forests and bring me the best and sweetest apples." Mr. Robert said.

"But Dad, they are found in the deep forests of that mountain. I'll have to climb up there." Diana whined again, "Can't I just bring the apples that are in the forest at the back of our house. They are really good and sweet as well. Please?"

Mr. Robert narrowed his eyes. "Well, I was talking about the forest near the house. But… that's not a bad idea either." Diana's mouth dropped open.

"No! No, Dad! I'll go and bring those apples from the forest at the back of the house." She said rapidly. "Haha… I was just joking."

"Hm…"

"Please, Dad. Not today. Please, please, please!" She pleaded.

"Hm. Okay."

She sighed in relief. "I'll schedule this punishment for another day." Mr. Robert said while sipping his tea.

Diana opened her mouth to say something but just then the bell rang. Diana smiled and said, "It must be Melissa." She ran towards the door to open it.

"I have been waiting for you for ages." She said while swinging the door open.

"Really? I didn't know that." A male voice caused her to snap her head up. A hint of red spread across her cheeks but quickly recovered herself. She frowned and crossed her arms, "What are you doing here?"

He took a glance at her. She was still wearing the same dress as yesterday, having bed hair with a few wet strands sticking to her forehead. Her arms were crossed, and an eyebrow raised waiting for an answer. That caused him to smile. He looked down and shook his head.

"We came to help you with your punishment," Eric answered. Behind him, Carl was sighing with annoyance.

"Oh… But I don't think that your princess oh, I mean… your friend is ready to help." She asked jerking her chin in Carl's direction causing him to snap his eyebrows in anger, making Diana smirk.

Eric looked at him and made a pleading face. Carl looked up in the sky and sighed.

Eric said, "No. We both are here to bear your punishment with you as we were the cause for your trouble." Diana smiled making Eric smile back at her.

"Hey, Diana!" a girl was waving at her from the gate. Diana looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Hey, Melissa! You're late."

She came running towards the door giggling. "Hi. I am sorry. I woke up late." She stopped for a while to look at the company she had. "Well. I guess you are having a company here, hm?" Melissa asked opening her arms for a hug.

"No better than you," Diana replied while hugging her friend. "Oh.. and by the way, they are here to help me with my punishment." Melissa looked at her with a smirk and mischievous eyes.

They both started laughing evilly.

"Is it Melissa, Diana?" Mr. Robert's voice echoed.

"Yes, Dad! It's Melissa and um… we got some guests too." Diana replied.

.....

Diana and Melissa were plucking the apples from the trees. They were hanging from the tree branches while the two boys were standing below them with their mouths wide open.

"Catch it!" Melissa shouted.

Eric reacted first and tried to catch the apple. But before he could reach the apple he tripped and fell. He looked up with a blank expression making Diana and Melissa burst into laughter. Carl looked at his friend, then at the girls, and then again at his friend and burst into laughter. Eric looked at the three of them and started laughing too. Mr. Robert was sitting on a chair at the back of his house. He smiled and sipped his tea.

Diana and Melissa had both changed into their work clothes, a brown button-up, and pants. Both had their hair braided to one side. Both the guys blushed when they saw them as it was rare for women to wear such clothing.

The girls had decided to pluck the apples and the boys stayed on the ground to collect the apples.

Diana sat down on a thick branch and spoke. "Hey! I warned you. You can still quit if you want," She said with a bit of concern but dramatically changed her voice and continued with a taunting smirk, "I promise, I won't say a word."

Eric smiled and got up. He dusted himself and replied, "Why? You worried about me?"

"HA! You wish." Diana countered and looked away, but Eric had already caught the faint blush she had on her cheeks.

"Anyways, I was saying so for your good. Right, Melissa?" Diana turned to her friend. But she was smiling and seemed lost. Diana followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow at what had made her friend so lost in thought. Carl and Melissa were looking at each other and smiling.

Diana cleared her throat, "Melissa."

"Hm…" She replied without looking back at her.

"The sun looks beautiful, huh?" Diana asked in a fake sweet tone. Eric looked at her confused.

"Mm-hm," Melissa replied, again without any thought.

"Is admiring him more important than helping your friend?" Diana asked in the same fake tone.

"Mm-hm," She replied.

"Melissa!!" Diana shouted with a shocked expression startling Melissa and Carl. Realization struck both of them and a heavy blush appeared on their faces.

Melissa hastily said, "NO! I mean… no. Of-of course not. You are my b-best friend after all, how can I not h-help you? Haha…"

Diana nodded smirking, "Hm…"

Diana looked at Carl who was still blushing like crazy and smiled at her friend.

Melissa stared at her and snapped, "Don't you dare look at me like that."

Diana and Eric burst into laughter. Carl stared angrily at his friend.

"Stop laughing!" He charged at him. He grabbed his collar and they both rolled on the grass making Melissa laugh too.

"What are you lot doing?" All of them snapped their heads towards the voice.

Mr. Robert was standing there with his brows snapped into an angry frown.

"DAD!"

"UNCLE!"

"SIR!"

They all yelled together.

Diana shouted hurriedly, "We are almost finished!"

"Okay. Okay. I understand. You don't have to shout," Mr. Robert scolded. A series of 'sorry' was murmured.

"And what about you two? Are you going to stall the work with your catfights?" Mr. Robert raised an eyebrow at the scattered apples.

Carl's punch was still in the air. He looked at his friend and got up hurriedly allowing Eric to get up too.

"We are sorry, sir. We will finish this in no time." Eric and Carl both said in sync with their fists on their chests showing respect.

Mr. Robert sighed, "Your Highness, I told you, you don't have to do this. You are the prince, and we should respect you. You are supposed to be in the palace, working for our country instead of collecting apples as a punishment when it was not meant for you in the first place."

Eric smiled and replied, "And I told you, sir, that I wish to be your student. And a student must learn to respect their teachers."

Diana mimicked him which made Melissa laugh.

Mr. Robert shook his head, "Okay, do what you want but I am not going to change my mind." Then he turned to Diana and Melissa, "I think you both don't want to enjoy the festival."

Diana and Melissa shook their heads at once.

"No, dad! We are almost finished. We were just coming back."

Mr. Robert raised an eyebrow and looked at the apples still on the ground, "I don't think so." Diana and Melissa looked at the apples and gritted their teeth.

"Anyways, finish this up before it gets late." Mr. Robert said while turning around. Diana and Melissa mouthing angrily towards Eric and Carl.

"Ah..." Mr. Robert turned around with a smile causing Diana and Melissa to jerk straight up. "I presume our guests want to join the festival too." Mr. Robert looks toward Eric and Carl causing their faces to light up while causing Diana and Melissa's mouths to drop open.

Mr. Robert turned around and head back to the house. Diana and Melissa waited until he went far from them and snapped at the two boys, "YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH US." But the shine on their faces showed no concern about the warning. Seems like they had already made up their minds.

Diana and Melissa looked at them and turned to each other with a look that said 'what to do now.'