Chapter 14 How to Confess

"This is not it. This chalice is made out of stone and not wood." Nate sighed as he placed the book that Ren had back into a shelf.

"Prince Nathaniel." PRINCE Ace glared at him the moment he caught Nate shoving a book on a random shelf. "If you do not know where you got that book, then you should just leave it on a desk and let the bookkeepers handle returning it."

"I'll..." Nate trailed off and took the book from it's shelf. "I'll go hand it over to the librarian then." He took off rather quickly and quietly.

I decided to look at the other shelves. My mind staring blankly at all the titles before me. It's like I can read but the words don't make sense. It was after my talk with the queen that we decided to do some research about the wooden chalice. No one has heard of it, but they didn't doubt me either. But aside from it, the news of Nagga being alive was more of a news.

"Nagga's alive and so is the chimera?" The queen says with a grim expression. "I can't say if it is a good thing or a bad thing."

"Your majesty, what of the chalice?" Dan asked. "Shouldn't we focus more on that?"

"I agree. We should get a hold of it before king Ferius does. Assuming he doesn't have it already." says Ren.

"I mean no offense, but maybe the wooden chalice is just symbolic? Since it is made out of wood maybe it means the very first magical chalice?" Nate inserted.

"Unlike witches and warlocks, Tamers tend to have clearer prophetic dreams since their spirit bond tends to translate it for them because they share the same dream." PRINCE Ace says. "I may have remembered something about it but I am not sure if I read it in this library or in the library back home. In any case I would send a letter to my brothers about it."

"That would be a big help, but please refrain from saying anything unnecessary. I would like to keep this matter between us. I don't want anyone to know about it or it may cause an uproar." says the queen.

"As you wish, your highness."

"I-" I stuttered. It was the first time I talked since talking about my dream. "I would like to excuse myself and do some reading in the library." I proposed. My voice came out more of a whisper than I intended to. "Since this is basically about me and whatever chance of survival, I would feel more comfortable in knowing more about it."

"I'll go with you." Ren says.

"Actually I am kinda busy-" Dan started to say but was cut off by Nate.

"I would like to come too."

"On second thought, I am not busy at all." The last parts Dan says through gritted teeth.

"I'll head over to my room to write a letter. I'll see you all in the library I suppose."

My train of thoughts was interrupted the moment Ren waved his hands in front of me. "Hey, Rose?"

I snapped out of my thoughts to look up at Ren. "What?"

He grinned and pointed at the book that I was holding. "It's nice that you want to learn how to cook but you are reading it upside down."

I looked down and blushed. I closed the book back and placed it on the shelf. "If you tease me, my fist may slip and hit you on the face." I said sweetly.

"Wow, someone is moody. Relax a little. You know all of us are here for you, right? Even demon lord Ace."

I let out a sigh and gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Ren. Who knew you can be sensitive at times."

Ren gave me a lopsided grin. "Can I take that as a compliment?"

Just as I was about to answer, we heard a small sort of giggle in one of the opposite shelves. I saw Ren gritting his teeth in annoyance and reached out to knock a few books off of the shelf. Two books fell on the ground and I stared at it with a horrified look. 

I sure hope Ace won't show up now.

"Hey chuckles." Ren glared at his brother through the hole he made on the shelf. "What's so funny?"

I peeked through the hole and saw Dan batting his eyelashes at Ren. "Nothing, brother. I am just happy. Am I not allowed to be happy?"

"With a face like that then no."

"True true. I cannot be happy with a face like this. All the ladies keep chasing me. It's like I have no privacy."

"Why you little-" Ren apparently decided that it was a good idea to jump into the small space between the shelves to grab Dan. By doing so, he was knocking all the books from the shelves. He caught Dan's shirt and was pulling him closer, his hands reaching for his neck. Dan started screaming like an idiot.

By now I know what was about to happen, so I slowly backed away from the scene in hope that if he somehow caught us, I would not be involved. My back hit someone and based from the enraged breathing that I felt I already knew.

Curse those twins!

Without looking up, I still tried to clear my name. "I just got here." I said with a blank face.

"Oh really?"

I nodded, "Really. In fact I have never seen them in my entire life."

"Why is there a cookbook here? It's in the wrong shelf."

"Hey! It's not wrong. Cooking is not far off from dess-" I immediately bit my tongue as I was caught in the PRINCE'S trap.

"Pfft! I know right? What kind of idiot would mistake putting a cookbook in the dessert's aisle."

"You." He said and looked up at the twins, who were now giving Ace a frightened look. "And to the both of you. Get out. Now. Or would you like me to escort you three?"

"But the queen is my aunt. You can't-" I was cut off by his piercing glare.

"Why, princess. I was kindly asking you to leave. I was not kicking you out."

"You call that kind?"

"In my current state of mind? Yes. I did offer to escort you out, right?"

This guy is a lunatic. "What about Nate?" I pointed out. Now that the three of us are doomed, I plan on dragging as many people as I can.

I looked at Nate, who was just standing behind us looking puzzled. "Nate will be staying here." Says PRINCE Ace.

"Actually I-" Nate started to say something but Ace cut him off with a look. "You are more useful than the three of them combined so you will stay here."

Well as long as Nate got into trouble for a different reason, then I have no arguments.

Ren, Dan and I walked out of the library. "Great job guys. Maybe we can help look for the chalice by digging up holes in the garden." I said sarcastically.

