BENJAMIN
"So, I am assuming I can count you in?" I leaned forward towards Prince Perseus who was settled beside me across the table.
"Indeed." Perseus munched onto the extra steak I gave him from my plate.
It is ridiculous how he sold himself in exchange of a piece of steak. "How are you going to convince the others?" Perseus looked at me with curious eyes, his mouth full of steak.
"Adventure motivated Angus, Kristian would do anything for friendship and I am still prodding Augustine." I shrugged.
"No princesses?"
"I am assembling a squad to investigate these preposterous incidents happening around us. I am not hosting a tea party. There is no role for the princesses to play."
A soft smile lingered Perseus' face as he settled the silverware on the table.
"Benjamin, Aprialla holds political power, Samirah is almost as potent as Angus, Pauline can take responsibility, Shanon is The Ace, the professors adore her. She can get us out of any trouble and Irene is a threat to the threat. The princesses aren't as vulnerable as you acclaim them to be."
I still refuse to concur to his statement.
But… come to consider it, the princesses might be of some use.
"Fine. I will make an attempt to convince them." I responded. Perseus widened his smile and resumed to dig in his breakfast.
Leaving Perseus there, I departed in search of the princesses. My eyes spotted Shanon on the couch of the living room, shoving her books into her bag.
Although I am against of including her in the crew, I am also aware that neither Pauline nor Aprialla would agree to join if I leave Shanon out. I sighed out and approached her.
"Good morning, Princess Shanon."
She lifted her head and glared at me. "Why would you display your face to me in the morning to me?!"
She is insufferable.
She leapt to her feet and looked indirectly in my eye. "Are you here for any valid motive or it is just your attempt to ruin my day?"
It is taking every bit of my patient to tolerate her. But I have to endure her unsolicited presence for the greater good.
"I indeed possess a valid intent to converse with a fiend this early in the morning." My smile did not reach my eyes. "I perceive you are aware of the situation around. The death of Malcolm and now Anastasia losing her magic."
She nodded.
"No one can deny that these events happening back-to-back is not suspicious. Hence, I am assembling a squad to investigate about this furtively."
Shanon stared at me for a few seconds before snorting out like a pig. My courteous smile dropped instantly. "I am not fooling around, Shanon."
"You're not?!" She wheezed loudly.
"That just makes this a trillion times more hilarious!" Shanon wheezed again, attracting some audience's attention while I continued to glare at her.
After a while she managed to calm down. "You're done?" I scowled. "I am, I am." She let out a last laugh. "I am just having a hard time believing you are actually serious about the proposal."
"Erase it from your memory that I even approached you." I walked away, attempting to ignore the spectators' gazes.
"You consider yourself as a big shot, don't you? The messiah of Wisteria Royal Academy! Getting involved in matters that must be handled by the adults is not cool." Shanon laughed out loud.
I turned around and stomped to her.
"You don't want to get yourself involved, its alright. Don't get yourself involved. But, do not dare to get in my way." I bored my eyes into hers.
"Too bad that I am intending to disclose your covert mission to the professors." Shanon sneered. I snorted sarcastically.
"Indeed, a nerd like you is no better than Greander."
This was most vicious insult. Greander is considered as the Judas of our class because of his history of disclosing everything to the professors.
I sneered at Shanon's incensed face.
It must've bothered her too much as she raised her hand to hit me. But that smack never reached my body as her hand was stopped mid-air by Kristian.
"Calm down, mates. No need for violence."
Kristian towered the both of us as his looked at us with a gentle expression while grasping Shanon's wrist mid-air.
"Back off, Kristian, everyone was enjoying the altercation." Irene emerged from the crowd with a scowl. Kristian let go of Shanon's wrist and turned to Irene.
"Relishing a dispute between others? Runs in your blood, doesn't it?" Kristian scowled as well.
"I assume betrayal runs in yours?" She sneered.
Wait…. Why are they starting a squabble of their own?
"What do you mean, Irene?" Kristian stepped closer to Irene, his voice dropping to a dangerous pitched. "You are well aware of it, Kristian. Crestwood Prep. Senior year prom." Irene was not backing off either.
Kristian scoffed.
"You talk as if you're a saint. You're nothing but a filthy cheater. I was the preposterous to think I could make a wife out of you."
"I would rather be devoured by sharks than marry you."
Ouch, that must've hurt.
I was about to intervene when I spotted Augustine amidst the crowd who shook his head. He just wanted to enjoy some drama. I remained at my place.
"You were singing a different song a year ago." Kristian sneered at Irene. He was successful in getting onto Irene's nerves as her right eye twitched and she darted at him while pulling out her dagger. "You male harlot-"
"Please stop!" Pauline whimpered restlessly as she positioned herself between the two of them.
Irene was about to say something but Pauline interrupted her. "Please stop these daily bickering. All of you. You are aware of the bizarre and menacing situation outside and I am drained. I do not desire to take any more responsibility of any bickering as your senator." Pauline was practically begging.
Kristian sighed, lowering his guard.
He tore his eyes away from Irene to Pauline.
He could tell how exhausted Pauline was. "Fine, I shall keep it down just because you are asking but she," He gestured to Irene, "should learn some etiquettes."
Irene scoffed loudly.
"One chance and I will end your life and disguise it as an accident." She hissed at Kristian and stomped away.
Kristian glared at her back as she walked off before turning to Pauline. "I do not understand why you are friends with her." He commented with a grumble, referring to Irene.
"Expensive coming from someone who was seeing her during this time a year ago." I went to Kristian. "Is that what I get for taking a stand for you?" Kristian raised a brow.
"What was the ground for the tussle?" Pauline demanded an explanation. "I just got involved while siding with Benjamin, don't question me." Kristian casually said and strolled away.
"Have some moral obligation. You are a senator as well."
"Moral obligation? Your friend was the one provoking me!" I argued.
"Ignore her, uh? You will get into a lot more trouble than her as you are a senator." Pauline reminded me.
"Yes, Benjamin. Don't go around performing absurd activities. You might land in trouble." Shanon briefly stopped by me with a sly smile before she walked away.
She meant it as a warning.
I am doomed.