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etherealluminescence · 3 years

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GN!MC forcing conquering the demons into Pacts

Quick tags for those some people who reblogged my other post pt 1, I know I have a lot more but these are the only ones with comments on the post. @chalcedear @undertaker-02 @the-mexican-writer @mammonkinnie

Lucifer

You had spent countless hours against Lucifer, trying to fight him and force him into a pact. No matter what you did, it seemed like you failed.

It took you a long time to realize, but you had to train to beat Lucifer. And that you did. You knew how terrifying his power was as all the demons told you, so for a week straight you intensely trained until you were ready.

Lucifer was already on edge noticing you didn’t try anything, but he knew you wouldn’t give up, which was when you decided to strike.

He easily dodged your initial flying kick when he entered the room, but you grabbed onto the door and swung back around, kicking the tip of his head before he backed off.

He was now ready to dodge, believing that tour strategy was only to catch him off guard, but he was wrong.

When you landed, you dug your foot into the ground and threw yourself at him, but as he moved to the right, you used the shelf behind him to catch yourself and kick off it and nailed a kick straight to his head.

It was now or never as you began throwing heavy punches, trying to get him into a chokehold while he was prying you off, struggling a little as you bit onto his fingers or wings. You even bit onto his horn to stabilize yourself and kept punching.

By the end of it, you had quite a few bruises from his harsh grip, but he had a black eye and his feathers were all over the floor, you’ve won.

He probably could of killed you, but he didn’t want that, so he accepted his loss, glaring at you when you dug your heel into his stomach as Satan clapped and Belphie got out a trophy to hand you.

His pact was now your’s and you were going to flaunt it. He’s alright with the fact it was you who forced him into a pact, but it majorly hurt his ego that you were superior to him.

Mammon

You had recently arrived in the devildom half an hour ago and did not feel welcomed, in the slightest.

You tried to be nice to your guide, but he brushed you off and left you with Levi, or he intended to.

Levi gasped as he watched you tackle Mammon who tried to run off, and elbow him in the jaw. When he fell to the ground you kicked the life out of him muttering out “I tried to be nice to you fucker, if one of us is killed today it’s you.”

Levi was obviously bewildered, but took the chance to tell you to make a pact with him, his biggest mistake in his lifetime, all the poor demons in the future.

Mammon was crying a little as you forced him into a pact, and pulled him up with one hand, making him face Levi himself.

Mammon is 100% nicer to you because you’re scarier than Lucifer, and also because you genuinely treat him with respect now that he’s nice to you, something he’s not used to. Super happy to be the first ever demon you’ve conquered.

Leviathan

You had decided to do things the non violent way and participate in the TSL quiz, until Levi turned into his demon form and tried to kill you.

Taking up his challenge, you fearlessly walked towards him as Mammon was trying to tell you no, and you caught his punch.

It pushed you back a little bit, but you caught it and twisted his arm, and proceeded to beat him up in a one sided battle.

It’s not that he was weak, or others were helping you, but you genuinely managed to fight back and beat him so hard that it looked like his entire left arm was broken.

Lucifer was kinda pissed you broke his brother ngl;; but Diavolo is like it’s self defense?? And Lucifer is just like what human fights a demon across the room in self defense.

When Levi is begging for mercy he is reminded of what happened to Mammon and the rumors, accepting defeat, you make a pact mark with him, he’s kinda pissed though, like highkey.

He thinks that you probably think of him as a trophy or something to collect, based off the rumors. You probably don’t want to have a pact mark with an otaku, you just want to show off your strength.

He soon changes his attitude towards you when you show interest in him. You’re just genuinely a nice person and a caring older sibling figure, but will fight for the sake of peace and safety.

Now he’s just jealous that you spend more time with Luke than anyone else.

Satan

He offered you a pact mark easily because he wanted to piss off Lucifer, especially when you tried to give him a black eye from the pillow fight.

Very angry and disappointed when you said no, but then surprised when you said you’d beat the shit out of him instead, fair and square.

He knew you fought well, but are you sure you want to fight the embodiment of wrath himself? And you’re just like yep, the small tiny you, so confident.

He didn’t take it too seriously despite seeing the actual proof multiple times, and he watched you used his messy room to your advantage, even using the bookshelves to help you get air.

His ass was easily kicked even when he was serious. “You know, after facing both Levi and Beel, you aren’t much of a challenge.” You casually said as you formed a pact mark with him.

Slightly irked by the comment but delighted to be apart of your fan club, probably yells “BEAT THEIR ASS!” On the sidelines.

Pisses Lucifer off whenever you two fight and Lucifer gets an injury from you, and asks if Lucifer ever wants ice, just to be a dick.

Diavolo and Satan are in the fan club which PISSES Lucifer off when the two are in front of him discussing how you will one day (undoubtedly) beat Diavolo.

Asmodeous

You made a pact with Asmo after accidentally beating him up, he was begging for mercy and you kind of felt bad.

You insisted it wasn’t on purpose and he kind of avoids you for awhile after the pact mark. He’s glad Solomon isn’t like you, otherwise the devildom would cease to exist.

He’s eventually fine with you, and loves to take photos of you and Luke together acting like siblings because it’s the cutest thing. Although demons are scared of you they do kinda admire you, and seeing you soft with Luke is good for his devilgram.

Soon treats you like a friend instead of a monster that just so happened to kick his ass and make him beg.

You’re so tiny that it’s kinda cute and he nearly forgets someone like you is violent and scary so when he took you shopping and someone shoplifted, he was concerned for your nails after you disfigured them.

Will 10/10 treat your tense muscles and let you soak in his tub.

Beelzebub

He’s seen you fight before but damn he couldn’t believe it. You’re just so smol?? Couldn’t he crush you?

Lesson learned as he was knocked out after he broke your room. You didn’t want to hurt Besl since he was always courteous with you, so you knocked him out quickly.

He doesn’t remember more than you launching at him and the feel of his wings being tugged and his neck suddenly throbbing.

Mammon who watched beg for Beel’s life on his knees, asking you to spare him. You just nodded and waited for Beel to wake up before making a pact.

When he makes one, you give him some custard you asked Mammon to go out and buy really quick, you said please, and Beel is just so happy!!

He tried to kill you and he feels so bad but you’re just so kind!! Wants to protect you so bad but knows you’re just so badass so he instead helps you care for Luke.

Belphegor

You’d definitely be lying if you said you didn’t see it coming. His brothers had already tried to kill you, he was locked in an attic, and not to mention he gave you a weird vibe, you would of left him alone if you weren’t a nice person.

He tells you thank you for freedom and transforms, ready to kill you. No one got in his way and instead said “good luck Belphie” or “Nice knowing you” so he thought they wanted you dead.

Then he hears Beel say “I don’t want you to die, Belphie” and he is so confused? As he aimed his attack and you just end up punching him square in the face.

Afterwards, you kicked him in the stomach and grabbed his tail, swinging him into a wall, and knocking him over and over and over.

He is out cold, so when he wakes up and sees everyone congratulating him on surviving, he puts two and two together.

You were sitting on top of him and demanding a pact mark, and he unwillingly gives it to you after you nearly rip out his horn.

Pissed off and scared of you, slightly, but more impressed by the fact that even Lucifer struggles with you. When he finds out about the sheer amount of pact marks you have he’s starting to wonder when humans got so strong? And it became an endless spiral of him being pissed off.

Don’t worry though!! He eventually gets used to you.

Diavolo

Super happy it was finally his turn!! Like you did it, congrats, wants it you’d like some tea and what kind of attire to wear for his asskicking.

