Princes & I

Resolution and I

"So... this isn't awkward at all."

Jace, sporting a neatly pressed white blouse and black tie, mutters from his position opposite me. I tap my fingers on the dinner table, the sound of my nails hitting the polished glass filling the empty sound of the dining hall.

We'd all assembled in the room ready for dinner, the Bipolar Prince, Clumsy Prince, Sleepy Prince, Ice Prince and I, when an attendant had informed us that Theo would be late for dinner because he was picking up a guest.

"I'm hungry... Hey Axel, I'm hungry!!" The Clumsy Prince whines, his small stature swaying from side to side in his seat, which is the furthest away from me.

I look over at the boy and our gazes meet. His eyes quickly avoid mine, his whining ceases almost instantly.

"Dad will be here soon, just wait a bit longer Ezekiel." The Bipolar Prince looks at his younger brother with kind and soft eyes, only to warp into a twisted glare as he catches me staring at him from my seat next to him. "Got a problem?"

"Wow, I didn't even say anything this time." I tsk.

Don't say anything, don't say anything!! You have to thank him...!!

"Hmf," When he doesn't respond, I lower my glass full of a pungent, fruity concoction down onto the white table cloth. "You don't have to be Sergeant Attitude all the time, constantly switching from an angel to a devil must be tiring."

Good job, Leighton! 10/10 kindest remark ever! You. Are. An. i***t!!!

"You don't have to be so rude about it!!" A small voice chokes out. To my surprise it's the Clumsy Prince. He shakes as he attempts to bravely meet my gaze, like he's staring down a lion in a jungle. "So what if Axel's got an attitude problem, from the way it looks, so do you!" In a big humph, he timidly returns his stare to his lap.

"You tell her, Zeke!" Elliot laughs from his seat diagonal to me, next to the Clumsy Prince.

"Tch..." I bite the inside of my lip. Grasping the edge of the table cloth, I retreat reluctantly. "I... I just don't like it when someone treats people differently. You're nice one second, but you're cruel the next, it makes me uneasy."

"We could say the same thing though." Jace shrugs. "Your nice to your maid, nice enough to yell at Zeke for her. So she's special enough to receive your kind treatment?"

"I...it's not like that... Kenna's different. She's-" I try to explain but I'm cut-off harshly.

"So she's different, huh?" The Ice Prince spits. "I get it. We're wealthy and we're big and mean so we get s**t from you because of how we were brought up?"

"No! That's never what I intended. I'm just-"

"Just what? Your just-"

"Could you shut up?!" I bang my palms against the table, causing them all to jump in surprise. "I'm not good at being nice. At my old house, I rarely talked to people my age, in fact I barely talked to people at all. So just cut me some slack, alright!? I'm trying..."

"Trying to...?" Axel questions.

I look over to Kenna who's worriedly keeping her distance besides the entrance to the room. She gives a reassuring smile and a thumbs up.

"I... I wanted to apologise to Ezekiel for earlier this afternoon..." The Clumsy Prince's stare darts to mine, and it's my turn to avert my gaze bashfully. "Your just a kid, and your still learning. I was too harsh on you, and I'm sorry."

Swallowing loudly, I turn to look at Axel who's expression is unreadable, as if he's deciding whether to go devil or angel on me.

"And I, uh... I wanted to thank you." I scratch my earlobe as I feel heat rise to my cheeks. "For assigning Kenna to be my maid. I feel comfortable around her, and she's very capable most of the time. So, uh, yeah... thanks, Axel." Smiling, I can finally say I've done something right, since the silence that comes after my intervention isn't a violent one filled with tension and anger.

Not embarrassing at all...

"B-But it's not like you've really done anything, Kenna's the one that-"

"It's alright, Leighton." Axel raises his arm. Flinching, I dart my head away, but a warm sensation on my head draws my attention back to the brunette. "I get what your saying."

Grateful, I stay silent, allowing him to ruffle my hair.

"Okay, what the f**k is going on. Axel she's-"

"Elliot." This time, it's Jace to come to my defense. "Just get your head out of your ass for once, we're all at square one."

"Square one?" The Clumsy Prince picks up his glass of juice, downing the liquid readily, some of the orange liquid spilling from the glass when he sets it back down.

Axel returns his hand to his glass, reaching over to the jug of water to refill the empty contents. "We'll start over with Leighton, if we're going to be living together we may as well."

"This house is big enough to avoid her." Elliot grouchily returns his attention back to his hair, which is now hanging down, untied.

