"No way he pushed me! Didn't you see it?"
"Yes sweetheart but you kneed him in the groin and well...that was not the appropriate thing to do"
"Argh I don't care Rowan deserved it!" I turned away from my mother with my baby blue gown billowing out behind me.
"Liliania don't you turn your back on me" Queen Nicole threatened, or I should say Mum threatened.
We were outside in the courtyard with the drifting sounds of music coming from the ballroom. Mum was in her beautiful white gown, in my opinion I thought it brought out her brown eyes and made her blonde hair seem silky with her gold crown. Even for her age she was beautiful and still had guys hanging for her attention were she not married to the King. Yes you heard that right my parents are the King Brennan and Queen Nicole of Aurelia. So I was Princess Liliania the only child of the royals, but mother was pregnant and it was certain to be a boy. Great….not.
Oh and she was screaming --okay maybe that was a bit over the top but still-- at me for kneeing Prince Rowan in the groin, but he tripped me in the middle of the ballroom. Yet no one saw that, they all thought I tripped on my gown or that was what Rowan said happened.
I should explain, I am Princess Liliania of Aurelia and the guy I kneed was Prince Rowan of Kyrria. Rowan was a tall guy at the age of 17; he had deep brown eyes and crispy short jet black hair…..Stupid git. Every girl that came across his path seemed to swoon at him, well every girl except me. He had this high opinion of himself just because he was the prince and sole heir to Kyrria; everyone thought he was wonderful and perfect when truly he was the opposite. Around the nobles he was a gentleman yet as soon as I was in earshot he would have a trick of embarrassing me within seconds. The servants and peasants had gotten used to our trickery. We had hated each other since….well since we ever met. He had girls everywhere swooning for him and I had guys everywhere swooning for me, not that I cared much I mean I know I was beautiful heck who wouldn't, what with my crystal blue eyes, latte skin and dark brunette hair that cascaded in waves down to my waist. Who wouldn't want me? But the problem was that I didn't want anyone. Hence I was 16 and my mother wanted me to marry soon, which was fine since I got to choose who to marry, unless it was too late meaning by my 17th birthday if I hadn't found a suitor my parents agreed to they would find me one. Yeah freaky is the word for this. Not that I don't mind but I think they have different ideas for guys than I do.
I turned back to stare at her and noticed she was angry REALLY angry. Oops I think more next time.
"Now you will go back in there and say sorry to Rowan in front of the court"
"WHAT" I practically screamed.
"You heard me correctly" she crossed her arms in front of her chest in a defensive way.
"I will apologize to Queen Ella and King Char and….Rowan but I will NOT apologize in front of the whole court!" I spat out Rowan's name with distaste. My mother pressed her finger to my lips. "Hush you are making a scene enough as it is". I pushed her fingers off. "Excuse me? If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be standing here fighting with you". I heard my mother sigh, which gave me a feeling that she had given in. Alas she had not. "Fine but please apologize to Rowan and the royal family at least". A scowl crossed Lily's face as she thought of Rowan. Stupid git, he will pay BIG time for this.
"Fine Whatever" Rolling her eyes she wandered back into the ballroom with her royal airs about her again. She watched the twirling figures cross the dance floor. She couldn't believe she was going to do this. Hands descended on her shoulders from behind, she flinched as she realized it was her mother. "Please don't make anymore scenes". I rolled my eyes, she was so typical. "Jeez mum you can't even try to trust me for a ball". I was about to go on until a certain person came over and interrupted us.
"Why your back Liliania", insufferable git with his stupid smirk made me want to puke. I tried to smile but all I could do was pull off I fake smile. I was about to reply to him with some remark about his face but mother beat me to it. "Rowan how about you Lily have a dance then meet us over at the table" she didn't wait for a reply "Ok have fun". She started to go back to her table, yet she shot me a look over her shoulder that suggested Behave. All I did was roll my eyes, Rowan must have noticed since he asked. "Aw don't like the idea of being left alone with me anymore?" I just glared at him and went to say something but he already grabbed me by the waist and started to drag me out to the dance floor. We started off with a quick dance that left no time or breathe for talking; Rowan held my hand tightly in his and had a grip of iron on my waist. All my response was my nails digging into his hand. He hissed and pulled me closer so he could whisper in my ear "What was that for?" he tightened his grip on my waist.
"Oh I am sorry did I hurt you?" I really did try to sound as though I cared but it didn't work. He rolled his eyes and sneered at me "Oh please don't try the whole princess thing on me". I tried to look dumbfounded "Really I have no idea what you are on about". Finally the dance ended, I tore away from Rowan and tried to go outside but he still kept a grip on my hand.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" most of the girls around us were staring at him with dreamy looks. Ugh it made me sick. "Oh do want another kick in the groin?" I lifted my knee off the ground in a teasing way and was pleased to see him flinch.
"No our parents are waiting for us". Ugh can he ever talk without sneering. I just rolled my eyes and pull my hand out of his grip and wandered over to the royal table.
"Queen Ella, King Char, mother and father" I tried to smile pleasantly and I think I may have pulled it off from the look I got from mother.
"Lily 'tis a pleasure to see you again" Ella embraced me, and then Char kissed my hand. God it would be nice to have them as parents. Just makes me hate Rowan even more. Speaking of him he came up beside me and bowed to my parents. "Queen Nicole, King Brennan". He took mother hand and kissed it gently. Father shook hands with him and did that 'hug' only guys do, you know the one.
