MESSING WITH THE CROWN

CHAPTER 4- THE IRONY OF IT

Walking brusquely down the hallway, Secretary Conrad walked behind me with a tab full of my working schedule to read them out loud.

"You have a lunch date with your siblings today at 2 pm sharp at the Bluebells Restaurant," he said as the guards push open the doors to my office while dishing out their usual greetings.

"Is that for today?" I asked and approach the desk.

"Yes your royal highness," he responded sharply.

"And there is no way I can push forward this date?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"Her royal majesty specifically gave out orders to make sure you take this time to bond properly with your siblings, so no, can't be pushed."

"I shouldn't do that to them right?" I more said than ask. "God, I can't believe I haven't properly caught up with my siblings since my arrival." I sighed. "Being a King to be can be very draining."

"Give me a minute," I signalled for him to get to something else as I sat in my chair and stretched, rocking myself from side to side.

The last three weeks have been crazy busy for me. With the responsibilities and activities and so much, I felt dizzy from time to time and had to shake it off somehow to keep going.

I can't bare to break down anytime soon.

Being a royalty on this level is stressful. I have never imagined myself in this position but here we are and now I am just realizing why some things are the way they used to be with my late father and older brother.

Like why do they hardly have time for family? Or why did they suddenly cancel on family time together?

Usually, mother and I used to be the ones to hold the forte when such emergencies come up and I used to be the coolest older brother who does all the fun stuff with Dalton and Diana.

But now, I have cancelled breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner dates with them a lot in four weeks than I can count in my entire life.

"Okay," I sat up straight and got hold of one of the documents. "Let me hear the rest of the schedule."

"You are free to nap a while after your lunch with Prince Dalton and Princess Diana to refresh you for your dinner with Ms Anika Cooley," Secretary Conrad was busy arranging some documents and files in front of me, "after which you can sign out for the day."

At the mention of her name, my eyes popped and I felt a little too glad if I may add just thinking about being anywhere near her and for some unbelievable reason too, I am a little pissed.

"Hmmn," I scratched my chin before looking at my Secretary who is much older and more experienced. I have tried to make him address me like an older man would a younger man, but it never worked. "Is that so?"

"Yes, your royal highness," I'm getting used to being addressed like this everywhere I turn too but if it were to be under normal circumstances and I'm just Damien, without the royal titles, it would have been a walk in the park because, before now, I'm never a lover of titles.

I'm still not but I have been doing a lot of adjusting and I mean a lot of adjusting also when it comes to handling Ms Anika Cooley.

"Secretary Conrad," I called and his attention was on me at once, "is there any news on her progress going through the lessons?"

I took a pen and started signing the arranged document one after the other. There were three and I had to quickly flip through to see if the necessary changes have been affected.

"This week's report on Ms Anika Cooley's performance hasn't been sent in yet but I can have the Chief Instructor, Mrs Lima, fast track it."

I waved my hand in dismissal. "Leave it be," I didn't want to look and act too curious to know because I have been trying to keep this mixed feeling I have towards her in check and in case you're lost, I finally chose my Queen to be.

Yes, you heard right. I did that and you can take a wild guess.

"Are we done with official duties now?" I dropped the pen and closed the last document I signed which Secretary Conrad picked up immediately.

"Most certainly," he said turning away to stack the documents where necessary while I sat and stared at my phone.

The time was a full six minutes past one. I sat relaxed in my chair and let my mind wander back to having dinner with Anika today.

The thought of it made my heart swell.

It's been two weeks since I made that decision and announced it. I remember everyone thinking I was crazy for choosing her to be my Queen in the recent development.

My mother and even grandmother were so appalled and so were the Royal Court and Companion Instructors when I suddenly decided to put an abrupt stop to the exercise by announcing to them that I have chosen Ms Anika Cooley as my Queen to be.

The shock, the uproar that came with it and the bewildered expressions on everyone's faces were worth it because as we all know, Anika is a very mischievous, strong force to be around and she has on many occasions tested my patience, shook my senses and left me wanting to show her who the boss is.

Oh God, now I sound like a total jerk.

And I am not. Honestly, I am a gentleman but with that lady, I am up on my toes and we're always at loggerheads.

She never wants to back down and I never want to do the same. I guess our personalities are like firecrackers, always exploding.

It is sometimes annoying, and frustrating but also enjoyable and head spinning because at the end of the day we either stay angry at each other to the point of walking in different directions or exactly what I just said.

That is the trend between myself and her and I wouldn't say it's my fault we ended up in this situation.

She did.

Anika Cooley dared me and I went through doing exactly what she hoped and dreaded won't happen.

Huh! I fumed and groaned at all the events that have happened since then, already pissed that I have exhausted more of my patience trying to keep her in check than I have expended on my royal duties.

