MESSING WITH THE CROWN

CHAPTER 3- YOU TELL ME

Seated now in a room that looked to be an office with the nine other lady companions after the meeting with the Royal Court, we listen on as the Chief Instructor who always looked pleased whenever her eyes meet that of the ladies, but once it's on mine, one can see a hard-line creep to her forehead and then dissolve almost immediately.

Like she is displeased by my presence but she can't do anything but still act formal.

Whatever.

I'm only here because it became inevitable for me based on the event of this morning and the appalling situation I found myself in. However, I had a plan upon accepting my fate to be here this morning.

The office no doubt has a chair placed behind a large desk where a few materials such as a case for pens, inks, a pile of notebooks and files are laid in neat arrangements.

The room was also wide enough to accommodate a few more fancy and comfortable chairs on which we are now seated.

I had seen the instructor drop some things off on the table before addressing us so I am guessing it might be her office.

My lips twitched ruefully as my mind wanders away from whatever the instructor was saying as I reminisce on why I had to act the way I did at the meeting.

You bet I had deliberately gone amiss for a while once they started calling the rest of the Companions and suddenly made that disrespectful appearance.

Yes. It was all part of the grand plan and I'm waiting for this round, burly woman with black weaves, pulled and pinned to the back of her head to be done talking and ask me to stay while the rest exit.

My eyes danced around the room and everything seem too good, too curtly and encamping to be for me.

I'm a free spirit and I detest having to conform to any predetermined standards.

I mean, after my fall earlier this morning, I regained consciousness in thirty minutes, so Mama told me when she was helping me get ready. She told me about the doctor's diagnosis before I came and I vaguely remember that while I was still unconscious, I heard my father make a call to our family's doctor and then to my brother.

Mum said the doctor checked on me once he arrived and concluded that I had a mild concussion since I banged my head on something as I fell but that I will be fine.

It was weird that I could hear everything they were saying as I slowly regained consciousness.

The doctor left and our small family was left alone. It was then Dad got talking right in my room as I felt Mum's finger play in my hair.

They talked about me the longest. I heard of their concerns over me and it was then I learnt the Crowned Prince had personally requested Father's presence at the Royal Court today. Normally, it wasn't supposed to be.

Dad's role as the Chief Advisor on State Affairs did not include any activities relating to the Royal Concubine exercise. But then, he was ordered to particularly attend and he agreed to just because his friend, the Late King Armstrong III would have wanted it.

With the way father had laid down the whole order thing, left to me I would say he was baited into being in attendance and that's precisely disrespectful because already, my father is laden with responsibilities to the Country and the Royal Family.

Then I heard them talk about some rules and guidelines heralding the activities and conducts of Royal Companions.

They never went deep but the surface they both scratched was enough to help me come up with a genius plan.

When I finally woke up and was feeling like myself, the next thing I did was study the guide and came across some amazing rules that can easily help me escape these walls in due time.

I will be out of this scheme in due-, something flicked in my face closely and I blinked to see the Chief Instructor, whose name I have no idea of, flicking her frail fingers in my face with a stoic look.

"Lady Anika," she hissed my name and glared down at me. "I said you should comport yourself, is that clear?"

I glanced at the rest of the ladies and they all were already looking at me in a funny matter. "I am guessing that instruction is only for me, noted," I replied with a nod as I divert my face from them.

The older woman's gaze was condescending as she gave me a once over but I made a huge silly face back at her and she pulled back while the others snickered. "We all have that one look that makes others know you don't like them, that is mine." I smiled mockingly at her.

I know I shouldn't be doing that but hey, anything to get out.

Her expression turned sour, then she huffed loudly and then dismissed us after once again shooting me an angry, warning glare I am the least scared so I stood up from my sit and dusted invisible specks off my gown but Ms, I should catch her name soonest hands swiped in front of me in a stop sign and I halted in my track.

"You did not hear when I said you will be having an audience with one of the Royalties," she started coldly and I stare back blankly. "You've got yourself in this situation by showing up late and acting disrespectfully in front of the Royal Families and the Royal Court, now you should sit back and put on your best sombre and sorry look while you wait."

What? Oh my God!

Suddenly I jumped up making the woman bounce away from me in shock. I burst out in hysterical laughter and she was appalled by my attitude. "Wow, I can't wait." I laughed.