Sitting in a bored silence, I play with the cutlery laid out beside my plate. As I'm about to invest a hefty amount of interest in a soup spoon, there's a tap at the door. An attendant makes his way over to the door and opens it, his movements just as smooth as the widening of the entrance.

"Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Crescent, do make yourself comfortable, dinner will be laid out as soon as you're ready."

Swallowing loudly, I abruptly straighten my posture and move my elbows off the table as soon as Theo and his guest appear from the behind the door. As soon as Theo's eyes land on me, he smiles cheerfully.

"Leighton, I'm glad your here."

Did I have a choice?

"I'm sure... Mr. Crescent is happy to see your doing fine as well." My eyes dart between the two older men, hesitant in choosing which one to focus on. Taking a deep breath, I nod in a short greeting.

"I'm glad you made it safely, Theo. And..." Gulping, I focus my eyes on the guest. "David."

The blonde of the pair nods towards me as only a small acknowledgment. "Good evening, Leighton."

The four other pairs of eyes at the table seem to be having as much trouble as I am focusing between myself and the guest who has arrived. I lift my head to directly face David, who returns my stare with a cold, green eyed glare. Finding myself shaking, I'm quick to cower away from his piercing eyes.

Taking their seats, Theo beside me and David besides Jace, a meal of finely catered traditional dishes such as roast ham and various salads are displayed along the centre of the table. As Kenna starts to serve the freshly stewed soups among the seven of us, I fidget at my evening attire. Theo had bought me a rather expensive maxi dress that hung just a bit over my knees, patterned with pink roses and clear crystals that border the V-neck collar. The matching white sash clings tightly to my waistline, accompanied by champagne pink, velvet platforms that own heels larger than the Ice Prince's ego.

My eyes once again wandering to scan over David, who's notably keeping his attention to Theo, not even sparing a glance at the four other boys seated at the table.

Speaking of only four boys...

"Will Colt not be joining us today?" David questions, looking over to the empty seat opposite of Ezekiel.

The Slacker Prince's name is Colt?

"I haven't been able to get a hold of him lately. Boys will be boys I guess." Theo chuckles, attempting to lighten the mood.

"What I'd give to have one of my own." As David returns the gesture, I awkwardly move to cut into the chicken breast Kenna had graciously served onto my plate.

"Leighton."

At the mention of my name from the older blonde's voice, I'm quick to give my attention. "Y-Yes?"

"Have your studies been going well?"

He's looking down on me.

"Yes. I believe I'll be moving to the university textbooks soon."

He's always looking down on me.

"I see." David sighs, tilting his head to rest his cheek in his palm. "If only you'd dedicate as much time to Addison as you do those silly books of yours, maybe you would've found it easier to stay with us."

Stop looking at me like that!

"Yes well, pardon me." I cough to clear my throat. "How is Addison?"

"She's doing well. Ever since we got rid of a certain workload she's been able to focus more on herself."

Don't look at me like I'm a burden.

"I couldn't even imagine what would trouble you at home, David." I smile.

Don't you even dare!

"Oh? I think you could, my dear." Taking a sip from his wine glass, David sets it down onto the table with a satisfied grin. You could cut through the tension in the room with a knife, never the less a toothpick. I watch as the four Princes struggle to keep their attention to their plates, Theo attempting to do the same. Deciding to return my attention to my food, there's a comforting tap on my shoulder.

Turning towards the hand, expecting it to be Kenna, I'm surprised to find that it's Axel. He pats me on the back reassuringly, and although swallowing nervously in the process, I recover most of my morale. I receive the same confident smile from Kenna, and a sympathetic but just as confident one from Jace.

Even though Elliot doesn't look up from his food, I observe his hair. It hangs over his ears, his piercings no longer visible since it isn't tied anymore.

For the mistakes I am yet to correct...

"David."

Low and behold, speaking out seemed to be the toothpick that slices the tension. David turns his attention away from his food and looks at me.

"You know that game we used to play, the one you said I'd never be able to win." Getting straight to the point, I sit up straight and confident, so I'm eye level with the older man.

"Are you going to challenge me, Leighton? I never knew you were so cliche." He smirks.

I will right my wrongs, but first...

"I want you to acknowledge me as a Crescent, not just in name, but as family." Taking a gasp of air, I stand abruptly.

I will right how I have been wronged.

"Because I am your daughter."

