Conversations with the Enemy

Prince Ren entered the dining hall with a sigh. It had been a long unfruitful morning trying to convince the stubborn princess of Kouri to set aside time to discuss with him their Society of Royals homework. All the rest of the class had started gathering information from their partners except probably for them and for Lyserg and Jeanne. The latter had rushed home by the request of her ailing father three days ago but her green-haired cousin surely could finish the report even without her help. After all, their dukedoms share the same history.

When he finally reached their favorite dining table, he found Chocolove all by himself.

"So Lyserg has finally given up as your friend," he addressed the solitary young man with a smirk on his face. He pulled out a chair and sat across him. He instantly grabbed his fork and knife after hearing his stomach growling for food. Screaming and chasing after the stubborn Kouri princess had made him famished.

The heir to the dukedom of Comedia forcefully shook his head in response to Prince Ren's comment but continued to raid his dinner platter noisily. He had a few drips of red wine on his white school uniform and streaks of gravy all over his thick lips. His carefree way of dining earned him disapproving stares from the rest of the royal bloods.

Prince Ren grew red in embarrassment. "Would you care to show some table manners?" The Kaminari royalty snapped at Chocolove when he tried to speak with his mouth full. "No wonder Lyserg left you alone here."

The prince scanned the dining hall with his eyes for his missing friend. "Where did he go anyway?"

Chocolove swallowed down a big chunk of roasted turkey then answered his friend in an oratorical tone, "Your Highness, while you are busy imploring the elusive Princess of Kouri… Marco came by to fetch our dear friend. It appears that the Duke of Mont St. Michel is dying and is requesting to have a final glimpse of his family and close relatives. This means that for the next three to five days, it's just the two of us."

Prince Ren's face turned sour. He didn't like the sound of that.

"We can make up for the lost time that you were away in Kaminari." Chocolove's eyes sparkled in excitement.

"Go bother someone else!"

"But I've already prepared our 'best-of-friends' list of activities…" his friend pouted.

"I don't have time for your nonsense, you moron!"

"I am always sensible Renny. I just don't look like it."

The prince wanted to tear his hair in frustration, "Why are you so difficult?"

He was about to make Chocolove swallow a whole dessert plate to shut him up when someone cleared her throat from behind. He turned around only to find the princess of Kouri with an eyebrow raised.

"I'd like to speak to the prince of Kaminari - alone."

The Tao heir folded his arms across his chest and responded without looking at her, "If the princess of Kouri wishes to speak to me, she should sit down first and wait for me to finish eating."

"My time is more precious than the Prince of Kaminari's lunch. If he doesn't want to converse in 10 seconds, I will retire to my room," Princess Pirika started her count down.

Ren breathed slowly trying to control his anger and frustration. "Chocolove, I see you're finish dining here. Why don't you go and rest already?"

"But Renny I'm not done with this apple yet."

The prince shot him a murderous look.

"Alright, alright. I'll eat this in my room," Chocolove stood up and left the table immediately. Princess Pirika sat on the chair that he vacated.

"So what had finally made the princess of Kouri talk to me?" Ren sipped from his goblet of red wine.

"Look, all I want is for the homework to be done already that's why I have come to make an arrangement with you. Since we can't stand each other's presence -"

"Oh, I think you're referring to your predicament only. I am very much fine with you around not that your presence matters to me."

"Do you want this done or what?" Pirika gritted her teeth. She was becoming red with fury.

Ren closed his eyes and swallowed his pride. He didn't want to waste this opportunity anymore. "Sorry, go on."

"We can meet every day until the end of the week for about 30 minutes at most to discuss the homework."

"Where and what time?"

"At the balcony near the girls' dormitory. 5PM sharp. Don't be late. I won't be wasting my time waiting for you." Pirika stood up and marched away from the table.

"Oh you don't really need to waste your time on me. I have a fiancée you know."

The princess rolled her eyes. "Don't be obnoxious. It's not that I like you."

At the balcony near the girl's dorm in the Royal Patch Academy...

Prince Ren cursed under his breath. It was 20 minutes passed their agreed meeting time but the princess of Kouri still hadn't shown up. Now they only had a few minutes left to do their homework. He was about to stand up from his seat when he heard hurried footsteps rushing towards the balcony where he was staying.

"I'm really sorry. My father came to the academy so I had to meet him," the princess bowed down apologetically.

"Still being regularly visited by your father? When would you learn to grow up?" Ren snorted.

Pirika clenched her fists but kept them by her side. She was at fault this time so she had no right to be angry. "Well, he had some business near the academy that's why he's a regular visitor. Besides, a close friend is currently in Mont St. Michel and may drop by the academy to see me." Why am I explaining myself to him? Pirika settled herself on the empty seat across the prince.

Mont St. Michel? That's where Jeanne lives. They're friends with this kind of people? How come she didn't tell me? Ren wondered to himself.

"Let's get started shall we?" the princess of Kouri took out a notebook and a fountain pen. "We only have 10 minutes left…"

Prince Ren folded his arms, "I don't feel like doing homework anymore."

"What?! I ran all the way from the receiving area for nothing?"

"Now whose fault was it that half of our allotted time was wasted?"

"Argh, you are hopeless!" Pirika stood up and gathered her things.

"Wait," Ren grabbed her hand before she could go. "I didn't say I didn't want to talk with you."

The princess slightly blushed.

"Okay, but please let go of my hand."

"Oh, right."

The princess slowly sat down, "So what do you want to talk about?" Her heart was thumping faster.

"Some random things…" the Kaminari heir seemed bored. "For each question I ask, you can ask me one in return. We can take turns. Fair enough?"

Pirika nodded. "Throw me one now."

"Is your close friend from Mont St. Michel?"

"No. My turn..." the Kouri princess quickly opened her notebook to a blank page. "How would you describe Kaminari's trading policy?"

"Open to trade with anyone anywhere except your side of the land."

The princess scoffed at his response as she wrote the words down.

"So where is your friend from?" the Tao royal blood asked with great curiosity.

"She's from Kasai."

The prince gave her a startled look.

"Why would she be in Mont St. Michel?"

"Hey, isn't it my turn to ask already?" Pirika folded her arms across her chest. She had never seen the prince looked at her with keen interest so she finally gave in. "Oh alright... She just accompanied her uncle, the king of Kasai there."

This time the prince's furrowed his forehead.

"Why would the king of Kasai be in Mont St. Michel?"

"Well the duke is dying. They came to see him before he passes away."