The Good Crown

Chapter 17

As the first rays of sunlight streamed through my window, I woke up with anxiety. Today was the day I had to put my plan into action, and the thought of flirting with Prince Noah made my stomach twist in knots. Flirting. Just the word felt foreign to me, like a strange language I had never learned.

After splashing some water on my face, I stood in front of the mirror, examining my reflection. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was on a mission. "You can do this, Daniella," I whispered, trying to instill a bit of confidence into my voice. I twisted my hair into a loose braid, letting a few rebellious strands fall around my face. I opted for a simple but cute outfit—a fitted blouse paired with my favorite jeans. Casual but cute; that was the goal.

Once I felt somewhat presentable, I grabbed my bag and headed to school, the weight of my task pressing heavily on my mind. As I walked through the hallways, my heart raced with anticipation. Would I even be able to pull this off? What if I tripped over my words or said something completely embarrassing? I brushed aside my worries, convincing myself that it was all part of the act.

Arriving at my locker, I opened it and began rummaging through my books, trying to gather my thoughts. I needed a strategy, a way to break the ice with Noah. I glanced around, searching for him. Where are you, Noah? I wondered, trying to muster the courage to approach him.

Just then, I spotted him across the hallway, surrounded by a group of royal kids, including Penelope, who was laughing a little too loudly. Of course, she's here, I thought, irritation bubbling up. I watched as Noah engaged in their conversation, his easy charm lighting up the space around him. I felt a pang of envy mixed with determination. How can I get his attention?

I leaned against my locker, contemplating my next move, when suddenly, Noah's gaze shifted toward me. Our eyes locked, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me. He smiled, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing. Why was this so hard? I took a deep breath, reminding myself of my mission.

To my surprise, Noah excused himself from the group and made his way over to me, his expression warm but cautious. "Hey, Daniella," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "I just wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday."

"It's fine," I replied, forcing myself to sound casual, even though my heart raced at his closeness. "I appreciate you stepping in."

He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge my reaction. "Oh? Yesterday you seemed more upset over me stepping in."

"No no ," I said, a smile breaking across my face. See? Not so hard. "I'm just used to standing up for myself."

"I can see that," he said, shifting slightly as if he were rethinking something. "I'm not trying to make things uncomfortable."

His words caught me off guard. Uncomfortable? Is that how he sees this? "I'm just...trying to navigate all this royal stuff," I replied, trying to maintain a light tone.

I opened my mouth to speak, desperate to hold on to the moment, but the words got caught in my throat.

"Right," he said, looking down for a moment before meeting my gaze again.

"I should get back to my friends." He stated quickly

"Wait—" I started, but he was already turning away, a look of determination etched on his face as he hurried back to his friends. The door to a chance I didn't even know I wanted had just closed.

I stood there for a moment, frustration bubbling within me. What was that? I groaned inwardly, raking a hand through my hair.

"Come on, Daniella," I muttered to myself, shaking my head as I headed toward my first class. I had to figure this out. Flirting shouldn't be that hard, right? But as I walked through the hallways, I felt the weight of uncertainty settle on my shoulders.

I spotted Elara by the classroom door, chatting animatedly with Leo and Thomas, who were all smiles as they joked around. I approached them, trying to mask my frustration with a smile of my own.

"Hey, how did it go with Prince Noah?" Elara asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Bad," I replied, the word feeling inadequate. "But I don't think I can do this flirting thing."

"Why not?" Leo chimed in, his tone teasing.

"Please, I've never flirted with anyone in my life," I admitted, crossing my arms over my chest. "What do I even say? 'Hey, Prince Noah, I think you're cute?' That sounds ridiculous."

Elara laughed, nudging my shoulder playfully. "You just need to be yourself, but with a little extra charm. What would you say to someone back home if you liked them?"

"Honestly? I wouldn't say anything," I confessed. "I'd just avoid them."

"Seriously? That's your issue. You need to stop acting annoyed and start showing a little interest!" Thomas chimed in, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Okay, but how do I do that without sounding like a total dork?" I huffed, exasperated.

Elara's expression shifted to one of seriousness. "You could compliment him or ask about his interests."

"You've had way more practice with this stuff than I have." I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Don't think about it too hard," Leo said, shrugging. "Just imagine you're talking to one of us."

We walked into class, and I found my seat, but my mind was still on Noah. I couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness that lingered from our earlier interaction.

As the lesson began, I attempted to focus on the teacher's voice droning on about etiquette, but all I could think about was how to approach Noah again. Should I wait until after class? Should I just walk up to him and strike up a conversation?

The class dragged on, and by the time the bell rang, I felt more nervous than ever. I made a beeline for the door, hoping to catch Noah before he left for his next class. I spotted him chatting with a group of friends, and my heart raced.

This is it, Daniella. You can do this.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself as I approached them. "Hey, Noah!" I called out, my voice wavering slightly.

He turned, but just as quickly, I saw the familiar look of determination return to his face. "Hey, Daniella!" he replied, but his tone was different this time—distant.

"I was wondering if you wanted to—" I started, but he cut me off.

"Sorry to interrupt but I have head to class," he said quickly, stepping back and shifting his weight, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Oh. Okay," I replied, feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. Is he really backing away again?

"See you around!" Noah called over his shoulder as he walked away, leaving me standing there, mouth slightly agape.

I watched him go, my heart sinking. What is happening? I didn't understand why he was being so elusive now. It felt like the more I tried, the more he withdrew.

"Ugh," I muttered under my breath, turning away from his retreating figure.

"What happened?" Elara asked as she caught up to me.

"I think I'm messing this up," I admitted, shaking my head. "You guys might have been wrong."

"Or maybe he's just a busy student," she suggested, her brow furrowed with concern. "But you have to keep trying."

"You're not the one who has to flirt with a prince." I replied, crossing my arms.

"True, but you can do this," she encouraged. "Just take it slow. You have time."