The Heiress' Dilemma

Prologue

I squeezed my eyes shut and drew my knees up to my chest, striving to make myself as diminutive as possible while cowering behind the bed. My ears perked up at the sound of footsteps approaching closer and closer. The footsteps abruptly ceased, and I buried my head in my knees like a child hiding from the demon under her bed, my hair covering me like a blanket on a cold morning. However, in this case, it wasn't a demon under the bed but a demon in the house—a sweet one, though.

After a minute or two, the sound of footsteps fell on my ears again, but this time, they were growing fainter by the minute. As soon as I heard the door close, I peered through the hole in the headboard of my bed—that I, the great, stupendous, phenomenal Adeera Aurelia Celeste, had created for moments like these—and heaved a sigh when I found my room vacant. Feeling smug, I stood up and dusted my skirt.

This was easier than I thought-

"Adeera!"

My eyes widened, all signs of smugness vanishing from my face, and I looked toward the door to see my dear mother giving me a look that kids give to the cruel floor that oh so mercilessly causes poor children to fall.

"Stay where you are!" she yelled, walking closer to me with a touch of elegance.

How could she hide behind the other side of the bed? This was totally unfair! I shall demand justice from my father!

It was no secret that my mother was a part-time smart individual, but using the bed as a hiding tool? How absurd!

As if you didn't do the same.

That is a different matter!

"Have you lost your sense of respect and honor? We have always forgiven you for your misdeeds but this is.. this is.. totally unacceptable," my mother shouted, her face turning red from anger and the effort of speaking at a tone higher than her usual voice. My mother was a soft-spoken lady who would even apologize to ants if she stepped on them.

"Good gracious! I almost forgot I had to water the plants," I muttered, putting a hand over my head to feign surprise."Did you know that plants are also living beings? Poor them; they must be starving."

I saw concern for my plants adorn my mother's soft features, and I took this as an opportunity to walk past her in the hastiest way possible. If I had ears like dogs, my ears would have perked up in joy.

Phew! That was easier than I thoug-

"Stay there, young lady. You cannot fool me again," my sweet mother spoke sternly, and my ears fell.

I plastered a tight-lipped smile on my face before turning to look at her, who had her eyebrows drawn together and hands on her hips in an attempt to look vexed.

"Your father asks for your presence," she informed.

I nodded before making my way toward my father's room. With a cup of tea in hand and his mind elsewhere, he was lost in thought.

I knocked on the door, which was already ajar, jolting him from his reverie.

"Sit," he said, pointing to the chair across from him.

The tone he had used gave rise to an uneasy feeling similar to the one I felt when he tricked me into attending etiquette classes.

"I heard from your mother that you went to enjoy supper with the lower class again," he inquired.

I offered him an innocent smile and the silence of the guilty.

"Shouldn't a future queen be aware of her people's sufferings? A supper with them was simply a way to know about them better. Is that inappropriate, dearest father?" I tilted my head, flashing him another smile.