MESSING WITH THE CROWN

CHAPTER 6- IT'S NOW OR NEVER

"Oh my god, you haven't gotten anything from today's lesson right."

Instructor Nancy seethes calmly but her eyes communicate how much she is holding back from hitting me with the small, signature wooden plank she carries around during my lessons with her.

Legend has it that she is the strictest of all the instructors but I bet I have worn her out the two times we've had our class that she has probably lost her touch. Add to that, the only one who uses 'god' in almost every sentence.

I said nothing as she walks in circles around me, slapping the plank in her hand into her other palm. then I folded my arms across my chest and smiled smugly.

She hates it when I do that.

Suddenly she slammed the plank against the back of my chair severally so that I jerk up immediately wondering, "is there war?"

"Sadly I wish there was," she yelled in annoyance. "Can't you be attentive and obedient for once?"

I shrugged.

"Someone will soon be out of breath," I whispered to myself happily and smiled smugly.

"Could you smile as a woman would," she yelled, her voice an octave away from collapsing the building. "Oh goodness me, I'm always out of breathe whenever our lesson holds." See, told you so. She slapped her palm over her forehead. "God, you will be the death of me."

"When is the class going to be over ma'am?" I asked.

Ms. Nancy angrily points at the wall clock with her plank, with eyes shooting deadly daggers at me. "We've only gone nineteen minutes," she scoffs.

I jumped out of my seat upon seeing we'd only been into the lesson for exactly nineteen minutes.

"What?"

"Sit Ms. Anika," she growled. "We still have an hour, and forty-five minutes left."

My heart dropped to the floor.

I blew out frustrated air, standing with one of my hands akimbo while I do a quick scan of the room. I should find a way to leave here.

We are in one of the many dining rooms in one of the chambers in the palace, the chosen destination for my etiquette lesson to take place for the day.

Usually, this particular lesson takes place wherever the subject matter can be practiced with Ms. Nancy, the instructor in charge.

"Aghrr!" I screamed, ruffling my hair angrily in the process while I plant my butt in the seat. "I feel like I might die anytime soon."

"Not yet, wait until I wear you out in this class," she smiled this time. Sure, she enjoys it when I complain, they all do. " Now sit and arch your back Ms. Anika," Instructor Nancy said cheerfully again and I begrudgingly arch my back.

"Properly," she chastised.

"I can't go farther than this," I shot back. "Haven't you heard? I have a stiff back." I rolled my eyes and remained the way I was.

"That could've fooled me if I did not know you climb out windows and crawl out of places like an insect," she laughed sarcastically.

"You could have used a better word," I shrugged, "an insect?" I frowned at her and banged my hands on the table surface, suddenly making the items on the long dining platform clatter.

Ms. Nancy who I have presumed to be of the same age range as my mother of forty-three jumped back.

"For god's sake those are expensive," she grits her teeth as she starts putting them back in place. "I can't afford to let those break, they are part of a set His Royal Highness loves the most since he was a little boy."

Ah! My eyes scanned the plates, spoons, and cups, you mention everything that is used to serve dishes- molded as ceramics and their bodies the same colors and designed alike with an aquatic animal, whales-, were all present and being neatly set back in place by Instructor Nancy while grumbling along.

They all had different delicacies in them such as rice, chicken, salmon, salad, everything you can think of right now, alongside all sorts of liquids one can have a meal with, from water to juice, to wine, smoothies, mention it.

"If any of these breaks, it would break His Royal Highness' heart," I heard her say.

Would it? Now that's an interesting thing to see, the corner of my lips turned up ruefully in mischief at the idea that suddenly popped into my head next.

I silently thanked the universe for dropping such an ingenious idea in my head. Just awesome!

I swung into action, being very discrete not to get caught.

Ms. Nancy's back was to me so it made it easier for me to hinge my hand closer to one of the plates to start pulling it to the edge of the table.

Once I was sure it was where I needed it to be, I slowly poured some juice from one of the ceramic jugs into the fancy mug cup and took it in my hand.

I then glanced at Ms. Nancy who was still very much arranging the items with unnecessary care and had almost made it back to me. She finally glanced at me as she did the last fixing and came to stand beside me.

"Oh! There is one more left," she gasped, eying the plate I had shifted. It's now or never. I started to drink from the cup hastily and then deliberately let my fingers slip from the handle.

