Agh, stupid, stupid, stupid NAT! What were you thinking? Zack will definitely kill me!
Princess Natalia pressed both hands against her burning face, scolding herself internally as frustration carved through her chest. Her reflection stared back from the ornate mirror with flushed cheeks. Anger mixed with embarrassment painted her features in shades of crimson she couldn't hide.
"Umm, Princess, are you okay?" Maid Emmy's voice floated softly from behind her. Her hands worked through Natalia's medium long hair with gentle strokes, the comb gliding smoothly. They were alone in the preparation chamber, surrounded by the quiet before the storm of political maneuvering that awaited.
"Ah, yes, I'm fine," Natalia exhaled deeply but her reflection told a different story entirely. "Is there any news about them? Where is Zack? What about the others?" Each question sharpened her voice further. Annoyance crept up her throat. "And where is that brat!!!! Where my stupid little sister RAN OFF TOOO!!!?"
Natalia grumbled while staring at her reddened face. Her fingers fidgeted with the ornaments scattered across the table, unable to settle.
"No, I didn't hear anything," Emmy replied in her usual emotionless voice. "And about Little Princess... Alfie said she's not feeling well, so she stayed back."
"What? Not feeling well? She was perfectly okay when we came to 1st rock!!" Natalia's frustration bubbled over. She sighed again, heavier this time. "Oliver must know something. He didn't tell you anything?"
She reached for her ornaments with sharp movements. Each gesture spoke of irritation she couldn't quite contain.
"Ah! No, I didn't get a chance to talk to him much," Maid Emmy spoke with defeat weighing down her words.
"Hmm, what happened? Did you guys fight or what?" Natalia glanced at Emmy through the mirror's reflection. "Did Oliver flirt with another woman again? Even though he's my friend, that habit of his is quite annoying." She paused, then added with casual cruelty, "Well, anyways, I don't think you guys are really suitable for each other."
The words dropped between them like stones thrown into still water.
Maid Emmy's hand stopped moving. Her palm clenched tight around the comb handle until her knuckles went white. "Why... why do you say something like that?" Her voice carried anger that trembled beneath the surface.
"What? Am I wrong?" Natalia continued, completely missing the shift in Emmy's demeanor. "Today, coming here and talking and seeing these people, I realized something... I was way too comfortable with others." Her voice hardened with each word, growing more defensive. "Here, they're eyeing me like hungry beasts. One mistake and they'll instantly be ready to throw me out from this race to the throne. Which I worked hard to reach here, and now that I'm here, I feel like I was doing nothing all my life."
She gripped the table's edge. Her knuckles matched Emmy's in whiteness. "And now no one is present to support me. I know they must be busy finding out stuff, but at least some of them could have come." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying vulnerability she tried to hide. "If only Zack could come, I would be happy, BUT NO!!! HE WAS BUSY ENJOYING WITH OTHER WOMEN IN A FUCKING CAVE OR WHATEVER!!!! TSK!"
As her words kept getting out, her anger builts up into something she couldn't control. "The more I think about those filthy women, the more annoyed I become."
Princess Natalia twisted in her seat. She glanced back at Emmy with fire burning in her eyes. "I also realized that choosing a partner has to be in balance.... Imagine you getting married to Oliver…..who will probably be successful in future. He's already adept in the Circle of Crowns. No one really hates him, and he's women's favorite. The only problem is his money, which is less compared to others, and soon that will also be achieved."
She leaned forward. Her tone turned harsh, each word cutting like a blade. "But you...a woman who served Crowns your whole life…..can you really stand with him side by side and look eye to eye with other Crowns? Can you do it, Emmy? Stand in front of me and talk to me like an equal? Stand in front of Queen Mother and speak with confidence, telling her that you are nearly as equal as her?"
The room fell into silence. The weight of those words pressed down on both of them.
Maid Emmy's body shook. The trembling started in her hands and spread through her entire frame. Tears filled her eyes as she slowly shook her head, unable to form words through the tightness in her throat.
Princess Natalia's expression shifted slightly. She calmed herself down and reached out to hold Emmy's trembling hand. "Please don't hate me for saying this, but Oliver my friend, he is handsome, smart, ambitious…..And you have little ones with you. You have your own life to live. You won't be able to be with him. You can't support him."