"Are you alright your royal highness?" Secretary Conrad's voice butts into my thought, I sighed and went to stand beside him.

"No, I am not," I replied with my hands in my pocket.

"What troubles you, if I may ask?"

"Ni..uh, Ms Anika Cooley," I stuttered trying to be formal."

"Ain't no problem as bugging as a girl problem," he chuckles then comports himself immediately upon seeing the worry etched on my face. "Do you want me to ring up Butler Lancet to brew you a calming tea?"

"I don't mind," I replied. "But before that, I would like to hear your opinion on something."

Secretary Conrad stopped what he was doing to look at me, bewildered. "Pardon me, your royal highness," I straightened my back as he continued. "If you want my opinion on Ms Anika Cooley, I am the wrong person to consult. You have her father at your beck and call, he knows even much more about his daughter's escapades than the whole of Wamona would."

I huff, "that mischievous?" he nods. "Oh God, I have only heard the news of her silly escapades after the announcement."

"It's been a while since she trended this long, news had it that she was keeping a low profile after her last mischief almost cost her mother her life but it's Ms Anika Cooley, she is known to make the headlines no matter what."

"I can tell," I reasoned with him and pace back and forth. "She is all every one of the attendants talk about each time the newspapers are published."

Secretary Conrad laughs. "She is something and any man that would marry her will have to be on his toes."

"Aren't you forgetting I am that man?" I raised a brow at him.

"And that is why I wish you the very best of luck," he smiled. "You must have felt something with her to have decided to go all in without having to string along nine other hopeful ladies."

Yeah! Because I kissed her on our first personal encounter after many tussles here and there.

A light, happy feeling filled my mind, soul and body, just thinking about that day.

"Yeah." To some extent, what he said was very right. I did feel something for Anika upon our first encounter in years but I might have dabbled into it too early.

I couldn't believe that child of then was all grown up, beautiful, tough, fierce, smart, fun and mischievous. I know you don't know what I mean by that, but hey, there is time for everything.

"I must say your highness, you are a real man to have known she is the one and to single her out among the rest." he started. "Pardon me if I would be daring with my following statesmen but I think they are what you need to hear."

I was confused but Mr Conrad further shed light on what he meant before I could ask him to go ahead.

"I can tell from the way you react whenever she is mentioned. There is always that light in your eyes every time you read her progress report, or how you've been stacking every newspaper publication with the slightest article on her or the way you peck up when she suddenly shows up unannounced."

I blinked at the older man still not believing I do all that.

"Secretary Conrad, it isn't what you think and I stack those publications because they address important state issues in them," I faked a cough and went back to my sit. "And I don't peck up whenever she is around."

Lies, who was I lying to anyway?

Secretary Conrad looked at me with an expression I can tell was disbelieving before he switched back to being diplomatic and professional.

"You remind me a lot of the Late King, your father, you have always had his strong, daring trait the only thing is, he never gambled with choosing his Queen, your mother," he smiled. "He took his sweet time to pick her amongst the rest, and he was sure she is the one since the first time he laid his eyes on her."

"Are you insinuating that I am gambling my marriage and future in a haste?" I asked ruefully.

"Not my point exactly if I may be elaborate," he came towards me. "All I am saying is, it doesn't matter how you came to choose her, just take your time knowing her as your father did," he smiled at me like he knows a lot about my parent's relationship. "In their case, it was love at first sight and he didn't hesitate to see the possibility of her being his Queen."

"Oh," I do understand where he was headed but I needed him to say it.

"Prince Damien Armstrong the Fifth," what's up with addressing me with my full title. "What is it going to be for you? I think that is what you need to figure out and stop dwelling on why you chose her too early."

My eyes widen at his last statement. It was like he was reading my mind like a book and knew exactly why I was this anxious.

"Are you a psychic or-," I stopped my words from coming out and averted my face from his knowing stares? "You are excused once you're done. I need my alone time till you come to fetch me."

He bowed in courtesy. "Do you want to head to your quarters while I have the attendants bring you something to relax your mind?"

"I will just nap here," I checked my wristwatch. I have less than an hour of rest before my lunch date with my two other siblings. "The tea and a light snack would do."

The landline to my office rang, it was also one of the old antiques that has been in the Palace way before I was born.

"His Royal Highness Office, what do you wish to speak to him about," Secretary Conrad had gotten to work immediately, speaking on the phone. "I'll let him know right away, thank you."

He ended the call and turned to me but he hadn't said a word before the doors of my office opened up to reveal-,

"I was just about to inform you of her presence," Secretary Conrad said upon the August guest's entrance.

My heart jumped at the sight of her and my breath caught in my throat when she sauntered in clumsily.

"You grace me with your presence unannounced again," I finally and watched her miss a step, as usual, I guess that is a habit she can never get rid of despite all the lessons she has been going through.