"It's not something to be proud of," she enumerated coldly but I kept smiling, "because you are either going to get kicked out of the exercise or be warned which is most likely not going to happen especially with this unladylike attitude of yours and at least, think of your father's reputation," she spat unhappily.

Okay, not my father.

"Reputation?" I stepped up in front of her still smiling, not the least bit fazed. "I'm pretty sure he isn't worried about that himself," I smiled gleefully.

She shook her head in an obvious loss of words and turns around while telling me to wait to be fetched to wherever as she takes her exit, sauntering to the door. Before she stepped out, she gave me one last look and the door key in its lock.

I let out a sigh and whipped my face around, walking around the room and exploring the few paintings on the wall.

They were portraits of the previous instructors as far back as the 17th Century till now. My eyes scanned each piece before or stopped finally on the woman who just left.

That woman certainly doesn't like me. I wish she is here so I could tell her she doesn't have to worry about me since I will be gone soon.

Less trouble for her hands and the other Companion Instructors.

I mean, after that silly stunt I pulled, I'm pretty sure the royals aren't going to sit back and let me go scot-free and I have especially heard that Queen Imperial, who heads the Royal Companion exercise is not such a forgiving woman, especially on acts that disregard the Crown.

I read one of the rules in the guide that-,

Any Royal Companion Candidate whose actions and conducts disrespect the Royal Family or the Royal Court will be immediately ordered to withdraw from the exercise.

And I have done that, even worse by coming in late and not paying the proper respect and importantly, acting nonchalant and in a manner that doesn't befit a lady who is to go through the training of becoming a Queen.

And that's me explaining the whole rule very simply. I reasoned back to what the Chief Instructor had said about being kicked out or being warned and retaining the chance to participate in the exercise.

But I have only read about such a case happening since the early 19th Century, with the Late Imperial Queen who was the great grandmother of the Crown Prince who herself was a royal from another Kingdom entirely.

History has it that her marriage to the then Late King was a form of creating a sustainable ally and uniting the two Kingdoms together with a Royal Marriage.

However, I am no royalty but the daughter of a mere State man and I'm not so sure that despite my father's excellent reputation in the Kingdom, such grace would be extended to his daughter.

My eye caught another portrait hanging on the wall but way above the rest of the other portraits. It looked to be short poetry of sorts because it has writings on it.

I strained my eyes to pick the words but couldn't do it. I looked around for a moment before my eyes laid on the chairs.

With my eyes fixed on them, I examined from a distance if they will do and realized they wouldn't however, my brain thought of a better idea.

To stack them up together till they go high enough for me to climb on and started stacking them together.

Whew! Were they heavy? Pretty much.

I had gone out of breath stacking up the chairs so much that I bent over to catch my breath for a minute. I had left one chair deliberately to use that as a stepping aid.

Next, I got on it, and the flay of my gown swept to a side as I lifted my left leg to climb. It has always been a pain for me to wear heeled shoes, so no matter what, I always have on either my boots or a simple flat heel. And today, I switched my low, heel footwear without my mother knowing to orange boots which match nicely with the white gown and fancy brown hat and bag my mother had initially decorated me in.

I holstered myself up on the single chair but considering my type of height, my legs couldn't stretch wide enough to allow me to climb onto the stacked ones.

One of the disadvantages of being mildly short or just average in height to put it pleasantly is that in my years of climbing and escaping, I have had really tough times getting in and out of some restricted places where I have forcefully found my way into and they have got me in trouble a couple of times.

A smile played on the corners of my lips as a memory of my father pops into my head. I remember he was wistfully embarrassed by me because he had to fetch me alongside the maid from the police station late into the night that day.

I looked around more but couldn't find a solution to climbing these chairs to appeal to this piqued curiosity of mine.

Trust me, until I read what's on that portrait, I am never giving up. So I thought of a better way and that is to push the large desk here and then mount a few chairs on it to go high enough for me to read the inscription.

Genius!

In no time, I was down and had already transferred the items I had earlier seen on the table to the floor, then I start to push the table onto the marble floor.

Skrraa skrree skrrrr was the noise that trailed my action. I cared less about it calling attention besides, this office is located at the very end of the Eastern Wing of the Royal Court or so I read on our way here.