"AGH!" Maid Emmy's tears spilled down her cheeks in hot streams. She looked into Natalia's eyes with anger that burned everything else away. Her voice rose, sharp as a broken glass. "IS THAT WHY YOU'RE CHEATING ON ZACK? DO YOU FEEL HE CAN ONLY BE JUST LIKE BIG GUY OUT THERE AT THE DOOR!!! SOMEONE WHO CAN ONLY PROTECT YOU FROM YOUR ENEMIES? AND ONLY PEOPLE LIKE LITTLE MAN CAN BE WORTHY OF YOU, A PRINCESS OF THE CITY OF EIRS?"
Her voice grew louder with each word. More defiant. Her eyes blazed with rage she'd been holding back for too long. Natalia hearing this also got angry, her mind was a mess of emotions and her coming in terms with many things today made her quite irritated so her words accompanied that feeling.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M CHEATING?!" Natalia shot up from her seat. Her own anger exploded outward. "I DIDN'T CHEAT! I HAVEN'T ACCEPTED LITTLE MAN! JUST BECAUSE I SPEND SOME TIME WITH OTHER MEN, IT COUNTS AS CHEATINGGG????!"
She stepped closer until they were nearly nose to nose. Her voice rose to a roar that filled the chamber. "THEN WHAT ABOUT THAT BROTHER OF YOURS???! WHO TOUCHED SOME OTHER WOMAN'S NAKED ASS, ENJOYING HIS ALONE TIME WITH THEM?! AND THEY EVEN ANNOUNCED ZACK TO BE THEIRS AT THAT TIME IN FRONT OF MY FUCKING FACE! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING TO HIM BACK THEN?!"
Natalia's chest heaved with fury. Her words poured out like water breaking through a dam. "AND IS IT FALSE?! DID ZACK STUDY LIKE I DID?! DID HE LEARN ALL THE SKILLS LIKE I DID?! CAN HE WALK HERE CONFIDENTLY AND PLEASE THESE GREEDY PEOPLE?! HOW CAN HE STAND BESIDE ME?!"
Her voice cracked with the weight of everything she'd been carrying. Frustration, confusion, fear, all of it spilled out at once in a torrent she couldn't stop.
Emmy clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug crescents into her palms. She shouted back with her voice trembling from rage. "I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE SASHA IS THERE FOR HIM! AND ZACK IS SMART ENOUGH TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM GETTING DRUNK IN HIS LUST OR TRULY DOING SOMETHING TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS!"
Tears streamed down her face in an endless flow. Her voice broke with each word. "I KNOW MY BROTHER! AGHH SNIFFF … HE'S NOT THAT KIND OF MAN! IT'S YOU WHO THINKS YOU'RE HIGHER THAN HIM IN TERMS OF LOVING HIM!!!!.... YOU THINK ZACK'S LOVE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR YOUR DEDICATION OVER THE YEARS! WHETHER HE CAN DO THINGS BY STAYING BESIDE YOU OR NOT IS NOT THE POINT OF LOVE! STOP COMPARING HIM LIKE SOME USEFUL TOOL!"
Maid Emmy breathed hard. She ground her teeth together with such force her jaw ached. Her entire body shook with the intensity of her emotions.
"I KNOW HOW MUCH ZACK LOVES ME OVER THE YEARS! AGHH!!" Natalia fired back…
"YES, BUT CAN YOU REALLY FEEL IT?!" Emmy's eyes blazed as she smirked bitterly through her tears. "YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT, SO YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT! AM I RIGHT?!"
"Grr!" Natalia was fuming. Her face had turned completely red from rage. "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?! DO YOU THINK MY EARS ARE CLOSED OR WHAT?! PFFT! NOT EVEN KNOWING OLIVER'S NAME UNTIL RECENTLY! HAHAHA!"
Her laughter came out cruel in ears of Emmy. "OLIVER MUST BE SO DISAPPOINTED THAT THE WOMAN HE FELL HEAD OVER HEELS FOR DIDN'T BAT AN EYE AT HIM FOR ALL THESE YEARS! WELL, WHATEVER HAPPENED WAS GOOD! A WOMAN WHO CAN'T GET OUT OF HER OWN MIND WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH HIM!!!!"
