Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for the support received for this story so far :) This story is a little shorter than the others but I promise there will be another update soon.
Enjoy!
"You can't be serious!" Musa yelled causing Tecna to shoosh her.
In all her life, Musa had never heard of something so ludicrous. Prince Riven was the son of the man who invaded her home, forced her people into exile and ruin, and took her family. She hated him and his family with everything she had. Even if she was to do this, and it was a big if, how could she disguise her feelings? How could she even get the prince to believe her?
"Musa, it is perfect," Tecna explained. "He is the son of the king. He just returned home and has been involved in majority of the battle strategies since he was twelve. If anyone would have the knowledge we need, it would be him."
"Even if I was to do this, how the hell am I supposed to convince the guy? Where do I even start? In case you haven't noticed, I am confined to my bedroom the rest of the day and I am always under guard."
"I don't know yet, but we will figure it out."
"I despise his family, Tecna."
"So do I, Musa," Tecna agreed, sitting down next to her friend on the bath. "You don't have to decide right now and maybe we can find someone else to do it. I understand that it is a big ask. You would have to pretend to like him and everything."
"What makes you so sure that he would be interested in me?"
"Whatever you may think, I think he covered for you today. Either way, it was more politeness towards you than any other Valkarian I've ever seen."
Musa looked down at the floor as she mulled over Tecna's suggestion. It would be extremely hard for her. She was very sceptical that it would even work. She was convinced that Riven was as cold as his father, there was no way he would fall for it. Tecna is reading to much into the meeting.
A loud knocking on the bedroom door sounded causing the two ladies to jump. Tecna looked at Musa and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Stay here, Your Highness," Tecna whispered. "I'll get rid of them."
Musa nodded her head, grateful for her friend. Tecna gave another smile to her friend before she stood up and left the bathroom, closing the door behind her. While she was gone, Musa thought a bit more about what Tecna had said.
Of course she wanted nothing more than to rid her realm of these invaders. She had been so patient and knew a lot but not enough. She also couldn't believe Tecna's prediction. Without magic, her realm had two years max. Her people were in grave peril but was this the answer? Musa had been fighting with every Valkarian for so long. They knew her to be stubborn, polite and obedient, but nice? It was probably too late to do anything to change their perception of her. Musa wanted to slap herself for being so selfish over the years. She should have been gaining more of their trust earlier for the plan to work.
Outside of the bathroom, Tecna quickly straightened herself out to look presentable, before she put on her practiced smile and opened the door. Standing on the other side of the door was one of Musa's guards. He stood tall and looked down at Tecna like she was a bug that needed to be stomped.
"How can I help you, sir?" Tecna asked politely.
The gaze from the guard sent chills up Tecna's spine. She prayed that the guards didn't hear anything from her and Musa's conversation.
"We is Lady Musa?" the guard grumbled.
"Well, as you can hear, her ladyship is currently showering," Tecna replied. "Is there something that I could help you with?"
The guard grumbled again. "Tell her to get out now."
"Why?" Tecna asked pointedly. "Does she need to see the king? I promise she has done nothing wrong."
"I am beginning to lose patience, you insect. Bring Lady Musa out, now!"
From inside the bathroom Musa heard the commotion. She quickly splashed water onto her face, clearing away all her make-up, turned off the shower, striped off her elegant dress, and wrapped the fluffy red coloured bathrobe around herself. She quickly calmed herself before she walked out of the bathroom.
If she had any hope of saving her people, she had to test Tecna's theory. If she played super nice to the Valkarian's, would they believe her? Well, it was now or never.
"My apologies, sir," Musa said, slowly walking till she stood in front of the guard. "I was just finishing up. What can I do for you?"
The guard looked at Musa, his eyes scanning her body from the top of her head down to her feet. Musa got a little nervous. She had enough time to wash her face to keep up appearances and hoped it was enough to rid suspicion. The guard's gaze on Musa's legs and feet took a bit longer than expected before drifting back to her eyes. Musa's heart started beating a tad faster. Her bare feet on the carpet fought the urge to fidget under the guard's gaze.
"Your feet aren't wet," the guard commented.
Musa's heat thundered in her chest, but her face remained stoic and calm.
"I had just dried off, sir," Musa explained. "I felt that it would be rude to greet you in such a condition."
The guard seemed to ease a little bit and slowly clasped his hands together behind his back.
"Quite right, Siren," the guard replied.
Musa wanted to breath a sigh of relief, but that would have to wait until the big guy left.
"I promise not to keep you waiting next time," Musa added to appease him.
The guard raised an eyebrow at Musa. He looked at her for a few seconds giving Musa the chance to see slight confusion in his eyes before he responded.
"Ah…yes of course, Lady Musa," he fumbled slightly. "You do that."
