Chapter 21

"DAMN IT!!! WHY CAN'T YOU FOOLS DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!! MY PLANS ARE RUINED BECAUSE OF YOU PATHETIC FOOLS!!!"

A kneeling figure was kneeling before a figure sitting on a throne as the messenger delivered the bad news that the plan ended in failure.

The sitting figure was enraged that his plans were ruined. He would first wipe out small settlements of humans that were living on the outskirts before working his way up to the top. Slow and steady was his motto and he didn't want to launch a full scale attack before he was sure that the humans lacked supplies and food-no unexpected variables or elements that could ruin his plans to take over the human kingdom. Burn down the villages, kill off the people who made the weapons of war, wipe out the people who grew and provided the food. It was the same story who matter who it was-a army couldn't fight on an empty stomach or without any weapons or leadership. His spies had informed him of inner turmoil among the royal humans who were too caught up in their own little fights and the lack of attention and the indifference that the more powerful humans showed-far more concerned with their own petty squabbles and fights than to show much interest beyond their own little world.

The humans had no leader or powerful ruler to lead them or unite them!! Perfect. 

It was simple. Wait until the humans were off guard and defenseless, go and wipe out the village, kill off everyone there and destroy any food or supplies they found. 

But it seems like the plan went into ruin when that damn human king would not die. The assassination attempt failed on him as one of the female humans was a healer and healed him.

Never mind, he thought, he would just have to speed things up a little bit. He'll just plan ahead better next time now that he knows there are some annoying variables to worry about.

Soon, fear and terror would spread across the human world and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

….

Three months later, Arya was living the life as a princess. Three months of living as a princess was a bit overwhelming at first but she had adjusted and was now comfortable with her new life.

Arya got up in her little room in the mansion to find out that she was not in fact inside her own room in the concubine mansion at all.

She was in a lovely room that reminded her too much of the room she first woke up in when she first arrived in the royal capital after her failed execution.

But instead of an all gold and white aesthetic, it was a pale green and white aesthetic with floral patterns on the walls. A soft bed with a green sparkly canopy with many pillows and soft green sheets covered her and she was still wearing the white night gown she wore when she went to bed.

"Good morning, little Ar-Ar."

She whipped her head around to find it was Ezekiel.

He was dressed far more casually than during the ball in a pair of black pants with a brown belt, knee high leather boots and a white shirt that revealed way too much cleavage. His chest muscles were on full display for anyone to see and Myna-who had just walked into the room to serve her royal master-turned bright red when she saw the amount of chest that the crown prince was revealing.

"Hello, Princess. Hello to you too, your highness."

Myna bowed at both the royals.

Arya addressed the elephant in the room.

"How in the world did I get here?"

Myna was rummaging around in the walk0in closest for some clothes for Arya to wear.

"Well, The Crown Prince ordered you to be moved from the mansion to a room in the palace. Elijah carried you here and servants from the royal palace helped us to pack up your stuff and carry it all here. Do you like the room? I figured that green was your favorite color so I made sure the room suited your tastes."

Arya sighed. Myna was really lovable and likable. 

"Yes, I do. But tell me why he's here."

"I'm here because you have a busy day today as your first day as an official princess! So much to do and see so I decided to come and help you out a bit. There's a royal breakfast followed by a tour of the Academy- "

Arya collapsed back into bed and pulled the covers over her head.

"Nooo!! Don't wanna do princess stuff. I want to sword fight with Catalina and do something fun! Sounds boring. Wake me up later!"

Ezekiel laughed a little at Arya's childish response. Okay, Plan B then. The best way to appeal to someone was through their stomach after all.

"Aren't you hungry? I heard that there's going to be bacon and-"

Arya jumped out of bed and practically shoved the crown prince out of her new room.

"Get out. I'm going to get changed. Talk to me later while I eat."

….

Myna followed Arya down numerous hallways and stairs to the royal dining hall.

She settled for wearing a dark green tunic with brown pants and black flats. No jewelry or accessories as she didn't like dressing up. Her twin swords- thank goodness Elijah remembered them-hung by her side.

Ezekiel ruffled up her neatly combed hair and teased her along the way, saying that she looked like a little puppy.

Arya attacked back by mocking him for his revealing shirt.

"You know that you just went and seduced half of the maids we passed by?"

Ezekiel just laughed and patted Arya on the head.

"Sure, Sure, and you seduced half of the boys at last night's ball. By the way, everyone will be there except for father."

Arya couldn't argue with him. Her stomach was growling loudly and she was starving.

Breakfast was fast approaching and she was eager for what was in store for her.

It would be a relaxing, peaceful breakfast. She'll get her cousins to warm up to her and like her soon enough.

Wrong.

Breakfast was a COMPLETE disaster.

….

Arya raced out of the dining hall, tears in her eyes and Myna was chasing after her.

