DISLIKING THE MALE LEAD

CHAPTER 4

Ara Bella's eyes went wide as she stared at the cold milk tea in her hand, her mind racing with questions. She gave it a tentative shake, as if the cup might reveal its secrets.

"Is this for real?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. With a sense of wonder, she took a sip, and her eyes grew even wider as the familiar taste of her favorite flavor danced on her tongue. Before she knew it, the cup was empty.

"Wow, I feel like I'm still living my best life – my favorite milk tea is definitely a real-world perk!" she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. But the question lingered: where did it come from? Was she surrounded by magic? Or was there something she was wearing that held the key to this mystical experience?

Driven by curiosity, she snapped her fingers, half-expecting another cup of milk tea to materialize in her hand. But her palm remained empty. "Abracadabra!" she cried out, feeling a bit silly. When nothing happened, she tried again, her voice rising in excitement. "Hocus Pocus! Alakazam! Accio!" The only response was the deafening silence of the night. She flopped onto her bed, her face scrunched up in disappointment. Maybe it was just a fluke? Maybe she had imagined the whole milk tea thing. Her gaze drifted to the empty plastic cup, still sitting on her bedside table. It was definitely real. She let out a frustrated sigh and buried her face in her pillow. I'm losing my mind!

As sleepiness washed over her, Ara Bella reached for the blanket and snuggled in, her voice barely above a whisper.

"If only my favorite pillow was here."

But as her eyes drifted shut, a soft glow emanated from her right ring finger.

The next morning, Ara Bella's eyes snapped open, and sat up suddenly. That's when she saw it – her favorite stuffed pillow, nestled comfortably beside her. "What the...? How did it get here?" she wondered, her mind racing with questions. Just then, a gentle knock at the door broke the silence.

"Princess Eliana, are you awake?" a soft voice asked from outside.

"Yes, I'm up!" she replied, her voice a bit groggy. The maid entered with a warm smile and a slight curtsy.

"Good morning, your highness! Shall I help you get ready for breakfast?"

Ara Bella savored her breakfast, deliberately ignoring the piercing gazes that seemed to bore into her skin. The spread before them was opulent, with enough dishes to feed a small army, despite there being only four of them seated at the table. The long, elegantly set table seemed almost comically large for their intimate gathering, with rows of chairs stretching out like sentinels. The maids and the head butler stood at attention on the side. She glanced at the opposite chair, curious about why the child wasn't eating yet, Eliana's younger brother, Prince Ely, whom she recognized by his distinctive ash-silver hair and piercing purple eyes. He looked about nine years old, and his silence was palpable. When their eyes met, he swiftly dropped his gaze, his eyelids fluttering like a bird's wings.

"How was your sleep, Princess Eliana?" Queen Lirien's warm voice broke the silence, her smile radiant as she awaited her response.

"It was good, Your Majesty," she replied, her voice measured. She returned her attention to her meal, the flavors and textures a welcome distraction from the weight of the queen's gaze.

"Princess Eliana, we've fallen short as parents, and now that you're with us, we want to make amends. Your education in royal etiquette begins today. A tutor will arrive shortly to guide you." King Riché's voice was firm but laced with a hint of regret. He picked up his utensils and started eating, but her silence drew his attention once more. "You'll also study royal history and noble etiquette, essential for your future role, particularly when you take your place in the Terra Kingdom," he explained, his tone measured. Her eyes flashed with defiance as she spoke, her anger simmering just below the surface.

"So, you're still determined to marry me off to the Prince of the Terra Kingdom?" she asked, her voice tight with resentment.

King Riché's expression turned stern. "The treaty between our kingdoms is binding, Eliana. It can't be altered. Whether you accept it or not, your fate is sealed – you will marry Prince Calcion."

Ara Bella plopped down on a bench in the royal garden, her frustration simmering over after a long day of royal etiquette and history lessons. Thankfully, she was intelligent and quick to pick up the lessons, but even so, she struggled to follow and master some of the royal etiquette.

"Why do I need to learn all this etiquette?" she muttered under her breath, feeling overwhelmed. Her mind wandered to her favorite stress-reliever – chocolate candy. Just thinking about it made her crave it, and to her astonishment, she felt a wrapper in her hand. She hadn't even realized she'd gotten one, and yet, there it was, as if by magic.

As she enjoyed her chocolate candy, the sound of muffled sobs caught her attention. Curious, she followed the sound and found Prince Ely hiding behind a lush green plant, his face buried in his arms.

"Why are you crying?" she asked gently, and the young prince was startled, hastily wiping away his tears.

"I'm fine," he said, trying to hide his emotions. Her eyebrow arched skeptically.

"I'm not blind or deaf, you know. I heard you crying. What's bothering you? Come on, tell me." she asked, her tone softening slightly. Prince Ely looked up at her, his eyes still red from crying.

"Is that how you always speak?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

She paused, realizing she might not be speaking in a manner befitting her supposed royal status. She was from a different world, after all, and adapting to the royal way of speaking wouldn't be easy.