The juice content which I have now identified to be apple flavor splashed all over me-, mind you, discretely I hate that I will not be able to savor the sweet treat properly in my mouth-, then I exaggeratedly sprang to my feet with a loud, unwarranted gasp, making sure my hand touches the ceramic plate to push it forward where it would fall and break while also clumsily bumping into Instructor Nancy who is now at my side.

I let the rest of the content pour on her.

"Oh my god," she gasped with eyes wide as I pretended to not have seen her coming by quickly making the cup finally slip out of my fingers to the floor. "My clothes are ruined...," her voice trailed off into the clattering sound of all the items, making her eyes grow wider and her exclaim a lot more piercing, it gave me an instant headache.

But my smile was wider than the ocean at the excellent delivery of the act and scenario that was curated by me, on the spot.

You deserve an Oscar, Anika! I proudly commended myself.

It was a plan to achieve two things at the same time.

To escape from this godforsaken class.

And to mess a little with the Prince.

And it worked, you can imagine that. I will be out of here in no time while the prince cries over the loss of two of his favorite dish set ensembles. Just wow!

"Oh no the cup," the slender, middle-aged instructor tried to save the mug from falling but failed while I cup my mouth with my palms, faking a loud gasp, "not the plate too," she glanced at the floor in disbelief.

Her eyes went wild as they scanned the several pieces of expensive ceramics that are now scattered on the floor.

"Oh my!" I feigned shock, "I'm so sorry."

Ms. Nancy slowly slipped to the ground in defeat, "What do I do? He cherishes every single one of this set like his life depends on it," she starts picking up the pieces and without thinking much, I bent down to hastily assist but was surprisingly grazed by the sharp tip.

I pull my hand back at the same time Ms. Nancy helped me up, immediately examining my hand.

"You are good," she said with relief because thankfully I wasn't cut, "but you need a change of clothes and your chamber is a long way away from here," I looked down at my blue checkered, button-down dress and remembered I had just made a mess.

"I can just go and change into something...," but I didn't finish before she cut me off saying

"No you can't walk around the palace with your dress soiled," she shook her head vigorously. "Imperial Queen would have my head if she hears of it."

My brows squeezed at what she said. She can't be serious, well I thought she wasn't serious until she bounds to the landline that was placed in the extreme left corner of the living room.

"I will make an order for your driver to chauffeur you back to your chambers," I stood there and watched her make the call for like a second and half-duh. I rolled my eyes internally and watch her come back to stand in front of me.

"Do wait here patiently while I get the cleaners to clean up this mess." She then led me to the other side of the dining and pulled out a new seat as she clasped her hands in front of me. "Please, do not touch anything and have your sit while I am gone a while."

Once she had made sure I was seated, she brusquely sauntered out of my sight into the living room, the closing sound of the door announced her departure.

I sprang to my feet and started for the door but not before carrying the jug of apple juice and another mug cup along with me.

I slowly pull the door open and scanned the hallway for anyone, my head made a right swipe in time to see Ms. Nancy's back view as she turned the bend out of my sight.

I crept out and went left instead for safety and easy escape.

Mind you, I barely know this chamber but I forgot to add that something about it looked very familiar but I have been unable to pin it.

Since I got dropped off here by Tom, some minutes back which by the way I was pretty late for, the first and signature, rebellious act of mine that riles each one of my instructors up and most especially the Prince-, I have been having a weird feeling about the place.

Like I have been here, but I am pretty sure that has never happened.

Besides, Ms. Nancy gave me a brief history of the chamber but I didn't hear a word as I followed behind her because I was too busy trying to figure out an exit or door as we walked along the long, old-looking corridors I did hear her say it was last occupied by someone who is now late-ish or not.

Uh, well, something along that line and it doesn't matter whether it was owned by a human or ghost before, all I know is that there has to be a door that leads outside in this large, gigantic building.

So I kept walking, taking unknown bends and corners while I sip the juice I had earlier poured into the mug.

I started humming along, still feeling quite familiar with the building, momentarily letting my legs take me where they would.

Bloody thing, they have a will of their own.

I walked slowly along as I hummed a beautiful melody. The sound of my perky sonorous tone echoing in the spaces filled my body with ease.

I felt somewhat alive and my head also felt clear, it is as if there was something added to the juice that is making this stroll in an unknown place seem too easy for me to figure out like this.

It feels too familiar.

I chuckle as I thought of the possibility which was a total joke even to my ears. I chuckled giddily because it was quite funny.