Is absolutely not looking down on you, he genuinely believes you’re strong. Because of that, he’s just so excited to face you. You beat both Lucifer and Barbatos, the majority of RAD, and you’re such a cool person!!

When you approach him you looked so badass. “Aye, prince of kiss my ass, I’m here to claim you once and for all and become the new ruler of this place.” You yelled out as you kicked down the door to his office.

The first time you two fought, he won. You had a lot of bruises, but managed to rip out some of his hair, at least. He finds it admirable how you still kept going despite him clearly hearing a rib break.

SUPER excited to tell Satan about it!! Hopes Barbatos recorded the fight so he could broadcast it at RAD during an announcement or something, but Barbatos rejected that idea.

Poor Diavolo only wanted to be included in this ass beating trend, but super happy when you return three days later and try to beat him up again, you even changed up the way you fight!!

You won’t ever know this, but one day he purposely changed his office’s layout to benefit your fighting style more, so when you finally beat him he was so ecstatic, his lips were bleeding but he was laughing, congratulating you and couldn’t wait to give you a pact.

Oh boy was he SO happy when you flaunted it, and sat in his desk chair with a hand on your chin, giving an order to Barbatos who recorded it, acting as if you really were the ruler of the devildom.

“Could you get some bandages for your former ruler, please?” You asked, feeling accomplished that Luke was officially safe during his stay in the devildom, and Diavolo was just swooning.

The public is 10/10 avoiding you because they are SCARED for their life. The people are convinced you’re like a nuclear weapon against demons.

Barbatos

He knew one day you’d defeat Lucifer, but it was so quick. You only needed a week of prep time?

Steps up his game a bit, because after two weeks of training you approach him ready to fight, and he can sense you’re not the same.

As he uses his tail to put you out of the room, he automatically feels your sharp teeth digging into his tail. He can withstand it no problem, until you literally rip a bit of his tail chunk out.

You didn’t let go even as he flung you off his tail, and you even dug your nails in. He showed no expression, but it was genuinely painful as you climbed his tail onto him, his tail no longer as useful because he was very sure you would rip through it.

His fighting against you one on one went well for him, he could see and easily predict your moves easily, until you head butted him and began every trick in the book.

From kicking, punching, biting, scratching, you name it, you did it. He was finally at your mercy when you were cover in both your own and his blood, while he was sure his tail was missing some pieces, and you were absolutely not letting go.

He’s 100% convinced you’ve gone feral in a span of three weeks, but that’s okay. The only thing stopping you from fighting the prince was now defeated, and he apologised to Diavolo frequently, who was only super excited in return.

Don’t worry you apologised for his tail and helped him with his job for awhile, totally not to also study Diavolo in his natural habitat.

First time you’ve ever seen him smile so soft was when he got his ass kicked so hard by you that his tail went chomp chomp.

Luke

Surprised pikachu face.

He understands you beating up Mammon,, and maybe some lesser demons,, but did you REALLY defeat Lucifer, Barbatos, and Diavolo.

Surprised pikachu face as you shrug and say “yeah I guess. I’m the ruler now, do you feel safe yet?”

Lucifer yells out you’re not the ruler just because you formed a pact with Diavolo, but you ignored him and smile at Luke, patting his head.

Luke is just nodding like “I’m safe!!!” While in his head he’s like WOW whaT PLEASE EXPLAIN.

Luke constantly calls you his older sibling now, tells daddy Simeon ALL about it, and brags about you to the demons who even look at him.

Praise this precious baby as he makes you all the sweets in the world. You’ve literally defeated demons of all sorts, even the most powerful, and all you want is to see him smile.

Will probably cry.

#obey me #obey me swd #obey me shall we date #obey me hc #obey me headcanons #obey me headcanon #obey me barbatos #obey me diavolo #obey me lucifer #obey me asmo #obey me mammon #obey me levi #obey me Satan #obey me beel #obey me belphegor

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aileen-hollingsworth · 7 years

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Ties, Baguettes & Titanics ~ #3

A/N: First challenge. Ngl this turned out long, like real long. Thanks to @prince-consort-erik for role playing Haiden. Forgive typos and stuff like that, I had little to no time to edit. There are small mentions of @sophiemoreaux, @baguette-le-chef, @alexandra-amaria, @mila-regan , a guard and fictional actors.

“No, there’s no real point to being nervous.” Sophie shrugged. “I’m just going to wait and see what happens, it isn’t that big a deal.”

I could see many of the girls nearby gave her glances full of disbelief. The how-is-she-not-nervous-about-dating-a-prince look…okay, that’s not a thing but you get the point.

I just nodded at her and eyed the other girls. I was still a bit uncertain of most of them so I didn’t really tell her (or anyone else) if I was nervous or not. I was a bit too used to keeping my opinion to myself when in a new public place, so with so many Selected in the Women’s room I had some issues talking much. If it was a ‘one on one’ conversation I had no problem—like when I’d bumped into Naomi in the library while looking for pretty editions to take photos of, or when I’d gone looking for chips in the kitchen with Mila in the middle of Viola’s sleepover—but when it was conversations with people in earshot I was too self-aware.

When my maids asked me in my room if I was nervous I just shrugged and Anne, the oldest, frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I didn’t take my eyes of my polaroid photos scattered across the floor when I answered. The palace definitely had some aesthetically pleasing books. “I don’t know. I guess I’m giddy because he’s a prince and all, but I’ve talked to well-known celebrities because of my parents before.” I picked the photos that captured the lighting better and offered them to Janet to inspect.

I’d heard the whispers around the Selected. Everyone seemed to think Haiden was shy. I didn’t want things to be awkward; I was just hoping to have a good time. “I’m trying to tell myself there isn’t that big a difference between him and, I don’t know…” I shrugged again. “Ezra Lynley.”

Janet who had been admiring the photos immediately glanced down at me. “You know Ezra Lynley?”

A Two. Star of a gazillion movies. Nice cheekbones. Most importantly, a great guy and one of my cousin’s closest friends.

I nodded at Janet, trying not to make it seem like a big deal. She shared a surprised glance with Anne. During late-night conversations I’d told them my father was a movie producer, but maybe they didn’t expect a Three to know someone as popular…which kind of made sense. My father was popular mostly between the media and the world that knew his work. Being a movie producer wasn’t “important” in comparison to being an actor or artist. Of course, actors wouldn’t get any work if it weren’t for movie producers (same way some artists wouldn’t be as good without music producers). People working on the media would recognize my father’s name immediately, but it wasn’t as common for all civilians to know who he was.

Janet sat down next to me, avoiding the polaroid photos surrounding me with a smirk. “Is he as hot in person?”

Anne scowled and I chucked.

He tripped over me. He actually tripped over me. That’s how it started.

“What the—” I grunted as something hit my legs.

As I sat up to look at the person who’d fallen next to me he said: “Lady Aileen! What… are you doing?”

Oh boy. He was lying on the grass with a confused frown. “Prince… Haiden? Oh wow, I’m so sorry….I didn’t mean to make you, um, trip.” I mumbled taking my headphones off. The rest of the piano’s melody still vaguely stuck on my head without them.

He gave me an awkward grin and adjusted his glasses. “N-No, it’s all right. What are you doing anyway?”

What was I doing here? I blinked without saying anything, and then snapped back into focus. “Oh, you know getting some fresh air before our— ” My eyes widened as I tried to figure out how long I’d been here in the gardens. “Oh wait, what time is it? Tell me I didn’t forget about our date…”

“Date?” he mumbled still confused, but then something seemed to click into place in his thoughts. “Is it really?”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “You forgot about it?”

