NOVEL NEXT Chapter 63: Work in Progress~
{Hi! Due to lack of sleep because of our noisy neighbors, as always, (they kept me up until 4 am, wth), I will stop writing in the meantime and rest my sleepy head. I will resume work tomorrow, but at the moment, let me repeat a chapter to fill the gap for today's update.}
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Another beautiful day has come to the capital city of Gilead. As usual, I don't have any money with me as of now, so I still walked towards the school. Nonetheless, since it is just a walking distance from the castle, I don't really mind walking at all.
I was humming a song as I walked towards the huge gates of Gilead Academy. However, I stopped dead in my tracks the moment I heard that very familiar voice of my childhood friend Dexter.
"Good morning Krisella." I turned to look at my friend, only to be greeted by his precious smile that could light the whole town.
"Good morning Dex!" I greeted enthusiastically to match his energetic pace.
We walked next to each other towards the main student building where our classes are being held. And in order for us to do so, we need to pass the practice field of the school... where students are practicing their magic skills for their upcoming skills test.
Well, I don't really care much where we'll go. As long as I have my childhood crush here with me, I am more than satisfied. Ahhh... what a great way to start my day right--
"Kris, look out!"
I almost jumped out of my skin the moment I heard Dexter shouted right next to me. When I turned to look at what's going on, my eyes widened at the sight of a fireball flying towards us.
"Shuryal Muryuelle!"
My friend didn't waste any more time and quickly chanted a water spell. With this spell, a huge water ball magically appeared and went flying towards the upcoming fireball, which immediately dissipating it and only leaving traces of smoke in the process.
Wow! That was a great spell back there!
"Are you alright Kris?" Dexter turned to look at me once again with a hint of concern on his face.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." I said, still a bit flabbergasted about what just happened.
"You shouldn't be walking around here if you know there's someone practicing, you idiot."
Our attention was immediately diverted to a girl who's already standing right behind us. As I looked at her more closely, she has fair skin, with brunette-colored hair to match her skin tone. Her round, olive eyes looked at us with contempt, and her pinkish lips were pressed together.
Somehow, I was triggered when she called us idiots. I mean, she was the one who almost hit us with her fire spell earlier, and now she has the guts to call us that?!
"You almost hit us. And we didn't know there's somebody practicing right now even though the magic skills test hasn't even announced yet." I said while arching one eyebrow.
"You---" This girl is about to say something but chose to shut her eyes and tried to calm herself. "Whatever. I'm going back to practicing."
Without a single warning, she decided to walk out and went back to the practice field. Dexter and I only exchanged confused glances as we took several steps again away from this place.
***
When we all heard the school bell rang, our teacher immediately dismissed us and left the classroom. That made us stood from our seats and walked out of the room as well.
"Hey, I've heard there's a newly opened cafe' near our school. Wanna try it out, guys?" Ariella suggested as soon as we got out of the gate.
Holy crap! Here it goes again! I need to think of another way to decline the invitation.
"W-well... you see, I'm living with my grandma and I need to be there for her in the house on time," I said while plastering a fake smile on my face.
It seems that both of my friends got easily convinced, thus letting me go immediately. As soon as I bid my farewell, I quickly dashed off towards the castle. I don't want to face Alex's wrath due to being late in our training sessions.
***
After I got dressed as the prince, Lucas immediately brought me to the prince's office and instructed me to stay here while he finds Lancelot, who would be my teacher for today.
I willingly followed the lad and sit in the prince's royal seat while Lucas went outside of the room. As soon as the lad is now out of my sight, I took my time to lay my head on top of the table in front of me.
Finally, some peace and rest....
"LET ME SEE HIM!"
This serenity was immediately interrupted by someone shouting outside of the prince's office. I tried to ignore it at first, but then the commotion outside never stopped.
"Running around the courtyards, shouting inside the castle, and now disrespecting the prince's confidants? Even you are a princess, you're really not behaving like one." Oof, that must be Alex giving a lecture to some stubborn girl except for me.
