Seven Teachers (OT7)

Ch. 10 - Confused

As I dragged my tired body back to my room, my thoughts were a whirlwind. My memories flashed up the radiant smiles of each man I met today. Each of them charming and handsome in their own ways. The most exhausting part was how they all made me feel. I was so confused.

I think I blushed around each of them at least once. How am I supposed to focus and concentrate on learning from them when they are all so stunning? I let out a sigh.

Once my bedroom door is shut, I press my back up against it and try to relax. I smell a soft scent of lavender and wonder towards the scent. I enter my bathroom and witness that my bathtub is filled with steaming hot water and lavender petals. Oh Minji. What would I do without him?

Removing my green dress and groaning when I remove my heels. The straps had left indentions into my skin. I slide into the warm embrace of the bath. I feel my muscles and nerves ease.

My eyelids gain weights and I feel my head slowly nodding and soon I fall asleep.

I awake to a pounding on my door. I jerk around in the now cold water and look at my fingertips that look like raisins. How long have I been asleep?

Hurrying out of the tub, I grab the nearest robe and pull it on and over my body. I tie the fluffy belt and I can hear a voice yelling outside of my door. "Remi! Open this door!" It's my father. I unlock my door and open it to see his worried face. My father sighs when he sees me.

"You didn't answer me! I was knocking for five minutes straight, I was nervous!" I drop my head, feeling bad. "I'm sorry dad, I fell asleep in the bath. I'm beat after all of my lessons!" He laughs a little and forces his way into my room. He looks around everywhere and even bends down to look under my bed. I raise my eyebrows in confusion. "What are you looking for?"

He laughs awkwardly, it's a fake laugh. "Oh, nothing darling." His eyes continued to prod every corner of my room and I became more mystified by his unusual nature.

"How did you like your teachers?" My father asks me, but the question seems more weighted than you'd expect it. "I like them fine." I tell him flatly. I didn't want him to know the truth. The truth that my heart was a gymnast each time I met the next teacher.

My father laughs humorlessly. "I didn't know they were all so young and handsome. When they were referred to me, I had no idea of their identity. I chose strictly on their achievements." I listen skeptically. Where was he going with this conversation?

"You let me know if any of them step out of line with you," he tells me with a dead serious face and then it finally hits me. I pick up my foot and drop it, in a stomp.

"Were you checking my room to see if anyone was in here?!" I screamed the accusation and his face fell. Apparently, my allegation had some truth.

"One of the maids said she saw you with the self-defense instructor. She told me he had his hands all over you." My eyebrows dropped down; I was fuming. My thoughts were boiling. "He was teaching me defensive moves! He has to touch me to teach me these things!" I yell out the words. My father looked ashamed of his assumptions.

Only I could yell at my father. He was above me in rank, yes. But if anyone raised their voice at my father, it didn't end well for them. Some people I've seen do it, I've never seen again. I don't know what happened to them, but they vanished.

Only I was allowed to raise my voice at him. Although he was the king, my father obviously had a soft spot for his only child.

The king sits on my fluffy bed and pats a spot beside him. "Come here darling." I obediently sit beside him. "I was upset because I can't have anything interrupting the plan I have." My ears perk up.

"What plan?" I ask curiously.

My father looks down at his hands. He only did this when he knew I was going to be upset. Knowing his traits, I prepared for impact.

"I have arranged for you to meet a prince of a neighboring country. I talked with his father. A marriage between you two would form peace and the power of both countries would grow." I stood up quickly, already enraged and growing more so with every extra word he spoke.

"You're trying to marry me off?!" I was yelling again, good thing my door was closed. The entire staff of the palace would be eavesdropping otherwise.

"He's around your age and quite handsome. I've heard he has a heart of gold, and it seems like you two would get along." I scoff at his lies. "I don't care what he looks like! You can't do this to me dad."

My father's eyes turn fierce and my anger transitions into fear. "Actually, you forget that I can. I'm the king. You're not the ruler yet." His eyes soften. "It's not a done deal just yet darling. You're just going to meet him. I want to see how you two feel about each other. Please, at least do this for me." I let out a long, loud sigh. Letting him audibly know how irritated I am.

"He'll be here next week for dinner," were the last words my father said before he left my room.

My heart felt heavy.