He laughed awkwardly, and my smirk widened. “Well, so did you apparently.”

“Well, I kind of lost track of time so it’s different.” I chuckled.

“I would’ve remembered eventually.” He countered. Then looking down at my headphones and sitting up he added: “Uh, what are you listening to?”

“Just some music samples.” I turned up the volume and pressed one side of the headphones to his ear. “Piano can make such a beautiful sound.”

“They sound nice. You like music then?”

“Yeah. If being a princess doesn’t work I gotta make a life out of it.” I said winking.

“What instruments do you play?”

“Oh, I’m not precisely one with many instruments. Just piano, guitar and basic ukulele…but music producers don’t usually need to know how to play an instrument, you know. Knowing how to play some—like I do—is kind of a plus.”

“Oh, so you’re a producer. What’s that like?”

“Umm, I don’t think I can qualify as a professional producer just yet, but I will get there hopefully. It’s mostly getting to choose what tracks sound well together…like for example figuring out what’s the best moment in a song to let violins join the drums and the piano.”

“That sounds crazy. I could never do something like that.”

I waved a hand dismissively. “Of course you could. You just need to learn how to listen to the music.” You need to actually pay attention to how it sounds. Feel it to your core.

“Trust me that talent is far away from mine.”

“And what may that talent be?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Breathing.”

Very funny. “Oh wow, that does sound very complicated. Got any tips on that?”

“Well, it gets harder when you run, so you have to do it more.”

I pretended to nod thoughtfully. “True, true. What happens when you’re under water though?” I said trying to keep the ridiculous game on. He didn’t seem so nervous.

“You can try to breathe, but usually it doesn’t work, so I’d advise against it.”

“Gonna keep that in mind if I ever find myself under those circumstances.” I smiled, rolling my eyes amused. “Any other talents you’d like to share?”

“Eating, for one. But I also do incredibly well at sleeping.”

“You are such a talented prince it’s actually shocking.” I said, trying to sound serious.

“I know, the country should be so pleased.”

“Yeah, you should already be King to be honest. I mean, I’m good at eating and breathing, but sleeping is rather hard to handle.”

“Oh, most definitely.” He finally couldn’t keep it up and laughed. “How did we get on this topic again?”

I laughed too. “I don’t know, I’m just trying to break the ice here, I’d say I’m doing pretty well in a very strange way.” Strangest way possible.

“I’d say so for two people who forgot their own dates and ended up in the palace garden after I tripped over you.”

“Yeah,” I looked up at the sky confused picturing his fall. I’d been with my eyes closed and missed the incident. “How did you not notice me on the ground? I had my headphones on, what’s your excuse?”

“I’m wearing glasses. And I don’t usually expect for girls to be lying down in the middle of a garden.”

I brought a hand to my chest pretending to be offended. “Why not, it’s a perfectly normal thing to do.”

“Apparently. I must be so unsocialized.”

He makes up words. Nice. “Obviously,” I said reaching for his glasses and placing them on my nose “it’s practically etiquette for ladies to do it at least once a week.”

“I can’t see now.” He said, slightly squinting in my direction.

The fact that he didn’t seem bothered by my lack of consideration for his personal space was a good sign. It meant he was relaxed. I continued, squinting through his glasses. “You got some heavy lenses I see…at least you look cute with them.”

I was pleased to hear him laugh at that. “I usually wear contacts.”

“Makes sense, I usually never see you wearing these” I replied, making the glasses move up and down on my nose. “I thought it was a fashion statement or something.”

“Nope, I’m just blind as a bat.”

I placed the glasses on the top of my head like a headband to see him properly. “Bats have great hearing though.” I kept talking as I waved a hand in front of his eyes in an attempt to tests his sight. I was hoping to be annoying actually. I myself used glasses, but just to read. “Maybe being a music producer wouldn’t be as hard as you think.” I raised three fingers. “How many fingers am I holding?” He gave me a serious glance, but I could see the corner of his lip twitch. “Quick Haiden, you’re life depends on your answer!”

“It’s three, I’m not that blind.”

“WRONG IT’S THREE.” I corrected him.

This time his face broke into a confused smile. “Is there a difference I’m not getting?

“The accent of course.”

“Accent? Well, I didn’t know that was a factor.”

“…Well I had to correct you in some way so now it’s a factor. You have to say it like you’re about to drink tea with the Queen of England.” I explained, raising a pinky as I zipped tea from an invisible teacup.

“I didn’t realize. I only know how to have tea with two queens.”

I’d forgotten about his aunt, Queen Sabine of France, for second so he had to clarify, but then he laughed and started talking in a British accent as his face faked smugness. “I come from a long line of blue bloods.”

I tried to do my own impression. “Is that so? Well, so do I, your Highness.”

“That is an awful accent, I can’t lie.” He cooed amused.

I shoved him. “Shut up you fancy pants, I do a great accent.”

“Wow, assaulting the prince tsk tsk.”

I bit my lip and narrowed my eyes at him but quickly recovered with a: “Tripping over a lady tsk tsk.”

“Stealing my glasses tsk tsk.”

“Insulting my accent tsk tsk,” I am running out of tsk-tsks “which is very good by the way.”

“Nay.”

“Whatever,” I said, dramatically flipping my hair. “I know my own talent.”

“Well then. I’m offended.”

“Because of my superiority?” I winked.

“Obviously.”

“Don’t feel intimidated by my talents Haiden, I am a very normal girl…” I paused, realizing that wasn’t entirely true. “Most of the time.”

“What’s the rest of the time?”

“Well, wouldn’t you like to know?” I said, tauntingly.

“In fact, I would very much.”

I smiled looking up at the clouds in the sky. One actually looked like a scrunched man’s face yelling. “It really depends.”

“Ask me a question, Lady Aileen.”

I looked over at him, curious about his choice of words to carry on with the conversation, but then looked back at the yelling-man cloud. What did I want him to tell me? “It’s not a question but tell me about something you love.”

It didn’t take him long to pick something. “I love my sisters.”

I knot formed on my throat at the words, but I still smiled at his choice. “I bet they love you too.”

“Hopefully.”

I laughed. “Hopefully?”

“I always wonder.”

I shook my head with a faint smile. “That’s some trust you’ve got in them… why the doubt though?”

“I don’t know. They’ve never said they didn’t love me, but it’s something I always naturally wonder.”

Sam’s face popped up in my head but I pushed it away. “Haven’t they ever told you they do?”

“Of course they have, but… I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if they’d rather have someone else as a brother.”

I sighed. I never do even though I should. “If you love them as much as you say I doubt they’d want anyone else, I can tell you that.”

He shrugged and I desperately wanted to stop Sam’s words from flooding my thoughts so I smirked and suggested: “Well, since it seems I won’t convince you about that, how about we officially start our date? Believe it or not, I actually had something planned…unless you’ve got any other ideas.”

“I don’t know, I’m rather comfortable on the ground.” He admitted, padding the grass as if to emphasize his statement.

I rested my elbows on the grass, keeping the upper half of my body upward. “Am I not boring you with trivial conversation?”

“I don’t know, it always seems like things unplanned go better.”

“Suggestions then?” I actually wanted to give my plan a try for once, so when I noticed his hesitation I wiggled my eyebrows and inquired: “Or maybe you’d like to go on a treasure hunt…or is it scavenger hunt? Either way you get the idea.”

That spiked his interest. “Ooh, how would we do that?”

