(II)The Carriage Ride
We were now riding in the carriage off to the nebulae palace.the road is always hectic but who cares it's a royal birthday everyone's gonna come if invited.
Father and us were invited because he was good friends with the emperor as his senior in their academy days,the same academy I and the emperor's son go to,though the prince is rather not social.Instead he sits in the garden admiring flowers all day.
The kid is very clever and smart too.From what I have gotten by talking to him is that he's very obedient and performs his duties perfectly I am sure he'd handle the empire.
He's nothing like me,where I am cracking under pressure,he's thriving and looking forward to it.I guess I somewhat envy him,my junior I envy him.'What a laughable joke isn't it?to envy someone who you only observed.father taught me better than this' "people aren't what they always put out to be" was something he always said along with many others.
I began to doze off when mother noticed it."So the extra hours of sleep didn't help?"she asked.
"It's the carriage…..it's making me sleepy"I answered, half asleep.
"You and your training hours"mother turned in disapproval."and look how that benefitted you?never listens to me this kid"and she started scolding me... again.
"Mother, I am fine, just a little tired"I tried to convince her.
"And we're also attending a royal banquet,how do you think you could just go there half asleep?you know how the nobles are always talking about stuff like this."she ignored me and kept going,not stopping for even a breath.
"Mother, can we not do this right now, at least not in the carriage"I said, trying to calm her down.
"I am just saying this as a concerned mother, nothing more"she answered confidently.
"Well your concerns come off as rather hostile"I whispered to myself.
"Zane maximus you better watch your words"father said.
'No way he heard me?What is this one of his abilities or something?'
"And Athena please don't ruin the mood"father looked at mother.
"Yes momma, I wanna go to the hall in a great mood.the prince said he'd ask me to dance with him and I don't want to ruin that."Alina said to mother and apparently her words took the whole carriage by shock.
'The prince asked her to dance with him?WHAT?'
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU SAYING ALY?" Said Zoe who was also taken aback by Alina's words."HE ASKED YOU HIMSELF?WHERE?AT THE ACADEMY?WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS?"Zoe kept asking her questions.
"I wanted it to be a surprise to all of you"she replied to one question.
"What surprise?THE PRINCE asked YOU to dance at HIS BIRTHDAY.YOU SHOULD'VE TOLD ME I WOULD'VE BRAGGED FOR YOU A LITTLE TO THE OTHER GIRLS."Zoe wasn't stopping anytime soon.
"I didn't want to brag about it to anyone. He told me to keep it a secret from everyone until today."Alina replied calmly.
"Oh well that's no fun"Zoe sunk into her seat."I didn't even get a partner to go with and you get asked by the prince."
"Aly did he come to you or did you go to him?"mom asked.
"Of course he came to me. A lady shouldn't ask for the man's hand"she replied with a willful tone.
"Why you tho?"mom asked,putting her hand on Alina's knee.
"Well I was catching up on some of my studies on the swing in the garden and he came up to me and said "do you mind if I ask you a question?"
And i jokingly said "well you already did young prince"
which made him flustered so he started stuttering and said "then can I ask you a few questions?"
I replied saying "sure I don't mind"
and so he said"well if you don't mind I'd like to ask you on the dance at my birthday,m-my father i-i mean the emperor already invited your family to the party,so w-would you accept the request?if no then..... well will you please?"
of course with the way he was asking I couldn't deny him so I said"sure why not I'll be waiting for you young prince."
and then he said "thank you" and just left."
Alina stopped to catch a breath after that lecture of a story she just told.
"You called him young prince?"Zoe asked with a dead look.
"Yes what else was I supposed to call him;his name Zoe you're so silly"Alina replied.
Hearing that Zoe snapped,she grabbed Alina by the arms and started swaying her back and forth"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT ALY?HE CLEARLY HAS A CRUSH ON YOU.YOU SHOULD'VE CALLED HIM SOMETHING MORE INFORMAL"Zoe started shouting as she violently started shaking alina.
Alina shook Zoe's hands off of her arms and said"what crush Zoe don't spout nonsense you know that's not true"Alina said with a flustered voice.
'Did she not realize it till Zoe mentioned it?'
"I don't think I like the fact that a young man is trying to sway my daughter"father joined the conversation."but if your mother isn't against it then I don't mind it much".
We turned towards our mother as father said that and mother looked clearly not against it."well it is the prince's request I am sure you can't decline it like that now can you?"she said pretending to not be interested.
"also Aly"
"Yes mother"Alina instantly replied.
"Try not to tell him too many stories like the one you just did"mother said with a smile on her face.
"I won't,I promise"Alina replied with a sharp voice.
'She had never been more proud of her ever before.or at least I think she wasn't heck is she even proud no she most definitely is proud'
"What a surprise that was alina.i guess your plan really worked after all."Father looked outside the window."Though I stand against it"he frowned and turned "I never really imagined that my daughter would be swooned by some kid at his birthday".
"It's not that big of a deal father"Zoe interrupted "I am sure it's just a silly little crush it'll go away any-" hearing Zoe's words Alina's face turned ripe as a tomato.
"Stop calling it that, Zoe it's just a stupid dance who cares?If you keep calling it that it will mess with my mind the whole night after I see his face" her voice struggling to come out as she spoke in whispers then suddenly…
Alina went into a frenzy "I should have never accepted the request to begin with, no I shouldn't have told it to you guys then I wouldn't think of it like a get together between a couple ugh!Now my mood is ruined"
she kept going on and on shouting about what might happen and then thought she would just fake being sick to just not attend the party which couldn't be possible as we already reached the palace.