Chapter 11

"With all due respect sire, but can we see the mark?" Cool asked while side-eyeing me.

"What mark?" Count Blaze asked, confused.

Cool was about to open his mouth to talk when the count's face changed and looks like he recalled something.

"Oh, you mean this?" and he pulled his sleeves up, revealing his arms marked with the same blue moving dragon.

But my brows furrowed.

"Why does it---" I wasn't able to finish when I felt Cool slightly nudge my arms. I look at him questioningly.

What? I was just about to ask the count why he has a different mark.

Cool's mark is a moving blue dragon emitting fire with two swords crossed behind it. But the count's is different

Sure, the blue moving dragon is there and the same. But there's no crossed swords behind it, instead it was just surrounded with fire.

No more like, the dragon was inside the fire.

I eyed the count suspiciously.

Is he lying?

My parents told me to trust no one but Cool.

Was it because everyone around here is coming to deceive me?

"The Queen sends me to accompany the princess around the palace." As soon as I heard the count's word I immediately held Cool's arm and hold it tighter.

"I prefer going around with Cool," I said not minding if I would offend the other party.

My mom asked me not to go with anyone!

"My apologies your highness, but I'm just following the Queen's order." the count said, slightly bowing down in front of me.

I felt Cool removing my hold on his arm, afraid that he would leave me with unfamiliar people, I held on his arm tighter.

"I don't want to go with him," I said with full determination as I held on him tighter. He gave me a small smile and nodded.

"Don't worry, I'm coming with you. Let's just let the count show us around. He knows this place more than I do." Cool said, assuring me.

I stared at his eyes looking for any signs of deception but there was none. He was telling the truth and so I nodded and we followed the count around the palace.

I noticed that he kept on glancing back at Cool who was quietly following us, and I even caught him scowling at him!

I'm really not liking this count.

"The Queen requested to have dinner with you, tonight Princess," he said while glaring at Cool who was standing beside the door of what supposed to be my bedroom.

"I'll have Cool accompany me---" Count Blaze cut me off with an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry to inform you that only the members of the Royalties were allowed to attend the dinner," he said staring mockingly at Cool who never gave a damn with this count's petty antics.

Cool doesn't give a damn, but I do!

"Well then, please tell the Queen that I won't attend that so-called dinner without Cool to accompany me." I saw how Cool swiftly turned his head to look at me and the startled look on Blaze's face when they heard me talk with authority.

I can't help but smile triumphantly while staring at the scowling face of the count when he saw Cool taking a seat beside me.

It turned out that the Queen, my grandma can't afford to lose me in tonight's dinner, so she allowed me to take Cool if it would make me feel more comfortable.

"It's good to see you Princess Fhyra." said the man who was introduced to me earlier as Count Blaze's father.

I just gave him a slight nod and a small smile just like what I do to everyone.

Well, I thought bootlicking was just for mundane but who knows, these Fantasian people are so good at it as well.

They've praised the Queen so much for having a granddaughter as pretty as me, as smart as me, as classy as me, as if they really know me.

I was secretly snorting while listening to all the empty praises when I felt Cool slightly kick my feet below the table.

"What?" I mouthed at him with my forehead creasing.

"Stop scowling," he whispered and gave me a warning look.

I rolled my eyes and pulled off a fake smile.

"Blaze can help the Princess get used around and can even help her with her trainings, right son?" His father asked the count who was staring at me right from the beginning of this dinner.

"Absolutely father," Blaze answered politely.

"Well, that's good to hear. What do you think Fhyra?" Queen Feu asked me with a warm and expecting smile.

"It sounds good, but I can manage. I have Cool with me." I said and continued eating as if I didn't notice the people on the table staring at me.

"But Fhyra, my son here can help you hone your persona, he can protect you as we—" he stopped when he heard my utensils was set aside.

I gave him a warm smile but my eyes say otherwise.

"Cool is my guardian—"

"As I am, Princess." My attention was snatched away from his father towards the Count who looked mad staring at the quiet man beside me.

"I know. But I'm sorry Count Fantilaga, I prefer training with Cool. Besides my parents asked him to look over me, and that speaks enough volume and merits as to how capable he is." The whole table was quiet as I was speaking, I scanned around and look at every faces in front of me.

"Your Majesty, I think it would be of best intention to send Commandant Santiago back to the Glaciers." someone suggested to the Queen.

My warm smile became chilly when I met with the eyes of the woman who suggested such an absurd idea.

"You can try," I said in a mocking voice before standing. I turned my attention on the spoon she was holding and a few moments later, her panicky screaming echoed in the large dining hall.

Someone immediately extinguished the fire I cause and the lady was now staring at me from the ground, terrified.

"Don't underestimate me. I may have not been raised here but my parents have been training me since I was a child." I said with a chilly smile and set the ends of her dress into flames again before leaving the hall with Cool.

We were already out of the dining hall but the screams and commotion of everyone inside the room are still audible.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side." Cool said while staring back at the door of the dining hall that we just left.