Unbelievable

Chapter 2: Study (Evan's POV)

Me, Kaleb, and Briana made our way up the winding staircase to King Cullen's study, stomachs dreading a lecture from the events that conspired not even an hour ago.

We reached his door, and I proceeded to knock. Kaleb and Briana gripped each other's arm in anticipation.

"Your Majesty? It is Sir Maldo and Sir Ung, and we've come with the princess like you've requested."

"Come in," he says from inside the room, and I take it upon myself to open up the double doors. Kaleb quickly lets go of Briana's arm, however both parties look reluctant doing so.

I smile to myself knowingly. If only Briana wasn't a princess herself...

We walk into the study, which reveals shelves lined with books filled with knowledge and narratives about the world. The middle of the room is a giant map of the world, used for strategic planning of where to place soldiers... or as a good way to study the world overall when not in times of conflict. In the back near a giant window, a desk sits in front of it. The area is lit by a couple candles, and the King's face, along with a piece of parchment paper.

It's a bit confusing, isn't it? An Asian princess who's father is a white, tall man with blonde hair. Well, it's not because King Cullen's wife is Asian- Briana Min was adopted into the royal family when she was 13 years old due to Her Majesty falling sick not too long before then and dying. His Majesty was lonely, and so he ended up going to the orphanage and well... the rest is history.

The King treated Briana as his own, and she loved him like a father... However, Briana wasn't all too happy with the idea of royal duties...

"Briana, do you know why I called you here?" King Cullen said, folding his hands together and resting them on his desk.

Briana shifts uncomfortably. "Yes, Father... but Prince Quincey was acting like total horse crap!"

"I know, Briana," the King replies, unaffected by Briana's mild profanity. "And if I were you, I'd probably do that too, but you have to remember, you're royalty now, and you have to keep up the public image. And please refrain from using bad words in public."

"I know," Briana sighs. "He totally deserved it though, and Kaleb and Evan helped protect me!"

"After kicking him in the shin while trying to aim for his crotch area."

"Again, totally deserved it."

"He did, I know," His Majesty sighs, and puts a hand to his forehead. "But Briana, remember, doing things like that... it's going to give you a bad reputation. No matter how much they deserve it, you have to hold it and save it for the guards to deal with. You also have much more important things to deal with than putting a disrespectful person in his place, like your studies."

Briana sighs. "And what if they don't do anything about it?"

"Then they aren't doing their job, obviously," Kaleb quips. Briana snickers, but cuts herself off quickly with a look from her father.

"Okay Father. I'll try and keep my urges in line..." Briana says.

"Good." King Cullen nods in satisfaction. "Now then, I trust we'll be going back into the ball?"

Everyone exits the study and goes to re-enter the ballroom. I think about Briana's and His Majesty's relationship. I'm sure they definitely feel like family, but I don't think the King knows how much the stress of Briana's role is getting to her...