Living Like a Mouse? How About a Lion?

Announcements and Explosions

I barely had a moment to breathe when the door to my room flew open with a crash loud enough to make the walls shake. I didn't even have to look up from my bed to know who it was—only one person could manage that level of dramatic fury first thing in the morning.

Derrick. 

Who else?

He stormed in, waving a newspaper like it was some kind of sword. His face was a deep shade of red, his eyes wild with fury. Honestly, it would've been hilarious if it didn't spell out yet another disaster waiting to ruin my day.

"Have you seen this?!" he bellowed, throwing the paper onto the bed. "Explain. Now."

I blinked lazily, making sure to take my time as I stretched, just to irritate him further. "Good morning to you, too," I muttered, finally reaching for the paper. I mean, if someone's going to barge into my room at the crack of dawn, they could at least say hello first.

Manners. 

Apparently, they're optional in this house.

I glanced at the front page, and my breath caught in my throat.

CROWN PRINCE CALLISTO ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO LADY PENELOPE ECKHART

I blinked. Then blinked again. And again, because apparently, my brain wasn't computing the utter insanity of what I was seeing.

Excuse me?

"What the—" I started, but Derrick wasn't waiting for me to process anything. He was already pacing the room like some caged animal, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"You—how could you?!" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You've ruined everything! Everything!"

I stared at him, completely bewildered. "Ruined what? I didn't even know about this!" I shot back, tossing the paper aside like it was a piece of garbage. "You think I asked for this? That I wanted this?!"

He stopped in his tracks, glaring at me with all the hatred of a thousand suns. "Then explain why Callisto—CALLISTO of all people—would make an announcement like this! You must've done something. You're always doing something!"

Oh, now he was really pushing it. I felt the heat rise in my chest, bubbling up until it spilled over. The fury, the frustration—it all came pouring out.

Alright, time to bring out the big guns.

"Do you hear yourself?" I snapped, jumping off the bed. "You think I have control over what that madman does? Oh sure, Derrick, I went to the Crown Prince and said, 'Hey, announce we're a couple, that'll be fun.' Because that's what I want in life—to make YOUR life harder!"

He threw his hands up, shouting something incoherent, probably another curse or insult. I wasn't paying attention at this point. My blood was boiling.

If he wants to fight, fine.

 I'll give him a fight.

"You're a disgrace to this family," Derrick snarled, his face inches from mine now. "You've been nothing but trouble since the day you arrived, and now—now you've made sure we'll all be dragged through the mud."

I stepped closer, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. I'm the disgrace? Have you forgotten how you and Reynold have treated me all these years? If anyone's dragging this family through the mud, it's you!"

We were shouting at each other now, neither of us willing to back off.

"Shut your mouth, Penelope!" Derrick growled, his voice trembling with barely-contained rage. "You think I wanted you here? You think anyone in this family wants you here?"

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "You know what? Why don't you just kill me then, Derrick? That's what you all want anyway, isn't it? One less 'disgrace' to deal with?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, a knock came at the door, and a terrified servant stepped inside.

"Lady Penelope," the maid stammered, looking like she wished she could disappear. "His Highness, the Crown Prince... He's here to see you."

Of course, he is. 

Because why wouldn't he show up right now?

Derrick's eyes narrowed into slits, his fists clenching so tight I thought his knuckles would pop. He whirled on the maid, nearly shouting in her face. "What did you say?"

The poor girl was shaking so badly I thought she might pass out right there. "T-the Crown Prince, sir. He's waiting in the drawing room."

My heart sank into my stomach. Of course, Callisto had picked this exact moment to show up. And now, thanks to that ridiculous announcement, everyone was going to assume we were some kind of twisted couple.

"Tell him I'm on my way," I said, my voice as calm as I could make it, though every fiber of my being was ready to snap.

The maid scurried off like her life depended on it, and I turned back to Derrick, who was looking at me like he was ready to tear the room apart.

Oh great, here we go again.

"This isn't over," Derrick hissed, stepping closer once more, his breath hot and furious. "You think you can play games with me, with Callisto, with this family? You'll regret it."

I raised an eyebrow at him, my heart pounding in my chest, but my voice steady as ever. "I already do, Derrick. I've regretted it from the moment I was dragged into this mess."

And with that, I brushed past him, making my way down the hall towards my inevitable confrontation with Callisto.

As if my day couldn't get any worse.

When I reached the drawing room, there he was, lounging on a chair as if he owned the place—because, well, technically he could if he wanted to. Callisto looked up at me with that infuriating grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Penelope," he greeted, his tone far too casual for someone who had just announced we were a couple in the national papers. "You're looking well."

I crossed my arms, giving him a look that could melt steel. "You've got some nerve, Callisto. What is this?"

He shrugged, leaning back in the chair as if he were discussing the weather. "I thought it would be fun to see how everyone reacts."

Fun? 

FUN?

 Oh, I'll give him 'fun.'

"You—" I started, but he cut me off, standing and walking towards me with that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face.

"You want out of this family, don't you?" he murmured, his voice low and conspiratorial. "And I want something, too. Maybe we can help each other."

I stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest, my mind racing. Of course, Callisto would find a way to turn this into some kind of twisted game. And of course, I was the one stuck in the middle of it.

Here we go again.

The mad dog wants to play.