“Well, it’s simple. I make a list of things we need to find. We look for them together. There’s a catch to it though.”

“Oh?”

“I gotta make it interesting somehow.” I said grinning. “First rule is we can’t ask for permission to take the object.”

“I can work with that.”

No hesitation. Good. I nodded in approval. “Second rule: Every time we find an object we have to make a guess about each another.”

That confused him. “A guess?”

“Like for example…I think your favorite color is green. I don’t know if it is, I’m just guessing.” After the mention of his favorite green tie on our interview I was hoping to get that right.

“Seems easy enough. And it’s blue by the way.”

“Dang it I thought I had it right.” I mumbled, mostly to myself. That meant the green tie being his favorite probably had a backstory then. “Anyway, that’s how it works.”

“Alright, then.” He stood up offering me a hand. “Where to first?”

“We need an autographed book.” I said accepting the help. “Also, I forgot to mention, if you guess correctly you get a compliment or a truth.”

“Oh, well, now I’m very entertained.” He stated and actually seemed on board with the idea. “An autographed book, huh? I have at least 10 in my room. Come on, let’s go.”

The door of his room stood in front of us and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about how it looked inside.

“Um, could I ask you something?” He pondered.

“Sure. I’m all ears.”

“Can you… not tell anyone you were here? I don’t want people getting jealous or the wrong idea…”

“Are you kidding me?” I began with a smirk. “I’m not telling anyone, that’ll get us both killed. Plus we don’t need ‘Exposing Illea’ to go around saying lies.”

He laughed at this. “All right.” He didn’t hesitate again when he opened the door and pulled me in. “Um, pardon the mess.” He immediately went to a book shelved corner and started looking at a particular section.

I slowly walked over to him taking a look around. There was the bed, the bookshelfs in the corner, what seemed like an entrance to a closet, then another door (most likely the bathroom) and also a desk filled with papers and more than one kind of writing tool. He even had ink and a…feathery pen thing.

I was in the middle of saying it wasn’t that bad when I reached him and had to stop to stare in awe at his bookshelf. I’d seen incredible books with different editions on the palace’s library but these were another level. “Oh my God…” I practically whispered as I reached for the book with the oldest looking cover. I stared at every detail. The engraving on the front, the golden ink of the title, the pages tinted with age. “Why did I not bring my camera, these hardcovers are gorgeous.”

“1st Editions. One of the perks of being famous.”

I couldn’t contain my smile as I held up the book for him to see. “You can practically smell the ancient.”

“Why don’t you keep it?”

I had to do a double take of his words in my mind before smiling again. “And here I was about to call you greedy for hoarding all the prettiest books from the library.”

“Got to make sure no one takes it.” He smiled, and then took the book from my hands to flip it open. “And look, signed by the author.”

I peeked over his shoulder to look at the signature. “Well, would you look at that…” I ventured, tracing the dark ink with my fingers. “Pretty.”

He glanced down at me, still smiling, and I decided I liked his smile. “What’s next?”

I told my mind to ignore the closeness between us. “Since we’re already in your room I’d say a green tie. I already know you’ve got one.” I pressed, in remembrance of my interview.

“What are you planning to do with it?”

“It’s part of the list, just trust me.” I shrugged.

Too my surprise he accepted that as a good enough reason and went into his closet. He came out with a green tie on a hanger. My dad usually just had his stashed together.

“Fancy.” I teased.

“Why, thank you. What next? Do I get a compliment yet?”

I laughed. “Not yet. First the guessing, hopefully I’ll get this one right…” I looked him up and down tapping my chin thoughtfully, trying to come with something good. “Okay, I think you’re that person that starts flirting a lot when drunk.”

“I-I… don’t know.”

Stuttering again. “Hmm, that’s not fair, I want a compliment.”

“Fine, maybe you’re right, I’ll give you a compliment anyway.”

I smiled victoriously and waited.

“I like your freckles.”

I raised both eyebrows for a second. “Oh, wow thanks! Sometimes I forget I have them if that makes any sense” I laughed, but was pretty sure I’d failed at hiding my blush. “I really like them too though.” I paused to reach for the green tie and then placed it loosely around my neck. “Okay, your turn to guess.”

“All right, I think you’re a little self-conscious about yourself, but you try not to be.”

Pffft… “I—” well…I was going to deny it, but looking over at him I realized there was really no point in lying. Not if we wanted to see if we could work. “—don’t know… maybe… Just as a defense mechanism.”

“Hey, it’s all right.”

“I know.” I really did. It was just annoying to know that some of the media liked making little things a lot more complicated than they originally were. “When people look at you all the time it’s kind of necessary. I can’t imagine how it is for you being a prince and all.” I shrugged. “I’m just the daughter of a movie producer and a retired actress.”

“No, I think you’re a lot more than that.”

That caught me off guard and I looked over at him again with curiosity. “How so?” I mumbled slightly flustered.

“You underrate yourself. You act as if you’re no one, but I know there’s someone in there that’s deeply passionate.”

I stared at the ground thoughtfully for a few seconds. Why did people think he was shy? “You are better with words than I gave you credit for.” Then staring at him I clarified: “Though I wouldn’t say I underrate myself…I just” it took me a moment to find the right words “I don’t know, I guess I learned it’s better if I hide some of my cards from the public sometimes.” Learned it the hard way.

“You don’t need to hide from me.”

I smiled up at him and reached for the book in his hands. “Lucky you, I wasn’t trying to do so yet.”

“Yet?”

I rolled my eyes amused. Nothing gets past this one. “Or ever. As for your compliment…” I leaned in to give him a kick kiss on the cheek. “I like your occasional stutter.”

He blushed and I giggled at the sight. “I—Uh, thanks.”

“See? Adorable. Now, next object is….a Baguette from Chef Baguette’s kitchen.”

He only seemed slightly surprised. “Well, this’ll be fun.”

“It’ll be great; if he finds out we’ll blame it on you.” Then I placed the book on his bed, reached for his hand and led him out.

“So are you going in or am I?” He asked once we were in front of the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes and dragged him in. “Team work Haiden…think Mission Impossible.”

“Alright, we die together.” He whispered as we entered and I couldn’t avoid grinning. Man, am I liking this kid.

I dragged him all the way behind a counter and we sat on the floor. I was glad I’d forgotten about the date. All of the sneaking around would have been a lot more complicated in a dress. “Okay, your moment to shine. Where are the baguettes?”

“On the bread cabinet.”

I covered my mouth trying not to laugh. He was so on board with my ridiculous ideas it was an unbelievable but pleasant surprise. “Okay….” I peeked over the counter looking for the acclaimed cabinet, but the kitchen was way too big. “Uhh, where is the bread cabinet? I just know where he hides his chips so far.” I smirked over at him when I saw the curious grin he gave me. “Long story.” Mostly Mila and I searching every single cabinet in the middle of a sleepover.

“In the very back of the kitchen. In a safe.”

I snorted a laugh and then immediately covered my mouth. I looked back at Haiden blushing, but grinning all the same. “I promise I don’t always laugh like that.”

“I hope you do.” He said raising an eyebrow in amusement. Then he shook his head and gestured me to follow. “Let’s go.”

We started making our way to the back of the kitchen in a crawl and then I whispered. “I can’t believe he has a safe for his baguettes.”

“His name is Baguette. What do you expect?”

“I wonder if Azalea has a safe filled with Azalea’s on her house then.” I snickered.

“I wonder if Britain has Great Britain under lock and key.”

At that I burst out laughing. I quickly covered my mouth realizing my mistake, but it was a bit too late. “Did you hear that?” Baguette’s thick accent echoed in the kitchen.