The possibility of anyone coming so soon to fetch me to the royals is very slim because as you might know, the royals are busy people and so it will take a while for them to attend to a person who has disrespected the crown.

With my back against the door, I kept pushing until the table was at the point I could easily use it, before placing a few chairs on top of the table.

Then up I went, first on the table and then on the chair. I did it so rapidly because I was that curious and when I finally made it up, without falling or failing despite the shaky imbalances, I did a little happy dance.

It didn't matter that I could fall once again today because who cares.

I could see the letters clearly and the painting on the portrait was so magnificent that I have never seen anything like it in my life. The artist must have put in a lot of work to create that masterpiece.

Although for some reason, the piece looked unfinished and it's like the writings were carved upon it to give it a little closure of some sort.

I might never find out what happened to this piece but at least, I should read the words on it to gain insight and that was what I was about to do until unfortunately, a deep, baritone interrupted me with a hum.

The voice sounded super close to me so I wiped my head around first in wonder.

"Down here," the voice said and without thinking, I swirled around to look down what followed was me screaming and trying to balance myself on the chairs but it was too late.

My sudden movement had shifted the balance of the chair so much that I couldn't avoid falling off and slamming my body into the stranger who suddenly caught me as our bodies made contact with the hard floor followed by the shattering sounds of the chairs.

"Ow!" I let out a painful growl and felt my senses reset to default. If care is not taken, I might not end today on a much better note than it already can't be.

I felt pain and I couldn't move for a while, I fluttered my eye open to see that my head lay on the arms of the stranger and he was beside me, with his wide eyes facing up.

I screamed and jumped up, feeling the pain jab through my side as I rapidly detach away from him.

"Oh my God," I said, flailing my hands towards him in apology. "I am so sorry," I covered my mouth, not knowing what to do next but then I offered a hand too late as he was already on his feet.

He said nothing and just examined himself, dusting off invisible dirt, I moved closer to examine him but he stepped back so rapidly like I carried a disease. I stopped and watch him adjust his necktie and collar.

"Please, pardon me," I search his chest to see if there is a name tag but he had none like the other royal servants I have seen today. He was dressed in a white shirt and black fancy looking pants. "I am so sorry I ruined your appearance," since our fall, we haven't made eye contact. "If you will allow me, I would check your back to make sure there is no dirt tainting you," I said and took a step forward only for him to put a hand up and command me to stop which I did.

When he was done doing what I just suggested to do for him, he looked up and instantly my eyes met with his unfamiliar, stoic eyes that glared and shot unamused lasers at me.

I was about to rant another series of apologies when he cut me off and progressed sharply at me as he called my name with that rich, baritone of his. "Miss Cooley," the man said for the first time as he advanced and I backtracked myself against the wall.

"Uh!" My eyeballs widen in fright. "What are you doing and who are you?" I asked and blinked severally until I was a few steps from hitting my back against the wall.

I better get out.

So instead of going further back, I sharply sidestepped him and dashed to escape the trap but I didn't even go a step before he got hold of me and pulled me back against the wall I didn't want to fall against. I yelped.

"Do you have a problem with doing exactly what you are asked to?" his baritone rang deeply into my ears as he pins me against the wall, his fierce angry gaze boring holes into mine.

"And why would you ask me that," I spat at him still horrified by his sudden intrusion into my space as I struggled to break off his grip on my waist. "Let me go this minute if you don't want to get sacked. I am a part of the Royal Concubine and you are laying your filthy hands on an eligible Queen to be."

"Then you should have acted as one," he scoffed in my face as I kept struggling with him. "Can you keep calm because there is no way you're breaking free from me?"

"Help!" I screamed. "Anyone out there, help me please," I screamed harder but the stranger wasn't bothered as he kept pinning me and I kept struggling with him. "Aren't you the one asked to fetch me to the royals?" I asked in between my pants.

"No," he said as we kept struggling still. "It's quite the opposite and I command you to stop fighting to break free."

We both started at each other while angrily panting from this unending scuffle.

How dare he keep struggling with a woman?

"And who are you to give me commands," I glared at him and smirked because he doesn't know who he is dealing with and if care is not taken, he wouldn't know what will hit him next.

I'm considered unbelievably strong compared to other girls.

