I do not own Midnight Cinderella Ikémen Royal Romances.
Chapter 3: Thank You For Clearing That Up- Now,If You Would PLEASE Back Away From Me
August 19th
"I'm sorry, I think I'm going crazy. Could you repeat that?" Giles' smile widened, and I was almost sure that he was stifling a laugh.
"I said that you have been chosen as princess elect, Your Highness." I think I'm having a nightmare.
"May I ask when? And by WHO!?"
"I believe that would be whom, my lady. And to answer your question, by myself, just now. There is much to do, Princess Elect of Wysteria. Please, follow me."
I'm sorry to say I truly did lose my cool at that point in time. In fact, I answered Giles request to 'follow him', by throwing the nearest thing across the room, which he so gracefully ducked. I also screamed a tad... I still feel a bit guilty about the entire thing. It was such a nice jewel encrusted glass statuette. It took nearly an hour for Giles to calm me down. I broke several other items in the room, the statuette being the most expensive though. I am rather surprised that Giles hadn't gotten hurt during the whole thing, he was rather careful to keep away from me during the entire event. In the end, it was exhaustion which got the better of me, and Giles' always soothing, calm, persuasive speeches. He finally was able to take my arm again and lead me out of the room, not even bothering to fix my disheveled hair this time.
I found myself pushed unrelentingly forward by the day's procession of events. Returning to the parlor, I was introduced to the crowd of women as the new princess elect. They all look so dumb struck. I'll never forget how pretentious it made me feel to have a room full of women glaring at me in unison. It was quite awesome. Can't say I blame them though. I didn't want this anymore than they did.
"Your Highness- this way, if you will." An elegant smile crossed Giles' lips as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "From this day forward, you are princess elect to all Wysterians. That includes myself- meaning you needn't address me outside of official occasions. A simple 'Giles' shall suffice." So I guess that means I'm on a first name basis with everyone. Fine then, I would have done so anyways. I waved the comment off, still refusing to speak. I hadn't done so since he'd gotten me out of the dressing room.
"Will my lady not speak again?" I sighed again. I knew it drove the man nuts, but I couldn't help myself.
"Just so we're on the same page- you decide who becomes princess elect, right?" Everything had happened so quickly, I still didn't understand how I had gotten here in the first place. Shouldn't choosing a replacement princess be the king's responsibility anyways? Giles' response was swift and automatic.
"As advisor to His Majesty, I have been entrusted with the power to appoint and tutor the princess elect. Meaning..." Giles' smile curled upward with a sly rascality. "Nobody can reverse this decision." I doubt that highly. My face remained emotionless.
"Unless I refuse the position." Giles' smile, which I assumed to be often fake, faltered for a split second.
"Of course. I have already introduced my lady as the princess elect, though. And I do believe it to be your duty to your country to accept the position of princess elect. It would be considered nearly treason to refuse." I nodded.
"You never did ask my name."
"Ah- how could I have forgotten? Proper introductions are a must here in the palace. I, my lady, am Giles Christophe." Giles took my limp right hand from my side, kissing it ever so softly, and smiling up at me as he did so. I gazed back, my expression unfaltering. "Such a pleasure to meet you." Hardly.
"Ava White."
"That is your full name?" I shrugged. Middle names weren't a must, and I didn't much care to tell Giles my full first name. He allowed this to slide once.
"Now Giles, please explain to me why I have been chosen."
"Why indeed?" Giles' grin deepened even further, but was followed only by a decisive silence. I want to punch him so, so badly. Just then though, a familiar figure came into view from across the hall. He looked practically furious.
"You!" The knight who helped me in... Alyn?
"That is not my name, and I do not appreciate your finger in such close proximity to my face." This, surprisingly, only seemed to upset the knight further. His face was growing red with anger. What for, I couldn't possibly know. "Did I ever thank you for helping me into the palace?"
"Yes, actually." He replied curtly. I smiled slyly, but small. This man was quite fun. "Now why are you here with Giles?"
"Do mind your manners, Sir Alyn. You are speaking to the new princess elect, after all." Alyn fell silent, the lull soon broken by his uncontained surprise.
"PRINCESS?! HER?! Are you serious?!"
"Quite." The surprise on Alyn's face persisted a few moments, but then amusement took it's place, and he choked back a laugh. I didn't like where this was headed. If you haven't yet noticed, I like to be the one laughing.
"They do know you were scaling the palace wall not moments ago... Princess?" I shrugged, playing one of my favorite games of Coy.
"I wasn't asked." He laughed, which made me smile. He had that contagious laugh. Alyn's laugh petered out though as his eyes sharpened with scrutiny.
"I can't believe I fell for that story of yours." That instantly made my face fall again, into a frown. I may be a bit of a cheat, a hothead, and have the charms of a serpent mermaid, but I'm nothing if not honest- Actually, that's a lie. But I still don't like being called a liar when I'm not.
"I didn't deceive you Alyn. This whole ordeal took on a life of its own, it seems." It's the flower that I'm here for. Nothing about that has changed. I doubt I'll even stay once I find it.
"That so?"
"I gather you two have met?" Giles' words sent chills down my spine. Bringing my wall-climbing escapade to light would only make this whole situation worse, especially with my irritation at this moment. I'm upset enough. Evading Giles' gaze, I tried my best to stay composed.
"Briefly."
"I see." Giles gave a surprisingly satisfied nod, and didn't pursue the topic any further. But my relief was to be short lived, as Alyn let me have it.