“We better get in and out of here fast.” Haiden mumbled and then we crawled the rest of the way to the bread cabinet. There was in deed a safe next to it, a lock keeping the insides out of our reach. I was about to ask what we were going to do about that, but Haiden was one step ahead. “Do you happen to have a hair pin on you?”

I raised both eyebrows impressed. He had some pretty interesting talents he had forgotten to mention earlier. “Such a professional spy, please teach me your ways.” I smirked before taking a pin out of my hair. Lucky him I used pins to secure my braids sometimes.

It didn’t take him long to pick the lock. After a minute or so it clicked and fell off. Haiden’s face beamed at me with pride. “Voila. A baguette for the lady.” He announced, handing me a baguette from inside.

“Such skills, you underrate yourself.” I said taking the baguette.

“VHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING ERE. ZIS ES PUNISHABLE BY DEATH!” Baguette had finally seen us and started making his way toward us.

“Uh oh.” I smiled.

“Oh, we better go.” Haiden sputtered, standing up and pulling me with him to an exit.

A bubble of laughter erupted inside me and I couldn’t suppress it as we ran. The smell of different foods flooding my nose as we passed different areas of the kitchen, cooks and other staff members staring at us with confusion as we ran past them with Baguette yelling in the distance. “Ef someone es trying to steal ze baguettes, you vill feel ze wrath of Baguette Le Chef! I vill get you!”

“We better get outta here.” Haiden blurted as we ran. We reached the exit and it took us into the servant’s quarters. I noticed how there was an exit to the palace in there and made a mental note of it. Then, with my free hand, I grabbed a random napkin from a servant carrying a platter full of them. It was one of the fancy shmancy cloth ones.

“What next, My lady?”

I presented the napkin to him. “Well, I just got the napkin that was also on the list… and we have the baguette.” At that I was pretty sure I could still hear Baguette grumbling in the distance. “Uh… let’s get out of here and then do our second round of guessing.” I laughed again and Haiden joined me, dragging me further into the servant’s quarters.

“The maids are probably wondering why their future monarch is running around with a little redheaded girl.”

“Don’t forget I’m carrying a baguette and wearing your green tie.”

He gave me a glance and immediately stopped running. I almost stumbled with him, but then he looked at me and reached for the tie. He untied the loose knot I’d made and replaced it with a perfect one instead, so that it was placed neatly around my neck. “There, now it’s perfect.”

I grabbed the end of the tie assessing his work and smiled. “Oh, how have I survived without your fashion sense.”

“Obviously. So are we going to guess yet?”

“Yes, you go first now.”

“All right. You’ve… never had a boyfriend.”

Ouch. I gasped pretending to be offended. “Haiden Schreave, why would you ever think that? You are lucky enough to get to date me.”

He laughed. “You’re practically a child.”

Oh, you want to play like that huh? “You’re barely older than me honey.”

“You’re still a minor.” He said matter of fact-ly, but then in a teasing tone he added: “And you’re tiny.”

HOW DARE HE CALL ME TINY? “No,” I poked his chest “you’re tall, there’s a difference.”

He still seemed amused as he stared at the finger I’d used to poke him. “Did I get it right, though?”

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Technically…no.”

“Technically?”

“Well, the media kind of expected me to have a boyfriend so I had one…for a while, but we were really just friends.”

“So not technically.”

“We agreed to be a couple for a while so people would stop asking why we were single” I shrugged. “Mutual agreement.”

“So technically or not technically?” He questioned and I struggled to give an answer as I thought of Josh.

We went out to get dinner or watch movies, in rare occasions we even did picnics to make it more “romantic”. We’d been like that on my last months in Angeles before moving to Dominica. We used my temporary move away as an excuse to break up peacefully.

It mostly started because paparazzi wouldn’t stop asking if there was anyone special out there I hadn’t told them about, and because everyone was expecting Josh to date the co-star of the movie he was working on. It was common for actors and actresses to ‘fall in love with each other’ to help the publicity of their own movies, but Ellie Foster made it pretty clear she would “never in her life date a Lynley again.” Josh was not any more interested either. After all she had broken up with his older brother just because she thought he didn’t “act like a Two with all the painting he did.” It wasn’t that she wasn’t smart or pretty, she was just too…condescending.

With me and Josh dating however, people would stop asking me about nonexistent secret boyfriends and stop suggesting him and Ellie become a couple. It was a win-win situation as stupid as having to do it was. Since that moment on I became Josh’s permanent companion on movie premieres—which to be honest happened a lot even before we became “a couple”. We kept regularly seeing each other on set whenever I was there with my parents and we hung out a lot out off set as well. Considering we were already close friends, it was mostly acting like the love we shared was a romantic kind of love… so it wasn’t all a charade. We really did have fun and enjoyed each other’s company. I even thought I might like him for a while…but by the end it was always pretty platonic.

“I don’t know…what would you consider technically?” I asked Haiden.

“I don’t know depends on what you consider dating is. For example, I don’t consider that we’re dating. I believe we’re both in a mutual contract at this point, but I wouldn’t say dating.”

That’s certainly interesting. I raised my eyebrow. “So this is not a date?”

“Mm, technically no. I like to call it a “Rendezvous with a possible spouse”. But legally, I’m supposed to call it a date.”

I laughed at the name he used. “Okay, okay, at what point would it be a date then?”

“When we mutually agree it is…I barely know you. It’d be weird to say we’re dating along with 29 other girls.”

I nodded tapping my chin as I examined him. I agreed with what he was saying, but I hadn’t been expecting those to be his thoughts. “True, it’s kind of weird…” really weird actually. “I’m beginning to think this Selection was not entirely your idea.”

“Oh, it definitely wasn’t.”

I thought about the rebels who had killed the second Azalea. “Hmm…any particular reasons the country needed it right now?”

“Not really. I was just of age and jolly ol’ dad decided it was time.”

“Okay, well hopefully I survive here long enough to get a real date with you then. And also I guess I technically haven’t had a boyfriend.”

“Trust me, I think you will.” He said it without stuttering, but then he seemed to realize he’d said it aloud and cleared his throat. “And wonderful, I’m right.”

I grinned trying to let him know his comment had not gone unnoticed. “Let’s see, a compliment… You’re a lot funnier than you think you are, or than what you pretend to be at least.”

“Why, thank you, Lady Aileen. You’re turn now.”

“Hum, I’m pretty sure you write. I don’t know what, but you do. I mean, with that bookshelf and the bunch of papers on your trashcan… that is practically overloaded with paper balls may I add.”

He laughed. “You got me.”

“Yes! Now a compliment, plus a detail. Is it novels? Songs? Short stories? …poetry? I’ve heard everyone blabbing about how much you love it.”

“Nope, no details. I am not contractually obligated. As for your compliment… I like that you talk back to me.”

“I’ll figure out eventually, but what do you mean I talk back to you?”

“You don’t brush off anything. If I’m wrong you definitely make sure I know.”

It was a simple compliment, but nonetheless pleasant. “Ahh, well I’m glad you don’t hate me for it,” I winked “someone’s gotta do it. Now, we’re almost done with the list. Next thing requires me to get my camera from my room.”

“All, right,” he said gesturing toward a door near us “after you.”

I opened the door and called for Janet and Anne, but no one replied. I entered and for once they weren’t there. Haiden slowly walked in behind me, double checking no one saw him enter.

“You´re scared to get caught in my room as well?”

“Of course.”

