The Good Crown

Chapter 15

The classroom was unusually tense as we prepared for our first major test. My heart raced, the teacher had made it clear that failure was not an option for us, and I could already feel the weight of judgment hanging in the air.

As the clock ticked down, I tried to focus on my paper, but my mind was a swirl of thoughts. I glanced around the room, spotting Elara biting her pencil in concentration while Leo and Thomas shared furtive glances, exchanging nervous looks. I took a deep breath, attempting to channel my energy into the test.

The moment I felt settled, a rustle at the front of the class caught my attention. Penelope, who had been sitting at the front, was leaning over her desk, her eyes darting around the room. I frowned, sensing something was off. She was notorious for her need to be the center of attention, often flaunting her connections to the royal family.

"Time's up!" the teacher announced, and I put my pencil down, relieved it was over. But just as I thought we could leave the room, Penelope shot up from her seat, her voice ringing out like a bell. "I saw her! Daniella was looking at my paper!"

My stomach dropped. "What? No, I wasn't!" I exclaimed, incredulous at the accusation. "I wouldn't cheat!"

The teacher turned sharply, her eyes narrowing at me. "Is this true, Daniella?"

"Of course not! I was focused on my own test. Penelope is just trying to—"

"Penelope, is that true?" the teacher cut me off, her bias already evident in her tone.

Penelope, a sly smile playing on her lips, straightened her posture, throwing me a triumphant glance. "Well, she was sitting right behind me. How could she not see my answers?"

Thomas shot up from his seat, his face flushed with anger. "That's ridiculous! Daniella wouldn't do that!"

Leo jumped in, his voice rising. "Yeah, Penelope, you're the one who was acting all shady! We all saw you looking around during the test. You're the one who's cheating!"

The teacher's gaze shifted between us, but it was clear her opinion was already made up. "Enough! Daniella, I need you to come with me to the principal's office."

I felt a mix of frustration and defeat. "But I didn't do anything wrong! Please, you have to listen to me!"

"Save it for the principal," she replied curtly, her expression hardening. "You'll have a chance to explain yourself there."

As I walked toward the door, my heart sank. I shot a glare at Penelope, who was practically preening with delight at the chaos she had caused.

Just as I reached the door, Prince Noah shot his hand up, "Professor!" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yes, prince Noah," the teacher replied, her tone dismissive.

"I'll— take her," Noah interjected, stepping in front of me.

The teacher opened her mouth to protest, but Noah held up a hand. Ending the conversation with the teacher.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I shot him a skeptical glance.

As we started walking down the hallway, I scoffed, trying to hide the mix of confusion and gratitude swirling in my chest. "You want to play the hero now?"

"Not a hero, just someone who just got you out of major trouble," he replied.

"I didn't need your help, Prince Noah."

"You did, I know Penelope was lying," he replied firmly. "It's not fair for you to take fault for something you didn't do."

I had dealt with enough pity and unsolicited help. Noah's kindness felt like a double-edged sword, and I couldn't ignore how it was starting to wear on me.

As we paused just outside the principal's office, frustration bubbled within me like a simmering pot ready to boil over.

Without thinking, I pushed him against the wall, my palms pressing against his chest. The unexpected move shocked us both, but the rush of adrenaline felt liberating. "Why do you care so much?" I demanded, my voice low but fierce. "You're a prince. You have everything handed to you on a silver platter. Why do you want to waste your time on me and the town folk?"

His eyes widened for a brief moment, surprise flickering across his face before he regained his composure.

"Because you're kind. I think you can make an impact here." He said calmly, his voice steady.

"Impact? Kind?" I scoffed, frustration creeping into my tone. "I'm just a girl from a poor town. What could I possibly do in a place like this?"

"More than you realize," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "You're here, and that already says something."

"Are you blind?" I echoed incredulously. "Do you really think I can just waltz in and change how people see me? People like you? You think you can make a difference just by being nice?"

He took a deep breath, the calmness in his demeanor only further infuriating me. "I'm not trying to be nice for the sake of being nice."

This boy was more unpredictable than I had imagined. He sounded sincere, but I struggled to believe it. Sure, I had saved him from a robbery a month ago, but that didn't change the fact that he was still of noble blood—royalty, no less. I had been taught my whole life that you could never trust them.

He frowned slightly, the sincerity in his eyes never wavering. "I'm just trying to understand. I want to learn from you and see things from your perspective."

I shook my head, the walls I had built around myself starting to feel fragile. "What if I don't want you to learn from me? You can learn from Thomas or Elara."

His expression shifted, caught off guard by my bluntness. "But they're not—"

"Not what?" I interrupted, my frustration flaring. "I don't need you to play the savior for me, Noah. I can handle things on my own."

For a brief moment, silence enveloped us, and I could see the hurt flicker across his features. But instead of retreating, he stepped closer, attempting to bridge the distance I was trying to create. "Daniella, I—"

But I couldn't hear him anymore. I turned abruptly, my heart pounding in my chest as I walked away from the principal's office, my mind racing with confusion and irritation.