The Good Crown

Chapter 10

After Prince Noah helped me find my locker, he excused himself, saying he had to dash off for some sports practice. I hadn't listened closely enough to catch the details. As I wandered around the courtyard, I marveled at the beauty surrounding me. The gardens bloomed vibrantly, and the architecture was nothing short of breathtaking. I had spent countless days gazing longingly at the kingdom from the outside, and now that I was finally inside, I felt both mesmerized and out of place.

As I made my way down the steps, I spotted Leo and Thomas leaning against the railings, their expressions a mix of boredom and mild annoyance. "Hey, you two!" I called out, a smirk tugging at my lips as I approached them.

"How were your nobleclasses?" I mocked, trying to mimic the posh tone of some of the royal kids I had overheard.

Leo groaned dramatically, pushing off the railing. "Ugh, don't get me started. It was all just a bunch of nonsense about treaties and who-knows-what. Like, do any of these people even care about anything real?" He shook his head, his frustration evident. "They're all so shallow—just a bunch of pretty faces playing dress-up while the kingdom crumbles around them."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You sound annoyed," I teased.

"I am!" he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't believe they're so obsessed with their titles and reputations. It's infuriating! All they care about is who wears the most extravagant gowns or who has the flashiest horse. Meanwhile, the rest of us are trying to figure out how to keep our families alive!" He sighed, his eyes darting across the courtyard as if searching for something deeper.

"Hey, speaking of distractions," Thomas chimed in, nudging Leo with his elbow. "You said you wanted to try out for the soccer team. Are you going to do it? That's way more important than whatever nonsense they were discussing in class."

Leo's expression brightened slightly at the mention of soccer. "Yeah, I think I will."

"Do you think the royal kids will even let you on the team?" I asked, half-joking but genuinely curious. "They might want to keep it exclusive."

"Who cares what they think?" Leo shot back, a glimmer of defiance in his eyes. "I'm just as good as any of them. I'll show them I belong here, even if they can't see past their own noses."

I smiled, feeling the warmth of his determination. "I believe in you, Leo."

"Thanks, Daniella," he replied, his usual bravado returning. "And you should join the cheer squad or something. We need someone to distract the royals while I score goals."

"Ha! Like I'm going to prance around in a cheerleading outfit," I laughed, shaking my head.

Elara popped up beside us, a bright smile illuminating her face. "Hey! Guess what?"

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on?"

"There's a soccer game happening today between the royal team and a couple of local teams! I thought we should go and check it out." she exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable.

My eyes widened in surprise. "You're interested in soccer?" I asked, genuinely astonished. Elara had always seemed more focused on the arts and literature, so this sudden interest in a sport caught me off guard.

"Why not? It'll be fun!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I exchanged glances with Thomas, who shrugged. "Should we go?"

I hesitated for a moment, weighing the idea in my mind. A part of me wanted to embrace the experience and enjoy a break from the tension of the kingdom's atmosphere. But another part was cautious.

"I suppose it could be fun," I said slowly, trying to gauge my own excitement. "It would be nice to see something different around here."

"Great!" Elara beamed, clearly pleased with my response.

Leo nodded in agreement. "I'm in. Besides, if I'm going to make the team, I need to see how the team plays." He punched his fist lightly into his palm, a determined look crossing his face.

Elara clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her toes. "Great! Let's grab something to eat first. I'm starving"

I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Alright, I'm in!"

As we made our way toward the dining hall, the excitement of the upcoming soccer game began to wash over me.

As we entered the bustling dining hall, the aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats enveloped us, making my stomach rumble in response. I scanned the room, taking in the long, elegantly set tables where students mingled and laughed. The atmosphere was alive, but as I looked around, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider.

Just as we approached the food line, a girl with sleek, dark hair and a perfectly styled dress stepped into our path, blocking our way. "Excuse me," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "I don't think you'll want to get too close to that food."

I exchanged glances with Elara and Leo, confused. "And why is that?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Because it's not meant for the likes of you," she replied, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I'm Penelope, by the way." She extended her hand, as if expecting us to shake it.

"Nice to meet you, I guess?" I said, taken aback by her audacity.

Elara took a step forward, her expression firm. "We're just here to grab some food. What's it to you?"

Penelope's smirk widened, and she glanced back toward a group of royal students, including Prince Noah, who were seated at a nearby table. "I just thought you should know that the royal kids aren't fond of town folk. It's a bit embarrassing, don't you think?" Her voice was laced with mock sympathy.

"Embarrassing for you or us?" Leo interjected, his brow furrowing in irritation. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're the one who's worried."

Penelope rolled her eyes, unfazed. "Trust me, you don't want to draw attention to yourselves. You might get in over your heads." She flicked her hair back, a gesture that screamed self-importance.

"Thanks for the advice, but we'll take our chances," I said defiantly.

"Good luck with that," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just remember, you were warned." With that, she turned on her heel, strutting away with an air of superiority.

I watched her go, a mix of anger and confusion swirling inside me. Who did she think she was, acting like she owned the place?

"Who was that?" I asked, looking at Elara and Leo as we continued to fill our plates.

"Probably just another royal brat who thinks her title makes her better than everyone else," Leo said, shaking his head.

"I don't care what she thinks," I replied, but her words lingered in my mind.

As we settled down to eat, I spotted Prince Noah across the hall, laughing with his friends. When our eyes met, he flashed me a smile that sent a flutter through my stomach, despite my earlier frustration. I quickly looked away, reminding myself that I had more important things to focus on.