I started moving and picking up the polaroid photos I’d left on the floor and around my desk before I’d left for the gardens. “Why? I get your room, but…well…this is kind of your property.”

“Don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”

I thought again about ‘Exposing Illea’ implying me and David seemed a bit too close. David. My cousin. “Fair enough I guess. I am sorry for the mess as well” I said, still picking up photos from what to him probably seemed like random places. “Anne and Janet do a better job at cleaning really, I just told them not to move some stuff. I don´t want them to accidentally misplace things.” I had a weird way of organizing my pictures.

He laughed. “It looks perfect.”

I smiled and placed the pictures neatly on my desk. “Of course you´d say that considering how your trashcan looks.” I teased, approaching my new bed to kneel in front of it and look for my instant camera under it.

“You know you have plenty of storage in other places rather than the bed.”

“Yes, but no one serious would look under the bed. It´s ridiculous to hide something there…well, unless they are looking for something very important, then they would turn the room upside down.” I took out the camera from under the bed. “Would you ever think of looking under the bed?”

“Um, yes. That’s literally the first place people who have something to hide put things.”

“Fine,” I said rolling my eyes. “I’ll look for a better place….” To be honest I wasn’t trying to hide it there, I just didn’t want people using it without permission. It was a special gift. If I placed it somewhere else—where people might just pick it up while in my room to look at it—I would find myself trying to politely take it back without showing I was bothered by them grabbing it in the first place.

“Take it from a professional spy.” Haiden quipped.

I stood up and remembered how he opened the lock back in the kitchen. “You owe me a hair pin by the way, but you have to teach me that trick.”

To my surprise he took the hair pin from his pocket, but held it high above his head, out of my reach.

You little—I placed a hand on my hip and looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Against what you have established, I am not a child, so I will not behave like one…” I said it as eloquently as possible. Heather would be proud. Then I waited for a couple of seconds, expecting him to give ot back, but he didn’t and I was bored and I am Aileen. He’s already seen how intense I am. I sighed. Heather might not be as proud. “Oh who am I kidding, that´s no fun.” And then I tackled the prince.

He gasped as we hit the ground. “Oh, God.” Between laughs he stuck the pin on his hair and shoved me aside. “You’ll never get it now.”

I stood after him. “That’s not fair! Why are you so tall?!”

“Because taller is better!”

“Pfft, I doubt so,” I argued, reaching for the blanket on my bed and throwing it over his head in an attempt to stop him “it makes you a bigger target!

He laughed but kept on walking and crashed into a wall. Didn’t really protest though. “You’re not getting this pin.”

I snorted a laugh, but didn’t care for it at the moment. “Be careful where you’re going, and I’m getting that pin!”

Before I could do anything however he spun around and unraveled himself from the blanket. In seconds he was tying it around me. “No wait!” I tried to stop him, but failed and then ended up tripping over the blanket and bumping into the shelf I had. Because of the tangled mess we were with the blanket, we both ended up on the floor, next to each other. We had burst out laughing as soon as we hit the ground. I hadn’t heard him laugh that hard all day.

“You should let me keep the hair pin.”

I took part of the blanket from my face and proclaimed dramatically: “MY HONER DEPENDS ON GETTING THAT PIN!” But just then the carton box I’d placed on the shelf we bumped into finally tipped over and fell. All of my little paper swans and planes showered on us and the empty box landed on Haiden’s head.

“Well, this is inconvenient.”

I laughed again. “I like origami.”

I unraveled my hands from the blanket and took the box off his head. He smiled down at me and I took the opportunity to reach for the pin. “And so my honor is restored…”

He backed away and wrapped his hand around my wrist before I could grasp it. “Not so fast.”

I tried to hold him still, biting my lip in concentration in an attempt to reach for it with my other hand. “Is it so hard to make you stay in one place?”

“I never stay in one place.” He chuckled.

“Pfft, well first of all that’s a lie.” I kept reaching for the pin and he kept laughing, trying to stop me from getting it, playfully elbowing me away.

“No it isn’t.”

“Oh really, how do you sleep then…” The door creaked and from the corner of my eye I realized how it slowly opened, I glanced back at Haiden with wide eyes. We were on a corner between my bed and shelf, surrounded by a bunch of origami figures, a tangled mess in blankets. It didn’t get any more random than that. I immediately reached for the blanket and untangled it just in time to throw it on top of him. Anne came in with a batch of towels in hand. I was glad the blanket was for a king size bed. Big enough for a prince. Get it? No? Fine.

“Lady Ai—” she stopped midsentence looking at both of us. “Uh…who’s that?” She gestured at the blanket-covered Haiden with her head.

“Oh hey Anne! It’s just Mila.” Silence ensued as Anne frowned and Haiden remained silent. I cleared my throat before elbowing him on the ribs. “Don’t be shy Mila, say hi.”

He only squeaked a little. I could tell he was trying not to laugh. He’d be a horrible actor.

Anne seemed very confused. “Umm..”

“Yeah, uh,” my voice cracked a little as I avoided bursting into laughter “that’s how Mila says hi apparently.” I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. This was ridiculous. We were ridiculous.

“O-okay..?” I could tell Anne knew something was off but I only stood and tried helping Haiden up as well, making sure the blanket didn’t fall off. “Umm yeah we…” I eyed the room for a sec and then reached for a pillow as an idea formed in my head. “We were going to have a sleepover. At her room.” I shoved the pillow at Haiden’s chest. “Right Mila?”

He squeaked in agreement. I did my best not to laugh again. What kind of girl squeals to talk Haiden?

Anne raised an eyebrow. “It’s the middle of the day, why would you have a sleepover right now? And didn’t the last one end up with a burnt bush in the gardens?”

“We’re just getting ready…And yes there was a burnt bush, but Mila and I were some of the few that tried to stop them.” This was true. Remembering that night I leaned to whisper in Haiden’s ear and said: “By the way if it weren’t for us and Elaine your room might have been the one lit up.”

He laughed lightly and whispered back. “Well, thanks.” Then he cleared his throat and slouched down to my height. As if that would go unnoticed now. There was really no point in keeping this going probably, but we did.

Anne squinted at us. “Well Mila, you sure are tall…”

Haiden did a girly giggle in response and I snorted a laugh.

“Yeah,” I cleared my throat and waved a hand in dismissal. “It’s the vitamins!” Then I dragged him out of there, in the rush I accidentally made him bump into a wall. “Oops, better wacth where you’re going Mila.” I snickered, getting him past the door. “Bye Anne! I’m sorry for the origami mess, I’ll clean it up, don’t worry about it.” Then I pushed him outside. “Oh! Almost forgot” I went back in and grabbed the camera. “Perfect. Let’s go.”

He tossed the blanket onto a chair in the hallway. “Well, that was close.”

“That’s the worst impression of a girl I’ve ever seen.” I smirked.

“Well, I’d hope so.” Haiden emphasized and it took me a second to get it before laughing.

“Oh, shut up. Also, now you owe me one for saving your royal behind,” I extended my hand in front of him “so I wish for my honor back.”

“Maybe next time.”

I huffed, not willing to fight for the pin on the palace’s halls as well. “Fine, I’ll trust you with it…for now.”

“Great, because my next option would be to swallow it and my digestive tract could not handle that.”

I made a face. “Ew, that’s my honor you’re talking about.” Then I shook my head and held up the camera. “Now next item! We need a selfie with a guard.”

“I can do that.” He reached for something in his pocket and took out a walkie talkie.

Oh wow. “Modern.” I intoned.

He gave me an amused glance and started talking into the walkie talkie. “Knox, you there?”

