'I must escape out of here, tonight'.
I thought and diligently tightened the knot, I had made in the corner of my bedsheet. And, tied my thread around it, to make sure the knot doesn't come out soon.
The cold breeze of the dark night escaped from the open windows of the room as the sounds of the transparent curtains batting them echoed into our ears.
Other than that, the room was silent, calm and my eyes pierced in concentration of the work I was doing, as my restless sister knitted her eyebrows together struggling to fall asleep in the new environment.
"Big sister Anasta, Big Brother Zeno, is so nice..Isn't he..? " asked Drizzella peeking her head out of the heavy yet fluffy bed cover that was spread upon her.
"Y-yes.. But, you shouldn't call him that way, Drizzy-chan.. "
"Why? " Her wide eyes flung open in astonishment.
"Because he is a Prince, Drizzella."
"Ohh.. Then, how come we get to talk to him so casually, Big sister..?"
"E-Eh.. It's.. because.." A little smile curled up on my lips at the thought. "..he's just so kind and good-hearted.. "
"Then, you like him, don't you? "
"...."
I abruptly dropped the threads, I was working on and felt a great chump of air stuck on my throat.
....Wait.. Wait! Hold your horses, Anastasia! Don't just jump to conclusions and get a wrong idea about Little Drizzella's innocent question. She just asked you a simple question with completely pure intentions. Don't let your corrupted and lewd thoughts, blind your understanding!
She's just a kid anyway. So, just smile and answer her without losing your calm..
I let out a deep breath.
"...Y-Yes.. Drizzella-chan. Of course I do! Just like how, I know you do too.. "
"Then.. Will you marry him, Big sister..? "
"..."
Waaaaah!!! I thought you were still so innocent Drizzella-chan!
My cheeks abruptly fumed red with embarrassment and I abruptly closed the peak opening of the bedcover Drizzella had her head popped out from.
"Isn't it time for you to fall asleep already!?"
"Uwah, B-But.. Big sister! " she pouted. " I am so curious...!"
"Be curious some other day. Now get to sleep, Drizzella.." I chided her wagging my finger as she simply pouted.
"But, I wanna know.. Big Sister! Ugghn.. "
"Come on, there now.." I smiled at my little sister and kissed her forehead, something my mom always does when I was a kid.
"B-But.."
"Just have some goodnight sleep for now, Drizzella.."
I said and hummed a gentle tune resuming to knit the bed-cover ladder which would soon help me to attempt a second breakout from the beautiful palace that had ironically locked me in for now while Drizzella gradually dozed off to sleep.
Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, Few thumps of the wooden door distracted my attention. I abruptly hid my cloth ladder inside the bedcover of the sleeping Drizzella and rushed towards the door.
The door revealed two frown faced guards who stood beside The Empress and The Second Prince of the kingdom to escort them.
"Y-your Majesty! I-Its an honor to have you visit me.. " I said humbly bowing down before her as a guard slowly closes the room's door.
Her night black curls beautifully hung low on her elegant shoulders. Her lips that almost resembled the color of a luscious apple curled into the most sweetest smile as ever. Her skin was perfect and flawless, as clear as the white snow.
Aww! She wasn't called as a heroine for nothing!!
My mental fangirl sang in delight.
"You don't need to Lady Rottenstein. I was just curious to meet the girl my son seems to be so infatuated with. You are staying at our house after all.."
"Of course, your Majesty! I was just surprised, a high authorized person such as yourself should be so kind to a lowly person as me". I bowed my head again in gratitude as a gentle smile of appreciation painted the face of Prince Zeno.
"..I am sure, it's all because of his Majesty and your great amiable and gracious heart that we could be blessed with such a kindness from you, your highness.. "
I said as the Queen chuckled lightly with a voice of tingling Christmas bells.
"..My.. You even talk sweet..Y-You.. are definitely different from what the guards had described about you, Ms Rottenstein.. "
I raised my head slowly and found her blinding smile directed gracefully at me.
Ah.. The brightness! Ah, the brightness of a normal heroine princess's smile!!
I found my nervous lips anxiously slide a half smile when another voice encouraged me.
"Yes, she does. That's what I have already told you, Step-mother. She really is nice.. "
Aw, I am surprised Prince Zeno had actually, told nice things about me to his mother. You have done a good job Prince Zeno..
"If she didn't turn into her witchy alter ego and sabotage her own reputation, that is.. " he sniggered as I grit my teeth, annoyed.
This guy!..
"That's because, I find it extremely irksome to have people with ulterior motives try to approach me, Your majesty. " I said formally.
"Then.." A cheeky smirk suddenly gathered up over the prince's lips and he asked. "...What do you think about me? "
I cringed and stared at his naughty blue eyes blankly.
"Especially people like you, your highness.. " I continued smiling innocently.
"Awh, brutal as always, Lady Rottenstein..."
"No, it's just that you force me to behave this way. Prince Zeno..."
"..I know right. It's just so much fun teasing you. Your expressions and reactions are just too amusing and interesting that I can't help it, my princess "
"I thought so. So you ARE doing this on purpose?? Well, For your information, I am not a princess, Prince Zenon Altizer Charming. It's Anastasia De Rottenstein! And, I would really appreciate it, if you would remember it and stop acting like a snobbish, frolicking fool who-... "
"..."
"..."
"..."
Oh.... No... This is bad.
I stopped my argument abruptly and forced my eyes to look at the floor in awkwardness.
I-I.. got on with the flow and forgot our current audience. The two guards and her majesty.
I slowly peeked my eyes up.
The guards were staring at us with cross eyes. I was out of line again, and had almost completely forgotten my status before the Royals.
But, I couldn't help it.
Knowing Prince Zeno for a while now. We had become quite familiar with this kind speaking manner of our conversation.
Prince Zenon who had forced me to call him as Prince Zeno earlier, had become much closer to us now, especially after my mother's death. And thus, we had almost forgotten our usual formalities to such an extent that now, many of our conversations include constant bickering with each other most of the time.
That's how we were.
And, of course no one in this world would ever accept this. But, Prince Zeno's mother just smiled. It seems she was the only person who seemed to.. if I hadn't gotten it wrong.. enjoy the sight of two teenagers bickering like little kids.
I nervously pulled my fingers.
What is she gonna say..? Is she really gonna kick me out? Am I gonna be thrown I the prison again? I know, whatever might be the case it was wrong on my part to lose my formality with the second prince.
An awkward silence crept into the atmosphere..
"....."
"....."
The Queen continued to curl a salient smile. And, like such, she calmly threw the greatest bombardment I never in my wildest dreams imagined she would..
"Somehow, I can really understand why your mothers wanted you two, to be 'engaged' to each other since your childhood days.."