ZARA

There are so many things I'm not good at and things I have no interest in doing. 

Trust me, I never had any intentions of paying attention to what was going on with the prince and the Princesses but since their 'tea party' I just couldn't stop laughing. One could see that the prince had zero interest in the Princesses or anything like that.

In that aspect, I understood the prince. Even I would want to run away from the girls as far as possible.

They hovered around the prince not even giving him a chance to breathe. 

The prince and I haven't had any long conversation. I didn't want it and my step sisters wouldn't even give us a chance.

I sat looking at my reflection in the mirror. No doubt, I look good.

"Do you want me to style your hair for you, princess?" Sara stood behind me and we looked at each other in the mirror before I shook my head.

"Just straighten..."

A knock on the door interrupted me.

"I'll go get that" Sara went to open the door and I was shocked to see who came in.

Just when I thought drama was over, I didn't know it was only beginning.

Suddenly, I forgot to breathe for seconds.

Her coming was trouble and I knew it has something to do with the prince.

"I'll excuse you" Sara bowed and left closing the door behind her leaving me and my mother in one room. Kill me already.

"I see you're alone, again." She stressed the word again. I got up from the chair and walked to her but not to her. I better keep my distance.

"Mother, I..." 

"Your step sisters are doing well. And it doesn't surprise me." She cut in. After hearing thus statement, I just wished she knew how much the prince wanted to run away from those girls.

"I just wanted to have some rest and I..." 

"Rest? Rest and watch one of the other princesses take the prince from you? Is that what you want?" 

Okay. I don't know what she's saying. Take the prince from me? Oh God. The prince and I haven't even exchanged up to a dozen words since he came and she calling him my prince? 

For a very long time, I've swallowed the urge to scream and yell at my mother who sees our family as a competition I have to.

"You better start doing the right thing now. If the prince goes back to Ever wood without you, then you'll regret ever being my child and a princess that is supposed to fight for the big things" 

I already did. I already regretted being her child and a princess long ago.

Even before I turned ten.

"yes mother. I'll try to..."

"Oh for goodness sake. Don't try, do it" she cut in again this time yelling. I shut my eyes and opened them again. It's better to not say anything instead of trying to say something and being interrupted.

I nodded my head slowly.

"I don't want to talk about it to you again" she declared and walked out leaving me alone on one spot rooted to the floor like a statue.

I've always followed my mother's instructions. I never failed to do so. My step mothers aren't like that. Unlike my own mother, they are nice to me and treat me like they gave birth to me. But my mother is always harsh to Daphne and Velma and that made me stop going to them often because it seemed unfair. 

My mother was a good example for an evil step mother even if she won't poison anyone. Her words hurts more and I can understand why my step sisters hate me so much.

Okay. I made up my mind that I'll try to get close to the prince after a whole afternoon of thinking.

Sara's words rang in my head like a bell.

" Think about it, you've always wanted to run from your mother to a far place where you won't see her for a long time and this is the right time."

She was right. I wanted to run away.

Even if I'll have to be crown princess sitting in Ever wood and have to do a lot of princess duties, at least out of sight is out of mind.

I stood there for another long minute before I approached the prince.

He was talking with his guard Hans who I'd talk to once or twice. As I got closer, I felt my stomach twist. So much for just trying to impress my mother and also maybe if I'm lucky I'll run away from her. The chances were fifty-fifty.

Hans saw me first and smiled at me.

"Princess Zara" we both bowed slightly at each other before he looked at Prince Henry and left. Now it was just me and the prince. I wonder what I'll talk about.

"What a pleasant surprise" he spoke first. Already sending shivers down my spine.

I hate to say it but I love his eyes. The way they shine bright and beautiful, it made my heart race.

"indeed" I smiled at him.

He smiled back and led me to the chairs arranged in the garden. 

I sat first and started running through my head to look for the best questions to ask to keep our conversation going.

"Is this a right time to have a good talk with you?" I asked not knowing what I really wanted to say.

"It is. Great timing" I nodded.

"But, why do you suddenly want to talk to me, princess?" He knew I didn't want to talk to him because I I'm not interested in marriage. He might have figured.

"Hmm. I just sat down and thought 'why would I miss the opportunity to have a nice chat with a handsome prince?' so here I am"

He nodded slowly and faced me.

"So?"

"So?" What did he mean?

"What you you want to talk/ know about?" I exhaled sharply and calmed my nerves. I've never done this before.

"What do you do for fun? Apart from prince stuff?" I didn't know how to put it but that's the only question I could think of.

"Interesting" he said slowly. I'm starting to think that question was a bad....

"Horse riding and sword fighting" he said cutting my thoughts short.