The Queen's Protégé

CH 4

The Princess And The Pauper

The boys had only been at St Vlads for an hour, but Christian was ready to run away again. Guardian Smith had just dropped him off at his first class and then left with Dimitri. He now stood there awkwardly looking around trying to find somewhere to sit, preferably in the back away from prying eyes. He noticed everyone was whispering to each other and he knew they were talking about him. He wished they wouldn't have separated him and Dimitri, with him around people tended to leave Christian alone. The teacher cleared his throat and asked him to take a seat making everyone stare. So He quickly found a seat in the front row putting his head down trying to not be noticed.

The teacher started his lesson, Christian was completely lost, yes he had taken this class before at a human school, but he didn't have a book. He didn't have anything they made him and Dimitri go straight to class. He didn't even have time to visit the feeders. That was going to be the only thing good about being back at an academy was access to feeders. He didn't really want to think about how he was getting his blood, it wasn't something he and Dimitri liked to talk about. It was just something that was necessary and he was grateful for a friend like him.

Christian was making an effort to follow along when a book slid his way. He looked up to a face he never thought he would see. It was Lissa Dragomir, last of her line and rumored to be next in line for the throne. Yes he had met her a few years ago and they had danced together at one of the Queen's balls, but that was before his parents turned. She opened up the book and told him they were on chapter 21. He thanked her, but was still confused as to why she was being nice to him. Yes when they met years ago she was nice, but things can change. He could see just beyond her was someone mumbling under her breath about a disgraced Royal. He raised his eyebrow,something that Dimitri taught him how to do. Lissa looked a bit embarrassed and apologized for her "friend" saying Royals can be a pain. He had to point out that she was royal too, she pointed back that so was he.

They fell into an easy conversation after that. She didn't pry into his business of why they had left St Basils, she genuinely was concerned about his well being. Christian was happy to see that this was the same Lissa he had met all those years ago. She hadn't let the fact that she was next for the throne change her. The more Christian looked at Lissa the more he thought she looked like an angel. Her blonde hair seemed to flow around her like a halo. Lissa was checking him out too, she had always thought he was cute. He always had a mysterious air about him. To people looking on the outside they were complete opposites. But on the inside they had the same insecurities and had both suffered because of their parents. Her losing all her family and him losing his parents because they turned.

They left class together and she told him she would meet him in the cafeteria after school was over and take him to the feeders. He gladly accepted and headed to his next class with his head held high. He thought to himself this school may not be too bad after all.

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Lissa had made it to the end of the day wothout seeing Rose. She was worried about her because she knew Rose's mom was on campus. Lissa couldn't understand how Rose could hate her mom so much, she would give anything just to have one day with her mother. She tried reaching her through the bond over and over again, but Rose had put up a wall. Lissa gave up for the time being and made her way to the cafeteria to meet up with Christian and take him to the feeders. She had to wonder how Christian was getting his blood, but wasn't going to ask, it was none of her business. Lissa and Rose had considered running away themselves after Lissa's family died. It was becoming too much for Lissa to deal with the pressure the Queen was putting on her. Rose told her she would get her out if she wanted to leave. They ended up staying because Lissa started to see this as an opportunity to change things in the Moiri world.

Immediately when Lissa spotted Christian's dark hair in the cafeteria she got butterflies in her stomach. It had been a while since she had that giddy feeling when seeing someone. She had dated another Royal, Aaron, but it was brief. She quickly learned that he was only dating her because of her status as heir to the throne. After that she decided she didn't trust anyone enough to date them.

Everyone was staring at them as they walked into the feeders room. Lissa told Christian just to ignore them. She went and gave the receptionist their names and they sat down and waited to be called. They made a little small talk till they were called back. Once they were done, they went their separate ways, but not before Lissa asked him if he would like to eat dinner with her. He gladly accepted and they planned on meeting each other again in the cafeteria. Christian went off to see if he could find out where his new room was and waited for Dimitri to be done with his training.

Lissa went back to her dorm room, which she was happy to have all to herself. One of the perks of being under the Queen watch. She tried again to reach Rose through the bond and still got a wall. Since she still couldn't reach her Lissa figured she would give Rose some space to deal with her mom. Lissa sat down at her desk and decided to get her homework done, then she would try to reach out to Rose again. Finishing her homework Lissa decided to change her clothes into something more casual but still cute. She didn't know why she felt the need to not be dressed up as she usually is. Ok, well she did, it was because of Christian, she didn't want him to see her as some elite Royal snob.

She made it to the cafeteria and spotted Christian standing next to Dimitri. She looked to the table that Rose normally sat at with Mason and Eddie, but didn't see her. She started to worry because she knew Rose liked to eat and was always first in line. So she tried one last time to reach her through the bond and finally the wall was down. She got a text back from Rose saying she was fine and she would talk later. Feeling relieved she led the boys to the line to get food. While they were getting food Lissa tried to read their Aura's, but was having trouble. She just recently was learning how to spot Aura's. The Queen's great nephew Adrian happened to be a Spirit user as well. He was visiting her at the academy once a month to practice Spirit.

Lissa decided to forgo the Royal table and sit at Rose's so she could introduce Dimitri to Mason and Eddie. Even without Rose, she was welcome at their table. Dinner was a bit quiet at first, as the new gossip was sitting at their table and they didn't want them to feel unwelcome. While Christian and Lissa had their own little conversation going. The boys chatted with each other about a few of their classes and what Dimitri had learned at St Basil's. Eddie told Dimitri if he needed any help catching up to just ask. Mason felt a little intimidated by Dimitri because he was much taller and more muscular than him.

After dinner Lissa said goodbye to Christian, saying she would see him in the morning. The way back to her dorm room Lissa was floating on cloud nine. She was really starting to like Christian and couldn't wait to talk to Rose about it. Speaking of Rose she was hoping she would text her soon so they could talk. Once Lissa got to her room she noticed that the door was unlocked so she cautiously opened the door.

She was surprised to see who was sitting on the bed waiting for her, it was Rose.

"You're never going to believe what. happened today Lis, I met my dad."