CHAPTER 3: PRINCESS VIN FROM THE RUBY PALACE

"She backed out of the competition and she wants to study swordsmanship instead." king said again. "She wants to be a Knight, isn't that nice."

"What? She looks so frail and I don't think she can-“

"Are you underestimating me, my prince?" I snapped. I looked at him with dull eyes.

"No, of course not." He stared back at me, with sad eyes. Sad? Sad? Shouldn't he be happy because I won't be chasing him anymore? "What I mean is...ah doesn't she want to be a queen?"

I gave him a sigh, really? You want me to be the Queen? If I know that you love the former queen? What if I win to be the Queen in this life? Would you love me though?

"No, I don't wish to be the Queen." I answered softly. "I'll be a knight instead of protecting the royal family."

Seraphina is going to be the Queen, you'll meet her in a year before the competition starts. He is the last candidate for the throne. And he will win even if I am the one you promised. I do not wish to die again in this life. I'm gonna live my life to the fullest this time.

"Did you forget about our-"

"I'm sorry for intruding, my Prince." Damien's words were interrupted because Kairo, his assistant, suddenly entered. His eyes widened when he saw the king and me. "Pardon my rudeness your majesty. We really need the prince.”

The king just raised his hand meaning its ok. It was like an emergency so the king ignored it.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. Please continue your discussion with the Princess, father.” He said with a bow and left, but before that he looked at me.

"Mhmm, my son seems disappointed that you backed out. I know you still have other reasons why you want to  backed out but I will consider it anyways.” Yes, I have many reasons that I don't want to die. "Give me another reason. I accepted your request to back out, but what about the request to study swordsmanship?”

FFFF- he's not a King for nothing. I swallowed, shall I say? Clue for the future???

"T- the prince won't choose me as his Queen." I mean its true though, he has shown an obvious attitude that he doesn't like me and doesn't want to marry me.

"Hmmm? How would you know that he won't choose you?" the king asked.

"I-Im sure there is someone destined for him, and I'm sure that it's not me." I really bet I'm sure.

"He'll find someone fit to be the Queen and he will love her more than anything in this world" I added.

I left after our conversation with the dear king. He accepted my requests and now I'm so happy that I won't die. But of course that's not sure yet, in my past life. The one who killed me was the queen, yes Queen Seraphina ordered to execute me without any court trials.

It is not difficult for a queen to order to punish me since I am also guilty. But without the court trial? Isn't that unfair to me? I can explain my side that it was an accident too. There were witnesses but they're probably scared of the Queen.

The day I was punished, the King was not there, Damien was not there. Damien was on a business with other countries for a month, I was executed at the end of the month which means he would have gone home. He did not attend nor did he try to stop or save me from the execution.

I was mad at him but maybe he wanted me gone too. Also, why would I be angry with Damien now in this life if he didn't do it in the past, right? Yet they are still the same person.

"Princess Astraea" I turned to the speaker, ahhh my mind was out of this world for minutes.

I was immediately stunned when I realized who spoke.

"Gr-Greetings to the Prince of the Sapphire Empire." I said modestly.

"You've changed." I raised my forehead and gave him a questionable look.

"Excuse me? What kind of change?” I asked. Changed my ass, probably because I'm from the past.

"Your etiquette has improved, and the way you speak sounds so mature." He said while watching me. Is that a compliment that I have improved or does he mean I sound old.

"I have been practicing your majesty." He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Your majesty? You never called me like that before.” I immediately stopped. Bish I thought you hated me calling you 'Mien'?

"You said you don't like me calling you by your name, my prince." He flinched when I said the last words. What is wrong with him

"W-why change of nicknames?" he asked me with his hand on his head. "Call me the usual."

"Um... I'm afraid I can't do that, my prince. You're the prince of the Sapphire empire, I do not wish to disrespect his highness." I stressed to him, what did he eat? I thought he didn't want it? Are you young sizst?

He gave me a sharp look and raised an eyebrow. Is he mad now? Why? For not calling him his nickname?!

"You called me by my name before, why stop now." I can feel the anger in his voice. I'm going to die early just because I didn't call him by his name huh?

"I just realized recently that I have been disrespecting the prince. So I will apologize-“

"I ordered you to call me by the nickname you gave me, princess."

F*ck this! Why is this one still falling?!

“Is Prince Mien enough, your majesty?” I said with a lazy voice and looked at him. He smiled like an idiot because he won. Sh*t,  I haven't seen him smile since we were kids.

"Yes, now that wasn't hard right?" I rolled my eyes, I heard Rhea call me. He said we are going home and my carriage is ready.

"Of course your-" I saw him glare at me. "I mean Prince Mien. My carriage is already here, I will get going.”

He nodded and sighed.

"Why did you back out of the challenge though? Did you forget our promise?”

 I immediately turned away from him because of his question, wait, did I become deaf for a moment? What?

“I beg your pardon, My- I mean Prince Mien?” He sighed and looked at me with those sorrowful eyes. Why do you like this? You weren't like this before?

“Never mind. I was gonna ask if you're fine." I raised an eyebrow at him. What? "I heard that you drowned."

Oh you've heard? Edi wow, I don't want to go even if you are the reason.

"No need to worry your majesty. I am fine" I answered. "Because of my stupidity I almost drowned" I added with a whisper.

