Chapter 5 It's PRINCESS Rose

"No. Absolutely not!" PRINCE Ace protested the moment I announced to the queen my conditions to continue the ball. One thing is for sure, he was not happy at all.

I, on the other hand, was sitting cross legs as I enjoyed watching his troubled face. I was beaming brightly at the queen. "Hey you want a ball? You got one. As long as PRINCE Ace is my escort." I said and gave Ace a smug look and wiggled my eyebrows. Then I turned to look at the maid and called her over. "Tea please."

"What kind of tea, princess?"

"One that tastes like victory. Darjeeling." The maid bowed and disappeared to fetch me my tea.

If Ace could kill me right now then he would, judging from the murderous looks that he is giving me. "You and I both know what you are up to." He says.

"Good heavens, what do you mean?" I gasped, still with that smug look on my face. Then I shrugged as soon as my tea arrived. "Well that is not for you to decide now, is it?" I smirked and sipped my tea with my pinky up. "Wow. Refreshing."

The queen, on the other hand, looked like she was considering it. "Are you sure? What about the other princes as your escort? What about Ren? Like last time?"

At the mention of Ren the door suddenly opened and in came Dan barging in. "You are absolutely right, your majesty! My brother is proven to be a great partner and escort for Rose!" He suddenly announced.

The queen, Ace, and I stared at him in annoyance. "Get out." All of us said at the same time.

Dan laughed and swallowed. "Well it seems that I am not welcome here so...." Dan looked at me. "...just think about it, okay? My brother for the win!" He yelled and got out - closing the door after him.

Once Dan was out did I face the queen again. "The other princes are fine, your majesty. But that is just it. My condition is simple. Either Ace will be my escort or I will not show up at the ball even if you force me to." Then I tapped my chin. "Oh wait, you can't force me because technically I am a PRINCESS! And you can't cancel now since you just send out the invitations. Oh my my my. What a predicament. Right, PRINCE Ace?" Then I laughed a victorious laugh.

I bet Ace wanted to break my neck right now because I have never seem him this angry. Well except the time that he and Ren fought off that giant snake.

The queen only gave Ace a look. "PRINCE Ace, if you please be Rose's -"

"PRINCESS Rose." I corrected and sipped my tea.

"-PRINCESS Rose's escort then we can have the ball." Clearly the queen was getting annoyed at my attitude right now, but I didn't care. They want me to be a princess so I'm acting like one. A spoiled princess that is.

Ace glared at me for a few more seconds before he finally realized that he has no other choice but to accept his fate. "Fine!" He said through gritted teeth. "There better be not any games here." He threatened me.

"I will make no such promises." I smirked.

***

"Wait. So you chose PRINCE Ace as your escort?!" Nate asked me in disbelief when I told him the story earlier. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"Nate, you and I both know that I already lost my mind the moment I was dragged into this world." I said as Nate and I headed for the door and towards the garden.

"Rose, this is Ace we are talking about. PRINCE Ace! With the capital P-R-I-N-C-E!"

I rolled my eyes. Nate was overreacting. Well maybe he is right to over react. "I know I know. But hey, I got the PRINCE as a slave for one day then I think it is worth it." I said I let out a maniac laugh and rubbed my hands together in excitement. My eyes then caught sight of Ren who was also making his way to the door. I raised my voice and waved at him. "Yo, wolf boy. Done brushing Cloud?"

Ren only gave me a glance and nodded his head once before going out. He was carrying his sword so I assume that he's out to practice his sword fighting. I looked at Nate. "Is it me or does Ren seem....angry?"

"Yeah he does." Nate replied.

"What do you think he's mad about?"

"I don't know. Did you do something to him? He kind of avoided your gaze earlier."

I thought of earlier where I made him brush Cloud and stormed off. "Uh-oh."

"What do you mean uh oh?"

"I think that he is mad at me." I said, looking at Nate worriedly. I like teasing the princes but I don't want them to hate me or get mad at me - well maybe except Ace - especially Ren. Ren is always there for me and seemed to care a lot for my well being. I can't afford to lose our friendship.

Nate nudged me. "Well, princess, what are you waiting for? Go and apologize." Nate says pushing me forward. I locked eyes with Nate and gave him a small smile as thanks. That was all I needed to go after Ren.

I was right when I guessed that Ren was out practicing his sword fighting. He was swinging his sword in the air and fighting off invisible opponents. I took careful steps towards him. "Hey, Ren." I said.

"Hey." Was his only response. Yeah. I'm positive he's mad.

"So.." I started. "Umm....Ren hey. Listen buddy, um, I may just be imagining it but....are you mad at me or something?" I was nervous. My lips and hands were already shaking.

I saw Ren paused for a moment before striking the air again. "For what."

Is it me or does it sound more like a sentence than a question? "Well....that is what I am here to ask."

Ren stopped swinging and turned his back to me. "I don't know."

"You are mad at me, aren't you?"