I mean, it's unbelievable! That I, Anika Cooley, first-class mischief personified would have been allowed anywhere inside the Palace.

Never.

But why the hell does the house have so many doors that are shut and no souls walking around? And long endless, hallways that are all connected from one point to the other.

The silence was the order around here but my voice had broken that mode of operation and given it a bit more life.

I took what seems to be the fourth bend and saw that at the end of the hallway was an iron bar gate.

"Finally," I smiled and picked up the pace, skipping happily along while still humming my song with the stain on my clothes long forgotten.

As I got closer, I said a solemn prayer and it was as I wished for.

The gate wasn't locked and without a second thought I pushed it forward and the hinges came undone but rather than ending up outside or somewhere close to the outdoor part of the house, I ended up in a garden.

An indoor garden that looked tender, beautiful, and amazing so much I couldn't hold back from whispering wow.

It was a mesmerizing sight to behold with the different flowers planted in it, and some small fluorescent lamps were lit to give the dim room a glow that can only be found in a flower garden.

Soothing scents wafted into my nose. I slowed my breath intake to inhale and savor the scents mix all the flowers produced together.

I am not a flower person but I do appreciate and love the comfort they bring. If you give me flowers, I would probably smile more at you just because you were thoughtful enough to give me flowers and that's because in my dreams at one point or the other, I used to get the same set of flowers from a boy that I presumed to be a Prince.

I must have been a very imaginative kid, ah!

Not only did that thought make me smile but it also made my insides churn with ecstasy as I land each one of my feet on the stone paths that lead to different parts of the garden and became engrossed in letting my hand graze softly over the petals as I went in deeper.

I hadn't gone in too far before I had a subtle voice humming a song, the chords vibrated all around the room, and the hums resonated in perfect symphony.

When I trailed the voice, I found a young lady crouched down and holding a metallic item she is using to pull out the soil gently.

I knew I shouldn't creep out someone like I am but curiosity got the best of me so I tiptoed closer but couldn't go farther because I got caught and startled before I could get a better look.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" A harsh voice interrupted and I jumped so fast I swirled around the same time the unknown lady sprang up and swung the item in her hand my way in a swift and precise aim.

It took me a second to process what would happen next if I don't act and thankfully, I saved myself in the nick of time by jumping out of the way of the item that flew by me at the speed of light into the arms of the strange yet familiar voice that spoke earlier.

There were too many voices gasping at that moment alongside the crashing of an item to the ground and a second later, a piercing scream that made me jolt once again in the arms of the man who had crept up on me while I did the same with the lady.

I was clinging badly to the person before I felt liquid dripping from my chest downwards. I looked up and found Prince Damien looking down at me with murderous eyes, his two hands up in the air.

"Oh my!" An extra voice commented and it wasn't until he showed himself over Damien's shoulder did I see him. "Brother, what the hell just happened," he then looked down at me with a skeptical gaze, "and you are?"

My eyes widened, I jumped back and instantly dropped the item in my hands to the ground, "oh s**t!" my eyes got even bigger.

I gasped and bent down to pick up the pieces of ceramic. "Oh no!" Ms. Nancy is going to kill me! "I just broke two other items from Damien's favorite dish wares."

"And you just made me break my flower vase," a rather girly voice spoke. I flipped my head to see a younger lady than I am towering over me with a deadly gaze. "They cost a fortune!" she yelled.

"Ms. Anika!" Damien more like exclaimed, called my name in surprise.

My mouth hung open, my eyes roamed from Damien to the female and male strangers.

"Wait what?" the unfamiliar guy said. "What did you mean by you've just broken another two of Damien's favorite dish wares?"

Wait, did I say that out loud?

Holy bloopers!

My eyes dart at Damien who still seemed to be in shock but still wore his deadly glare like a crown.

"Uh," I scrambled for words the same way I scrambled with the pieces on the ground. "Forget I said anything," but Damien was now crouching down in front of me, with one kneecap deep in the sand and the other a little bent over. "It's nothing, just a cup and-"

My voice trailed off.

"Just a cup you say?" I swallowed when he met my eyes and reached for my hand that was tightly holding unto one piece. "But you're tightly holding on to its pieces and trying to save it 'cause you know it means a lot to me," he gently uncoiled my fingers around it. "It will sting," he said as he slowly pull what has sunk deep into my skin, it was then that I felt the pain.

