It was my first time being at the dining hall while the King and Queen were eating with the two royal siblings. The entire place was silent, but I could still see the Queen’s disapproving looks towards the princess, who was trying her best to ignore them.

While that was happening, I was receiving glances of concern from Oanez, who was standing beside the prince. Since this was my first time being a royal advisor. No, cut that, an advisor – I was finding it difficult to keep my eyes away from the royals.

Aside from Oanez and I – Ulgrim was there, standing right behind the King and Queen. He was the only advisor out of the five who was allowed to always be near the King and Queen. Mostly because he was the first advisor and the most trustworthy, but it also had something to do with the others. Melvin, Graham, and my father were all too stuck on impressing the King and Queen, it sometimes made them difficult to manage. Ulgrim, on the other hand, was stingy with his words but he made for it with his intelligent thinking.

“What is tomorrow’s itinerary for the prince?” The King cleared his throat as everyone noticed the loving tone of the Queen. I glanced at the princess beside me, who looked unbothered while eating silently.

Somehow, my impression of the Queen was reaching an all-time low. I knew she was a tyrannical ruler who was only after the Geraldian lands and resources. But now I could perfectly see her as the unloving mother, who favored the prince more than the princess.

As my eyes adjusted back to the floor, I realized that the princess’ situation would have been similar to mine if my mother had birthed a boy before she had died. May God rest her poor old soul.

“Nothing of grandeur, dear mother. I planned to practice my aim and perhaps, visit a few of my friends later.” Even when the prince’s schedule wasn’t anything spectacular – the Queen showed great interest in it and even smiled lovingly in his direction. “Always striving for excellence!” The prince’s lips lifted from the corners as he glanced in the princess’ direction. He stopped cutting the meat in his plate before placing the knife down.

I breathed deeply as he addressed her. Knew it!

“What does the princess think of doing for tomorrow? Another day of laying in the grass for the entire day or sneaking out of the castle for criminal activities?”

Even the Queen was interested in knowing the answer to the prince’s offensive questions.

Hearing his words, I felt more offended than the princess, who looked completely indifferent. But while she remained silent, the Queen scoffed at her before taking her attention away.

Something inside of me was not ready to take this loss even when it was only directed at the princess. Clearing my throat, I bowed my head as the words left my mouth. “May this advisor speak in the princess’ place?”

Immediately, I could feel the eyes of everyone on me since I wasn’t being addressed but I had gone out of my way to say something. Even the princess looked at me with a questioning gaze. I could see her confusion clearly which had me groaning silently. “I asked you that, your Highness.” I whispered to the princess, who widened her eyes and nodded immediately.

But it wasn’t her voice which was allowing me to say what I wanted to. It was the King’s.

“Speak.” My eyes widened as I glanced up at the King, before quickly bowing my head low. “The princess’ schedule for tomorrow was already decided upon before dinner. She plans to venture out of the castle, just as the prince suggested.”

I frowned when I was interrupted by the Queen scoffing again. She needed to let me finish before being judgmental towards the princess! Glancing back up, I finished speaking quickly. “She decided to go back to the gardens to help with orange pickings as a form of self-discipline.”

As my words had been out for the others to comprehend, I glanced at the princess, who stared at me with a seriousness which was terrifying.

“What a stupid decision for the princess to make! She wants to go back to the place where she stole from. As if losing her face wasn’t enough, she wants to lose her dignity as well now.” I frowned when the Queen waved her hand dismissively. “There’s no need for her to leave the castle.”

“B-But your Highness, if she does go back and help the gardeners – it will place the princess in considerable favor. The people will see that she is willing to learn from her mistakes and she is not afraid to be criticized if it means she can do some good from it.”

The Queen frowned as I immediately lowered my head, but not before seeing the thoughtful expression on her face.

Before the Queen could say anything, the prince’s voice flowed through the dining hall. Well, more like his laughter. “The princess has become quite bright ever since she was given a royal advisor. Perhaps, this decision is of her advisor’s rather than her own?”