"You? The princess? Giles, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Don't push it- My hands were starting to curl into fists at my sides. Without losing even an ounce of his cool, Giles replied bluntly.
"Must I remind you once more, Sir Alyn, to treat the princess with due respect when addressing her?" Giles means business. Unfazed, a haughty smirk spread across Alyn's face, causing a scowl to spread across my own.
"We'll see how well you work out." Alyn's eyes were alight with defiance as he made his opinion of me crystal clear. I can't believe this- all this opposition to my being princess is just making it worse...
Let's just get this straight right now. I tend to create my own path, and in doing so, I come across many conflicts and folks telling me what I can and can't do. At the moment, Alyn was practically challenging me. I never back down from a challenge. If this day keeps going on like it has been, I'll end up really becoming the princess just to prove a point.
"It's her!" A new voice sounded from behind me as I stood there, trying to retain my own cool. Wait a second- I recognize that voice from somewhere.
I turned to find a faintly familiar face. Wait a minute- he was with that gaggle of palace officials. A single glance at his flamboyant outfit verified my suspicion.
"Oh, great." I raised an eyebrow at Alyn, who looked less than pleased at this new turn of events. Interesting...
"If it isn't about Master Leo. To what do we owe this visit?"
"Can't have the new princess elect not knowing who I am after all. I'm Leo Crawford, but you can just call me Leo. Enchanted to meet you, Princess."
"It's an honor." Leo grinned warmly at my response. I was quite pleased by Leo's casual demeanor, less so when I was addressed as 'Princess'. All I could do was smile limply in return. My emotions weren't feeling up to meeting his enthusiasm at the moment.
"Oh hey there Alyn. Are you here to meet the new princess, too?" It was easy to tell that Leo was purposely trying to agitate the knight, and it worked.
"What's it to you?" Whoa. Alyn turned on his heel and marched off, his boiling discontent all too apparent. There's more to these two than meets the eye. At least I'll have something to do here... I thought, ready for the snooping and palace scandals to begin.
Giles sighed, his grim smile rather telling of this clash's recurring nature.
"If only Alyn's manners were half as consistent as his temper."
"Don't worry about it too much. I'm used to it." Caught amidst a web of mystifying stares, all I could do was tilt my head in curiosity. Giles stepped in to place a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll have to bid you farewell for now, Master Leo. There is still too much to teach Her Highness." My eyes flicked angrily towards that hand, then back to Leo.
"Aww, alright. But before you go, could you tell me your name, Princess?" I was beginning to quite like that flirtatious smile Leo always seemed to wear. I sent a knowing one of my own before answering.
"It's Ava."
"Short for something?" He shot back. I smiled again, leaving his question unanswered, much to Leo's amusement. "Ava..." Leo softly repeated my name, his voice almost a whisper. Gently taking my right hand, he lifted it to his lips in a delicate kiss. I do like this one! Leo's kiss robbed me of all words, though I did stare at him in wonder. Amidst my shock, I saw Leo give a playful wink. "I'll remember your name Ava, so don't go forgetting mine, OK?" And with that, Leo gave me one final wave before disappearing down the long corridor. On that note-
Recalling the arm coiled around my shoulder, I looked to Giles.
"Is something the matter, Your Highness?" Your arm, for starters. But more importantly-
"You said there's still 'much to teach me'?"
"Most certainly." My face contorted sourly.
"Well, what exactly am I supposed to learn?" Giles eyes took on a sensuous glow as his face inched closer to mine. What's the big idea, eh buddy?! He whispered against my ear, I could feel his breath with each airy syllable.
"You're to be thoroughly instructed in all subjects pertaining to your role as princess elect." So princess lessons? Gross. "As you well know, the king is, alas, without heir. In such cases, we follow a time-honored tradition devised to safeguard the kingdom from the dangers of an empty throne."
"I'm aware." As is everyone else in the kingdom. "If a male sovereign leaves no heir, a female is chosen as the next ruler, and vice versa."
"Correct. It is hoped that she, in turn, selects a prince consort to help rule the kingdom." Giles' words left my heart beating rather quickly. That's right. I'd almost forgotten... It's up to the princess to choose a prince consort- And it is for this reason no girl in Wysteria can resist the allure the title carries. They all entertain a common dream- the dream of becoming princess. Except for me, of course.
Wait. It hit me like a ton of bricks. That means- Giles' smile widened, almost as if he could read my panicked thoughts. God, no one else had better challenge my ability to do this ridiculous job! I am not sticking around for this part of it!
"As future queen, my lady can choose a prince to wed from among the aristocrats frequenting this very palace, if she likes, and thus safeguard Wysteria for another generation, if not many more to come."
"Really, I can choose anyone?" I decided to push the subject, mostly out of curiosity, and doubt.
"The candidate Your Highness deems most worthy of the role shall be right." At least that parts not so bad... You can actually fall in love and marry whomever you please.
"The princess elect system exists to prevent infighting amongst aristocrats. If we didn't let you choose your prince, it would render the post of princess elect meaningless. A gentleman like Sir Alyn or even Master Leo will do. The choice is entirely Your Highness' to make." Just when I thought Giles had finally some distance between us, he pulled in so close his lips nearly brushed against mine as he spoke.
"I'm sure my lady will choose a most capable prince to share her throne with. After all- if I didn't have faith in you, I would have never appointed you in the first place." Though Giles' smile remained unchanged, his eyes were as cold of ice. Definitely don't like you anymore.
"Thank you for clearing that up- Now, if you would PLEASE back away from me-"
August 19th