I looked at my secretary and he was already taking his leave, leaving me with a coy, older, knowing smile that I would have to find meaning to with this unplanned meeting.

"You conniving, egoistic royalty," Anika didn't bother to wait for him to be completely out before she spouts those words loudly, now standing in front of me.

I looked at her, unmoving despite that she was so into my personal space, something I would have told anyone else to move back.

But I found it hard to do with Anika.

"What do you want Ms Cooley," I matched her glare with a simple, polite stare that says I'm not in for arguments.

"How could you make them increase my lesson time?" she glared viciously at me and I willed myself not to stare too long at her lips as they moved, "...already complicated my situation and the least you could have done was to let me have my free time just as much as you've cost me my life, holding me down here to be what I don't want to be."

"And what exactly is that?" I asked solemnly, my voice almost a whisper, I walked to the adjoining room.

"Being any man's wife," she followed behind me with her tiny, melodious voice. They were soothing I must say, even though they carried fire.

"I'm not just any man," I sat on one of the couches and crossed my leg, my body relaxed as she remained standing, towering over me with a glare that could kill my soul. "Oh common Ms Cooley, you know it's true."

"True that you are just another proud man with power, authority and wealth to show off, yes" one of her hands went to her hips in akimbo as the other jabs around in hasty description. "And I hate that I am stuck with you because of your stupid pride."

I squint my eyes at her, "did you say stupid pride?"

"Yes, I did?"

"Listen to me Ms Anika Cooley, you got yourself in this mess," I rubbed my forehead, the headache was killing me, "now if you will excuse me, I have had a busy day and do not have time for your childish behaviours."

I just want to lay my head and rest but here I am, getting into another banter with her.

"Such a jerk," she spats angrily now. "You were the one who got me here in the first place and you'd better undo it else, I am going to mess things up for you."

"And if I don't, what will you do?" I raised a daring brow at her.

"I know you've heard about me," she smirked ruefully, "I need not say more so you better denounce your statement."

"It's more than two weeks since I made the announcement and guess what I don't go back on my words," I started getting irritated by her claims. "I made my choice and that is you, Ms Anika Cooley, you take it."

"And I refuse to do that."

"Doesn't change a thing," I spat back angrily, my head reeling with pain, suddenly I had to hold her to keep stable. I pulled her unto my lap and she yelped at the sudden action. She fought to be free but I held her in place and then buried my head in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, the calming scent of her. "Just stay this way a moment."

She surprisingly stayed calm, I closed my eyes and took in very deep breaths several times. When I was sure I have had enough to keep me sane, I pulled away and she stood up immediately, my body instantly missing her warmth.

"You have to stop doing that," Anika's eyes were wide and shocked. "Have you no shame at all? You can't be holding me or hugging me like it is nothing."

"Of course, it means a lot to me," I scoffed. "You're going to be my wife and come to think of it, we have even kissed."

We've never talked about it since it happened

"And you ruined my first kiss," she yelled with flushed cheeks. I was taken aback honestly by her blunt confession. "I will forever hate you for it because you are the last person I wish to kiss," she plopped into the couch opposite me, giving me a direct view of her pale baby face.

I sucked in a breath as my eyes roamed her face, from her eyes to her nose and finally to her full lips that quivered while she grazes a finger over her bottom lips.

A smile broke from within me and I couldn't hold back from laughing. Her deadly glare set on me again as she adjusted in her seat.

"What's so funny?" I didn't know what to make of her mood swings, a second ago, she was all red as a tomato, but now, her redness is burning, piercing and clutching at my heart with the sparkling rays in her eyes.

"I'm shocked you have never," I said still chuckling. Unbelievable! "I mean, you look like a romantic who would have done more than just kiss," Anika's mouth flew open in bewilderment while staring me down like I am a pervert for saying that.

If she wasn't the one who made me make a promise a long time ago, I would have believed that she has never kissed and also accept her strong opposition to marriage, oh, the irony of it.

"Oh my," she stuttered and inched away on her seat, I chuckled. "You are going to pay for belittling my virtue and honour as a woman," she said more confidently after a while.

"Wow, hold up" I exclaimed and threw my head back in laughter. "I would never do that to my Queen to be, besides, it's a known fact."

"Oh really?" I nod. "I think what you're meant to regard as a known fact is your reputable standards of having slept with every woman in America," Anika narrowed her eyes at me and hummed a silent oh. "Oh yes, news travels just as far here too and the whole of Wamona Kingdom knows of the intimate escapades of her incoming King."

"Hmmn, is that so?" I crossed my legs and folded my hands to listen to her rant about all the nasty articles she has read about me, making known her displeasure.

"And to think I will be marrying a filth like you makes my blood boil," she huffs loudly and stood up.