Alright, I was offended again even when he wasn’t entirely wrong. But before I could ask for permission to say something once more, the princess was already turning to the prince and finally defending herself. “I also decided on buying some fruits for an orphanage. I’ve seen it on the way to the castle before and since I wanted to self-reflect, I could do some good while I’m at it as well.” I was surprised by the princess’ calm demeanor but then she turned to me suddenly. “Just like Elena mentioned before.”

It was strange how she spoke my name, and even gave me credit for the plan I thought of right then and there. But what was stranger was the way my chest tightened because of her stare.

“Ah, so it is due to the advisor.” Both of our attention was turned towards the Queen, who grinned in amusement. “Very well, the princess can do as she planned for tomorrow.”

The prince’s eyes narrowed as I glanced at him, but my eyes caught the approving smile of Oanez. He nodded his head at me, and I felt pleased by my first victory. But while I was feeling prideful, the princess glanced at me with a frown, and then went back to her dinner.

The sudden change in her expression confused me as the four royals began to eat in silence once again. But their quiet felt deafening to me since I was trying to come up with answers to what had caused the princess’ frown.

Clearly, she had been allowed to go out of the castle, without having to sneak out. Yes, she had to do some fruit picking, but we all knew that she wasn’t going to be doing much of that for the entire day.

She had also silenced her brother’s criticisms as well, which were more offending than constructive.

So why did she look...bothered and irritated?

...........

My question for the night was quickly answered when I was ordered to follow the princess into her chamber. The maids attending to her were quickly dismissed as she crossed her arms and turned to me with a scrutinizing stare.

I waited for the last maid to exit the doorway, after which we were the only two left alone.

Even when the reality of being alone with the princess was daunting – I was more wound up on her sudden glare which chilled me to my bone.

“So, this is what you meant? Listening to you so you can be praised while I get to be undermined by my mother and brother.” My eyes widened as soon as her words left her mouth. “No!” I was quick to answer, which was my first mistake. Well, second; if we were counting the one in the dining hall where I spoke in favor of the princess without discussing anything with her beforehand.

Her glare deepened as she tilted her head. “I-I meant to add ‘your Highness’.”

“Of course, you did.”

“Your Highness, I just meant to protect you from the prince’s offending jokes.” As I was reminded of the prince’s words, I frowned in distaste. But while I was thinking of something else entirely, the princess must’ve thought that I was making faces at her. This was my third mistake.

“You think you know better because you’re an advisor.” She looked just like she sounded. Enraged and irritated. I swallowed my own saliva before shaking my head immediately. “I apologize, your Highness. I-It just happened in the heat of the moment.”

The princess flicked a strand of blonde hair away as she took off her crown and walked away to place it on her vanity. “Let’s do this from now on,” I straightened my back as she turned around suddenly to glare at me more fiercely, as if that was possible. “You say nothing unless you are addressed, and no more plans from you in the heat of the moment.”

She didn’t have to repeat her words since I was already agreeing with a head nod.

The Queen was terrifying, and I valued my life, but the princess was a new kind of terror for me since some of her actions caused my heart to constrict painfully, which was not a good sign.

It wasn’t like I was unaware of the effects of a beautiful woman or her reactions. I had known some things ever before I had turned of age a few years ago. And this I knew – women were the only beings to cause my chest to tighten with emotion.

And the princess was an incredibly gorgeous sight to behold. Of course, when she wasn’t glaring at me with hatred. “Do you understand my commands, Elena?” She spoke my name with authority, but it only solidified my suspicion of my own emotions. Closing my eyes and bowing my head, I satisfied the princess with the words she wanted to hear. “I understand your orders, your Highness.”

As I looked up, the princess was smiling with satisfaction and everything in my head signaled a warning. Don’t stare. Don’t stare. Do not stare!

But it was impossible when her features would soften with just a curve of her lips, right after frowning with complete hatred. The duality of this princess was surprising. But more shocking were my emotions which led me to believe that I actually was a little smitten with the princess.

One-sidedly and sadly, unrequitedly.