I half regret my last statement, for it's as if the room drops in temperature by thousands of degrees as soon as the sentence comes out. Even from behind his fringe, I can sense the danger lurking in David's eyes. His stare stabs daggers through my soul, unleashing a cold haze that drifts around my consciousness. Like how a snake wraps itself around a mouse, I find myself relating to the mouse.

"So, you've finally got the nerve so speak out against me."

Furrowing my brow, I clench the material of my maxi dress. "Things are different now."

"What? Your backed up by a dimwitted maid and suddenly your Mrs. Macho?" He snickers.

"Her name is Kenna." Tsking, I outstretch my arm to point at him accusingly. "And dimwitted? Hmph. I'd say that's the pot calling the kettle black."

The violent haze around me thickens as David's menacing stare intensifies. "Alright then, Leighton. Let's see if all these useless textbooks you horde have been doing you any good." He stands, pushing his chair back with his calves as delicately as a black swan moving through water. "And what do I get if you lose?"

A nervous sweat drips down my back as my teeth chatter in response to his cold question. "I'll do as you've wished for my whole life. To completely disassociate with you and Addison as my legal guardians, as well as move to a residence where we have no mutuals."

"What!? That's crazy!" Theo exclaims, jumping in his seat.

"Holy s**t, I knew you were nuts but that that's on a whole new level...!" Elliot mutters in shock.

Jace's gaze darts around nervously, unknowing of what to do. "I know our family dinners always end in a s**t fight but this is out of hand."

"No, I think it's time we settled this." David grins. "What better place then the mutuals you'll have to leave, and your precious maid."

"Confident, are we?"

My smirk matching his, for once in my life, I proudly stand tall against my father.

"We'll see about that."

***

The servants hurriedly moved to clean the table after we'd all enjoyed a gloriously tension filled dinner. David and I stand on opposite sides of the dinner table. Theo, the four Princes, Kenna and a few other maids and attendant stand at the side nervously.

"I challenged you, so you can lay the ground rules." I offer, but the older male blatantly refuses, shaking his head confidently.

"This is a game where your putting your entire lively hood on the line, and you would offer your opponent the chance to lay the rules? Aren't you a cocky one."

"You wouldn't acknowledge me any other way than this, don't be an ass."

Smirking, I fold my arms and leave myself in my thoughts a bit.

Singling him out would be the best way, but then there's no guarantee he'll admit anything. The golden strategy won't work either...

Deciding my game plan, I bite my cheek anxiously as I stare into his dead eyes.

After tonight, you will no longer tie me down.

"The rules are as follows:

The challenger will give the first statement, and will continually argue their point till a contradiction is found within one of the two player's arguments."

"Uh, could you sorta dumb it down please." The Ice Prince cuts in, his expression confused.

Sighing, I come up with an example. "If one player stated that 'Cows eat grass', the other player could say that the statement is wrong, since cows don't only eat grass."

"Who plays this with their child? Didn't you have a DS or something?"

"Not now, Elliot." Annoyed, I roll my eyes, turning my attention back to David who yawns obnoxiously. "Although, these implements will shape the game,

1. Economic contexts cannot be stretched to a player's will

2. Contradictions cannot be opinionated, and must follow taxonomic rank 

3-"

"Yeah yeah, can we just get to playing, it's nearing 7pm and I'd really like you to remove yourself from my life already." David slyly interrupts, a self satisfied smile spreading across his face at my flush of embarrassment.

"And 3. All knowledge already within the public domain, is useable."

We stare at each other like two lions in a cage, ready to pounce and kill at any moment. Steadying my breaths, I ready myself.

I'll wipe that stupid smile right off your immature face, you asshole!!!!

"Alright, would you like me to go first, my dearest?"

I nod.

"Theodore Lloyd's car company sold for roughly $65000000."

"Wrong." Thank god I asked Kenna a thing or two. "Theodore Lloyd's car company sold for $49000000."

"I hadn't referred to what currency I was using when I stated that number did I?"

"I was using USD. I thought someone who studies economics and maths as frivolously as you do would've figured that out."

"Although, David," Clicking my fingers, my mouth unconsciously tugs upwards into a neat smile. "It's already in the public domain that Lloyd Autos is an exclusively Australian owned car brand, so you've technically stretched the Australian economy to clash with the American's."

At his surprised expression, I tsk.

"What? Didn't expect me to do at least some research on who I was going to live with? Rule number 3. Economic contexts cannot be stretched or used to a player's will. Currency, is an economic context." Grinning, I take a step forward. "Now David, let me ask you something."

"Isn't that what this game relies on, you stupid girl."

