CHAPTER 7: ANALIA

I need to get out of here. I need a plan, I need a plan, I need a plan...

I stare at the ceiling, repeating the words over and over again. I mean, my life would be way better here. I'd be treated like a princess. My mom probably won't even notice me gone. And my dad... He doesn't even care about my existence.

But, does that mean I would let myself get married to some weird prince?

Hell no.

We are having a break at high school, mom and dad are never home and Mari is out on vacation.

The best I can do now is follow the prince's orders, blend in and get to know more about this place and figure out a safe plan to leave this place.

I sigh and close my eyes. Life was already so frustrating, now this? Maybe sleep will be helpful.

I am woken up by Laura for dinner. She tells me Camara needs to talk to me after dinner. I am put into a cream-coloured gown, the sleeves of the gown flowing down my shoulders. Laura starts arguing with me again because of the makeup issue.

Looks like she learned some good retorts. I finally give in and she puts on makeup, but very little. I wasn't in the mood to argue anyway.

I look at myself in the mirror once they're done. Hmm, I don't look that bad. The make-up is light and barely shows, but makes me look good and outlines my features perfectly. It makes sense why girls love to put on make-up.

Soon, Samantha and I are walking down the halls of the palace. Why do you have to wear such a heavy dress just for dinner?

In no time, we are standing in front of a room.

What? This palace has probably millions of rooms.

The guards bow, do their thing by opening the door, same as always and inside I see there is a long table with delicious foods on it.

I'm going to call this the "Eating-area". Easy to remember.

The prince is sitting on the far end, like always. He stands up and starts to walk towards me. He takes my hand, kisses the knuckles (lucky me, I was wearing gloves), and takes me to a chair. He pulls it for me and I sit down.

This is actually not that bad.

Some servants come and start serving us food. There are many types of food. A sizzling hot chicken soup, different types of drinks to choose from, rice with yellow-looking curry, a salad with many vegetables, and though I hate vegetables, it looks yummy.

The prince doesn't say much. In fact, he doesn't say anything at all. So I start eating as soon as he does.

After filling my tummy with all that food, guess what? There is dessert!

And don't even get me started on the desserts. I have a sweet tooth. Chocolate brownies, apple pies, puddings, and everything I could never have imagined eating in the mortal world. I eat a lot, until I feel my tummy swelled from all the food.

But who knew I was about to get some news after being fed that much good food. And the news, well, it was the total opposite of the good food.

After I eat, the plates just vanish into thin air. Woah! That was so cool. I keep on staring at the air, wondering where all that food went when someone clears their throat bringing me back to the real world.

"Hmm?" I say. Looks like Camara came into the room when I was in my own world. The prince is just staring at me, amused.

"What? Deal with it. It's not like you get to see magic every day," I say, but only in my head so no one else can hear me.

"Well, Princess Liferia. Did you enjoy the food?" he asks me.

"Uh, Yes? And please don't call me Princess Liferia. I have a name, and that is Analia thank you."

"Ok, Analia. I am glad you enjoyed it. Now please listen," Yeah right. Like I don't listen.

Camara, obviously still not being friendly with me, starts to speak, after clearing her throat, again.

"Tomorrow," she says, her back straight, her posture like a queen's, "the king of the good souls, aka your father, would like to meet you. He says he wants to talk to his daughter about her running away and if she is happy marrying Prince Drake. "

"And you will say exactly what we tell you to say. Make one move against us, and you will be dead," the prince interrupts, talking a little too harshly. But still, I nod.

Camara, obviously a bit irritated by Prince Drake interrupting her, frowns then starts to speak again.

"You will..."

***

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Looking at the girl who was a nobody at one time, a nerd with a messed up family, now pretending to be a princess.

The prince is either very short-tempered, or I always touch his sore spot. After Camara explained everything to me, of what I have to say, and what I must not say, I asked Prince Drake a question that I regret asking.

"What about your parents? The king and queen? Where are they?" I asked.

He looked like he was having a good time, but as soon as I said that, he got up from his seat and grabbed my face in his hands with a tight grip.

"Remember your place mortal! You are nothing and you have no right to interfere in our lives. You do as we say and stay in your place," he said in a low and menacing tone that spat venom with every word he said.

I whimpered at his strong grip and fear flooded through me. My eyes watered, but I didn't let them show.

I shiver from that scene and take a deep breath. I'll be fine...

He let go of my face and then as if he forgot everything that happened, he said, "Get yourself ready for tomorrow and don't mess it up. Take some rest. Make yourself comfortable here. Get used to it," And with that, he left the room.

I wince at the memory and decide to actually take his advice and rest. My body and brain can only handle so much.

Tomorrow is a big day because I have to pretend like someone I am not in front of a king, a father, and his kingdom. I slide my eyes shut with the thoughts racing through my mind and get into a dreamless sleep.