I quickly got off of Dante and put an innocent smile on my face. Noticing William still frozen and holding him down, I kicked him. He immediately jumped up and stood next to me wearing the same expression.
My father still had a pale face, "What were you doing on top of a boy?!"
I glanced at Queen Luna. I stepped over Dante's body and rushed over to her. I grabbed the hem of her dress and began to sniffle. I looked up at her, "Queen Luna! Dante was making fun of me and said I was chubby! William helped me hold him down so he would apologize."
"Aww, William helped you?" She wiped the tears off my face. Although I didn't want to make William look good, I know that Queen Luna would be easily won over if I brought him up in a good light.
I sniffled, "Yes. William was so nice."
Ugh. I can feel my stomach churn with that lie.
"Hoho. Is that so? Then I guess that means William has a chance."
I felt my eye twitch. Lady! Your son is only 8! Not only that, but he has a fiance! You know, the one you chose?!
"Mother!" William shouted in embarrassment.
She ignored William, "So Dante was making fun of you for being chubby? But, why are you so upset? Your chubby cheeks are so adorable!"
She bent down and started pinching my cheeks again.
I want to cry. Aren't you supposed to tell a girl she isn't chubby?! Why are you joining his side?
My father nodded at her, "Right? Isn't my daughter just too cute?"
Not you too!
Dante finally got up and began to brush the dirt off of his suit. My father's attention shifted to him. His expression grew very angry. Dante froze under his glare.
I guess even the great Dante is no match for my father's stare.
"So... Just what are your intentions with my daughter?"
I froze. Oh f*ck. Not this again.
"Excuse me, sir?" Dante looked clearly uncomfortable.
Even though I didn't want to help Dante, I also didn't want my father to misunderstand something again. I walked over to my father and jumped into his arms. His expression instantly changed to a smile.
"Daddy Daddy! Guess what!"
"What?"
"Dante promised to train me to be a knight and William even agreed to make me one!"
"Oh he did?"
My father looked completely surprised. He had been sure that I would never be able to become a knight due to our family's position. He looked over at Dante and William who both froze noticing his icy glare.
He smiled weakly at me, "Dear Daughter. Being a knight is too dangerous. Are you sure you don't want a more leisurely future?"
Queen Luna joined in, "Yes. Perhaps like being a Queen?"
My father looked at her with a twitching smile, "Luna. I didn't mean that she would be Queen. How is that a leisurely life?"
"Come on Kane. If you are this overprotective of her then she will become a crazy spinster."
"I won't let your son marry my daughter."
Luna frowned at him clearly angry, "And why not? My son is handsome and intelligent. Anyone would want to marry him."
"Well MY daughter is far smarter and much more adorable! I won't let her waste her talents on some boy."
"Some boy?!
I stepped back noticing their argument becoming more and more heated. Maybe I should make my escape. I started inching away but Luna grabbed me and pulled me to her side.
"Kane. Are you saying you won't let your own daughter make her own choices? Even though you preach about letting everyone have the freedom to choose their own fates no matter what rank?"
My father froze unable to refute her. I looked towards them. I wonder what exactly they are talking about. It sounds like she meant something specific but didn't want to explain it fully. Hmm. Curious.
She turned to me and gave a bright smile. Out of habit, I smiled back.
"So, little miss Seri. You want to become a knight?"
"Yes!"
"But why?"
Hmm. I guess if I were to say I didn't remember that would probably not help the situation. I suppose I can lie.
"I want to become a knight so I can protect my favorite and most beautiful Queen!"
I threw my hands up and pulled out my cute face. That's right. Just try to argue with this face.
"Kyaa!" She hugged me and rubbed her face on mine, "You are just too cute! Well. I guess that's okay. There's not a rule that says a knight can't marry into the Royal family."
"Mother!" William yelled unable to take the embarrassment, "Please stop saying such embarrassing things!"
"I agree." My father quickly nodded even though he was agreeing for a different reason.
"I can't help it. I need her as my daughter!"
There are other ways to treat me like your daughter that doesn't involve marriage.
"This is a good thing." She said with a mischievous smile, "That means you will be visiting our manor in order to train to become a knight." She instantly walked over to my father and began to tug on him, "Come now, Kane. Let's discuss your daughters training."
"Wait. What?"
My father looked back for me at a loss for words as Queen Luna dragged him off. I smiled and waved goodbye to him.
