Horrible Princesses

A new horror suddenly rose inside Minerva's heart as she struggled to swallow the spit in her mouth. Stopping at the huge gate of the hunters academy, she stepped out of the carriage.

The Royal guards stationed outside the building with their huge and burly body almost made Minerva feel intimidated. She walked to the gate and the guards didn't waste any time in opening the gate for her because they saw her with the Crown prince and could also remember what happened on the day of her arrival.

“You must be Minerva, I've been waiting for you for the past one hour,” a plump man asked with a displeased expression on his face. Class has been on since the morning.” He said while going through the writing pad in his hand.

Minerva stood quietly as she watched the man go through the pad.

“Yes, I'm Minerva, are you my teacher?” She asked to see the man wave his hand nonchalantly.

“I'm your guide for the time being, assigned to you by his royal highness old Mr and Mrs Gael. Now! We need to get you settled, come with me.” The man said while running his meaty hands in his hair and also murmuring under his breath.

Both of them step into the large building and Minerva felt the urge to run and burrow herself into the ground. Eyes from different angles pierced into hers, scanning and reading her as she walked past them. The plump man was far ahead of her and Minerva immediately rushed to match his steps.

Her stomach growled in hunger and she gritted her teeth in worry. “Mr, is there a place I can have breakfast?” She asked the plump impatient man. She braced herself to get scolded but it didn't come. Instead, she got a shocked expression from the man who was staring at her through his small nerdy glasses.

He clears his throat. “Minerva, why haven't you had breakfast? Here, breakfast is served at six in the morning, lunch at one and dinner at seven in the evening. I wonder what Mr Gael would think if he finds out that you didn't eat something before running along?” He asked before writing something on his notepad.

A crease appeared on Minerva's forehead. The rules here were strong from what she had noticed in just two days of her arrival. She hadn't got the chance to eat anything or ask Vincent for food because the two arrogant ladies intruded their morning with questions.

“Good morning Mr Gael,” a young girl who looked Minerva's age curtsied before raising herself to match the man's eyes.

“Good morning Arabella,” the man returned the polite greeting with a small grin.

The girl didn't move from where she was standing and Minerva raised an eyebrow at the girl who was glaring at her. Blond hair, blue eyes and pink pouty lips, she sure looks attractive.

Mr Gael was about to continue his walk to the building when he noticed Arabella was yet to leave. “Am I missing something Ara?” He questioned.

Minerva watched the girl fidget the hem of her short blue dress. Beneath, she wore tight blue leggings matching the dress and a black boot on her feet. Minerva also noted that the students wore similar cuts and dresses but of different colors and styles. Perhaps it has something to do with their levels.

“Is Vincent coming today?” She asked coyishly while blinking her eyelashes at the man while she ignored Minerva.

“I don't think so. The prince is busy lately due to the fact that he will be crowned king soon. You can visit the castle during weekends.” The man then looked at the wristwatch in his hands. “I'm running late. Is there anything else I need to help you with?” He asked the blond girl.

“Absolutely not. Thank you,” Arabella drawled and skipped away with bouncy feets.

“Minerva, I've found the best class to fix you into.”

“Okay,” she replied.

Tearing a page from the book in his hands, He gave it to Minerva who immediately took it.

Mr Gael glanced up at her and pretended he wasn't looking.

Minerva frowned and looked at the short man whose beady eyes were staring at her.

A light chuckle left her lips and she tilted her head. “I can read Mr Gael,” she answered his unsaid question with a proud smirk on her face.

“Good,” he replied, pushing his glasses to rest on his small nose. “For someone who grew up in Blueshead, a girl at that. You're surely lucky.”

“My Pa taught me,” Minerva's voice was low and quiet as she responded to the man. Her father had always believed in her. In whatever she did and what she will do. He had made sure she learnt how to read and write despite how expensive it was after her mother passed away eight years ago.

“I know that look Ms Castiel. I'm sorry,” he sympathized sincerely with her. Pointing to the piece of paper on Minerva's hand, he said, “this is your registration form. Everything about your stay, schedule and attire here in this Academy is recorded in it. Submit it to the first person you'll see inside the school. Remember not to mention the prince's name in this place.”

“His name?” Her face formed into a scowl. “Why?” Minerva asked.

Mr Gael shook his head in wonder. “Because we don't want you having issues with the teachers and students. They all saw what happened yesterday Minerva. This school doesn't have rules for fights because here, everyone's trained to become aggressive. It's either you fight or they break you. Use your brain, not mouth girl. I'll send words to the castle.” With that, the man turned and left without another word.

“Okay?” Minerva whispered to herself. She took in a long air before marching into the huge silver door.

***

The smell of green tea filled the air. The room glowed with pride as the huge chandelier did it justice. Lighting up the entire space. In one part of the huge room was a large bed, wide enough for three bodies. Above it was an emerald colored canopy.

The dressing table to the left and the closet beside it. Across the room was a small door leading to the bathroom. The walls were painted white and the white ceramic floor was cleaned without a speck of dust visible.

A dining table and chairs were also placed to the left of the bathroom door, a few feets to the bed.

“ Riona, I promise you that my father will ensure that Vincent marries you. He can be quite persistent when it comes to his two sons,” Princess Ciara smiled sweetly at the girl sitting across from her.

Riona bit her lips as she played with her fingers which were placed on her lap. “You're not certain it will happen,” she bit back with a small frown on her porcelain dolled up face. The memory of a girl in Vincent's room this morning and the fact that she slept there couldn't get out of her mind.

Princess Ciara sighed at the poor girl and stood up from her seat. She rounded the table and came to lay her hands on Riona’s shoulder. “Riona, why don't you focus on the competition at Court while I take care of this ‘Minerva’?” She proposed. Her face scrunching up in disdain.

Riona's eyes shot up in an instant. “How?”

“Deal with the ladies here who are digging for Vincent. They can't be overlooked despite the fact that he doesn't want them. As for Minerva, she's like a fly, a new problem which won't take the snap of my fingers to solve,” said Princess Ciara and her eyes fell on Riona's.

“Thank you Princess,” she smiled, stood up and curtsy.

After Princess Ciara left the room feeling big and proud, the smile on Riona's face fell and was replaced with a cold one.

She wasn't a fool and knew the pompous Princess Ciara was just trying to pacify her. This girl Minerva wasn't a small problem as the princess had emphasized. Prince Vincent was known for many years that he doesn't fancy women. When she came, he had eyes on her but soon, his interest seemed to fade away. But this Minerva— Vincent even let her into his room and she passed the night there. Something that has never happened before.

Scurrying to her dressing table, she picked up the letter which was placed there and left the room.