"Rowan how are you m'boy" Argh! Even dad was fooled by him.
"Feeling a little better Sir" he smiled weakly. Mother turned to me with a scowling look. Ella seemed to think it funny; I could swear she was holding back from laughing.
"Yes Liliania don't you have something to say?" Mothers look was meaningful so I chose my words carefully.
"Ella, Char, Rowan I am sorry for the accident that happened just earlier" I pushed all emotions from my face; they shouldn't see my disgust at Rowan even though he deserved it. Char and Ella smiled that gave me feeling that they hadn't cared and might have thought it actually funny. Rowan had a completely different idea, "excuse me I'm sorry but I didn't quite hear you please say it again."
I rolled my eyes and grinded my teeth, Ella must have noticed since she turned to her son with an expression that did not seem to look as though she cared. "You heard her Rowan now stop pestering her". Rowan just rolled his eyes; his mother always took my side to the story no matter what it was.
"Sorry but I must not stay I have many guests to greet and dance with" I smiled and bowed my head. I could swear I heard Rowan snort.
Holding my head high I walked over to the buffet greeting people along the way. Just smile and nod. One of the servants handed me a glass of punch while I was swarmed by all these dukes and lords trying to kiss my hand. One word ….Eww. I tried to pull my hand away but someone pulled it back. "Gentleman please", trying to sound ladylike at a time like this is hard very hard. I yanked at my hand and was pleased to have it freed until one of the Dukes -- Van I think his name was – put his hand around my waist and pulled me closer to him.
"Dance with me your highness" before I could reply someone else jumped in between us. Ugh what is with men?
"Whoa there is enough of Liliania to go around". That voice sent a shiver down my spine, even though he just saved me.
"Well how about a dance?" did he ever stop smirking? Probably not. He came closer to me and whispered so only we could hear.
"You owe me". I guess I did since if it weren't for him those dukes would still be drooling over me.
I was about to snap a remark back to him but then a noticed the other men where still there watching and waiting. I smiled a pleasant smile and place my hand in his outstretched. "Why of course you're Highness". We moved out onto the dance floor where many couples smiled happily at us. The music started to a slow love song, Rowan placed his hand gently on my waist as I placed mine of his shoulder. Soon there will be death, I know it.
I wanted silence to go through the whole dance and hoped it ended soon, though I was entirely mistaken.
"Well it seems that the lords are fond of you are they not?" he was so close I could have kicked him but I had done enough for one night.
"I don't like them" it was a bitter thing between us but he thought different.
"I didn't ask if you liked them or not"
"Ugh don't you have flattering girls to attend to somewhere?"
"No what gives you that idea" he truly looked dumbfounded. I glanced over his shoulder to see a pack of girls giving me dirty looks. Ah I was right. He may have noticed me looking over his shoulder since we turned around. I was satisfied to see a look of horror on his face.
"See I was right, maybe you should go tend to them"
"And be mauled? Pfft no way besides if I leave you will be drowned in the drool of the noblemen"
"Isn't that what you want?" a look of pure question on my face, where was he going with this?
"Yes I would love to see that as much as I want to keep my dignity" he glanced quickly over my shoulder to the giggling girls. Ha he was afraid of them more than me. The dance ended and the swarm of girls ran over to us just as the men where.
"How about a walk outside?" he was desperate I could see, aw it actually looked kind of cute. I took a minute to think, I could see everyone was waiting to see my answer. All of them wanted me to say no, well everyone except Rowan. Poor thing I actually felt sorry for him.
"Alright". He sighed with relief and I heard some of the girls whisper under their breath "bitch".
We started to head out to the courtyard where my mother and I had been earlier but before we got to the doors our mothers came over.
"Sorry to interrupt your fun sweets but we must say goodbye to our guests" mum stood beside Ella, they looked totally different to each other yet they were such good friends.
I pulled my hand out of Rowans as soon as our parents and guests had left the ballroom.
"Ugh thank god it is over" no more being princessy. Rowan noticed since his mood changed too. "Why did you have to kick me in the groin? Do you know how much that hurt?" he hissed.
"Well it looked like a great idea at the time and I enjoyed it don't see why you didn't?" I had a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
Grinding his teeth he answered "You want to start watching your back".
"Yes I will next time so I can run when I see YOU" I headed off to the hall where our parents were saying there farewell to the guests. Except for the hundredth time Rowan grabbed me, I turned to slap him except he grabbed my hand and took it in his and kissed me…..On the lips. One part of me wanted to hit him in the groin again but another part said not to, I went with the later. It seemed ages before he pulled away and silence broken out between us then he dropped my hands and I finally had the time and slapped him fare across the face.
"What on earth was that for?" I screeched, things seem to echo in this room and I had found that out the hard way long ago.
"Well excuse ME but someone was watching and if they saw us fight it would be all over the newspaper" he made it sound as though he was stating the obvious.
"God you are a…a…a PRAT!" it was all I could think of. I started to head out until his voice caught me.
"And WHAT is that suppose to mean?"
"I….I….I don't know" I gave him a snobby look that most girls gave me when I was around him. All he could do was smirk and follow after me.
"Being a bit snobby are we?" he lifted his eyebrows, something that made most girls swoon but just made me want to hit him harder. I just kept on walking trying to ignore his calls after me. I was going to get him back for that.