"I am your Crown Prince, the King to be," he responded and I paused to look at him unbelievably as I broke into a deep hysteria, he started at me like he isn't surprised that I didn't believe him.

Brazen much! He dared lie after manhandling me like that.

I scoffed and blew air out of my lips at his unnerving calmness that has me angry and calm right now. My chuckle that had slowly started suddenly got loud and deep as I stopped struggling in his arms because of how out of breath and exhausted I felt by just laughing at his lie.

I'm not giving up.

I only want to gather my strength to say and do what I want to do next. He was also relaxed while still holding me as I laughed the lie off.

"You must be kidding me," I said in between laughter as I throw my head back and looked down between his legs, funny tears already whelming in my eyes.

But he still didn't look fazed. I sighed loudly and creased my forehead into a frown and biting a corner of my lips, I hummed and looked up at him, eyes filled with mischief. "If you are the King to be," I ask, "I am the Queen to be."

With that, I pushed him forward and he jolts back at my sudden action. I pulled my left leg back as he struggled quickly to gain his stance which he did at the same time I was ready to slam my leg between his legs, right where it doesn't shine but failed as this strangely smart individual immediately shifted sides and rounded behind me to lock me in a tight hug while I pant as my hands flew to pry his hands off.

"Let me go," I screamed, alarmed at how he was quick enough to calculate my next move and have me back where we left off. "Let me go you bastard," I stamped a foot hard on the floor and bent the other leg to gain an advantage before using all the strength left in me to push us both back.

"Hold still Anika Cooley," his deep voice seeped sensually into my ears and his arms wrapped just beneath my breast, his lips grazed the back of my ear.

Our breaths mixed as we both struggled for dominance. I kept pushing him back while panting heavily. I screamed in frustration as I lifted myself off the floor and jabbed my legs in the air, that gave him ground to quickly switch sides and turn us around so I was facing the wall while his body presses against mine from behind.

"Stop moving," he whispers distinctively, each word carrying a command I couldn't dare to go against in between his heavy pants. I could feel our bodies moving up and down in ragged synchronism. And we were far too close.

And far too pressed into each other.

He was unbelievable strong and firm, his tantalizing man scent wafts into my nostrils and I took deep breaths to calm myself.

His hands were still where they were and I felt my heart pick up its race, pending harder and faster than I can fathom.

What is happening?

"I can't ever get used to you doing the opposite of what I say," he growled in frustration.

"And I can't ever get used to your arrogant ego," I spat back. "You don't own my life."

I regretted ever saying that word because the very moment they left my mouth was the moment he swirled me around so that I am face-to-face with him.

His fierce gaze zeroed into my eyes as he pulls me flush against him. My beating heart rate increased and my panting doubled as my chest rose and fell against his chest, rubbing and throbbing pleasurable tingles through my skin, into my vein and circulating all over my body.

I stared at him, right back in his eyes, dumbfounded, smitten and unresolved at the same time.

He smirked dubiously and leaned dangerously close to me. His plump lips almost connected with mine most daringly.

"But what to do?" the corner of his lips turned upside in a smirk. "I own this palace and everything therein," he whispered arrogantly making me freeze for a second, "and that includes you, Nika."

As if I will let him have the victory.

Instead, I, resolving to my strong resolve, leaned even more daringly into the little space that was left, my lips a touch away from his, by now my heartbeat got louder by my daring action, but I cared less.

"So what?" I dared to ask him with snidely taunting eyes and a condescending smile that got his blood rushing in an instant. "What would you do?" You tell me.

The unknown guy's eyes grew dark at my boldness, and the muscles in his jaw popped as he swallowed, his adam's apple slowly working.

His smirk doubled in size, while her smile got twice as bigger too.

Why is my heart tingling and why are my eyes dreamy at the dark, chocolatey sight of him?

Earth to Anika, I chastised myself but failed at completely getting my eyes to explore his hard face as he won't back down, or move away.

Our breaths blended and my nose picked up the avocado scent off his skin, his alluring peachy cologne is slowly sending my brain into a calming state.

My eyes trailed from his chest as each breath he took made his white shirt pull against his hardened body, to his adam's apple then slowly my dark brown eyes made a curious peer at his ocean, deep, blue eyes that hadn't left mine.

My breath caught in my throat and I swallowed a lump and blinked to awaken myself from his spellbinding gaze but I couldn't as he somewhat swallowed too before pulling a tiny bit away from my face.