"I said I don't know!" It was the first time that Ren has raised his voice at me. What's more is that he continued to practice like I was not there at all.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. I was hurt beyond words. I mean, I can take it if Ace was mad at me, but Ren? It's different. He's a precious friend to me and I don't want to lose him. Without thinking I started patting his head like a good boy. I quickly drew my hand away when I remembered how much he hates being treated like a K9. I suddenly face palmed and hit my eyes.

Ren must have heard me because he suddenly reacted. "Rose? Hey, Rose, are you crying?!"

This time I was the one who showed him my back. "No." I said in a failed attempt to sound normal. Unfortunately, my voice cracked. Damn do my eyes hurt!

I heard Ren cursing behind me. In just a few seconds, he was right in front of me holding my shoulders after sheathing his sword. "No no. I'm sorry, Rose, I-I didn't mean to make you cry. Please stop." He begged softly.

Well this might do the trick. I went along and pretended that I was actually crying. "Y-you hate me. I'm sorry, Ren." I said trying to dry my eyes.

"It's not your fault, Rose. I'm sorry. It's just..." Ren sighed and cursed again. "I just....I heard that you picked an escort that is not...me."

"You mean that I chose Ace as my escort?"

Ren suddenly looked mad again. "Yeah." He said through gritted teeth.

"Well what about it?"

"I don't know. I just thought that since we're close and that I was your first escort that you would...I don't know...have me as your escort again." Ren says, looking disappointed. He cast his eyes downward and avoided my gaze.

"Ohh." Was all I could think of at that moment as an awkward silence passed us. I seriously wanted to pat his head and tell him that he is a good boy. And that I am only doing this as a form of revenge for Ace - I mean - PRINCE Ace.

Ren finally broke the silence. "You know what. Forget about it. I'm just glad that you are slowly opening up to us. And also that the party can still continue."

"Yeah." I agreed. I rubbed my elbows then and smiled shyly at Ren. "You know, if it makes you feel any better, I chose Ace as my Escort to become my servant for a day. If it weren't for that then I would have picked you."

Or Nate. And I was actually close to picking Dan as well.

"Honestly. What's so great about him?" Ren started to mumble something that I couldn't hear.

"What?" I asked, a bit surprised by his words. Ren must not have realized what he said because he looked as surprised as I am.

"Huh?" He says.

At that moment we stared at each other wondering what to make out of it. "W-Woah. Don't take it the wrong way, Rose. My brother likes you so it is only natural that I should be there as a brother to you. You....you somehow seem like a sister to me."

"Again with your brother having a crush on me." I sighed. "Ren, your brother is just an idiot like you who makes fun of others."

Ren crossed his arms and gave me a long look. "Did you just call me an idiot?"

"I'm just pointing out the facts." I shrugged.

Ren turned his back to me then. "So you probably didn't choose me as your escort because I'm stupid, right? Hmph!"

Is...he having a tantrum?

"Um...if your brother really has a crush on me then shouldn't you recommend him as my escort and not yourself?"

Ren gave me a side glance and snorted. "Oh right. You mean like that time he volunteered me as your escort in the last party?"

I laughed as I recalled that memory. "Yeah."

"Oh and I should be a supportive brother and push you two together." Ren added.

I laughed. "Yeah maybe you should lock Dan and I in the same room together. Like when we were in Sanver."

"Or make him look heroic in front of you. Say save you from roughs."

"Or help him become a gentleman. Like when he forced you to give me your coat."

"Or or." Ren laughed. "Holler when you two are having a moment!"

Ren and I started laughing at the idea and stopped when we realized something. We both had a dead look in our eyes when we faced each other. It seems as if we both thought of the same thing.

"Hey." Ren said.

"Yeah?"

"Doesn't Dan do all those stuff to us?"

I nodded. "I didn't even notice until we started talking about it, but yeah he does."

And then there was another wave of silence.

And then we started laughing. "Oh my gosh! He must have thought that you have a crush on me." I hollered.

Ren soon followed. "That idiot got it all wrong! Damn he's so stupid!"

Ren and I continued to laugh. "Well if he and I were to end up together then-" I was cut off when Ren suddenly pulled me in an embrace. I was too surprised to say anything so I remained silent until Ren spoke.

"Whatever....whatever your choice will be rest assured that I will support you no matter what." That was all he said before he left.

I just stood there like an idiot wondering if Ren is bipolar or not. I mean, for a minute we were laughing our butts off and the next he goes all serious and stuff.

And they say girls are difficult. Well I guess whoever said that hasn't met the princes.

If that's the case then maybe the princes are gay.

Suddenly, a gardener arrived to clean. Ren and I immediately partied and pretended to be interested on the floor. The gardener gave us a look and he shook his head in disappointment. "The weather here sure is dense." He sighed and suddenly walked away.

Once the old man was out of sight, Ren and I exchanged looks. "What's his problem?" I asked and jerked my thumb to the direction of where the old man vanished.

"I have no idea."