I do not own Midnight Cinderella Ikémen Royal Romances.

Chapter 5: I Could Change Everything

August 19th

Dinner with the entirety of the palace had not been on my agenda, not after my encounter with Louis. Nonetheless, I was sat on one end of a ridiculously long table. The King apparently had not been feeling well, so had opted for dinner in his chamber instead. I was not so lucky.

The anger had given me quite an appetite so I chowed down while all the palace bureaucrats stared at me in what I hoped was awe. If not, I really didn't need to know. Throughout the dinner I shot several knife sharp glares in Louis' direction, but the jackass didn't even have the courtesy to look my way throughout the entire meal! That only fueled my furiosity.

By far though, the worst part of this whole mess was that Louis had done exactly what I hadn't wanted to happen, and that was to challenge me. Of course he'd been trying to do exactly the opposite, but it didn't matter now. I had my mind and heart set on proving him dead wrong, and that meant going through with becoming princess elect, no matter how much I truly did not want to.

"Is tonight's cuisine to your liking, Your Highness?" Giles looked at me with a conflicted expression. Obviously I was not making any good impressions. I finished chewing my most recent mouthful before responding.

"It is absolutely delectable Giles, you must praise whoever it is who designed this exquisite meal!" My voice had a noticeable amount of unrealistic enthusiasm in it, prompting several of the nobles to give me looks of distaste. Nico, sitting to my right, awkwardly sipped his soup. He was the only one truly aware of my previous anger, which had not faded away as Nico had hoped it would.

After that, no one spoke to me. As the dinner lasted excruciatingly longer, my mind began to wander, and with that, my anger left. I stared vacantly into the distance, simply thinking.

My chance meeting with Alyn won me entry to the palace. Before I knew it, I had been appointed princess elect by Giles. This was much to the displeasure of Louis, who urged I leave. But what about me?

I never came here hoping to become royalty. The image of my dear pupil, book in hand, flashed past my mind's eye. I came here for her. For Liliana. The ghost of a smile passed across my lips. That was when I managed to speak up again.

"Giles?"

"Yes Your Highness?"

"I would like to take a trip outside the palace, tomorrow... Please!" I added as an afterthought. A deafening silence fell across the dining hall. Giles' signature smile faded away. But it was for just a moment, as his graceful grin returned soon after. My face was blank, but the suspicion I felt definitely registered. And the fear. What if he refuses to let me leave? Well, I'll just leave anyways. Then what? Hopefully Giles isn't too good, and I can leave and come back without him knowing.

"You desire to leave the palace?"

"Yes. I do." Though I might not be able to bring back the flower, at the very least, I want to give that sweet girl an explanation of what happened. It would be a fitting conclusion to my flower search. That is, afterall, what brought me here in the first place.

I focused my sincerity into a pleading gaze, to which Giles responded rather matter of factly.

"I shall ready some knights and attendants for your excursion." My eyes lit up with a childlike innocence.

"Really?" Giles gave a slight nod, causing a grin to spread across my face. Until the full force of what he had said finally got through to me. "Wait- Why do I need so many people to accompany me? I know the kingdom quite well, I can-"

"You're the princess. I couldn't possibly let you outside the palace walls without protection." Protection? He can't be serious... All these new rules were jarring to say the least, and I could do little to conceal my distress. I was aware of the reality that being princess meant things would never be the same. I really don't want to be princess... It's so overwhelming, and upsetting. It's like I'll never be able to really be myself anymore. "I should also mention, your appointment as princess elect is scheduled to be announced tomorrow."

"Wait- tomorrow?" I'm not ready for this, not yet! I really do want to prove everyone wrong, but... For once I wasn't sure that beating everyone else out was worth it, worth ruining my life for. I tried to think of reasons besides my overwhelming pride to stay, and came up with nothing. Then why am I still HERE?! I shook my head slightly, but nobody seemed to notice my inner turmoil.

"Indeed. That is why I absolutely cannot allow Your Highness to leave the palace walls alone. Even if you did just become princess, I'm sure you're all too familiar with the danger lurking outside Wysteria's border." My eyes flickered back up to Giles, newly alight. There was really only one thing he could be talking about.

"I assume you mean our neighboring country, Stein?" My voice was dripping with hostility.

"Correct. One can only speculate as to its ghastly goings on. With so little known about the country, it's impossible to calculate if and when they might strike. I daresay your selection as princess elect will become common knowledge within Stein in no time." I hated that place. I hated it more than nobles and royalty.

I'd rather be caught and taken there to take care of that horrid place myself than anything else. They all deserve it.

After that, all discussion of my leaving the palace grounds had come to a halt. After dinner, Nico showed me to my room.

"This is your chamber, m'lady. You're probably exhausted after such a long day. Let's call it a night, shall we? Sleep tight, m'lady."

"Good night, Nico. And thanks." After seeing Nico to the door, I sat down on my bed, staring open mouthed at the room. "Damn... My entire house could probably fit in here!"

The room was enormous, and decorated in mostly light pinks, peaches, and golds. There was a bathroom of my own connected to it. There were several dressers, and a hair and makeup station complete with a mirror attached to it, and a full length mirror nearby. There was also my own personal work desk. Besides that though, there wasn't much in there. It was empty, and though there was not a speck of dust, I got the feeling that it'd been that way for a long time. There was no- love- I suppose, to take up the empty spaces.

