CHAPTER 12
1049 Words
Annabeth's POV
They were laughing, and everyone around them looked at them with pure admiration. I let out a soft laugh at the sight.
Pathetic royalties.
How could they laugh as if nothing happened? They should be furious. They should be grieving. I hurt their precious members—didn't they care at all? Or was their bond really that shallow?
Curiosity sparked inside me.
If this was how fragile their connection was, then breaking them would be easy. Maybe I should start now.
I turned to Natasha and flashed her the sweetest smile I could muster.
"Why not, Tasha? It'll be fun if we sit and eat with them."
"But—"
"If you don't want to, then don't," I said irritably. "Go find your own table."
She scratched the back of her neck and eventually nodded. Good.
The moment we stepped inside, the entire cafeteria fell silent—everyone. Every single pair of eyes turned to me, filled with shock, hostility, and fear. Even the people I despised most were now focused on me.
I smiled at them—smiled, sweet and deliberate—and pulled Natasha toward the counter. I wasn't hiding it. I wanted to provoke them. And I succeeded.
I saw Caleb stand up, ready to charge at me, only to be stopped by Drex.
Why stop him, Drex?
Are you afraid of what'll happen to Caleb?
The thought made me laugh internally. Drex, caring about his siblings? Please. I'd laugh harder if someone told me he'd cry over one of them dying. Annika's memories were clear—how Drex ignored Dianne whenever she begged for help. Useless siblings. Worthless bonds.
After Natasha and I ordered our food, we walked straight toward the royalties' table. The students' eyes followed me, while the royalties glared daggers in my direction. The tension thickened, heavy with anticipation.
Yes... keep watching.
Watch how I tear your precious royalties apart.
When we reached their table, I deliberately sat in the seats meant for Luciana and Lean. I smiled sweetly at them before turning to the frozen Natasha.
"Tasha? Come on, sit—"
BAM!
Caleb slammed his hand onto the table and glared at me. My smile vanished, replaced by a blank expression.
What a jerk. I was still talking.
He grabbed my collar violently, his eyes burning with rage.
"And who said you're allowed to sit here?!" he shouted in my face.
I shoved him away effortlessly, sending him back into his seat. I scanned him from head to toe—nothing special. No wonder he got along so well with Luciana.
Then I spoke again—words that added fuel to the fire.
"Since Lean and Luciana aren't here anymore," I said with a grin, "don't you think we can replace them?"
Juice and cake splattered across my face as Lumino stood up, furious. He grabbed my collar next, his voice shaking with anger.
"They're still here! They're just recovering, so you have no right to say they're gone! And you think we'd let you replace them?! Dream on, b***h. You're nothing compared to my sisters!"
I bit my lower lip, barely holding back my laughter.
But he noticed.
"Why are you laughing?!" he yelled. "What's so funny?!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Answer me, you—"
"You royalties are hilarious," I laughed openly. "Honestly."
The cafeteria echoed with my laughter—wild, unrestrained. I'd been holding it in for over 15 minutes.
"You—"
"You care so much about your sisters, huh?" I asked, my grin mocking though my voice remained calm.
"But do you think they care?"
I turned to the other royalties, their faces twisted with confusion and anger.
"Of course we care! They're our friends—"
"Friends?" I cut Dianne off. "And yet you laugh like nothing happened? Is that how friends act? Do you think they don't need you right now?"
Silence fell. I could see it—doubt creeping into their minds.
Good.
So easy to manipulate.
"Maybe you never cared about them in the first place. Now that they're losing their power—"
"They're not—"
"They will be," I said firmly.
Their anger intensified, and it only fueled my excitement.
"Listen to me, Lumino," I snapped. "If they were really your friends, they'd comfort you. Don't be stupid. Open your eyes. Look at how they mock you when you're not watching."
His grip loosened. Shock flickered across his face. He looked at them—doubt clearly visible.
"Don't listen to her, Lumino!" Gloom shouted. "She's brainwashing you!"
I laughed softly.
"You don't get to talk to him like he's a lowly peasant. He's a prince of the Water Kingdom—your equal. Royalties should treat each other equally. Yet you order him around like a slave. Is that how friends treat each other?"
Lumino released me completely and ran out of the cafeteria.
Upset. Conflicted.
I could feel it.
Stupid Lumino. He fell right into my trap.
I turned back to the remaining royalties, grinning. Their faces reflected sadness, shock, anger, guilt, and resentment—all mixed together.
Without warning, Wraise lunged at me. She yanked my hair and slammed my face onto the table, screaming like a child throwing a tantrum.
But I only laughed—loud and unbothered.
"b***h! Attention seeker! w***e! Slut! Pest! Every curse fits you! I hate you, Annika!" she screamed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
She grabbed my face and smashed my head against the metal table. Blood trickled down—but I didn't stop laughing.
It didn't hurt.
I felt nothing.
"Stop it!" one of my brothers shouted.
"What the hell, Drex?! Why are you stopping me—"
"She's still a princess, Wraise," Dionne cut in. "If this reaches the higher-ups, they'll be furious."
"Argh! f**k all of you!" Wraise screamed before storming out—chasing after Lumino.
I straightened up and finally stopped laughing. My smile vanished as I looked at them seriously.
"What I said was true," I said calmly. "You'll never know who your enemy is unless you open your eyes."
I turned away, grabbed the still-shocked Natasha, and walked out of the cafeteria—cheerful and satisfied.
I wasn't hungry anymore.
That argument filled me up nicely.
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
This is only the beginning, Royalties. Next time... it'll be the others turn.
- Writer