Natalia stepped even closer, invading Emmy's space. Her smirk turned vicious. "YOU MUST HAVE CURSED HIM NON-STOP IN YOUR BRAIN, RIGHT?! HAHA! OLIVER IS STUPID TO THINK YOU EVEN HAD THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN HIM! YOU WHO DOESN'T EVEN KNOW BASIC THINGS ABOUT HIM! YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO STAND BESIDE HIM!"
Emmy's whole body shook violently. Her anger reached a peak she'd never experienced before. Her voice rose to a scream. "WHAT'S WITH THIS 'STAND BESIDE ME, STAND BESIDE ME' YOU KEEP GOING ON ABOUT?!!!!! AREN'T YOU ALL OVER THE MOON BECAUSE YOU BECAME A PRINCESS?!"
Her words came out razor-sharp. "TRUTHFULLY, I DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING! YOU'RE CLEARLY FAVORING THE UPPER ECHELONS AND GIVING FALSE HOPE TO NORMAL PEOPLE! SOONER OR LATER, PEOPLE WILL START HATING YOU!"
She took a shuddering breath. Her voice broke with the pain of what she had to say. "YOUR FRIEND IS GREAT? FINE! HE'S WORTHY OF STANDING BESIDE YOU?! THEN GO ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR HUSBAND! BUT DON'T THINK FOR A SINGLE MINUTE….. THAT I WILL GIVE MY BROTHER TO YOU!"
....TSKKK!!!!
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BEING A PRINCESS!!! YOU WHO NEVER DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT CLEANING AND COOKING?!" Natalia roared back. Her eyes had gone wild with fury. "AND WHO ARE YOU TO ALLOW HIM TO GIVE TO ME OR NOT?! I'M DOING JUST FINE! I'M PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, NOT PLAYING A HERO FOR EVERYONE!"
Her voice grew colder and colder…... "EVERYONE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS CITY, AND I PLAN TO SERVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART! THAT'S MY AMBITION! THAT'S MY GOAL! AND TO ACHIEVE THAT, EVEN IF I HAVE TO ACCEPT LITTLE MAN, I WILL ACCEPT HIM! AND ZACK ALREADY SAID I CAN DO THAT!"
She stepped forward until their faces were mere inches apart. Her breath came in angry gasps. "I DID SAY THAT I WILL ONLY LOVE HIM, BUT SITUATIONS AND FEELINGS CHANGE! I'M SURE HE WILL UNDERSTAND! I'M NOT LIKE HIM….. TSK!!.....PLAYING AROUND WITH SOME FILTHY WOMEN! I WANT MY LIFE TO BE BALANCED! NOT LIKE YOU, WHO CAN'T EVEN LOOK STRAIGHT AT OTHER PEOPLE AND JUST TALKS IN HER MIND, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON AROUND YOU!"
Natalia's eyes burned with fury as she got right up in Emmy's face. Their anger filled the room until there was no space left for anything else.
Emmy, trembling with rage, threw the comb away. It clattered across the floor. Then both gave themselves some space and then both suddenly raised their hands, ready to strike…
THUMP!
"STOP, BIG SISTERS!"
Big Guy burst through the door. His deep voice boomed through the room, shaking the very walls. The two women froze mid-motion, both breathing hard, their hands still raised in the air. Their eyes remained locked in mutual fury.
Hearing Big Guy's shout, they both stopped. They glared at each other with burning anger that refused to die down.
"Give up, Emmy," Natalia said coldly. Her voice cut through the tension. "Oliver is just playing around with you, and you know that. He's had many women in his life, you're just one of them. He'll forget about you tomorrow. Get a life for yourself."
She spoke the last sentence with finality. She turned around sharply, refusing to look at Emmy anymore.
"AGH!" Emmy's eyes filled with fresh tears. She turned away and started to run…
"ACK!" But Big Guy stepped in front of her, gently stopping her escape.
"Big Sister!" He spoke softly despite his massive frame. His large hands gently held her arms.
"Big Guy..." Emmy's voice broke into pieces. She pressed her head against his broad chest and started crying. "SOBB... SOBB... ACCKK..."