After a few minutes, I made my way over to the glass sliding doors, currently covered by long golden curtains. Outside was a large balcony, also empty. I leaned on the railing, looking out over the gardens, and beyond that, the town which I had grown up in.

"Nice view..." I'd been right, there were very few stars visible. Most were hidden by dark clouds. I couldn't even find the moon.

For awhile I simply stood there, not really thinking, just watching. The air was growing heavy though, and the scent of rain wafted through the air. Eventually it began to sprinkle. When it began to rain harder, I sighed, running my fingers lightly through my damp hair.

"I suppose I should go in then," I mumbled to myself, reluctantly turning away from the spectacular view. It felt as if I was turning away from my previous life.

"We'll see how well you work out."

"I don't think you've got what it takes to be princess."

"I'm sure my lady will choose a most capable prince to share her throne with."

The various messages given to me by the various men of the palace drifted faintly through my mind as I lie in bed, listening to the heavy downpour outside. Me, of all people- princess! I can't believe this... Lost in thought, my eyelids became heavier by the moment. Before long, I was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, in Stein...

"Your Majesty." A tall young man, with dark brown eyes covered by glasses and darker black hair addressed his superior.

"Speak, Albert." Another man, with an air of importance about him replied. He wore a long blue cape and an eyepatch on his right eye. His remaining eye was a brilliant silver color, and he had navy blue hair.

"Sid has come with what he claims to be vital information." Another male figure appeared behind Albert, as if on cue.

"Long time, no see, Byron? I've got a very interesting tidbit of information I think Stein would find quite useful." Smirking, Sid waited for Byron to reply.

"And that would be?"

"Wysteria has just selected its new princess elect, or so I hear." Albert blinked in surprise.

Byron gazed silently out the window, in deep thought.

The sound of chirping birds filled the room. It's morning already? Wait, where am- I snapped upright, peering at the unfamiliar surroundings wildly. Before long though, I sighed, remembering. That's right. I was chosen to be the princess yesterday.

Suddenly I heard loud footsteps and yelling just outside my door.

"It's His Majesty, hurry!" That sounded like Nico. Poking my head out the door, I tried to figure out what was going on. "His Majesty, the King, has-" His voice faded out. What about the King?

Curiosity got the better of me, like it usually did, and I ventured out into the hallway barefoot, wearing the same dress I had been yesterday. I managed to snag a glimpse of a troubled Nico flitting away down the corridor. What on Earth's going on? I plodded quietly in the direction whence Nico came.

As I followed in his footsteps, the sound of urgent voices from a nearby chamber became audible. The source of the voices came from behind an elaborately decorated door, unlike others in the palace. This must be the King's room. I could make out the sound of multiple male voices. They're arguing over something. Cautiously, I leaned the side of my head up against the door, listening.

"There was never a more inopportune time for His Majesty to fall ill." Ill? Am I hearing things? The King is bedridden?

"What can we possible do?" The room erupted into a clamor. Then- a single voice rang out, placid and clear.

"My dear liegemen, I apologize for worrying you so." That's... the King! "Though appreciated, your concern is turning into panic. Have you forgotten the new princess elect?" Wait, he means... The King's words brought me to full attention. He means ME. Oh crap, crap, crap! Somehow I felt like my meeting the King would cause something to explode.

"There is much to do, princess elect of Wysteria. Please, follow me."

Giles' words came rushing back to me. I didn't want to do anything. The only one who hasn't come to terms with my situation seems to be me.

My eyes strayed from the door reluctantly. As if to pull me back, another voice sounded.

"Forgive my brazenness, Your Majesty, but the severity of the situation eludes you."

"Should the worse come to pass and the throne be rendered vacant, Stein is certain to strike!" We risk being attacked by Stein? My blood boiled at the notion.

"In the event an offensive does occur, the fate of our kingdom will be most uncertain!" This is getting serious. My fingertips grew cold as my anxiety took over, and thoughts of the worst case scenario took over my mind. An attack from Stein would spell big trouble for all of us. And what would I do?! I certainly couldn't sit back and watch...

I gulped, and realized I had unintentionally curled my hands into fists. This place is really starting to get to me... It was strange, having anxiety and desperation. I normally didn't feel either of those things. My usual list of emotions included anger, boredom, happiness, and rebellion, if you can classify that as an emotion.

Having these new feelings was also exhausting.

I thought back to the children in town. Perhaps I'm not so helpless. My role as princess began to seem less an obligation and more my moral duty. Am I really prepared to see it through? I suppose it'd be nice to really make a difference, but...

My breathing became increasingly heavy as the gravity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. If I stay, I'd have to prevent wars, save millions of lives, make decisions which could change everything! But then I'd never get to run aimlessly around anymore, mess with the neighbors, or laugh for real... I could change everything.

I wasn't ready for this. I was always willing to try, to have fun doing it, but this... I took several steps back, staring wide eyed at the red carpet probably worth more than I'd ever made in my whole life. My left hand became entangled in my already disheveled dark blonde hair. I was oblivious to the arms closing in on my back.

I took a sharp intake of breath, completely caught off guard. Embraced from behind, my nameless captor whispered into my ear.

"What's wrong, Ava?"

August 20th