"Levana babysitting Winter and Jacin."
Aside from the maid that kept close watch in the room next door, Levana was alone with the two young children. Winter was sleeping peacefully in her crib, leaving Jacin to sit alone on the floor, bored. Both their fathers were out on duty, and, by some fluke, Levana had been charged with the boy and her stepdaughter. She didn't really know how to handle the rambunctious two-year-old, so she sat aside with her netscreen and hoped that Jacin wouldn't wake the baby.
"Your Highness?"
Levana glanced up from her novel, narrowing her eyes. "What?"
"I'm bored."
"And what do you want me to do?"
"I'm booored," Jacin whined, crossing his arms over his chest. "I want Mother. She likes to play with me."
Levana put her hands on her hips, indignant. "I'll play with you," she said, coming down to his height. "What do you want to play?"
"Rules and Instructions."
She bit back a frown; the princess had always hated that game. It was an excellent way for Channary to further torture and control her younger sister. The leader of the game was to give 'instructions' and the second player had to obey them, at the risk of punishment, usually by the leader's choice. Levana hoped that Jacin's idea of punishment was nothing more than an embarrassing little handshake.
As bored as she was, she decided to humor him. "Alright. Do you want to be the leader?"
Jacin smiled. "Of course. I get to tell the princess what to do."
Don't rub it in. Levana forced a grin.
"Now…" Jacin looked up to the ceiling, "put your hand on your belly."
Levana did as she was told, already feeling ridiculous. "What next?"
"Put your other hand on your foot."
Her cheeks burning, she moved out one of her legs from under her skirt and grabbed her toes.
"Now, stand up and twirl. I want to see your pretty dress flutter."
Again, she obeyed, closing her eyes and spinning on the balls of her feet. She hoped that she wouldn't get dizzy.
It was around then that Channary walked in to find her sister stretching her arms over her head and puffing her cheeks, all to entertain a guard's brat son. The queen was quick to laugh and hold it over Levana's head. Humiliated, Levana chose to retire to her chambers; she swore that she would never again play that stupid, stupid game.
It was a rule to remember: never do anything in Channary's presence. Ever.