Modern Princess

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Ren's POV

I should have choked him when I had the chance. I literally wanted to strangle him, he made me so mad.

I let out another frustrated groan and tried to rein in my anger. Normally I could handle annoying people, but Isaac the Terrible knew just how to aggravate me. I clenched my fists and let out a very deep breath.

I needed to stop playing into his little game. Right now he was winning, which was a little disconcerting considering I didn't even want to play.

I took one last calming breath and decide I should probably show my face somewhere before they sent out a search party. I stepped out of my hide out and made my way back to my room. Sometimes, it really sucked to live in a castle. There were always people rushing about with an agenda to complete. Granted, that was usually me along side them, but on days like this, the castle just felt empty. I liked having some time to relax, but once I was rested I just felt, well, restless.

I walked into my bedroom and saw the maids straightening up. They immediately curtsied when they heard my footsteps, then kept working. These particular maids were specifically mine. I had ten altogether that alternated shifts I guess. They ranged in age from sixteen to forty-five and boy, did they show it.

The oldest, Alta, has been with me since I was born. Until most recently, you could usually find her bustling around me, trying to either fix my hair or checking my outfit and, of course, scolding me. Other than Mrs. Folks, she was the closest person to a motherly figure I had.

Next came her second in command, Selene. Even though Selene had been my personal maid for almost as long as Alta, I barely knew anything about her. She just never talked (and believe me, I tried). She was a thorough worker and the best make-up artist I had, but other than that, I really didn't know anything about her.

The rest of my maids had signed onto the job sometime within my late childhood years. Most of the maids I had when I was younger had either retired or moved on to work on a different part of the castle (I was an unruly child).

I was surprised a couple of weeks ago to find a sixteen year old cleaning my room. Apparently, she had just signed onto the job and passed her grueling test with Alta. Most of my maids were in their twenties for some reason. Alta was very strict on who she let clean my room and take care of me. Normally, the younger maids were put cleaning the bathrooms or something along those lines until they could work their way up.

I walked over to the young girl and said, "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"

She blinked up at me, a bit confused and scared, and opened her mouth only to close it again.

"I won't bite," I laughed.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and stuttered, "Corinne."

She quickly ducked her head and curtsied again.

Feeling very uncomfortable, I went and sat at my vanity chair. Alta came into the room with a scowl on her face (like normal) and hurried over to me when she saw me sitting in the corner.

"Miss Ren, where have you been? Lady Emma has been in and out asking me where you were."

I smiled, knowing she wasn't mad that I disappeared, but that she had to talk to Lady Emma. I was starting to wonder if anyone could stand that woman.

"I'm back. Don't worry. I just needed to get away from her prying eyes."

I stood up from the chair and walked over to my newly made bed. I plopped down in the middle, relishing in the fluffiness of the mattress and my pillows.

The groan came from my left and I smiled, already knowing who it was. It was practically a routine at this point. Karisa made my bed to perfection, I jumped on the thing and messed it up. I honestly wasn't sure why she still tried, knowing that I was going to mess it up.

"Miss Ren," Alta scolded, "You know you're suppose to be at your lessons so what are you doing here?"

I put an arm over my eyes and made a very unlady-like sound.

"I don't feel like going today," I grumbled.

"You never feel like going. What are you going to do when you're queen and you don't feel like meeting with a diplomat halfway across the world?"

She always pulled the 'when you're queen' card.

"I'll just make my husband do it," I said.

I moved my arm a little to see Alta's reaction and laughed when I saw she was giving me a dull look.

"At this rate, I'm not sure you'll have one," she sassed.

"Ouch." I pretended to be hurt, but none the less, sat up in my bed.

Alta put one hand on her hip and pointed with the other hand to my door.

Frowning, I pushed myself out of bed and did a mock salute at Alta.

"Always a pleasure running into you, Alta."

****

Lessons were especially boring today. With the insistence that I need to be "queen material" by the end of the year, my teacher has been working me particularly hard. Between having to learn every law like the back of my hand and being well versed in Kaoawian, I almost tempted to talk to Isaac again.

Almost.

I walked out of the dreaded room lessons took place in and ran into none other than the King.

"Ren, just the daughter I was looking for," he said, taking hold of my shoulders.

"Daddy? Is there something you need my help with?" I asked, confused.

"No. No. Nothing like that. I just wanted to inform you that the princes will not be coming until after the new year."

I instantly tensed up at the mention of the princes, but tried to keep my face neutral. However, since Dad was holding my shoulders, he felt the sudden tension and frowned.

"We all agreed it best to give them time to spend the holidays with their families and just have them come when the year starts," he continued.

"Okay," I said, trying to keep eye contact with him.

"This is going to work out, Princess. You'll see," he paused, giving me a once over, then said, "Let's eat dinner together. Just you and me."

I smiled, happy for the alone time and, if I'm being honest, the attention. We almost always had dinner together, but we usually had guests join us, which meant I always had to look my best and be paying attention. To everything.

"Thanks Daddy," I hugged him and took in his scent. It was a very calming smell, a mix of nature and something like Vanilla.

He kissed my hair and addressed me again.

"I have a meeting to attend right now, but I'll meet you in the dining hall at," he glanced at his watch, "nineteen hundred hours."

I nodded in response and watched as the King walked away. Hopefully he would be able to keep these plans.

****

A half hour late.

A HALF HOUR LATE!!

Now thirty minutes might not seem like very long to wait, but knowing my dad if he was thirty minutes late, he was another hour late.

I was angry not necessarily because he was so late, but because he said this time would be different. He said this time he wouldn't get held up by his meeting and that we have have dinner together like we never get to do.

I stormed out of the dining hall in a thunderous rage and made my way to the one place that offered me peace and relief when I needed it.

My art studio.

****

xx