"Sweetheart. My princess!! Please, what on earth happened in there?"

Ezekiel was yelling and screaming at his half-siblings. The sound of glass smashing and plates breaking and fighting could be heard all throughout the palace.

Arya fled down the hallway. She ignored the maids and servants staring at her and she ran.

Myna continued to run after her.

15 minutes ago

Servants other than the kitchen servants were not allowed to step foot inside the dining hall so Myna waited for Arya outside the hall. A hug and kiss on the forehead from Myna made Arya feel all happy inside. Arya returned it all with a big smile.

The royal dining hall was a beautiful and elegant place with bright white walls made from pure white marble and adorned with gold. The table had intricately carved finest curved legs with continued carvings throughout. Beautifully carved metallic gold armchairs feature beautiful burgundy fabric seating complimented by a rich luxurious gold seat, A solid wood frame and lavish carvings around every curve finished off the finer details of the chairs. 

Breakfast was served on silver trays by servants who carried in hot and fresh from the royal kitchens.

There was only the sounds of eating and of forks and knives clicking and clacking. But the tense was in the air and it was not the feeling you get from a casual lunch between siblings but rather from a political battleground where you needed to be ruthless and cutthroat in order to navigate your way around it. Where words and your mind were your weapons

Breakfast was bacon, fried eggs, buttered toast, thinly sliced pieces of ham served with bowls of fruit set on ice and tall glasses or apple juice or orange juice or milk.

All the other royal children were already eating and they greeted their half-brother with respect and wariness. No love or affection between any of them at all. But towards Arya, they showed a sense of hatred and disgust. They didn't like her at all.

Arya sat down in the seat next to Ezekiel and a maid placed a plate with vegetable peels, a fish skeleton, some moldy bread and the fruit-some slices of apples-were all brown and showing signs of rotting.

Arya frowned. She didn't want to eat this. She turned to look at the maid who served her. 

"Ummm…excuse me? I think there's been a mistake. Can you please give me another plate because this is all just trash."

The maid completely ignored her and some of the royal princes and princesses started to giggle and snicker.

A beautiful girl with long black hair that flowed to her waist in loose waves with dark blue eyes wearing a elegant pastel yellow gown: Second Princess Maertisa

A girl with long blonde hair that was twisted at the nape of her neck in a bun with silvery-gray eyes wearing a beautiful blue dress: Third Princess Lysandra

A young man with long black hair tied back in a low ponytail with bright red eyes in a dark red tunic with black pants and leather boots: Second Prince Astyrian

The royal breakfast was one of the few times the royal children ever bothered to interact and be in each other's presence excluding royal events such as royal birthdays and weddings.

"Wow, she's so pathetic and weak."

"Does she even know how stupid she looks right now?"

"She's no princess."`

Ezekiel slammed his fork and knife down and everyone shut up.

His pale blue eyes looked dark and stormy and sparks of bluish-purple lightning were flickering off his hands right now.

Ezekiel whipped around to address the maid who served Arya the bad food and then ignored her. The maid flitched and realized she was in danger.

Ezekiel's voice was low and filled with anger.

"You. How dare you think you can treat a child, let alone a princess, like this?-"

"Older brother, calm down. It was me who ordered her to do that."

Princess Lysandra spoke up. She rested her hands in hands as she propped her elbows on the table.

Lysandra smiled at Arya. But the smile never reached her cold and icy eyes.

"Trash deserves to be with trash. You just got lucky, little girl. You're nothing but a princess in name. You're just some street rat who should be grateful for this amount of food. Don't be picky now and eat up, loser."

Astyrian looked amused by all this and he decided to join in.

"Chicken. Last night you ran off when the king was dying. You really have no guts, do you? So weak."

Ezekiel screamed at his half-brother. A bolt of lightning flew out of his outstretched right hand and caused a vase of flowers to be burnt to a crisp by the bolt of pure power.

Lightening surrounded the Crown Prince and the air crackled and hissed from all the electricity in the room.

Servants shook and cowered in fear but the royal princes and princess just looked amused and curious.

"Seriously, Ezekiel? You're getting mad over a couple of things we said to a street rat?"

"HOW LOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET? BULLYING SOME LITTLE GIRL?!! YOU PIECES OF SHIT!!"

The entire room shook from the force of his voice. The chandelier rocked back and forth. The table bounced up and down. Plates and dishes shook and trembled.

Arya sat through all of that with tears in her eyes. No, she was always this sensitive and emotional. They didn't like her at all. She knew it would take some time to warm up to her but she didn't expect that they would hate her right off the bat.

Well, Princess Freya, Prince Demtrius and Princess Azalea and Prince Theon didn't join in. They stayed quiet and they seemed to be pitying Arya.

Well, screw them, Arya thought. I don't need their pity.