I hovered next to him and yelled: “Hey Knox, how you doing?”

There was only static for a second, then a gruff voice finally spoke up. “Uh, Prince Haiden, I’m here, but who’s that?”

“Oh, no one.” He said rolling his eyes and I shoved him. “But, could you come to my room. I need help with something.”

“Uh, all right I’ll be there soon.”

When the walkie-talk was over I elbowed him. “No one? Excuse you, Mr. you underrate yourself, I am not no one.” Then I reached for the blanket and threw it over his face again. Me being petty. “Who’s Knox by the way?”

“A guard. Like you wanted.”

“I figured that, but aren’t you worried he’ll see me in your room?”

“No, Knox knows me and he’s no snitch.”

“A friend then?”

“Sort of. Let’s go.”

Once we were back on his room he asked: “So… are you having fun?”

“Are you kidding? Today has been great, one of the best treasure hunts I’ve ever had.” I said, laughing as I sat on the edge of his bed to wait for Knox. “I was actually worried I’d scare you with my…Aileen-ness.” I shrugged at my own creation of random words. “But I realized it was better for you to see it from the get go.”

He chuckled. “Definitely not. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

That was the best outcome I could have wished for. “Glad I could help.”

Then someone knocked on the door and Haiden walked over to it. “Knox, glad you could come.”

A guard with dirty-blonde hair came in and glanced at me. “Am I interrupting something?”

I couldn’t avoid snickering. “Yeah, we were about to passionately make out Knox, you just ruined the moment.”

He slowly walked out of the room again. “Well, don’t let me stop you.”

I tilted my head at him and raised an eyebrow at Haiden. “He doesn’t have a good sense of sarcasm does he?”

Haiden shook his head and replied: “Oh he knew what you were saying. Very well.” Then he gestured at Knox to come back in.

I frowned, slightly confused about what that meant, but I didn’t get a chance to question it as Haiden explained we needed a selfie. When he gave Knox my camera part of me cringed inside, just a little…I had been the one to give Haiden the camera in the first place though—prepared for both of them to be holding it— so it was fine.

Knox laughed and grabbed camera. “Don’t mind if I do.”

I ran over to stand behind him and poked my head over his shoulder. I had to stand on the tip of my toes because he was practically as tall as Haiden, if not taller. “Ugh, why are you all so tall.”

Knox took the picture and tossed the camera at Haiden. I chewed the inside of my cheek to stop myself from reprimanding him for throwing it with such disregard. “Lemme know if you need any more eye candy, babe.”

Wait… “What?

He was out of the room before I could question him again.

“Anything else left?” Haiden asked with a laugh.

I frowned at the door for a few seconds after Knox left, and then turned to look at him. “Well, I was hoping you could choose the last item.”

He gave that a thought. “Up for a challenge?”

I raised my eyebrows mischievously. “You’ve spent a whole day with me, what do you think?”

“Lady Alexandria’s hair brush.” He smirked. “Or comb, whichever.”

My mouth fell open and I raised both eyebrows. Oh my, he’s even more intense than me. I didn’t even mention how he’d gotten her name wrong.

“Or would her soul be better?” He added, mimicking the mischievous smile I’d had a few seconds ago.

I slowly grinned as my brain wrapped itself around his idea. “Oh wow, going for the big leagues. You sure you wanna get in the way of Alexandra’s hair? That could get us killed.” I was only partially joking with the last statement. Apparently she tolerated me so far, but I wondered if she was just acting like that because she recognized my dad’s last name. My dad hadn’t worked with her before, but she might know about him if she recognized movie producers.

“It’s too big. She won’t see us.” He joked, dismissing my concerns. Then he tilted his head. “You coming?”

I bit the inside of my cheek thinking it through. It was risky, but I couldn’t deny I wanted to go. If someone ever went into my room to get something as simple as a comb under these circumstances, and then told me about it, I would find it strangely hilarious. I knew other girls would too… but Alex? I didn’t have her entirely figured out yet. “I’m going to regret this…” I sighed “but at least she doesn’t already hate me. I might survive this.” Probably.

I followed him and he grinned. Most of my concerns diminished after I grinned back.

“You knock and see if she’s in there.” He whispered when we were almost by her room.

I walked the rest of the way to her door and knocked, calling her name, claiming Azalea was looking for her. No one replied so I gestured for Haiden to come. It seemed like the coast was clear. The door wasn’t locked—which I found rather odd considering I always made sure mine was—so we just opened it. Haiden mentioned the maids and I poked my head inside, asking if there was anyone there. After I said I was looking for Alex and got no reply we went in.

As we entered I looked over my shoulder at Haiden. “My guess is you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“Please, you’re not even trying.”

For a moment I thought that meant I’d guessed wrong, but when I asked if it was a real girlfriend he said: “Nope.”

I was confused by this. “Technical like mine then?”

“Nope, not technical. Just nope.”

I realized then I’d misunderstood his initial reply. “Then I’m right! I thought you said I wasn’t trying because I guessed incorrectly, now I get it…” He laughed at this and I shrugged with a smile. “It’s a fair guess, for all I know you might have had one.”

Haiden almost seemed baffled by the suggestion. “You’ve known me this long and you think I’ve dated before?”

He said that as if we’d known each other for ages which made my smile widen. I pushed him playfully, heading for the vanity to look for the comb. “Now, who’s underrating themselves? You got some tricks up your sleeve.”

“Tricks, really?” He seemed amused by the idea and I smirked.

“Well, yeah. You’re funny, dare I say even bold considering what you just picked for us to get now.” I added, gesturing at the room. “Smart, nice…I could probably list a couple more, but compliments aren’t free in this hunt, remember?”

He laughed. “I suppose so. It’s my turn isn’t it? Well, I’ll say you’re very funny, cute when you don’t try too hard, and not afraid of a challenge.”

“Jeez, now I try too hard.” I chided, shaking my head with a smile. Then I finally turned to look at the vanity in search for the comb. I made sure not to touch anything since I didn’t want to move things out of place; I wouldn’t want people moving all of my stuff around. I also didn’t pay much attention to any of the objects that I saw. I just concentrated on the shape of a comb and looked over the stuff on the vanity. As I did I clarified: “For the record, I don’t try too hard, I just like being dramatic. It is second nature…when I’m not in public.”

He shook his head, laughing. “No, that was a joke. You’re cute most of the time.” He paused only for a second. “You and your small, redhead self.”

I didn’t look back at him but my smile widened again. “Thanks Haiden, don’t forget freckled…” Then I saw the comb behind a couple of different perfumes. I reached for it carefully and slowly turned around to show it to him. “Well, look at what I found.”

“Well, let’s get out of here.”

After that there was only one thing left. Proof of the hunt.

With all the items on Haiden’s bed I picked up the napkin and started folding it to make a swan.

“You know napkin origami?”

“First of all, I’m pretty sure it’s called napkin folding not napkin origami.” I laughed, finishing the swan. Then I held it dramatically in my hand for him to see. “And secondly, yes, I know a bit…more than most people at least.”

Between a fake cough he mumbled: “Napkin origami sounds cooler.”

I only gave him a sideways grin before reaching for the book and placing the swan on top of it. Then I placed the comb to rest on the swan alongside the instant picture with Knox. I placed it all in his hands. He gave me a questioning look, but didn’t ask anything. I took a step away to look him up and down, and then decided he needed to hold the book in just one hand. He would need the other one to hold the baguette.

