TWO.
After my escapade that morning, one of the maids eventually did find me. Of course, upon discovery I tried to make another run for it. It proved to be futile with maybe the force of four security guards, but they eventually captured me and sent me to Her Majesty's chambers to hear what my punishment would be. By orders of the queen, the maids were told to not leave my side. They were to keep all eyes on me and not be more than an arm's length away. I was also to be followed by several security guards, in case force would be needed to restrain me. Quite frankly, they were suffocating me.
"I heard Her Majesty is hiring more security and having more cameras installed around the castle so that Her Highness will have no way of escaping or hiding," I heard a maid whisper gossip to another.
"Quiet! You're whispering too loud," indeed they were.
Despite being found, I was still refusing to go to my royal trainings. Instead, I opted to spend the afternoon with Hayner. We were having some afternoon tea in the lavish palace garden.
The hedges and bushes were trimmed to perfections. Flowers bushes always looked thoroughly kempt and bright. The grass was maintained and stayed a bright green color A greenhouse also occupied the property, due to the late His Majesty's fascination and adoration of exotic plants and flowers from around the world.
There was a gazebo in the corner, which was where Hayner and I decided to occupy.
It usually looks out to the beautiful maintained garden. Except I was not able to have a beautiful view of it due to the high security that surrounded me.
Hayner chuckles, taking noticed of the apparent annoyance plastered on my face.
"You did this to yourself. The old lady warned you," he says, then takes a sip of his tea.
I glared at him, daring him to make another remark.
"Would you care for more Your Highness? Sir Hayner?" Olette, one of the maids, asks as she strolls a cart of pastries and tea. I shook my head no and waved her away.
Olette is actually one of my personal maids. She was also one of the prettier maids I'll admit. Her brown hair was tied into two wavy pig tails. It made the appearance of her green eyes more of a bright emerald green. Her features complimented her peach-colored skin. Her dull attire was what all the maids wore. A knee-high gray dress, accompanied by a white apron with frills tied at the waist, a frilly headband that was donned on the of her head, and finished with a pair of plain black flats.
Hayner happily accepted the free desserts. It was a wonder to me how Hayner could act like he lived like an average, middle-class life but really, he was a part of higher society. He was related to the royal family for goodness sake.
"Thank you, Olette!" he chirps before taking a bite of a pastry scone.
Her peach color cheeks erupted into a tint of pink. A gentle but shy smile graces her features.
"It's my pleasure," she curtsied before taking her leave, which wasn't that far. Actually, she took a step out of the gazebo and stood at the entrance.
The queen made everyone aware that I was not to be let out of anyone's sight.
The annoyance mix with the summer's heat definitely did not simmer my bad mood.
The summer had definitely made its presence known in Twilight. The heat was awful, striking down with no mercy. I could feel the perspiration oozing out of my pores.
I couldn't help but think to myself, "The people of Destiny are so lucky that they're close to a beach."I remember my father telling me about the kingdom of Destiny. They were surrounded by water and the island was filled tropical fruits, so they had a bit of humidity to shield them. Whereas, in Twilight, there was no humidity. It was just blazing, dry heat.
"I want to go to the beach," I murmur to myself.
Hayner must have heard me. He looked at me surprised in response. "Naminé, not once have you ever wanted to go to the beach." I rolled my eyes, taking another sip of my tea.
"When have I ever said I didn't want to go?"
"At the mere age of eleven, you said you didn't want to have sand stuck in weird places and you would never want to swim where fishes pee. Hence, why you've never been to the beach," he chuckled at the memory of our young selves.
I did remember. My father at the time had wanted to take me to an island in the Destiny kingdom, Destiny Island (At the time, I had made fun of how uncreative the name was). I was excited until he told me that we would also swim with fishes. Knowing that fishes live in water, I declared that I did not want to go swimming in water that fishes did their business in too.
Now I regret it. I regret not enjoying what bit of freedom I had before. The bit of childish innocence I had before was no more. Now my freedom was even more restricted. More limited. Suffocating. Why was I such an idiot for never taking advantage of what time I did have before? Why had I not bothered to suck it up and just going to enjoy the ocean's water?
Moreover, I regret not going with my father. Not spending more time with him.
Oh, how I wish I had known how limited our time together would be.
A few murmurs from the maids snaps me out of daze.
The maids were whispering amongst themselves. Probably more gossip about Her Highness's disobedience or how bratty she could be despite having such a lavish life. Things I've heard all my life.
My heart thumps a little harder than usual when I hear what they are actually talking about. A party that was being thrown tonight.
"Are you going to the party tonight?" Selphie, another of my personal maids, ask. She also adorned the dull maid attire. She looked similar to Olette. Her features were almost the same as Olette except that her brown hair was darker and remained down, and giant curls framed both side of her face and the back. Her eyes were green but leaned towards a more teal color. And her complexion was slightly lighter than Olette's peach-colored tone.
"A party? There's a party tonight?" I hear Olette, who was also a part of the conversation, questioned.
Selphie looks flabbergasted before loudly whispering back, "Uh, hello? Seifer Almasy's party? Richest guy on the university's campus? Supposed to be the hottest party of the year? Ringing any bells?"
I wanted to scoff. Hottest party of the year? She most likely has not been to a royal party.
Some of the staff were also university students. One of the benefits of working for the palace, besides health insurance and decent pay, was that schooling was also paid for.
"Oh, probably not. I still have summer classes that I have to study for," she shrugged, unfazed by the fact that she was going to miss out on the "hottest party of the year".
But my gut was churning. My mind was already racing before I could comprehend what I was wanting. I wanted to go the "hottest party of the year". From what I've watched on television, it was a totally different kind of parties than the ones I've experienced. If it was what I have watched, it was a lot of hard liquor, kegs, and beers. Music that differed entirely from the classical music that's usually played at royal parties. Attires that were way too casual than fancy dresses and tuxes. Dancing that wasn't a waltz. Socializing that wasn't always boring and political.
Something completely different than what I'm attuned to, yet I found myself wanting to go.
My attention was snapped away from the maids' conversation. Hayner had nudged my foot with his. He tilts his head in curiosity. The expression on my face must have been apparent as to what I felt.
"You seem to be deep in thought," he observes, "What are you thinking?"
I grin in return. He questions my mischievous grin by quirking a brow. I motion for him to lean in. He leans into me and I lean into him. He lends me an ear. I cup my mouth and his ear so that no one else would hear.
I know that there was no way I could possibly succeed in my scheming. But my mind was already set on what I wanted.
"Got plans tonight?"
A/N: So this chapter is supposed to set things in motion. Next chapter is definitely going to involve our favorite blond-haired guy and a few more. I actually updated quicker than I thought I would. I can see that I lack the skills that I used to have. Hopefully I'll improve in my writing again. Also, I know I lack in the detailing. I hate that I can't conjure up something as simple as a garden. Props to the people that can! It's definitely hard, I'll admit. Also there is a reason why I haven't gone into detail about how Namine looks. That will definitely be in the next chapter. I promise that I am trying to tie in how I want this story to go. I want it to lead into drama. Starting out calm and then the mysterious drama and suspense. Anyway, I swear that I'm trying!