I hummed to show it and closed my eyes. I felt relieved when he finally told me to open my eyes.

I did, but he was looking closely at my little injury. His gaze was not as deadly as before and his facial lines were calmer than when we first collided in the garden.

"Diana," he called. "Get me the aid box."

The stranger lady begrudgingly walked away but not without giving me a harder glare.

My eyes trailed after her, she was tall and slender, very beautiful with a ladylike grace to her.

"That's Princess Diana," Prince Damien said bringing my eyes back to him. He was already looking at me with that explanatory gaze of his. "My little sister."

"Our little sister you mean," the other stranger interjected, so I looked up at him and then noticed the resemblance between the three of them. "I'm Dalton," he stretched his hand in greeting still wearing his big grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you finally, Ms. Anika Cooley."

As my other hand was busy being clutched and soothed by Damien with the box Princess Diana brought back, I gave him my other hand to shake.

"Nice meeting you too, ah," I suddenly withdrew my hand from Damien's grasp due to the sharp pain the ointment he added to my injury made me feel. But my hand was back in his, firmly at that.

"Can't you be gentle?" Prince Dalton asked still grinning as he tsk at his brother who gave him a sharp look that made him recoil.

Silence fell upon us for a few passing breaths.

"What are you going to do about my vase Ms. Anika Cooley?" I looked up to see Princess Diana still scowling at me.

"Uh! I'm sorry I broke your vase," I looked down and tried to think of something.

"Drop it, Diana," Damien spoke up. "Would you rather she took the hit than the vase breaking?"

His gaze made her facial features go soft, her shoulders slumped a little before she almost immediately perked up and gave me a soft look.

"I apologize for being rude," she tuts. "My concern should be your safety."

I shook my head. "Oh no! You have every right to be angry, an apology is only right by me."

"It's nothing to apologize for," Damien dismissed plainly. "We were going to do away with those vases anyway cause they originally don't belong to any of us."

When I looked at the other sibling, I caught them sharing a sad look, like they aren't in league with Damien's profession but also do not have a say in it.

Silence seemed to come easy in this space since everyone kept quiet as Damien wrapped a band around my palm. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Dalton trying to restrict Diana with his hands but she pulled away from him.

"Damien, I am still not okay with you putting away everything that connects Da..."

"Diana, I have had enough of your childish banters and don't have the energy left to utter a word against you," Damien quickly intercepts her statement as he angrily shuts the first aid kit and helps me up. "Let's not do this in front of Ms. Cooley, okay."

I heard him sigh inaudibly when he started removing his jacket as he came around to drape it over my shoulder. I kept silent but watched him pull the brown, thick leathered clothing closely to cover up my see-through blouse. Oh god! I forgot about the juice spilling on us.

"You always have an excuse don't you?" Diana not only fidgeted in her position but also fidgeted with her words when she got no response from her older brother. "You just don't want to hear it," she whined sadly, her mouth hung slightly open as she did not get a response still, and a little water swelled in her eyes. "God, you are so hard to reach," Diana stumped out of the garden angrily at her last words, the teardrops a tiny jump down her cheeks.

Damien's eyes closed tightly before he opened them and sidestepped me. He avoided his brother too by looking at the distant wall, his back against us.

Dalton shook his head in concern at Damien before looking at me. "I am sorry this is how we got introduced after all this while," he rushed his words and started taking a few steps away from where we stood, "-but I promise to do it better next time," he said with a reassuring smile. "Big brother duty calls," and then he was out.

If I told you I have a teeny winy understanding of the emotional exchange that just happened, that would be a big lie and I don't want to end up in hell even though I have quite a lot of bigger lies that could take me there on a free pass.

Ah! What should I do now?

Should I stay or quietly walk away?

Umnph!

What good will my staying do? I don't want to step on his leg and rile up the anger he felt and subdued when he found me here earlier.

So I started -without a word as much as a goodbye-, stealthily walking out of the garden.

Curiosity bit me like a zombie on the quest to kill. I wanted to know what that dialogue was all about. Why they shared such sad and tired faces? Just a while back they were all looking fine.

All these were the things in my head that made me walk absentmindedly until I felt someone's hands on my shoulder. I was a bit startled but once I looked up, my worries faded instantly.

Damien.

"You will get lost at this rate," he said, leading us in the other direction from where I had unconsciously turned to.

