I was in my bedroom and it was already dark outside. I had left the french windows open to let the cool breeze in. I already had goosebumps and had no idea why I decided to keep the windows open. I walked up to the ceiling-high mirror and admired myself. I was wearing a creamy yellow baby-doll nightdress, which was very unlike me. But for once I felt very much confident in it as if I was with some incomprehensible power.
From the reflection that fell on the mirror, I saw movements behind the lacy curtains, the only obstruction between me and whoever it was on the balcony. A smile crept up to my lips as I was expecting someone and it seemed as if he was already here. I turned on my heels and retraced my steps towards the bed.
I was a few feet away from my bed when the visitor raised his voice; "Can I come in?"
His voice made me flutter but ignoring that sensation, I made a bolder move by sitting on the edge of the bed and calling out; "Stop acting like a gentleman, will you? Of course, you can come in."
That was what it took for him to cross the threshold to my room and make his way towards me in a few strides, a smirk on his thin lips.
I studied his oh-so-familiar, handsome face without giving him the satisfaction of me blushing like I was used to. However, his smirk remained even as he lowered himself to my level, his face inches from mine. Then he gently pushed me and pinned me to the bed with his body.
All of a sudden Calvin's face blurred and my room began to spin, as I barely heard Ms. Martha's voice; "Wake up, young ladies. Come on! Hurry up!"
I could feel sunlight blinding me even with my eyelids closed, which only meant Ms. Martha, my head handmaid had just drawn the curtains. I stifled a yawn as I sat up on the bed and I was served with a glass of warm water with lemon squeezed into it. I almost spluttered back the sip I took into the glass when I remembered the dream I was having just before I woke up. My behavior caused Ms. Martha to give me a scornful look and I gave her a smile in return, which eased her temper, still wondering why I would be having such dirty dreams and above all why it had to be Calvin. Whatsmore I was the one seducing him purposely and I seemed to be enjoying it.
I was brought back to earth by Melissa in the bed opposite mine, stretching, having been just woken up by the maid. Spotting her, reminded me of shopping for lingerie last evening, and I decided to put the blame for me having dirty dreams on her as she was talking about all the nasty stuff that could possibly happen if Calvin saw me in the new set I bought. Laughing it off, I greeted Mel, who has cuddled up again like an adorable ball of fluff in her fluffy PJs.
Melissa was fully awake, thanks to me, by the time two other maids entered the room ready to help us with dressing up. Mel insisted that I put on the new lingerie and I blushed, but then decided to try it on anyway. When the maids showed me the outfits that were selected for today, I could not help but want to go with a creamy yellow knee-length cotton dress, which seemed so ironic with the resentment I had towards Calvin. Melissa decided to go with her usual type -a chic button-down linen shirt with a somewhat short suede skirt and she looked lovely as always.
After our light makeup and hair were done, we had breakfast at my part of the palace as it was too much of a hassle to go down to the dining hall just to come back quickly for my etiquette lessons. Before I left for the lessons, I asked one of my maids to escort Mel to the Nothern Gardens, which was one of the places she loved the most in the palace, and to keep her company.
Lessons with Ms. Sophia always seemed to drag on forever, even though I simply loved learning all the stuff she taught. Today was exceptionally boring for me, so I decided to amuse myself by thinking about what kind of an expression would be on the teacher's face if just as Mel threatened jokingly, a package with lingerie was sent here right now. My lack of attention annoyed Ms. Sophia and with an earful, I was dismissed from the lesson.
When I walked out of the study hall Mel, who had been waiting for me, joined and we both strolled to The Royal Preparatory School, which was the latest addition to the palace and where the six months of final level training for Rank 1, 2 and 3 elite were held. (Rank 1 - Royalty, exclusively included my family, Rank 2 - Members of the Royal Court including head of military affairs along with their immediate families, and finally Rank 3 - Army Commanders and their immediate families)
When me and Mel entered hall no.3 of the second floor, assigned for theory lessons for the day, it was almost half full. Chairs were drawn in neat raws with a desk in front for ease when taking down notes. Out of the blue, Mel nudged me in the ribs and whispered; "Your knight in shining armor is there. The left corner of the second row."
I trained my eyes to where she pointed and saw Fabien there. His head was bent over a book, his hair blocking the view of his face. He seemed so engrossed in something in the book he was reading. By the worn-out look of the cover, he must have read it more than a dozen times.