"I WANT TO SEE MY PRINCE! WHY WON'T YOU LET ME SEE HIM?!" this girl whom they are talking with today didn't give up and still continued to shout from the outside.
I wonder what's going on out there.
Being the curious one, I decided to stand up from my seat and walked towards the door of the office and slowly opened it. The moment my existence was revealed to the people outside, they all looked at me at the same time.
"Oh dear lord. Please guide us." I heard Lancelot muttered to himself, which stood the nearest to me.
Among the people standing in front of me, there is this one girl who is quite familiar to me. Her long, straight brunette hair, her round olive eyes that almost sparkled as she looked at me, her fair skin, her petite built and pinkish lips...
Hey! I know this girl! She's that careless student who almost hit me and Dexter earlier this morning!
What is she doing over here?
"My prince! I'm glad to finally see you!"
Without a warning, this strange girl suddenly run her way towards me and encircled her arms around me in a tight embrace. While hugging me, my eyes looked at these lads standing in front of me and mouthed "Who is she?"
Before I saw them answering my question, this girl immediately pulled away from me so I quickly plastered a fake smile in front of her.
"I'm so happy to see you here again. However, why didn't you let me know of your arrival?" Then she folded her arms and pouted her lips like a kid. "I'm your fiancee after all."
Wait, what?! FIANCEE'?!
It seems that my world was instantly shaken with this fact that the prince has already a fiancee betrothed to him, despite his young age!
I quickly made a glance towards the three lads, who suddenly diverted their eyes away from me and whistled.
"Aww, what's with that look? Didn't you miss me, at all?" she continued to pout, and here I am, suppressing my laughter to the best of my ability.
"I miss you, princess." I nervously said. When I faced the lads once again, I saw Lucas mouthing the princess' name "Marionette."
"Well then, I won't be staying long, since I know my prince had to rest well." Then we saw her motioned for her maid standing to her right to give us something, which turned out to be paper scented envelopes.
"I'm also here to give you the invitations to my father's birthday. I do hope you could come, my prince. It doesn't bother me if your confidants can't come, but I need you to be there, okay?" Her round eyes just got bigger as she pleaded me with all her heart.
"I won't surely miss this for the world," I replied, which made her smile even wider.
"Yehey! Well then, I'll be leaving now," she said, which made me feel relieved instantly.
At first, we thought that she is really leaving now, but then we saw her stopped walking and faced me once again.
W-what is it this time?!
"Won't you give me a kiss before I leave?" she pleaded once more.
KISS?! WHAT KISS?!
I nervously looked again at the three lads, who only smacked their palms on their foreheads. They haven't told me about the fact that the prince has already a fiancee', for heaven's sake! How do I pull this one off without getting detected that I'm the fake prince?
"What's the matter, my prince? You don't love me, do you?" Then I saw her round eyes glistening with tears all of a sudden. That made me panic inside.
"Is it because we were only arranged to be married by my father? Or is it because I'm not good enough for you?! I am now practicing so hard to improve my magic so that you can be proud of me. And yet..." Her sobs filled in the entire castle.
Wahhh....what to do...what to do...what to do?!
It seems that I don't have any choice but to kiss this girl then! Say goodbye to my dignity!
"Is it because--"
I gathered all the courage that I could muster before bowing down my head a little and gave her a peck on her cheeks, which stopped her ranting and crying at the same time.
After a few seconds, I instantly pulled away and looked at her, and tried my best to pull off a sincere smile.
"You don't have to think of those things my princess since you're truly valuable to me," I spoke in formality that made the girl's cheeks tainted in red.
After that, the princess finally left the castle along with her maids. When I made sure that they are now out of our sight, I immediately glared at these three lads in front of me.
"Why didn't you tell me that the prince has a fiance'?" I asked.
"We forgot. Sorry." Lucas said and gave me an apologetic look while scratching the back of his neck.
"That was Marionette Lockhart by the way, the princess of our neighboring country of Cordova" explained Lancelot.
"Anyway, there's another thing to concern about." Our eyes shifted to Alex as he held up the envelope with his right hand.
"This."