I heard Rhea call again so I immediately said goodbye to her.

"I will see you around, your majesty" and turned away from him. Maybe whatever he was saying, he couldn't eat today.

******

It's been weeks since I last visited the King. He is too busy right now because of the upcoming competition even though it will be about 2 years before that happens.

I just lay in my room and read books. I already know about politics, now Im studying about archery and swordsmanship.

Of course, this is difficult since men often participate, and women are often put down for not being able to do this kind of work. Because it's only for men. Me? I have other plans... proving them wrong is one of them.

“Princess Vin, Princess Windy of the Emerald Palace wants to have a tea party with you. Along with the other princesses in the empire.” I held my breath.

Windy Dough, one of the princesses in the Sapphire Empire. There are 6 Palaces in the Empire. The Ruby, Palace, The Emerald palace, The Opal palace, The Garnet palace, The diamond palace and lastly The Pearl Palace.

Windy is one of the Queen Candidate too, her parents just forced her. She was one of my friends, at least that is what I thought. Back then when I committed my crime, she looked at me with such pity. Wait no, they all looked at me with pity in their eyes. All of the princesses that I thought were my friends, left me in times of need.

I only have myself. But this time I won't trust anyone

"When is that?" I asked bored, I am soooo not excited to see those bishes. I realized that they are very plastic. Why were they kind to me again? Oh, because they thought I was going to be the Queen since Damien and I are childhood friends.

“Tomorrow.” He answered briefly. I just nodded since I'm not interested, I still need to attend though. Maybe what they think.

Time flies fast.

"Princess! You need someone to fix it, we'll go to the Emerald Palace in an hour." I frowned at what I heard, dang it. I don't want to see any of their faces today.

Rhea fixed me up and we immediately boarded the carriage. When we arrived, many carriage appeared from other palaces. Did she invite all of the princesses?

In the Queen Candidate there are 10 seats, we need to do a competition of something. Each Palace got a Princess that needs to attend. I don't really know who the candidate was, because I was busy paying attention on winning. But I remembered Seraphina got the 10th seat and I got the 1st seat.

“Good morning Princess Astraea”

"Good morning Princess Astraea, from the ruby palace and soon to be the future Queen of the Sapphire Empire." I looked weirdly at Windy when she greeted me with those words.

If I were still stupid, I would be happy, but I'm not stupid anymore.

“Call me Princess Vin instead, Princess Windy. Also don't call me the future Queen, we might not know what the future holds." I said to her with a bow, "Greetings to The princess of the Emerald Palace"

Even though we are princesses, we need to respect each other as a princess. Even if you have the weak or powerful palace in the empire, respect is a must.

"You are really humble, Princess As- I mean Vin." He said with a smile. Wow, you are very plastic.

I just smiled at her, of course my smile was also plastic. It's plastic.

Princesses from different palaces are here. Some are siblings and some are just related, many also attended.

Then the tea party began.

"So Princess Vin, I heard you were chasing the Prince that you drowned yourself to make him notice you." I stopped eating a muffin when someone suddenly asked a question.

I heard several gasps from what the Princess from Pearl Palace said. Of course she's one of the b*tches that pity me till I died.

“Princess Beah! How dare-“ Windy shouted, but still got interrupted by Beah.

"Hah, But wasn't I right though?" Every b*tch ever.

 Beah Vespin of the Pearl Empire. Not really one of the characters that shines the most, she's just here to drag you from the dirt and bring gossips about you. I didn't even get to eat my muffin peacefully!

"Oh? But, where have you heard of those terrible rumors?” I said with a surprised tone. Of course my surprise was fake, I already expected her to bring up this topic.

"Haven't you also heard? This news is popular!” She exclaimed, taking out her fan and fanning herself while laughing.

"Of course I haven't heard of it Princess." I said calmly with a smile.

"Then you're-

"If you didn't see it with your own eyes or heard of it with your own ears, don't invent with your small mind or gossip about it with a big mouth. Princess Beah.” I told him firmly. "Well? Have you asked me directly why I drowned? You didn't even ask me if I'm ok. Oh dear, what a Princess!”

I heard the comments of the other princesses, they all agreed to what I said and went to my side. This is easy as an adult.

I smirked at her when I saw her laugh turned into a frown.

"I-I..." He didn't speak again. I sip my tea and gave her a smile, a smile that made her shiver.

"To answer your questions," I glanced at everyone. "I am not doing it on purpose, of course. Why would I drown myself? Just to get noticed by the Prince? How absurd, indeed. I value my life too.”

I saw the others nod. Even though I know myself that what Beah said is true. I sighed and got up from my seat, I still need to read some books.

"I have to excuse myself." I said while taking a tissue from the table. "I have many stuffs to do-

*BLAG*

"OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY!" I was surprised when I bumped into one of Windy's maids, I looked at my dress and it was filled with hot tea. I didn't get burned because the fabric of my dress is thick so I'm fine.

"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO THE PRINCESS?!" Windy shouted loudly and immediately took tissues. "APOLOGIZE NOW!"

"I'm so sorry Princess I didn't mean to do-"

"No it's fine" I said looking at her... wait "Seraphina?"

"Yes, Princess?" he answered.

SHE'S A MAID?!

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