Chapter 7
1500 Words
Hawk.
My mind replayed that one certain moment from when I was a child, when my father told me that hawk's have very sharp eyes, especially when it's eyes has focused on it's target prey. I have been wanting to see it personally, but I wasn't able to, not until now.
I don't know how hawk's stare exactly, but I assume that the Queen's stare is enough for me to have an idea.
I could feel my knees shake, and my hands unconsciously gripped my skirt as I tried to calm down. It wasn't working. It wouldn't take long before the trembling spreads all over my body.
I was taken aback as I felt a light grip on my right hand. It was warm and somehow relaxing. I realized that it was from Creed.
I looked at him with wide eyes, a bit confused with why he did that. Creed looked at me back, his eyes held calming emotions, that somehow, - it felt almost unreal - that my trembling lessened.
Just how many amazing things is this man capable of doing?
I looked away as I felt my face heating up. I could feel Creed giving my hands a gentle squeeze before letting it go, continuing the conversation with his father.
"Yes, father. That is a good idea," he said. "Actually, it's a good opportunity for Princess Louisiana to reach out to her future subjects."
"H-huh?"
Idiot! I'm an i***t!
I immediately regretted the moment after that sound escaped my mouth. I probably come out as rude now! And what's more was the queen's stare is still on me!
"Then, can I leave the task to the two of you?" The king asked, and I just kept myself silent, letting Creed decide on behalf of the two of us.
"Yes, very much."
"Good to hear," he said to Creed one last time before giving his attention to the food. "Why is no one eating yet? Come on now."
I was surprised with how fast his tone changed from being serious as a working man to his co-worker, and then sounding into more like a father to his family.
"Oh, you," I gulped as the queen spoke, referring to me.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty?"
"What is your name again?"
"Oh! I uhh, forgive me, everyone, for not f-formally introducing myself," I stuttered, getting on my feet to stand for introduction. "I am Louisiana Morisgor. I'm the only daughter of King Wilfred from the Kingdom of Trabet."
"Oh. A Trabetian princess," the queen nodded to herself. "I've heard that the kingdom is small, but I never knew that they had the rarest treasure anyone could ever find."
Treasure? Rarest treasure?
"Uhm, you must have mixed kingdoms. Our kingdom don't have that many treasure, let alone possess the rarest treasure you are referring to, Your Majesty," I said with an uneasy laugh, cursing myself as I sat down.
"No, darling. It is true that they indeed possess the rarest treasure," she insisted, and I just shut my mouth and listen. "You are." The queen smiled at me with her bewitching beauty, and my heart skipped a beat.
My heart raced.
I could feel butterflies, or even fireworks exploding everywhere, every spark made this funny feeling in my stomach. I could hear every beat from my heart in my ears, and with each beat coming faster than the beat before.
It felt amazing to hear such words. She just called me the rarest treasure...
I stopped myself from tearing up, otherwise they would see me as over reacting.
Another reason why I was feeling so much emotion with what she just said was because I thought she already grew dislikes towards me. I thought that with her stare earlier, she was already digging up all my flaws to slap it on my face all at once. Thank goodness that she's actually a kind queen!
"I... Thank you so much, Your Majesty. Your compliment is the biggest and one of the most beautiful compliment I have ever received," I said, failing to stop myself from getting a bit emotional, but of course, still with a big smile.
"See? I told you mother will like you!" Cahsey entered the conversation, making me a bit embarassed. It only revealed the fact that I just shared to Cahsey about how uneasy and scared I was to meet the queen.
I just passed everyone a shy smile, and the table fell silent.
It was a formal dinner, after all. Everyone had to respect the food in front of them, and should lessen the talks and conversation.
I probably looked like an i***t by now. I could still feel my lips smiling against the fork that I stabbed the steak with as I brought it in my mouth. I just hope that everyone is busy eating up their own food-
"Dear, Louisiana," I froze as I heard the king call my name.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty?"
"Eat more," he smiled, pointing at other dishes, and this time, I wanted to burst in tears.
THE SCHULZ ROYAL FAMILY IS SO KIND AND WELCOMING!
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"You know, you should take a stroll around the town. It is very lively and full of people," the queen suggested as everyone is on their after-meal desserts.
"I have also thought about that. I really wanted to feel the lively spirit of a community, because it has always been what I was used with back at Trabet," I responded.
"The timing is perfect, then. The Cromwell Manor has sent us an invitation for a ball they were hosting. They hosted it to celebrate the arrival of the Earl of the North-West domain," the king said, and as much as I wanted to get excited, I wasn't really.
Formal balls were not my thing.
"The Earl of the North-West domain... isn't he the eldest son of the Cromwells?" Cahsey asked.
"He is," Creed answered.
"And before I forget, they really wanted both the future rulers to attend."
"When is the ball?" - Creed.
"Two days from now."
The ball is in two days, and I don't even have a decent dress to wear yet.
As if the queen has read my thoughts, she spoke to me. "Do not worry, dear. Your closet is filled with ball gowns suited for any occasion."
Well, yeah. I forgot to check the walk-in closets earlier since Medina prepared the dresses for me. I just thought that the dresses there were just daily dresses decent enough to wear around the palace except for the throne hall.
"I still remember how my husband used to get mad at me for preparing too many dresses when my son here, Creed, hasn't even found the woman he was going to settle with," she laughed at the memory. "See, now? The day actually came earlier than we expected," Queen Amelia pointed at her husband, leaving King Lionel laughing a bit.
"You were too excited," the king said to his wife.
"And so was fate," she said, opening her palms, pointing it towards the two of us, Creed and I.
Oh, dear. I felt bad with the fact that I wasn't here because of mutual love. I was here because of Creed's intention. It feels uneasy, especially when the person we were hiding the truth from were kind people, and the people I was gonna start treating as family.
Lying hurts.
The table fell silent, and that was when the king noticed that everyone was already finished with the evening.
"I can see that everyone has finished their meals. The night has also started becoming deep now. Should we go back to our respective chambers?"
All of us agreed, and I noticed Cahsey putting some pastries on the piece of cloth that I thought was suspicious. I have noticed her carrying even from when we met at the hallways.
"Cahsey. No pastries in bed. Put it back," the queen said.
"But mama!"
"Don't wait for me to scold you again. Put it back now. There's still tomorrow for that."
"Papa!" Cahsey called out to King Lionel, calling for help.
"Can't we just let her be, one more time?" King Lionel tried to talk it out with his wife, but Queen Amelia's decision has been settled.
"You're spoiling her too much, Lionel. Cahsey should start disciplining herself, especially because she's a princess."
King Lionel gave up.
"Cahsey, listen to your mom," he told Cahsey. "But don't worry, princess. Papa will make sure of it that there will be tons of it for you," he smiled at Cahsey.
"Yay! Thank you, papa!" She cheered, putting back the pastries on the tray.
My heart ached because of the scene in front of me. I miss my papa...
"I'm sorry, mama. I shouldn't be going against you. After all, you're right. I have to start to teaching myself to self-discipline," she apologized, and giving her mom a hug.
The Schulz are indeed a beautiful family like what the people say.
- Writer
