The Good Crown

Chapter 16

As I entered my dorm room, I was greeted by the concerned faces of Elara, Thomas, and Leo. They had clearly been waiting for me, worry etched across their features.

"Daniella!" Elara rushed over, her voice laced with anxiety. "What happened in the principal's office? We were so worried!"

I took a deep breath, shaking off the tension that had built up since my conversation with Noah. "I got out of it," I said, trying to sound more nonchalant than I felt. "They didn't find any real evidence against me. Penelope just wanted to stir trouble."

Elara's eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing smile creeping onto her face. "So, what did Prince Noah have to say about it? You know he seemed awfully concerned about you."

I rolled my eyes, refusing to let the thought settle. "He was just being nice. It doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, come on," Leo chimed in, leaning against the wall with a smirk. "He has a thing for you. It's written all over his face."

"No way," I insisted, crossing my arms defensively. "He's just trying to play the hero or something. Besides, I'm not interested in any of that."

"Yeah, but think about it," Leo continued, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "If he really likes you, that could be leverage for the rebellion. You could use that to your advantage."

The weight of his words hit me like a ton of bricks. I shot him a startled glance. "Wait, how do you know about the rebellion?" I asked, my heart racing.

Thomas exchanged a look with Leo before he spoke, his tone serious. "We're not blind to what's happening in the town. We're part of this too."

Elara nodded. "We all have the same mission. We can't just stand by and watch while the town suffers."

I stood there, processing everything. It was a lot to take in.

"So you all know about the rebellion and now want me to flirt with Prince Noah?" I laughed, the absurdity of it striking me. "What exactly do you think that will accomplish?"

Elara leaned in, her expression earnest. "Think about it. He's the prince. If you get close to him, you might learn something about his father—the king. We need intel if we're going to help the town overthrow the kingdom."

Leo chimed in, a hint of cockiness in his tone. "Besides, you're already here. Might as well play the part, right? It could be our best chance."

I shook my head, disbelief coursing through me. "You all really think that's a good idea?"

"Absolutely," Thomas affirmed. "The royal kids are so caught up in their own lives; they won't see it coming. You could be our inside person."

My mind raced with possibilities. Was it really worth pretending to be someone I wasn't? Flirting with Prince Noah felt wrong, especially given that I just pushed him up against a wall practically yelling. Yet the idea of making a difference for my town—of finally standing up against the oppression—was tempting.

Elara flashed me a teasing smile. "Come on, Daniella! Just think of it as a game."

"Yeah, right," I scoffed, trying to mask the flicker of curiosity igniting within me. "What do you want me to do? Bat my eyelashes and giggle at his words?"

"Exactly," Leo said, smirking. "Charm the pants off him while gathering intel."

"Ugh, you're all crazy," I sighed, my resistance wavering as I stared at their eager faces.

"I've never actually flirted with anyone before. I don't even know how to do it!" I crossed my arms defensively.

Leo laughed, shaking his head. "Come on, Daniella. It's not rocket science. Men are easy. Just throw in a few smiles, some playful banter, and voilà! You've got him eating out of your hand."

"Yeah, because that sounds so simple," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "It's not like I have practice at this kind of thing."

Leo shrugged, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "Once I make the soccer team, I'll help you out. I can get Noah's perspective on you—what he likes, what makes him tick. I'll give you the inside scoop."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping in. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"Easy! I'll be the best player. He'll have no choice but to notice me. Once we're friends, I can casually drop hints about you and see how he reacts. Trust me; I've got this down to a science." He leaned back, a confident glint in his eyes.

"Wow, you really think highly of yourself, don't you?" I teased, though a part of me couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.

"Hey, it's not just self-confidence; it's strategy. I'll make sure he sees you as someone worth getting to know. You'll have him wrapped around your finger in no time." Leo's cockiness was infectious, and despite my reservations, I found myself chuckling.

"And if it doesn't work?" I asked, a slight edge of worry in my voice.

"Then we improvise," Elara chimed in, her tone filled with enthusiasm. "We're all in this together, remember? We'll figure it out as we go. But right now, you just need to be yourself—an exaggerated version of yourself, of course."

I took a deep breath, considering their words. Maybe I could do this. If it meant getting the information we needed to help the town, it was worth the awkwardness.

"Alright," I said, determination building within me. "I'll give it a shot. But if I embarrass myself, I'm blaming all of you."

"Deal!" Leo declared, extending his hand as if sealing a pact. Elara and Thomas quickly followed suit, each placing their hands on top of Leo's, forming a small circle of camaraderie.

"We're in this together, no matter what," Elara said, her voice strong and filled with conviction. "This is our chance to change things for our families and friends back home. We can't let fear hold us back."

Thomas nodded, his expression serious. "And it all starts with you, Daniella. You getting close to Noah could open doors we didn't think were possible. We can gather information, figure out the king's plans, and find a way to rally the townfolk to our cause."

I looked around at their eager faces, the fire of determination igniting within me. This wasn't just about flirting or pretending to be someone I wasn't. It was about standing up for our town, for everyone who had suffered under the kingdom's rule.

"Okay, so what's our plan?" I asked, my heart racing with the thrill of action.

"We start by going to the next soccer practice," Leo suggested, his excitement palpable. "That's when we can see Noah and you can put your charm into action."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, feeling the weight of our mission settling comfortably on my shoulders.