Big Bad Lazy Meanie

"B…But I at least tried. It remained only one tile for me to be correct" Ava murmured and pouted. How could she have known that she wasn't supposed to count the tiles?

She had spent the whole of her time and energy making sure that she did not make any mistake. These royal kids were all just bent on sending her home, tsk! Besides, she didn't want to leave here just yet. There was a reason for her being here and she was so interested in finding out what that was. Even if she missed her real home.

"Besides" She said boldly "The king was the one who accommodated me, I don't think you have any right to tell me to go back"

Neville faced her raising his brows.

"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" He dipped his hands in his pockets calmly "I'm Prince Neville, the crown prince and most beloved child of the king of spellbinders. If I tell my father that you aren't capable of learning and I don't need your presence here, do you think he'll reconsider sending you away?"

Shit!

Oh goodness! This prince and his bloody narcissism!

Ava bit her lower lip feeling terribly defeated. She needed to find another way to convince this peacock that she was not some cloud-head.

"What about we change the agreement? Um…like if I fail any of the next two tests then I'll leave"

"Hmm" Neville thought for a while "well I don't intend to send you away. You cannot transport back to the human world without being in level three, at least. And you can't even survive here without magic" He paused, Ava blinked.

"It's not like I care anyways" He ruffled his hair and turned away "I'll just agree because I need a new minion"

Ouch.

"Okay, so what's the next test about?" She said moving back to her original energetic and excited mood, ignoring his snide talk.

"You'll have to come with me" Neville said and walked briskly out of the training ground. She followed him curiously, what would he ask her to do now?

They both went to a far end of the compound, past the garden. There she saw a large stable of a score of beautiful horses. Ava couldn't hide her excitement.

"Are we going to ride them?" She asked

"Do you ride?" He said stroking the shiny coat of a black horse.

"Um…I've never ridden horse. It's fun isn't it?" Ava beamed

"Just stay behind me" Neville smirked and climbed the horse.

Ava looked at the horse, unsure of how to climb it. She was wary that she would fall if she tried.

Neville looked at her, tilted his head cockily and got down from the horse. He held her hand and pulled her up, climbing the horse with her as well and making sure she sat properly. This time, he was behind her on the horse, adoring the scent of her hair.

Ava looked at him and then at the horse.

"O…Kay?" She stammered nervously. Neville didn't acknowledge her words. He put his hands over hers and held the reigns instead. She nervously looked forward feeling his hands brush hers as well as his tickling breath behind her.

"I'll ride slowly"

And the black horse gracefully trotted away, as the warmth of the sun slowly dominated the blue sky.

Ava admired the view of the exit of the palace as Neville rode steadily and they went out. She noticed as the horse slowly increased its pace, as grasses moved fast. Her heart began to beat rapidly and she leaned back on Neville uneasily.

Neville felt Ava's apprehensive gesture and slowed down the horse.

"You need to learn to ride fast" Neville said and she frowned.

"I'll learn, very soon. You'll see" Ava sat up.

"Hmm…I love challenges" He simply said and got down from the horse.

Ava saw where they had arrived. It was a small clear lake with pink lilies on top of it. Some white ducks stayed at a far end, the sound of their beaks scavenging for food filling the atmosphere. Quite a beautiful sight to behold, Ava thought. Neville assisted her to get down from the horse and they both looked at the lake.

"Don't be deceived by this pretty façade" she heard him say as if reading her mind. Ava turned to him.

"What are we here to do?" She asked turning to him.

Neville reached out for his pockets and brought out a gold coin. He looked at her for a moment and then tossed the coin into the lake.

"I want you to fetch the coin"

Ava frowned, he was kidding right?

Neville walked towards her, until the space between them was almost no more

"You heard me"

"No…no way!" Ava yelled moving backwards. "Are you crazy? I can't swim…I've never swam in my entire life!

Neville raised his brows "The lake is shallow, you can't drown" he simply said.

"I can't…do you so badly want me dead?! And even if you are itching to get rid of me, can't you just wait for a couple of months?" Ava challenged pointing her fingers at him, fiercely.

She had mistaken him for a handsome gentleman when he took her on a horse-ride to this beautiful lake. Never trust a handsome face, whoever said that was so correct!

He calmly used his hands to shove hers to one side. "Don't make me the villain here. You failed the first test, you don't expect the other tests to be easier, do you?"

"You call this a test? Uh! What you know I can never pass?" Ava protested.

Neville smirked "What happened to your…I-can-do-it spirit? Are you discouraged now?"

"Of course not. I know you just want me dead or gone…or whatever, but I'll show you, you'll see!" Ava yelled

"Now that's the spirit" He said, ruffling his hair "Bring me the coin by this time tomorrow" He yawned. "I need a nap and a massage right now. That's the end of today's training"

Ava widened her eyes, this prince guy was a big bad lazy meanie. Ah! If only she had magic.

She watched him approach her and then say "It's better to stay behind me on the horse, I don't want to ride slowly this time"

AARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Fine, I'll climb the horse myself. Don't bother" Ava deadpanned.

"Sure" He smiled and climbed the horse. Ava climbed after him, clumsily, venting all her frustration on it.

When he was sure she was well seated, he held the reigns "Hyah!"

And the horse began to gallop with great speed. Ava subconsciously held on to Neville and shut her eyes as he rode. Neville smirked at the feeling.

Soon, they reached the palace entrance and stopped. Ava whose heart was pounding in fright opened her eyes slowly. Her hands still clung to him.

"Do you want to get down or continue admiring my marvellous body scent?" He whispered. Ava quickly pulled her hands away, and rolled her eyes in disgust. Narcissist!

She got down before him and adjusted her clothes, her eyes immediately sighted Amelia approaching them.

"Neville" Amelia called out completely ignoring Ava. Neville got down from the horse.

"Yes sister, you called" he said.

"Yes, I want to have a word with you" Amelia said then stared at Ava.

"In Private" she added…