Waking up in the morning to get ready for the day and dressing herself seemed like a routine that had been with Izzy for as long as she could remember. The day was like any other and she found herself wanting to do something else. Something different.
“Izzy, you ready to go?” Timothy asked, knocking on her door. He shuffled his feet, growing impatient with her delay. He lazily traced the lines of her wooden door, daydreaming about something he could never have. The king would never agree to lose him just because he wanted to become a blacksmith. No one would ever understand his dream. Blacksmiths would only envy him and soldiers would only ridicule him.
“Ready!” Izzy shouted brightly, opening the door. She flinched, taken aback by Timothy’s close position. “You look crazy doing that you know,” she smirked, pointing his finger that was still tracing the now imaginary door.
He shook his head from his daydream, dropping his arm. “Not funny,” he frowned but it was only half-hearted. He could never make himself hate too angry at Izzy. “Let’s head out.”
“What are we doing today?” Izzy asked, hoping he would choose an exercise involving weapons. She hated his slow instructions, giving her a long thick stick instead of a real sword. A sword was only given when Timothy was in a really good mood which didn’t happen too often.
“Same thing as always,” he answered causing Izzy to instantly groan in complaint.
“So train, train, and oh right, more training,” Izzy noted behind Timothy. She disliked the same routine and wanted things to be different for once in her life. “Let’s do something else today.”
“What gives you the idea that today is any different than yesterday?” Timothy asked, half serious. He teased her, shaking his head while chuckling.
“Well for one, Prince Alexander is getting married,” Izzy stated matter-of-factly.
“Geez, now I know what Alex means by getting annoyed when you call him by his title and full name. What’s up with that, Izzy?” Izzy looked at Timothy uneasy, not knowing fully well herself. She’d been hurt and felt betrayed although Prince Alexander hadn’t done anything. It wasn’t his fault he was getting married to the girl of his dreams. A dream only he could dream.
“It’s what he’ll be called when he’s king. Might as well call him the proper name while he’s going through the process,” Izzy shrugged. “Do you disagree?”
“Of course not but for now he is only just our plain Alex.” Timothy attempted to smile to bring Izzy’s mood up but he didn’t succeed. She looked gloomily, trying to cast any confusing feelings about him but Timothy hoped she wouldn’t regret anything. He knew everything.
He knew them for so long that their movements were all too familiar to him. The way Izzy would blush ever so but I don’t understand one thing. What happened between that was invisible to anyone except him. The way Alex would try to sneak a glance although it was sneaky and subtle. It was only those two who were blinded but for the sake of complications, he kept quiet to himself. They all silently knew that feelings and emotions would not have any effect because of the fact that Izzy was a servant and Alex and soon-to-be-king.
“Alex…” Izzy mumbled grumpily, picking up the sticks that Timothy pointed towards. She balanced the two in one hand and threw the sleek, long stick back at Timothy. He easily caught it in midair, using its momentum to follow through and twirl it around between his fingers and grabbing onto it with both hands, ending up in a ready stance.
“Don’t be afraid to call him like you always called him. I know you two changed and I can sense that,” Timothy said, raising an eyebrow, signaling to Izzy that he knew of her secret. However Izzy didn’t look up but rather looked like she was confused of how familiar and easily the name rolled off her tongue.
“N-No,” she sighed, shaking her head in her own frustration. “Let’s just get over one day at a time, should we not?”
“Of course,” Timothy replied, bowing like a gentleman before letting a sly smile creep to the corners of his mouth. Izzy caught on, bowing slightly but making sure her eyes were still on her target. Prince Alexander would have to come later.
Izzy broke the bowing and rushed into offense, aiming the stick at Timothy but changing her attack at the last second. Timothy had been anticipating her change in tactic and reflected her blow easily. The loud crack echoed through the court yard of the palace, the energy vibrating off the walls.
Neither of them was conscious of Annie and Alex taking a walk through the palace. Alex begged not to leave anywhere today but Annie had equally begged, if not harder, to give her a tour on her new “soon-to-be-home.”
Looking up ahead, Annie noticed two figures that seemed to be in an enchanting sword fight, flowing gracefully as if they were dancing. They obviously knew each other’s movement very well, giving off the smooth transaction of their attacks. She had the urge to go up and watch them when one of them turned around to strike a fatal blow but instead let her pinned bun accidently let loose, creating the silky long hair define her as the one Annie most despised.
Annie looked curiously at a sideward glance at Alex and saw him looking in awe at the Isabelle girl. Anger, jealousy, and fury warped into one burned inside of Annie. It was supposed to be her happy ending, not a dramatic story that will leave her in the dust.
“Alex, honey, let’s go back inside where it’s cozier,” Annie said in a soft voice, tugging on his sleeve to capture his attention but she had failed. His eyes were still glued onto Isabelle and hadn’t taken a notice to Annie. The engagement ring on her finger suddenly felt heavy as she thought about her father’s words.
If you don’t entice him into marrying you, you can say good-bye to your inheritance. This kingdom will not be yours but Maliki’s. She couldn’t risk her younger brother being king instead of her. She deserved the right and wanted to please her father but there was one obstacle in the way. Isabelle.
A plan formed in her mind as she looked back at Isabelle and then at Alex. He will be mine, she thought as she slowly backed away from Alex’s side. Of course, he ignored her, his attention too far to be caught with Annie’s hands. She would have to use another way to get him to realize that he was hers.
Annie made it quietly back inside the walls of the castle, moving quickly to the place her father was staying. Upon opening his door, she knocked politely on the door until his deep voice commanded her in.
