The Little Queen

The Little Liability

I had just woken up, but I hadn't yet reached the stage where I felt like opening my eyes. To be completely honest, when the time came for me to open them, I was a little confused, but I wasn't going to show it because I was going to act like I was still fast asleep. I probably should have kept my eyes closed for that though.

Theodore was out of bed, his dark slacks were back on with the front of his white tee shirt tucked loosely into them, and his arms crossed over his chest as he talked tiredly to somebody at the door.

I squeezed my eyes shut again as the door closed and heavy footsteps came closer. "That isn't Starlie, is it?" The man asked almost sounding slightly panicked, and I was very upset to be able to say I knew exactly who that voice belonged to.

I couldn't see what Theo did, but it was enough of an answer for my dad to let out the loudest most disappointed sigh I've ever heard in my life. Within seconds I felt his hand firmly grasp my ankle, "Wake up," he said, I could feel the anger. The covers were pulled off me and I didn't even bother to move, I had already accepted my fate. "Get up!" He took one quick step closer to me, almost as if I was some enemy he was about to attack.

I sat up, but that still wasn't good enough for him apparently because he grabbed my wrist and yanked me off the bed. I stumbled a little, but was able to quickly recover.

"Hey," Theo stepped in, his hand going to my Dad's where he pried his hand off mine. "You're not going to be rough with her around me ever," he said lowly, almost as if daring my dad to challenge him. He was my dad, but Theo was and always would be the one calling the shots in the end. He was the Prince, practically the King himself.

My dad wanted to say something, I know he did, but he knew there would have been no point. He was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them.

"We worked with what we had last night and they only had one room with one bed. I wasn't going to sleep in the chair and I wasn't going to make Starlie do it either. Nothing happened," Theo explained.

"Don't you see how bad this looks though? She's wearing your shirt. With all do respect, Your Highness, you have nothing to lose, but she does, if you get caught."

And he was totally right.

Yes, this did look totally bad. If anyone else heard about this and just assumed, I'd be labeled a whore and impure, complete trash. I would never marry Theo, and I would be outcasted.

Hell, I'd probably have to stop talking to my family altogether.

"Nobody's going to find out," Theo said between gritted teeth, this conversation obviously annoying him.

My dad switched his gaze from Theo to me. I'd never seen my dad look at me the way he just did. He looked completely disgusted, like I was bringing the highest form of dishonor to our family's name. "Get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes," he said quietly before leaving the room.

I kept my eyes focused on the floor, as Theodore took a step closer, "Look at me," he said softly, his deep voice laced with concern. I didn't look at him though, and tears started to fall. "Starlie." I started crying a little harder, after which Theo stepped in front of me, cupping my cheeks in his hands and making me look him directly in the eyes. "Everything's going to be fine. Don't worry, ok?"

I sniffled a couple times, "I don't even care about that right now. My dad has never looked at me like that before. There's no way he believes that we didn't do anything and he's probably going to tell my mom."

"I'll talk to him again if it's going to make you feel better."

I shook my head, "You can say whatever you want. I know him and he's not going to listen. Sure he'll nod his head in agreement but he doesn't actually care, Theo. When he gets stuck on something, it's hard to change his mind. Almost impossible."

I watched as the tiniest smile appeared on his lips, that cocky smile, "Have you met me? I'm a force to be reckoned with. I dare him to say anything else to you. You should get changed now. I think there's a car waiting to take you back home."

"Theo, I don't want to go anywhere near him," I said as he was turning away to start gathering my clothes.

"You're scared of him?" He asked while handing me my dress and then my coat.

I didn't really know how to answer that. I wasn't generally scared of my father, but he was being scary today. He's never acted this way around me before so I didn't really know what else he was capable of in such an angry state of mind. "I'm scared of what he'll do as soon as you're not around, yes."

He looked at a loss for words, completely torn between two decisions, "Then you'll ride home with me, and I'll talk to him later."

_____________

"Starlie," my mother outstretched her hand to me as soon as I walked through our front door. The castle was sectioned off into different "apartments" if you will. Ours was in the east wing, completely opposite of where any of the royal family lived. "What happened? Your father told me-"

I yanked my arm out of her grasp and continued walking, stopping only a few steps later, "Told you what?" I asked bitterly, not bothering to turn around and face her. "A complete lie?"

"You slept in Theodore's room..." she let her words hang in the air, almost as if leaving them up for debate. "In his bed...with him," her words were soft, her voice almost broken.

There was never a doubt in my mind that my parents loved me, but in this very moment I felt like a liability. I was probably the main reason they were still so favored by the King and Queen. They loved me.

If they heard about this they would have no choice but to cast me out and that would ruin everything my parents have been planning for my entire life.

"Yes I did. It happened and there's nothing I or anyone else can do to change it. We didn't do anything, but that doesn't matter does it? You don't believe me."

My mom ran in front of me so we could be eye to eye, "Of course I believe you, sweetie. I just need you to know that this looks really bad-"

"I know, mom! Oh my god, I know. And it really doesn't help that dad's going around telling everyone about it. People talk, and then the King and Queen hear it and I'm really in trouble."

The front door swung open and the man of the hour came storming through, slamming the door behind him. We locked eyes and I waited for him to say something.

But he didn't. He just walked right past me and my mom and went into his room.

"Mom, he scared me today. I've never seen him act like that."

"I'm sorry, honey-" and before she could finish her thought someone was violently knocking on our door. "I'll get it."

I followed her to the door and stood behind her as she opened it. I honestly wasn't even shocked to see who it was, "Your highness," my mom did a small curtsy and I did so after her. "Can I help you?"

Theo wasn't supposed to be on this side of the castle...ever. It was a new rule the King made up after he got himself into a bit of a tiff with one of the Duke's sons who also lived on this side. Everyone thought it was to keep him away from me, and to be completely honest, I still thought that.

He leaned against the door frame and let out a little sigh, "I was trying to talk to Lucius but he left in the middle of it. He's here, yeah?" He asked just as two of the Royal Guards came up.

My mom covered her mouth after gasping, "Wh-what did he do? Why are they here?" She asked just before being pushed to the side by one of the guards. I stepped aside before they could do the same to me.

It was never a good thing when a royal wanted to talk to you personally, but you really knew you were about to get fucked up when they brought their guards along with them.

"I just want to finish talking to him," Theo said, a certain evil lingering behind his smile.

My dad was royally screwed.