The other onlookers in the room gasp at David's sudden spite, but I'm not surprised. Theo especially looks at if he's going to faint any minute.

Finally revealing your true colours?

"Idiots in the family can cause serious problems." Wounded from his previous loss, he spites me indirectly, looking as though he's at his wit's end.

"If you want to see an i***t, he should probably look at himself." Elliot mutters, but David catches on.

I'll have to thank Elliot later, it's a done deal now.

Shrugging, I cast David a fake, inquisitive look. "What is it that you believe upholds a family's reputation?"

"Pride, of course." He smirks while straightening his posture, his ego overtaking whatever attractive trait he had left. "And don't think I'm not taking your rules into play, I won't fall so easily this time, girl. I take pride in knowing that I'll never have to admit that a pathetic, wannabe smart ass will ever be my daughter."

I'm counting on it.

"Since you lost the first round, I get to ask a second question."

With this final question, you are going to lose.

"Am I your daughter?"

He's quick to respond. "Of course n-" He stops abruptly, almost choking on the word he halted at.

Gotcha.

"I... What...?"

"I was relying on it, you know. How disgustingly egoistic you are." I smile graciously. "You have no where else to run."

"Um... an explanation please?" Elliot once again annoyingly cuts in, but this time I'm happy to explain.

"If David were to answer no, then he'd be breaking one of my three rules. Rule 2, you must follow taxonomic tank. That's just a fancy noun for a bunch of collective ranks. One of those ranks is blood related family."

"Oh... I get it...!" Ezekiel inputs happily. "If Mr. David says no, he'd basically be saying he isn't blood related to you, which doesn't make sense since your his daughter by blood."

Still flinching at the word daughter, I nod gratefully.

"And he if he says yes..." Axel ponders. "He'd be contradicting what he stated before about never admitting that your his daughter."

As if it's all clearly laid out before him now, David stumbles back, fists clench and head held low. "No... No, I'll never admit it!"

"From the beginning it was a 50/50 with you starting." I ignore his outburst. "Although, I was relying on your giant ego to assist me. You were too confident and let me set the rules." The smirk forming on my face is almost sinister. All the grief I'd been through the last 17 years will finally be put to rest.

Checkmate.

Looking at me with eyes full of heated rage rather than the coldness of before, he glares at me. The once poised business man warps into a hideous greedy monster of pride and denial. His teeth visibly chatter as he looks at me, his fists balled and veins about to burst. With one sentence, he ends it all.

"You'll never be my daughter-!"

A thump, a yelp, a grunt. Arm extended and fist throbbing, the blonde haired Ice Prince stands over David with a menacing glare.

"Your pathetic, your a pathetic old man." He spits, colder than I've ever seen. "Your daughter is so smart, she did all this just so she can hear once out of your f*****g mouth that you love her as a daughter, and for what? Just for you to be a childish asshole!?" Elliot grabs him by the collar, pulling David closer to his icy gaze. "You don't deserve to even be blood related to her."

Swallowing nervously, I'm almost frightened at the sight of the 'close to AWOL' Ice Prince. His eyes are hollowed and full of rage, a childlike protectiveness resonates around him.

Needless to say, I watch on as Theo tears him off David, unknowing of the pair of eyes that lay watching behind the door.

***

"Yo, wait!"

When I'm about to slam my bedroom door behind me, a foot blocks it from closing. I stand by the door ready to shove it close with my hands.

"Look, I'm sorry I roughed up David, but can you blame me!? He didn't even hold his end of the deal!!" His staggered breathing, makes me unwillingly sympathise with him. "I... It was unfair, you... you deserve a better family than what that asshat is."

Clutching the door handle, I can't help but giggle a little. "What did you just call him? An asshat? That's the best you can come up with?"

"Cut me some slack, I just bolted up three sets of stairs."

We both laugh, till we're met with an awkward silence. Sighing, I let go of the door.

Well... At least I can say, thanks to David...

"Wait there." Leaving Elliot outside the entrance, I rummage through the very little possessions I own. I find what I'm looking for and return to the door, sticking my hand out to offer him the item. "For you."

I can finally move on, and start righting my wrongs.

"Hair ties?" I can basically feel his smile through the door, convincing me to have further cause to hide my blushing face. "I thought you said tied up hair is for tryhards?"

"It was just a joke." I tsk, trying to keep my defensive, aggressive side in. "I got them at a shop all the way up in Queensland, so don't lose them."

Elliot removes his foot from the door, giving a short chuckle. "I guess I'll have to wear them everyday then."

With that, he's gone.