“Ah, Annie,” he said as he saw her daughter come in. Her eyes were cold blue and he instantly knew something was wrong. “What is it my dear?” he asked, cutting to the chase. She would tell him what’s on her mind without him asking but he decided that asking was just a polite way to acknowledge to his daughter that he cared about her.
“Father, you told me to seduce Alex, did you not?” she said nonchalantly, looking at her nails in boredom. She blew on them and brushed it clean.
“Yes, my dear. I have indeed,” he answered, thinking of any possible problems it could be. He didn’t think it would be too hard about how his daughter always seduced and snuck around with men in the castle without his permission. He had kept it a secret, blaming himself for her actions. It was pity of Annie never having a mother that led him to spoil his only daughter to do whatever she pleased.
“I cannot carry out your wish when Isabelle is his only interest,” Annie said as if she didn’t care for it but they both knew in their heart that she did care. He decided to keep it quiet and turned to his daughter to solve her problem.
“The servant?” he asked, confused how that would be a problem.
“The bodyguard, father,” she wailed, flapping her arms and finding the bed to be her chair. “It’s absolutely horrible. He is always admiring her even from a distance.”
“They have known each other for so long, that’s what. Do not fret my daughter. You are the one getting married to him, not her,” he soothed, assuring that her happy ending would come.
“Father, I want her gone,” she gritted her teeth, grinding it as she often did when she got angry or when she didn’t get her way.
“Is this the only obstacle that is blocking you from sealing the deal with Prince Alexander?” he asked, just in case.
“Yes, father. It’s her that has become a human blockage for my success in seducing him,” Annie frowned, ignoring the flashbacks at all the times he was looking at Isabelle instead of her.
“Then I will get it done, my daughter. I will take care of it immediately,” he said grimly, hating to betray his friend but he couldn’t let the chance for her daughter’s future.
“Thank you, father. Until dinner, we shall not meet but for the time being, good-bye.” Annie left after bowing to her father with a big fat grin on her face. My happy ending will come at last.
Annie walked across the hallway and towards the direction she had escaped from Alex when she bumped into someone as she turned a corner.
“Oww-Oh! I’m so sorry, your highness,” a feminine voice apologized but when Annie looked up, she only saw men’s clothing. When the bower, finished bowing she noticed it was Isabelle.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Annie muttered, obviously showing her annoyed expression for all to see. “Have you finished your little training?”
Izzy held in the anger she had building inside of her. Was Annie mocking her? Izzy gritted her teeth but let it loosen before she answered, “yes, your highness.” She decided not to mention it was break time or the fact that she was inside the main castle building, trying to find Alex.
“Lead me to Prince Alexander,” Annie said, speaking with authority and power even if she felt hesitant. Just looking at Isabelle made her even angrier and gain more confidence in her command.
“He is this way your highness,” Izzy said, walking further into the corridors until the corner jutted to the library. She had no idea why she thought of the library but her steps had led her here. She looked inside the room, calling out for Alex until a cluster of books fell from the book shelves.
Immediately a head popped out of the book shelve with a huge grin. Izzy’s heart fluttered when Alex had emerged, indicating her prediction was correct. Alex smiled at them and Izzy found herself smiling but Alex had automatically reached out for Annie and hugged her tightly, kissing her hair.
“Hello, Isabelle,” he said, sounding distant and far away. Izzy looked at him in shock but there was nothing on his face that would give her answers so instead she stood quietly in the background as Annie tiptoed to sneak in an obvious kiss but he pulled his head back, letting her kiss his neck instead. Annie continued to kiss his neck, waiting for a moan or any reaction but there was none.
“Please Annie. Not in front of others,” he whispered in her ear.
“She isn’t anything but a wall of protection. She’s nothing to be thought for,” Annie quickly said before trying to kiss Alex again. This time he physically pulled away so that only their arms were touching side-by-side.
“My father called for us for lunch so we should go Annie,” Alex said, quickly, darting his eyes back and forth until they rested on Izzy’s. Her eyes held something real and genuine that it made him want to bask in the warmness and become who he truly is. He didn’t want this life but he wanted a simple life where he could let go of all the responsibility placed on him.
“Yes Alex. Let’s go,” Annie pressed, linking her arms around Alex. He noticed him staring at Izzy but she had also held his eyes, not daring to let it go. She flushed at first but now she was getting used to Alex’s demands for attention.
“Yes Prince Alexander, you should go,” Izzy answered, finally letting Alex jump back into his reality and his thoughts.
“Oh, and you too Isabelle. The king will be also asking for your presence,” he said in truth and innocence.
“Please don’t mind me. I must clean the mess you have made,” Izzy said, pointing to the fallen books but in reality she wanted to wrap herself around one of the picture books and dissolve herself into the books instead.
“Too bad. We should go Alex,” Annie said, smiling up at her fiancée.
“Until then when I am gifted with your presence,” Alex said, stiffly nodding to Izzy that she was free to go. He led Annie out the library but turned to glance back at Izzy who was already too busy, picking them up. He wanted to say something to her. Any kind words or anything that would take off into a conversation but she be busy, scrambling for the fallen books.
It was then Alex noticed another shadow walking towards her. It was Maliki with a book in hand and reading glasses, safely on the bridge of his nose, making him look sophisticated. He held a thick book in one hand and the other on the book shelf, supporting his slanting posture. Before Annie dragged him out, he saw Maliki bend down, too close to Izzy to help her pick up the mess that Alex had made and the pang of jealousy stuck with him throughout the day.