"Forgive me, sir," Musa continued. "I am indecent in front of you and it is unladylike. I hope I am not making you uncomfortable. I would rectify it but I do not want to…insult you by making you wait further.
Tecna looked at Musa like she had lost it. What was she doing? Musa had learnt to be polite to her guards to lessen her punishments but this? Tecna wanted to turn away in disgust when she noticed the guard's eyes widen slightly at Musa's bold statement. The guard's eyes looked like they were fighting the urge to ogle over Musa's body.
"Correct, Lady Musa," the guard replied.
The guard's use of Lady Musa instead of Siren did not go unnoticed by Musa. It seemed that her 'charm' was working a bit on her guard.
"I have ben ordered to deliver this to you," the guard continued.
Musa stood a little straighter as she watched the guard step aside and reveal a small pink box on the floor behind him. She looked at the beautiful shiny pink wrapping of the box with a navy-blue bow on top. Musa looked back at the guard with confusion.
"Sir, I do not understand," Musa said honestly.
"I have been ordered to deliver this to you, Lady Musa," the guard repeated.
Musa looked at the guard for a few seconds before understanding kicked in. She shook of the confusion and went back into her charm.
"May I pick it up, sir?" she asked.
With a nod from the guard, Musa walked over to the small box and picked it up. She held it in her hands while she walked back inside her room and turned back to the guard.
"May I ask what it is? Or who sent it?" Musa asked hiding her worry.
"No," the guard answered. "I am under orders not to divulge that information."
Musa swallowed her fear and put a big smile on her face and battered her eyes a little.
"Well, I really appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to deliver this, sir," Musa said. "Thank you."
The guard cleared his throat a little, obvious that the situation made him a little uncomfortable.
"Lady Musa," the guard said stiffly. "You are under orders not to divulge any of this to anyone."
Musa gave a slight smirk to the guard. "Mention what, sir?"
The guard gave a curt nod in return clearly satisfied with Musa's response and left. Tecna closed the door for Musa as the woman placed the gift on the vanity. As soon as she did that, Musa fell to her knees on the carpet and started letting tears fall from her eyes. Tecna was quickly at her side.
"Musa," Tecna whispered. "Are you okay?"
Musa shook her head as more silent tears fell.
"Musa? Talk to me," Tecna pleaded.
"I….I hated myself for that," Musa whispered back.
Tecna pulled a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and started wiping the tears from Musa's cheeks.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I….I tried to….see if I could do it. See if I could…cosy up to the Valkarians."
"Oh, thank god," Tecna whispered with relief. "I thought you were going mad!"
"Clearly it worked," Musa replied sarcastically.
"Your Highness, he believed you, and so did I," Tecna continued.
"P-perhaps too well," Musa said as new tears ran down her face. Tecna wiped them away too. "H-he s-stared at me like…..I….I don't want to even think about it."
"Why, Your Highness? Why did you do that?"
"I had to see if I could do it. I-I thought that my years of stubbornness and rebellion meant that no Valkarian would believe me when I suddenly showed an interest in the prince."
"So you tested it out on the guard."
Musa nodded. "I hated every second of it. I wanted to yell and scream and vomit all at the same time, but it worked. It worked on the guard, a guard who has put up with all my rebellion for years. If it worked on him then it will work on Prince Riven."
"Musa," Tecna said as she gently picked Musa up from the ground and gently sat her in front of her vanity. She picked up a hair brush and started brushing the royal's hair. "If the situation made you that uncomfortable then do not do it. We can find another way. The charm may have worked on the guard, but you might be right, this is a warrior prince we are talking about. I am probably over thinking what happened in the throne room."
Musa didn't reply as her friend continued brushing her hair. She looked at the gift sitting in front of her for a minute. She couldn't find any note or card attached so she had no idea who sent it. It was perfectly wrapped – including the sparks of glitter on the bow. Knowing that the guard was uncomfortable bringing it meant that it wasn't something that could hurt Musa.
Musa took the gift in her hands and started untying the bow and unwrapping the paper. A navy box now rested in Musa's palm. The royal took a deep breath before she lifted the lid. She gasped at what she saw.
Inside of the box was a small cupcake with beautiful purple icing spiralling up. Silver and gold bead-like items were scattered all over the icing. Musa's eyes widened as she carefully took the dessert out of the box and placed it on the vanity table.
"What in the world?" Tecna gasped at seeing the dessert.
Musa didn't answer as she noticed something on the bottom of the box. Inside the box was a small card with the words 'Happy Birthday' written in calligraphy. In all the years since the Valkarians arrived on Melody, Musa had never been able to eat a dessert on her birthday.
"Who….who sent that?" Tecna asked still in shock.
"I don't know," Musa replied honestly.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please R/R
Till next time
~AngelAlexandra~