"Ms Cooley," I started calmly. "You do not know me and if you are judging me by those things you read, I am afraid you will have yourself to blame at the end."

"And why would I?" she retorted sharply.

"Because they aren't all true," and that I have known you since a while back to know you will.

"And definitely, not all true isn't the same as untrue," she stated quoting the air.

No doubt I did some of those things but they aren't anything bad or outrageous as they portrayed them to be in the news.

I stood up, "believe whatever you want, all I know is you're going to be my Queen and I will be your King."

"And what makes you so sure of it, I can just put an end to it and run off."

"That's a classic Anika Cooley mode of operation," I stood in front of her. "But you can try, although sooner or later, you will still be my wife."

She folded her arms across her chest to look at me with a disapproving gaze. "Why are you even doing this? I have never done you any wrong to deserve this punishment. Hell, you don't even know me and we just met two weeks ago," she yelled in frustration.

Wrong, very wrong.

I bent down and laid my hands on her shoulder because I am by far taller than her. I leaned to the side to whisper my next response to her.

"Well, for your peace of mind Nika, I know you," since way back when you were five and I was eleven, her eyebrows rose in question. "And it's true you didn't offend me," I continued. "But best believe this, I know with every fibre in me what I want, and I always get what I want."

"I'm Anika Cooley and you don't own me," she responded with that phrase again, gritting her teeth.

I sucked in a breath and pulled back a little to look into her eyes. "Careful Nika, remember those same words got us here," and it's true.

It's true that I do not like it when I am challenged and that I love it when things are set in order and done that way too and I don't like it also when someone tries to prove a point by being strong-headed. It just doesn't work and it gets complicated if I am to deal with a woman who is like that, someone like Anika.

It is for this same reason that I have mostly been involved with ladies who don't like to defile me as she does.

I might be a gentleman, but I won't lie to you, I can be very controlling and possessive too and I don't back down, no and if you want to prove a point, I will find a way to show you it's not only your opinion that matters especially if I am sure I am right.

I guess it started like that too with Anika since that day of the meeting when she walked into the midst of elders and acted disrespectful by breaking basic rules and mannerisms just because she wanted to prove a point that she wasn't cut out for the exercise.

I was naturally drawn to her and my feelings about her were a mixture of curiosity and anger.

Her silliness and clumsiness, her brazen demeanour, her wit, her humour and everything in between, even her strong, unbending personality lured me into finding out more because it's been a long time since I last met such a person.

And my suspicions were confirmed when I spoke with her father that day and he had divulged every relevant detail about her to me. He even answered my questions concerning her childhood and I had downright told him I was going to marry his daughter.

He was greatly surprised and even advised me to find a suitable choice among the rest of the candidates because he never wants his daughter to become a problem to herself, the throne and the kingdom further than she already has.

The poor man was starting to believe she was a lost cause.

But I insisted and asked that he watch my back while I break those walls she has put up against marriage.

I had left him to join my mother and grandmother and some of the instructors in their meeting where they were discussing the Companion exercise and had brought up the case of Anika Cooley and her punishment before I butt in and told them I was going to marry her.

They were flabbergasted at my outrageous decision but I won against them, even my relatives who were at the helm of affairs.

Voila!

The next day, I announced at an impromptu Royal Court meeting that the Royal Companion Exercise will be suspended as I have made my choice.

I came out of my reverie and saw that Anika's anger had decimated a little while she stares back at me.

"Ms Anika Cooley," I started once I had gathered my thoughts. "Maybe I do not own you honestly, but one thing is for sure now that we're both in this situation," I leaned in closer, staring deeply into her absorbing eyes, "I want you."

"It's not the same for me," she smirks in disgust.

Refusing to be fazed, I smiled devilishly. "I'm sure with time it will be."

"I hate that you're confident about this," she huffs loudly. "It makes me want to jeopardize things if you keep taunting me and acting like you're the boss of me."

Threatening me as she would is the best part and I'm pretty shocked at how I have calmly spoken with her today without us tearing at each other much.

"What more trick is there in your book?" I asked, "I feel like I can take on anything with you and besides, you might as well start taking those lessons more seriously Nika."

Maybe I'm starting to figure her out, bit by bit.

"For you, it is Ms Anika Cooley," she corrected with fisted fists. "And we will see about that," she seethes, forcefully unpinning my grip on her shoulders. I let her go, then walked to the door to open it for her.

"I will see you at dinner," I said, gesturing for her to kindly leave. She pounced to her feet and stalked towards me with cold lasers shooting from her eyes. Once she was almost out, I added, "Do not be late."

She glanced over her shoulder to give me a final glare before walking off without a word.

I went back to the couch, already feeling it in my depths, that tonight was going to be a long night. Still, I couldn't wait to start having those dates with her.

The thought of it warms my heart even though I know I have just invited trouble for myself.

But this trouble, I like.