Something Peculiar

20

They had taken an interest in me, and I knew I should feel flattered, but I wished they'd just left me alone. Hye-kyo and Hyo-joo Stood on the opposite side of the table. A seating chart stretched across the giant oak surface, and they both leaned over it, starting with intense scrutiny.

I had a feeling Hye-kyo had just dragged me with her because misery loves company. As for Hyo-joo, I didn't really get why she was interested in me. The best I could figure was that she hoped to understand me in order to bring about my demise. The too big way she smiled at me kept making me want to cringe. Lisa had snuck into my room early in the morning, and my initial excitement faded when I saw how frantically she picked out my clothes. She instructed me to get ready with lighting speed and to be on my best behavior all day. I hated the way she treated me like I was five and it was my first day of kindergarten. But sitting there, watching them analyze every minute detail of a flippin' seating chart, I really felt like a five-year-old. One who had gotten in trouble and had to sit in a very agonizing time-out. I tried to look studious and interested in all of this, but I didn't know any of these people.

We were in the War Room in the south wing where walls were plastered with maps. Red and green patches speckled all of them, indicating other tribes of trolls. I'd been trying to study them while Hye-kyo and Hyo-joo talked, but Hye-kyo kept snapping my attention back every time it wandered.

"If we out the Chancellor here, then Markis Tormann will have to move from this table entirely." Hyo-joo tapped the paper.

"I don't see another way around it." Hye-kyo smiled as sweetly as she could manage, and Hyo-joo matched it perfectly.

"He's travelling a great distance to be here for this." Hyo-joo batted her eyes at Hye-kyo.

"He'll still be near enough where he can hear the christening," Hye-kyo said and turned her attention to me. "Are you ready for the christening ceremony?"

"Um, yeah," I said. Lisa had mentioned it to me, but I hadn't been paying that much attention. I couldn't say that to Hye-kyo, though, so I just smiled and tried to look confident.

"A Princess doesn't say 'um'" Hye-kyo narrowed her eyes at me, and Hyo-joo did a poor job of trying to mask a snicker.

I sighed. "Sorry."

Hye-kyo looked like she wanted to chastise me further, but Hyo-joo watched us both like a hawk. Hye-kyo pursed her lips, biting her tongue so she wouldn't show any sign of weakness. I didn't understand what Hyo-joo was doing here or what Hye-kyo had to fear. She was the Queen, and as far as I could tell, Hyo-joo's only ability seemed to be making backhanded compliments and veiled threats. The Marksinnna looked radiant, wearing a long burgundy gown that made me feel incredibly underdressed in a simple skirt. Hyo-joo's beauty nearly overshadowed Hye-kyo's, and that was really saying something, but I don't think that kind of thing mattered to Hye-kyo.

"Perhaps you should continue your training elsewhere," Hye-kyo suggested, glaring at me.

"Yes, Excellent idea." I jumped to my feet so quickly I almost knocked the chair over behind me. Hyo-joo's amused expression changed to downright disgust, and Hye-kyo rolled her eyes. "Sorry. I'm very excited about all of this."

"Contain yourself, Princess."

Using restraint, I left the room as calmly as I could. I wanted to rush out, feeling much like a kid on the last day of school. I wasn't sure that I knew my way back, and I had no idea where Lisa was, but as soon as I thought it was safe, I picked up my pace, nearly jogging away. I'd made it a little ways down the hall, past several closed doors, when somebody stopped me.

"Princess!" a voice called from one of the few open doors.

I stopped, tentatively peering inside the room. It appeared to be more of a den, with a lush red rug in the center surrounded by leather chairs. One wall was made of glass, but the shades had been pulled shut over most of it, leaving the room in shadows. A heavy mahogany bar sat in the corner, and a man leaned in front of it, holding a glass in his hand. I squinted, trying to get a better look at him. His hair looked disheveled, and he was dressed nice but casual.