The twins both gave me an apologetic look before I walked away. The library was starting to get suffocating anyway so I decided to head outside. The twins were still following me, but I gave them no attention. I did not pay attention to where I was headed until I heard a familiar howl.

Custard was running towards me with it's tongue rolled out. Ace kind of kicked him out of the library for leaving bite marks on the book's cover page. I kind of feel bad for him. "Hey, Custard." I bent down and picked him up. As soon as he was in my arms, he started to nuzzle my neck as if comforting me.

It was only then that I started to take note of my surroundings. I was headed to the garden pavilion without even noticing it. I decided to take a seat on one of the chairs that was recently placed there for tea time. Ren and Dan followed while continuing their talk, which I just started to become aware of.

"I am telling you, brother. You should trust me more. I will be your wingman." Ren says proudly.

Dan rolled his eyes and scoffed. "And what makes you think you are qualified to be a wingman?" Dan gave his brother a very doubtful look while placing his cheek on top of his hand. "You don't even know relationships. Heck, I bet that even if your wolf bites you in the ass you would still consider your mate as a friend."

"Wow, Dan. Are you speaking from experience?" I said as I stared at him.

"Well at least one of you is less dense." He muttered. He sighed and looked at his brother. "Unlike you, brother, I clearly know my feelings. But do tell me what you know."

"I know that you like Lilliana and you are currently confused about your infatuation with Rose to your bond with Lilliana."

It might be my imagination but I saw Dan's eyebrow twitch. "Oh my, oh my. How could you say that I am infatuated with Rose?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"You seem so happy when you see her and react violently when another guy approaches her." Ren says looking extremely confident. "And do not get me started when you were stalking her earlier in the library."

I wanted to say it was stupid, but the atmosphere here seemed a little dangerous.

Dan's breathing seemed a little heavy right now, but he was still giving his twin a sweet and deadly smile that Ren seemed oblivious of. "Anything else?"

"Just an advice."

"And what kind of advice?"

"Lilliana is your true mate and not Rose. I know you like Lilliana. Stop denying your feelings and just listen to your wolf."

At this point, Dan stood up so quickly that his chair fell. "Listen to your wolf-!" He screamed and immediately stopped himself. Then in a slightly calmer tone he said, "You should be taking your own advice why - " He sighed, still shaking in anger. "Please excuse me for a moment." Dan turned his back to us. He took in a deep breath and suddenly let out a loud scream that made Ren, Custard and I jump on our seats.

"WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE IN MY PAST LIFE TO BE PUNISHED LIKE THIS!?!?"

He screamed a few more before calming down. Once he was done, he turned back to us with a slightly refreshed look. Ren and I looked at him as if we were looking at a serial killer. At this point I am extremely convinced that Dan is bipolar.

"So," Dan said cheerfully. "I would just like to clear out some things." He said sweetly. Ren and I managed a nod to signal him to carry on. "I am not interested in Rose aside from her being my sister."

"So you being jealous of a guy approaching her is because you are acting like an overprotective brother?"

I coughed. "Siscon."

Dan glared at me. "Yes. Rose will be an adorable sister of mine."

"I knew it. Your mother and father plan to adopt me. Aha!"

"Why do you seem so proud as if it is true!?" I could hear the frustration in Dan's voice.

"Brother, is this true?"

"Where did you guys -" Dan slapped a hand to his face in defeat. "Forget it. You guys really are perfect for each other.

Anyway, I know Lilliana is the mate that my wolf chose, because unlike someone in the family, I am not dense."

"Pardon?"

"No need to worry about that. But I do need some help." Dan says. His face looked like he's plotting something. "You see. I need to see for myself how to confess. Oh dear brother of mine. My one and only dear brother, would you please demonstrate how a confession works?"

"Um...sure?" Ren slowly got up. "First of all you -"

"No no no. I am an idiot who cannot follow easily with mere explanation-"

"Brother, you are a prince you ought to get used to it by now."

"No! I want a demonstration. As in act it out." As Dan said this, our eyes met. I flinched and I swear my whole body was telling me to run.

"I have to feed Custard." Just as I got up, Dan caught my wrist and I started to shiver in fear.

"Oh I know. How about you act like you are confessing to Rose? That would be a really good example." By this time I swear that Dan was starting to lose his mind. "I'll take Custard for you. Now go and show me how to properly confess." Custard let out a small whimper as soon as Dan took him.

Ren and I are now facing each other awkwardly. "Anytime now." Dan says.

Ren sighed and grabbed my hand. Somewhere in the background, I heard Dan gasped. That damn siscon. Is he being jealous again?

"Lilliana-"

"No no. She's Rose and not Lilliana." Dan corrected.

"Rose, I.....I like-" Ren paused and searched my face. "I like how your hair pales under the sun. How your silver blue eyes become alive when you laugh."

Is...this how he thinks confessions are? Because I also don't know, but it makes me want to run. Even though I hate running.

"I-I.....I-I l-l.." He kept stuttering and Dan seems to be constipated just looking at just brother struggling for words. I sighed.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and instead I grabbed his hand in mine. "Prince Renevier Rutledge! I am in love with you with all my heart and soul. Will you accept my love?" I declared dramatically.

Dead silence fell. Then there was a gasp. It wasn't from Dan this time but from a maid carrying a tray filled with tea and snacks.