I made him raise his hand up as if the baguette was a sword and then, realizing my blanket was there, I added it as a cape over his shoulders. Then I pictured the frame in my head. “Hmm, yeah, this works.”

“This is a tad uncomfortable.” Haiden claimed, but the smile on his face was genuine.

I quickly reached for my camera and snapped a picture without really checking the frame, then hurried to help him with the book. “Any other posing ideas were I may actually angle the camera?”

He didn’t say anything for a second but then he jumped onto the bed and made a ‘draw me like one of your French girls’ pose from Titanic.

Oh, my freaking chips. I burst out laughing, and because I was trying not too I snorted again.

“Make me beautiful.” He cooed and I flat out lost it.

I was pretty sure my face had turned as red as a rose from laughing. The whole thing was perfect for a blackmail photo to tease him with later, but I couldn’t hold the camera steady because of my laughter. After a while I finally managed to snap the picture of him with the rest of the items on the bed. Haiden laughed with me and placed the baguette on his mouth like one would a rose during a tango. I leaned on a bed post clutching my stomach, still laughing.

You know how sometimes you laugh and you’ve been doing it for so long it starts hurting? Like you are struggling to catch your breath, but you just can’t stop? It was one of those moments. This was Prince Haiden? The shyest member of the royal family? “You would make a perfect Rose.” I joked.

“But where are your brushes and paint?”

Oh holy macaroni. My laugh immediately returned full on. “Oh my, must have misplaced them…” I sputtered, even though I was dying inside as I said it, and my stomach hurt from laughing, and I was probably a freckled tomato.

He sat up and I could tell he wasn’t going to stop. It was like he didn’t want me to stop laughing. “And are you my Jack?” He alluded.

I was so taken aback by that one I actually slipped from the post onto the bed. My laughter still echoed through the room. I tried to calm down and raised an eyebrow at him. “Would you like me to be?”

He reached for my cheek and I knew my blushing involuntarily intensified (if that was even possible), but then he held out the baguette to me and said: “Hold onto this and don’t let go.”

THIS NERD. I started laughing again but after a moment I cleared my throat and grabbed the tip of the baguette. Then in the most serious way possible: “Haiden, this Baguette isn’t big enough for both of us.”

“Then…” he paused to sniffle “one of us must leave.”

He pushed me off the bed.

“Whaa..” I wrapped my hand around his wrist just in time to bring him down with me. We both started laughing again on the ground. When we finally calmed down I looked at him and clicked my tongue. “Great Haiden now we’re both gonna die from hypothermia.”

He hummed. “Finally.”

I snickered and nudged him before staring at his ceiling. “You’re so dramatic.” Maybe even as much as I am. I took a bite from the baguette and couldn’t blame the chef for having them under a locked safe. I offered Haiden a piece. “Want some before we freeze to death?”

He accepted the offer. “I wonder what Baguette is thinking right now.”

“Hmm, maybe he’s considering what poison to use on our dinner…Or planning world dominance, you know.”

“I’ll have it treated, don’t worry.”

I smiled over at him. “Haiden saving the day.”

“Always. So are we going to guess again? One last time?”

“Oh! Yes, we’re missing one. You go first.”

“All right, um, you have conflicted feelings about me.”

Maybe. “Hmm, depends on what you mean by conflicted.”

“But I’m right.” He cajoled.

“I don’t know.” I rolled my eyes, smirking. “We haven’t even had our first date yet remember?”

“Oh, right.” He chuckled softly. “How could I forget? Maybe someday we’ll have that first date.”

I kept staring at the ceiling and started fidgeting with the green tie that was still around my neck. “I have to admit today could have been a pretty good date.” I only dared to look at him from the corner of my eye, but I noticed him lean closer to me.

“Well, maybe our first real date will be even better.”

I turned my head to face him. His brown eyes stared intently at my own and I found myself moving my head closer to his as well. “It better be or I’m holding you responsible.” I said, smiling softly.

“I’ll be sure to make it worth your time.”

“Good.” This time I smiled coyly. “My guess is you feel attracted to me right now.”

“Possibly.”

My lips turned into a thin line. “Does that mean I get a compliment?”

“Sure.” It took him a couple of seconds to come up with his reply. “You make me…rethink things.”

“Things like…?” I ventured, hesitantly.

“Things.”

I pressed my lips together again, but then smiled with a nod. “Things. Okay. Well, I guess you get a compliment too….” I had to take a moment to pick mine as well. “You make me feel comfortable in a sense.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too.” I said, staring back at the ceiling.

“So… this is the end, I guess.”

“So…who’s going to return Alexandra’s comb?”

“Mm, stick it in a potted plant.” He suggested.

I glared at him. “She’ll know its missing…I guess I could tell her I was near her room and in need of a comb and just borrowed it.” Not entirely a lie.

“No, don’t tell her anything.”

“Yeah, she’d probably kill me.” I smirked. “Though it was your idea…Maybe I’ll give it to her maid.”

“Probably a good idea.”

“Yeah, that way no one gets killed.”

We stayed silent for a while after that, just casually lying on the floor, as if it were completely normal. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence however. It was the kind of silence you agree on just to give someone else company. Does that make sense?

I wasn’t sure how long it had been by the time I sat up, but I knew our little rendezvous was reaching its end. I hovered over his face while he was still lying on the ground and the tie swung near him. “Any chance you’ll tell me the story behind the green tie before this is over?” I said, still curious about why it was his favorite tie. That was probably the vaguest most interesting thing he’d mentioned during my interview.

Haiden smiled and reached for the tie when it swung near his ear. “We better save something to talk about for next time.”

I grinned wondering what crazy ideas we would have during our second date. “A story for next time then.”

I moved aside and he sat up too. “We should probably go.” He said, standing up.

“Are you walking me to my room?” I asked, picking up the book with the other things from our treasure hunt. I was happy to take that beautiful book with me.

“I had a lot of fun today.”

I snapped a surprise picture of him then. Last picture of the day. I grinned at his smile on the instant picture that came out. “One of the best not-so-quite dates I’ve ever had.” I handed him the picture for him to see.

“If this is not a date, then I’d love to see a real one someday.”

“Agreed…Mutual agreement. When we mutually agree we’re having a date then it will no longer be a…” I paused trying to remember his exact words. “What did you call it? Rendezvous with a possible spouse? It sounds like we might reach the agreement sooner rather than later. Can’t wait to see how that turns out.”

We smiled at each other.

“Thank you for your time Haiden.” I did a dramatic curtsy.

“What are you doing here?” Janet asked when she came out of the closet.

I looked up from Haiden’s pictures and gave her a puzzled look. “Umm, this is my room…?”

“Anne said you were having a sleepover with Mila tonight.” As if called upon, Anne appeared on the bathroom’s doorway.

“Oh, yes. We were organizing a couple of thing…we’re done now. We’re not meeting up again until later.”

“Okay. I’ll have your clothes ready then.”

I nodded thinking I’d dodged a bullet, but then Anne spoke up. “Why are you wearing a tie?”

I placed my hand on the knot without thinking and then looked back at her. She was giving me a very suspicious glare. How had we forgotten about the tie? “I’m—trying to make a fashion statement.” It sounded more like a question than an answer.

Janet tilted her head in confusion.

Anne raised both eyebrows as if unimpressed with my excuse. “Wasn’t your date with the prince today?”

“Uh…” Busted.

She shook her head and walked over to sit on my desk’s chair. It seemed like she was waiting for an explanation. “You know, Lady Mila seems to have very prince-like shoes.”

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#haiden schreave #ugh no time for editing #selectionoc #fic #not a challenge

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