Big Guy just let her cry. His massive hand patted her back with gentleness, trying to calm her down with quiet comfort that asked for nothing in return.
Natalia glanced back at them. Seeing this scene, she ground her teeth together. She clenched her arms tightly against her body. Her own eyes began to sting with unshed tears.
Emmy cried softly for a while. Her body shook with each sob that tore through her. Finally, with a voice made ragged from crying, she pulled back slightly. "I know... I'll stay with her. Don't worry."
She cleaned her tear-stained face with her hands. She smiled sadly despite the pain. She patted Big Guy's stomach affectionately. Then she turned around, picking up the comb from where she'd thrown it moments before.
"Sit," she spoke softly. Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
Natalia didn't say anything. She just sat down. Her jaw remained tight. Her eyes fixed ahead on nothing in particular.
Both remained silent as Emmy resumed her duty. The comb moved through Natalia's hair with mechanical precision. The tension in the room pressed down on them, suffocating in its intensity. Neither spoke a word.
Big Guy quietly went outside. He closed the door behind him with a soft click that seemed too loud in the aftermath.
.
.
"Even her servant maid is quite outrageous, don't you think? Princess Natalia needs to surround herself with better people."
Little Man stood casually against the wall beside the door. His arms were crossed over his chest. A knowing smirk played across his face.
"Hmm, you... I don't like you," Big Guy spoke in a blunt flat tone. He didn't even bother looking at Little Man.
"Why? Because I care for Natalia more than that Zack?" Little Man's smirk widened. His tone dripped with amusement.
Big Guy shook his head slowly. "No. Because you care too much about Big Sister Natalia."
He stopped speaking. He didn't bother with Little Man anymore, standing as an immovable wall on one side of the door.
"Umm, I think that's good," Little Man said with a chuckle. He closed his eyes and settled into position on the other side.
.
.
After some time passed, Emmy came outside. She nodded at Big Guy without saying a word. She walked away with her shoulders hunched forward. Her steps carried the weight of everything that had happened.
Little Man opened his eyes. He went inside. He found Princess Natalia standing near a window, staring down at the crowd of people packed tightly below in the closed area. Her reflection in the glass looked tired. Her eyes had gone distant.
"You'll scare people away if you make that face," he said with a gentle smile as he approached her.
"Sorry, I didn't realize," Natalia sighed heavily. She turned to him with a sad smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's just... a hectic day, that's all."
"Hmmm, don't think too much about it," Little Man said softly as he came closer. He reached out to hold her hands. "Just focus on what's coming. You can't get distracted."
"Thank you for being with me always," Natalia smiled warmly. She allowed him to hold her hands without resistance. Genuine gratitude shone in her eyes for the first time that day.
"Sure, why not? I'm happy to be with you... ALWAYS!" Little Man smirked playfully. His voice carried a hint of something deeper than friendship.
"Hey, don't misinterpret!" Natalia pouted, pulling her hands back slightly without fully releasing his hold.
"Hahaha! This look is fine, people won't even complain if you make this face," Little Man teased. He poked her pouted cheeks affectionately.
"Agh! You suddenly changed, my friend," Natalia said with embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She walked ahead to escape his teasing.
"I was always this way. You're only seeing me now," Little Man said as he guided her by stepping ahead. He turned back to face her. His expression grew serious. "Focus on your goals. You're a princess! You're no longer a little kid. Be confident. Be clear in your words. Be strong. Don't mess your mind with all the noise. Your eyes should be on your goal."
Princess Natalia suddenly felt a wave of calm wash over her troubled mind. She breathed out a deep breath. She felt her focus sharpen as she walked behind Little Man's tall figure. His confidence seemed to transfer to her with each step.
.
.
As they arrived at the center of the meeting hall, Natalia spoke pleasantries in a cheerful manner. Her voice was noticeably tougher than before. More confident. It was as if her mind had finally clicked back into place after being scattered.
The back-and-forth questions and answers began. This time again, Princess Natalia stood tall with her shoulders back. Her gaze remained steady on each person who addressed her. Her voice carried unwavering strength.
She was ready for another round.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
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Ow. Alright, that one hurt. I understand. I will behave.
Anyway… have a great day, everyone.... P..
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GAAHHH!!!
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