William walked over to be and flicked my forehead.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" I stepped away from him and rubbed my forehead.
"For lying."
"Hey. You should thank me. I just got you out of a bad situation."
Dante walked over, "A bad situation you got us in to begin with."
I made a face, "I don't want to hear that from you. Should I call my father back and say you two are being mean again?"
"No!" They shouted in unison.
I giggled, "Why are you two so scared of him? You looked like scared puppies when he looked at you."
Dante sighed, "Don't you even know what everyone calls your father?"
I shrugged. I had no idea. It's not like I try to pay attention to those sorts of things.
"They call him the mad dog."
I laughed, "Mad dog? That sounds so stupid."
"He terrifies everyone because he never gives up. No one would ever mess with him if they wanted a carefree life."
William glanced at me, "Reminds me of someone familiar."
I stuck my tongue out at him. Technically, I was like this before I came to this world. So it's not really the whole 'father like daughter'. But, he doesn't need to know that.
William glared at me, "Also, why are you so nice to my mother and your father, but you're so mean to us?!"
I chuckled, "Are you jealous?"
"No! I just don't get it."
I patted him on the shoulder, "It's okay if you're jealous."
He growled, "I'm not jealous."
"If you're curious, you should ask Dante. He does the same thing."
William glanced at Dante who just smiled.
Dante spoke, "It seems as though you think poorly of me."
I nodded in agreement, "I do."
His face twitched, "You don't have to be so honest."
"Seri!"
I looked over to Millie walking over to me waving. I rushed over to her, "Millie! How long have you been here?"
She smiled calmly, "The entire time."
"I see. Well, shall we get some cake?"
She glanced at me, "Do you really need some?"
"Yes. Now stop giving me the stink eye."
I grabbed Millie and made my escape over to the dessert table. I began to joyfully stuff my face with everything I could find.
Millie smiled at me, "You really love sweets, don't you?"
"Don't you?"
She nodded, "Yes, but not as much as you."
I swear. If another person comments on my eating habits, I will freak out. I guess this world doesn't know what the saying 'mind your business' means.
"Oh? What's going on over here?"
I looked over to see Ilene and her groupies walking over. Suddenly I had a bitter taste in my mouth. I looked at Millie.
"What are they doing here?"
"You invited them."
"I most certainly did not."
Millie sighed, "If you hadn't, it would have looked bad. Don't you know it's customary to invite all of the noble families to this sort of function?"
No I did not.
"But why would she come?"
"Since Queen Luna came, all of the nobles had to or else it would look bad."
I really don't understand this world's social hierarchy. Why do they care so much about what everyone thinks?
Ilene approached William and smiled bashfully, "Hello William. You look handsome in that suit."
William looked away frowning. In a disinterested tone he replied, "Thanks."
She didn't even seem off put by this. "Will you join me for some cake?"
He glared at her, "Shouldn't you say hello to the host first?"
He motioned towards me. I paused with my mouth full of cake. Hey! Don't bring her attention to me!
Ilene glared at me and walked over, "I'm surprised that the Prince would want to come over to such a lowly merchants house."
I stared at her and slowly took another bite of cake. I'm not going to argue with this child.
This seemed to piss her off more, "Are you just going to stuff your face and not say anything to me?"
I swallowed, "I'm sorry. Did you say something that I would be interested in responding to?"
She glared at me, "You have no manners. If the Prince hangs around you I'm sure you will be responsible for deteriorating his image."
Well, I can't really argue with that.
William walked over, "Ilene! You're the one who has no manners. How dare you talk to her like that?!"
We all looked at William in surprise. He usually didn't try to defend anyone. He is always disinterested in everyone, the only exception being Dante.
Ilene began to shake, "Why are you defending her?"
William stared into her eyes with a vicious look, "Because she's my friend."
I started choking on my cake and Millie slapped my back.
Ilene's lip trembled, "But I'm your fiance!"
"You may be my fiance, but it's not like I wanted you to be."
Ouch. That's cruel.
Ilene burst into tears, "How can you be so mean!" She turned around and ran off sobbing. Her two henchmen rushed after her shouting for her.
"Tch." William crossed his arms and looked away annoyed.
I smiled stiffly at William, "Who said we were friends?"
William ignored me and Dante grabbed onto my shoulders, "What do you mean? Of course we are friends."
I swallowed a piece of my cake and began to feel a bit parched.
Just what did I get myself into?