When Mel gave a slight cough, I rolled my eyes at her, saying; "Now, he too has become my knight, huh? Can you please find someone, who is not a Beaufort?"
She just gave me a knowing smile as we made our way to get seated. Seeing that Fabien was here for the lessons, reminded me that Calvin would also be there. Though I scanned the room for him, I already knew he was not there yet, since I did not hear a rude snigger or a catcall when I entered. I was glad that he was not here, at least for now. I had to sit in the first row as expected of me while Mel went all the way to the last one, enjoying her freedom as she used to say. At that moment Fabien raised his head and spotting me gave a warm smile. I felt confident enough to return the smile as I took a seat at the desk directly in front of where he was sitting.
We made small talk about the book he was reading until the teacher arrived. I learned that he and I shared a passion for classic novels, which gave us common subjects to talk about. About an hour into the lesson, the door to the hall opened and Calvin entered casually.
"Hold on, Mr. Beaufort." The teacher said, slowly pronouncing every word, looking cross. "May I ask you to turn around and head back to Ms. Sophia's office to write an apology letter for being rudely late. Copy it 50 times and see that it is handed to me within the day. Now, out you go."
Calvin tried to look unfazed, but I could see the irritation in his eyes. And as his eyes momentarily shifted in my direction, I could no longer suppress the snicker that I was trying hard to hold back for some time. His eyes turned steely as he stared back at me and I could almost feel the chills.
"Perhaps, you would like to tag along with him, Miss. Ferguson." the teacher raised his voice, disapproving of my behavior.
I quickly muttered an apology but was thankful for the interference of the teacher, otherwise, I would have melted under Calvin's fiery gaze. I did not raise my eyes from my notes until I heard the door closing behind him. My phone vibrated, but I waited till the teacher turned to face the projected screen and started explaining, to check it. There were some text messages from Mel with vulgar jokes about Calvin and I could not fight back my smile.
After the lesson, I invited all my colleagues to lunch at the palace banquet hall. It was a tradition to invite any elite that visited the palace to a meal if it happened to be the first time they have visited for that specific purpose. And of course, everyone accepted. I had to extend the invitation to Calvin as well, out of courtesy and since he was not around, I sent the message through a palace maid.
The banquet hall was arranged to provide space for everyone in one long oak table. Fabien, presumably encouraged by the previous conversation on novels, asked to get seated next to me, which I permitted wholeheartedly. He was easy to talk with and nice too and if by any chance Calvin happened to come, I could annoy him a little, which seemed to be the case last night. Me, Mel, and Fabien engaged in conversation over lunch until the maid I sent for Calvin, arrived and whispered to me his excuse for not being able to join the meal. I was mostly relieved, but a part of me had been expecting to see his face when he saw Fabien with us. I was actually surprised at myself for finding the courage to even think of annoying him.
Finally, after finishing playing the host of the small banquet, I was somewhat tired that I wanted to head back to my room with Mel and have a rest. But I had piano lessons next, which I had to excel at before my father called in suitors for me. I tried to relax by focusing on the music that I had to play. But I was quickly distracted by the sound of metals colliding that was coming from the arena, which happened to be right outside the music room. A very un-strategic placement in my opinion.
Luckily, Ms. Sylvia had fallen asleep or she would have already made tut-tut sounds a few times whenever I went off-key. I silently walked towards the windows and glanced out. I could see the two cousins -Calvin and Fabien practicing sword fighting.
Both seemed to be very good with the sword. There was a playful air attached to the way Fabien made his moves. On the other hand, there was a scowl etched on Calvin's face and he was evidently hacking at his cousin every chance he got, thrusting the sword much more forcefully for it to be just harmless. I could only assume that the two understood each other and that neither harbored ill feelings towards the other and that Fabien knew more than what met the eye of outsiders such as myself. That made me remember what he told me about Calvin last night and I could feel my lips forming a small smile.
The door to the music room opened suddenly and I tried to hurry back to my seat behind the piano before Ms. Sylia woke up. I failed to do so, but she did not open her mouth to tell me off as we had company. It was one of my maids -Jasmine, whom I was more friendly with as she was much closer to my age.
"A message to her highness," she announced, seeking permission from the music teacher to talk to me. Then, receiving the approval nod from her, Jasmine hurried towards me and whispered that she needed to tell me something, which she had heard from another maid, who had overheard it while cleaning the throne room when a message happened to be delivered to the King and his queen consort and which Jasmine believed would interest me.