Dating the Enemy

Princess Pirika skipped happily out of the classroom with her new group of friends. She never thought she would be enjoying the Royal Patch Academy this much. Seven years ago, the only companion she had was her goofy older brother who had to quit school. If not for him, she wouldn't have come here to take his place.

Her other royal blood classmates were nice but they already formed their own cliques with allies from neighboring kingdoms and dukedoms. She had envied them all these years and secretly wished that Kouri was in good terms with Kaminari so that she can be friends with someone who is closer to her home.

However, the peace treaty between the four kingdoms of their land always acted as an invisible wall between her and Prince Ren. Even if there were no peace treaty she won't probably be friends with the egotistic tyrant as what she had often called him in the past. Well, that was what she thought before the Tao heir came back from his trip.

The blue-haired princess took a sideway glance at her unexpected friend walking beside her. Prince Ren changed since he returned from Kaminari. They said that his fiancée had a mishap and died and he couldn't accept it. It had affected him so much as to suddenly change his demeanor particularly toward her. Oftentimes, they would talk about her.

She had the eyes of a falcon ready to claw its escaping prey from the ground. Her tongue had the sharpness of a steel blade that would pierce even the fiercest men in her kingdom.

These may not be the proper words to describe his fiancée but every time he talked about her, there was both love and sadness in his eyes.

She was smart, strong, proud and beautiful yet lonely deep inside.

Just like you, Ren. She thought to herself. She wanted so much to bring back the sparkle of joy in his eyes.

"Are you once again hypnotized by my irresistible charms?" The Tao heir smirked at her when he caught her ogling at him.

She blushed furiously. Maybe some things would never change. "You're so full of yourself, Ren. Don't assume that every girl you meet is in love with you. I am definitely NOT!"

Now that was a lie. Her heart was pounding so loud that she feared the Kaminari prince might finally notice.

"That's very ungentlemanly of you, Ren... for you to think Princess Pirika is actually interested in you," there was spite in Lyserg's voice.

The prince's green-haired friend who was emanating a gloomy aura along with his cousin, Duchess Jeanne of Mont St. Michel strode with them at a close distance. The neglected Chocolove followed the four from behind.

"Lady Jeanne, aren't you excited about the upcoming Friendship ball? I heard that the menu is ten times more delicious than what the Academy is serving us everyday," Chocolove tried to ease the tension as always.

The silver-haired beauty nodded. "I'm having qualms about the security though… A lot of disputing kingdoms will be present in the event."

"Oh don't worry Jeanne. Father would deploy special units around the venue," Lyserg assured his cousin. Lyserg's father, Duke Liam Diethel continued to lead the Royal Police amidst his appointment as duke of Morphia. The Royal Police was tapped by the Royal Patch Academy to enforce security measures during the Friendship Ball.

"I bet Duke Liam had them all in place by now. By the way, are you bringing your fiancé to the ball, Lady Jeanne?" inquired Chocolove.

"That's ex-fiancé for you," Lyserg gruffly replied. He had not yet forgiven that conceited Asakura royal blood for calling him girly.

Chocolove wore a dreamy expression. "So that means I can ask Lady Jeanne to be my date…"

"Sorry but that won't be possible. I'll be Lady Jeanne's chaperone," Lyserg put on a poker face. His father instructed him to accompany the Duchess during the ball. Not that he didn't want to be seen with the most gorgeous girl in the academy who happened to be a relative, he just had another one in mind to be his date. His cousin did not look so excited either.

"Aww… too bad. Maybe Princess Pirika would…" Chocolove began.

"Pirika's coming to the ball with me," Prince Ren cut him before he could finish.

"I am?" the Kouri princess looked surprised.

The Tao heir smiled sweetly at her.

Perhaps she couldn't resist his charms after all. Her father will be out of town during the night of the ball so he won't be coming over wearing an obvious disguise to check on her behind the shadows --- a habit she wanted him so much to break.

She hadn't heard any news from her father that her older brother would also be coming. Her big brother had a lot of responsibilities as king and couldn't spare any time to attend such social gatherings. Moreover, he would not have the courage to go back to the academy after what happened seven years ago. His presence would be a problem.

"Yes, I am!" the princess could not contain her delight.