It seems we have both gotten off course from our initial staring competition to just looking at each other while we calm our breaths.

I folded the flay of my skirt at both sides with my hands as I struggled to keep my eyes on his and not trail them down to his plumb, dark lips.

Oh, God! What is this feeling I have never felt in years?

I willed myself to close my eyes and pulled a corner of my lips in between my teeth to suck a breath before opening them only to see his eyes trailing down my face, one of his hands moving from underneath my breast to my face.

Instantly, my face flushed at the additional warmth his palm provided to my cheeks and my body tingled.

His lips dissolved slowly from smirking to smiling handsomely as his thumb gently grazed a side of my lips then he slowly began to lean in again.

My eyes grew in surprise but I did not pull back. Once our eyes met, he looked somewhat familiar. Like I have known him for a while or maybe I just recently met him.

I searched my head as he painstakingly leans in, and then what he had said earlier hits me like a rock.

I am your Crown Prince, the King to be.

My eyes widened and I blinked as I pulled my head back since there wasn't enough room as I was backed against the wall, I had to whip my head to the side to miss him kissing me seeing as he didn't stop leaning in despite his eyes letting me know he knows that I have just figured out who he was was.

But...

He didn't allow me to avert my head completely before he used his fingers to bring back my head and before I could protest, his lips were on mine in the most gentle, soft, tantalizing, and killing kiss.

A million butterflies erupted in my stomach as my toes coiled, my eyes were wide as they watched his own slowly slip close from gazing at me.

With his other hand still wrapped around me, he pulled me flush against him, his other hand held my neck lovingly as he tilts to the side to deepen the kiss.

In his first two strokes, I didn't move along with his rhythm, but in the third, I did. I parted my lips a bit more to accommodate his and then I closed them around his own and so we kept going at it.

He seeks for more entrance and I granted it to him, he bit my lower lip sensually, before dipping his tongue in my mouth where he nipped gently at it.

I hummed and slowly opened my eyes again only to see that he was already looking at me.

He stroked my tongue and I responded by allowing him and letting him press further my body against his own.

I closed my eyes again when he did and we just kissed for the next few moments before he slightly pulled away, leaving me in a state of euphoria.

As I breathed, my breast heaved up and down in front of him as he watched me try to compose myself while swallowing hardly. His thick, bold hands were on my sides as I calmed down.

After a few seconds, he finally push himself away from me. We have both caught our breaths and we seem stable.

I pushed myself off the wall to straighten my cloth and adjust myself. When I looked at him, he quickly shifted his gaze from my face to the door.

I just caught the Prince gawking at me.

Should I be happy about that? No! Anika, you can't be, that isn't the plan.

This isn't what I want. But what was that kiss for? Goodness, everything that just happened felt right so much that I could tell it in my bone.

"Miss Cooley," his voice cut me out of my thought.

"Your Royal Highness," I jolted immediately, his face contorts into a quick smile then it dissolves into a plain look then he looked away from me as he cleared his throat in bewilderment.

"That kiss was my answer," he confidently looked at me.

My brows furrow a bit, "What answer?" I asked.

He looked around as if spying for ears before pocketing his hands and taking yet another set of confident strides towards me. I stood my ground even though my mind screamed at me to run. "Earlier, you wanted to know what I would do if I owned everything here."

I blinked a lot before what he said sank in properly. My eyes widened.

"What?" I seethe when that stupid smirk crept to his face once again. "You bastard," my anger flared, my hands jabbed at his chest before he caught it and pulls me dangerously into him with it.

My temper rose, and my eyes shot deadly lasers at him but he wasn't moved at all rather he flattened my hand against his chest as he scoffs closer to my ears where he whispers.

"Now listen to me Ms Cooley," he sterns authoritatively. "You are not dismissed from the court as per the custom and are to remain a candidate and partake in the Royal Companion exercise until I make you my Queen," he said, making my heart jump out of my chest. "Is that clear?"

What?

"But," my head whipped to look him in the eye and we were both seething in anger. "You can't-,"

"There are no buts," he cuts me off. "Except you want me to make you my Queen, and put an end to this jamboree of an exercise."

"What?"

He leaned in devilishly, this time and smiled. "You can dare me again," he whispered.

No!