We strolled out to where I remembered myself and Ms. Nancy went in earlier today and there she was with my designated driver waiting.

Damien instructed them to leave while we rode together to his chambers instead. I didn't know why he did that but we stayed silent all through the ride back just like when we walked those passages out.

Once we were alone in his chambers, he ordered me to sit on the couch. I did and moments later a doctor came in to check on my injury.

Soon after he was done, carts of meals were rolled in by royal servants. The dining was set and now, Damien and I have to eat in silence yet again.

"You could have let me go to my chambers," I whined. "I don't like awkward moments," especially when I am with you, but I couldn't add that.

He did not look at me but he responded. "Do you need help eating?"

Uh!

"Oh!" my lips parted when I realized he said that because of my hand. "No worries, I can use my left," no I can't. I raised my hand and faked a smile.

Damien nods and gave me no attention, not that I wanted it but awkwardness isn't my forte.

I groaned silently as I start to shuffle around my meal with just one hand. When I attempted to use my other hand, the wince that followed was loud enough for him to react but he played oblivious and just kept munching away.

I swallowed a lump of frustration and took the fork with my left. Once I dipped it into my plate, I couldn't get a single grain of rice into it.

I tried severally but nothing was working. Frustrated, I dropped the object which made a loud clattering noise upon contact with the plate.

I huffed because I was really hungry and my insides were groaning rather loudly. I looked everywhere else on the table except Damien.

He looked like he was having the best time of his life while I suffer. Closing my eyes a little, I pushed my plate towards him.

"I need help," I said forgetting my pride.

Damien's eyes were on me already when I opened them, "please," I added looking back at him.

He stopped munching and dropped his cutleries, after which he cleaned his mouth with the napkin before helping with my food.

He pulled my plate in front of him, but his gaze was on mine as he scooped the food into the fork. It was daring and somewhat intense, so I looked away, catching a small smirk on his lips as he lifted the forkful of rice to my lips.

"Ah!" I said opening my mouth. I savored the taste once the food was in my mouth, chewed, and then swallowed.

A few more forkfuls came in after, I munched on them with bliss I can't quite explain. Damien said nothing but fed me like a robot. He had even stopped eating his meal but I had to break the silence with a question.

"Care to tell what that was all about back there, with Diana?" I asked and watched his facial features instantly shift to sadness, and discomfort. I also saw pain swipe across his iris like a shooting star.

It was quick and fast as the thunderbolt before it was masked with an unreal smile.

"It's nothing."

"Oh c'mon Damien," I interrupted. "Does this have to do with the late Prince?"

Damien's body froze, his whole body stopped giving any message at all as he slowly looks up at me.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said and left me no chance at all to say something. "Can you get by on your own?"

My shoulders slumped down as I watched him pull his chair back, his face an emotionless canvas. The smile and smirk on his face had quickly dissipated into nothing as he stood up and walked right up the steps.

I could see him from the dining as he went and so I watched him take the long flight of steps until he was out of sight.

I let out a whiff of air.

You just ruined it? What happened to not meddling?

Uh! I know. My curiosity got the best of me even when I said I wouldn't meddle. It's not even my place to start with but I just thought if he talked about it, it will get a lot off his mind.

I guess I was wrong.

Smacking my forehead in a well done you just ruined everything manner, I resumed back eating my food which was immense torture as I couldn't get a single grain of rice this time also.

Frustrated as usual, I stood up without thinking anything through and unintentionally pulled the tablecloth along with me as I drew back my chair to stand up.

It was an impactful but unprecedented pull because most, and I mean most of the items on the dining table fell off, making hard contact with the floor, and making several clattering noises.

Solid and liquid substances were scattered on the floor some even got on my dress.

"s**t!" I jolted back with my mouth and eyes wide open. "Oh no!"

I bent down to start cleaning up the mess when I heard Damien speak, not behind me but beside me as he immediately pulled me up.

"Stop," he said pulling me away. "Don't touch." When did he get here?

"But I need to,"

"Do nothing and stop worrying me the hell out Nika," Damien cuts in with an intake of breath that goes at two paces a second.

He took me completely away from the mess. It was then I noticed how firmly wrapped around my shoulders his arms.

Damien gave orders to the two servants who came in, then he led me to what seemed to be his bedroom.

It took me a minute to register how magnificently beautiful, classic, and befitting of a man the room was. My breath was caught in my throat and my mouth hung open in awe.

"Woah!"