Arya saw the plate of trash she was given and a surge of rage filled her.

She reached out a hand and the plate started to levitate and float off the table. No, Arya was making all of the dining utensils, glasses, plates, vases of roses float around in the air. Empty chairs with no occupants floated in the air as well. All the objects were surrounded by a dark green aura as Arya controlled and manipulated them.

Arya's face was cold and stoney and she directed all her anger at her half-siblings that said such mean words towards her.

A butter knife went flying at Prince Asyrian's head and he ducked, narrowly avoiding it as it flew at him at high speeds.The knife instead narrowly missed a maid servant's neck by a centimeter and embedded itself into the wall.

Forks, spoons and knives were aimed and directed at the three bullies.

They screamed and ducked under the table for cover. Butter knives and forks embedded themselves into the wood of the dining table or the wall or floor while plates and trays went flying everywhere. One male servant's cheek was grazed and scratched by a butter knife and a small cut appeared. Servants ran away towards safety, fleeing the room. Some of the more braver-or stupid ones-stayed behind.

Servants ran and ducked for cover as the air was suddenly filled with flying objects. Plates and trays smashed themselves against the walls.Vases of flowers aimed themselves at people's heads. It was pure chaos.

Arya lost control of herself. 

Arya's bare feet ached as she dragged herself along the streets, looking for some small job she could do in exchange for money. She saw how some people resorted to pickpocketing or stealing to survive-stealing from the stall owners, royal guards, or even the occasional noble-but Arya didn't have any guys in her to try nor did she stoop to such levels.

Her ragged and dirty green dress hung loose and a bit too big on her thin frame.

No one paid her any attention as she went around, begging for food or work.

She was all alone…

"ARYA!!"

Arya snapped out of her flashback.

It was Ezekiel who was shaking her by the shoulders.

Arya surveyed the mess she created and felt ashamed of herself.

Smashed up plates and vases everywhere, chairs littered all around the room, terrified and shocked servants and some of the royals were shocked as well.

Arya didn't know what else to do except to stammer out an apology for her actions and flee.

….

Myna caught up to Arya at last and Arya threw herself at Myna, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying herself into her.

Myna patted Arya on the head and smoothed her.

"Sweet girl. It's okay. I got you."

Arya sniffled and whimpered.

"They hate me."

"Who?"

"My siblings."

Oh, Myna thought, the royal children, her cousins.

Bastards.

"Little princess. Wipe your teary eyes and don't waste your precious time on scumbags like them."

Arya broke free from the hug and wiped away her eyes.

"You're right. I should probably forget about them. I want to see Elijah and Catalina."

Arya raced off once again without warning and Myna had to keep up with her.

….

Arya knew where the Royal Academy was. Elijah and Catalina told her already since they were instructors there.

With such an obvious name, the academy was located on royal grounds.

It was a sprawling two story building made from blinding white marble and was outfitted with a massive indoor training court, swimming pool, cafeteria and gardens.

A big iron front gate and brick wall sealed off the entrance but it didn't stop Arya. She levitated herself over the brick wall and onto the other side.

"Sorry Myna!!"

She rushed past the front gates and heard the sounds of fighting and training going on outside.

The weather was getting cooler these days and Arya could feel it in her bones.

….

Elijah crossed swords with a boy and he was aggressive.

Slash, slash, slice, slice. Non-stop. He was pushing back the boy and overwhelming him.

More blows rained down on the boy and the boy's sword soon went flying out of his hands.

Elijah pointed one of his swords at his throat.

"Good effort, but you lack skill or technique. You need to be unpredictable and flexible in your fighting style."

The boy nodded.

Elijah was at swordmaster level so he was an expert in swordsmanship. His judgment was absolute. 

A small group of around 20 kids-10 boys and 10 girls-gathered around the outdoor training court to do training and lessons.

"CATTY!! ELI!!!"

A girl's voice screamed out and soon a brown haired and green-eyed girl came running in.

Catalina-who was in the middle of giving some poor boy a massive beatdown-stopped and smiled.

"Little princess. It's an honor that you would come all the way out here to see us."

The crowd of students-all of whom came from noble households-saw the newest princess at the royal birthday party last night.

It came as quite a shock for all of them to know a new royal had appeared.

She looked weak and a bit naive.

They wondered if it was worth it to try to win her favor.

They watched her interactions with Miss. Catalina and Mr. Elijah.

"Yes, Catty, I lost my appetite and decided to come here to do some training. Oh, Myna is waiting outside to be let in."

Elijah went off to let Myna in.

"Well, I did teach you a lot of things, princess."

Wait, Miss.Catalina had been giving private training lessons to this girl?

Long before she even made her first appearance into high society?

Who was she?

Was she the king's secret daughter who was raised in secret before she debuted last night?

Maybe this princess was worth their interest and time after all.