Novel & Cerita Behind Her Highness's Smile Chapter 8

Her fury came slow, like a storm building under her skin. Her lips were pressed into a hard line, her chest rising and falling fast and I could tell that felt all of their insults. I couldn’t help it—I smirked in satisfaction. “Oh, sweetheart,” I murmured under my breath, “seems your new heiress life isn’t all roses and silk sheets.” Satisfied, I pushed away from the pillar and walked off. The corridors were quiet with morning light streaming through the tall glass panes. I took my time, heading back to my room. My boots clicked against the polished floor, echoing faintly.

I looked down to see myself unharmed, except for my forehead off course. Which felt like it was on fire. "Welcome your majesty. I hope you are comfortable" Came a voice and I instantly knew who it was. My hands clenching as I looked up at the source. She stood there with a big victorious smile on her face. Just open my hands and I will love to see how her smile looks with missing teeth. Her eyes twinkling as she saw me struggling, her hands folding in front of her chest. "I must say, Claire, you are definitely a beauty with brains"

But her? She tilted her chin up, daring me. I should have ignored it. I should have let it go. But I didn’t. Instead, I let my lips curl into a slow, knowing smile. “You heard me.” Her arms crossed over her chest. “I think you’re confused, Your Highness. That’s not something you say to someone you’ve been hunting down like a criminal.” I exhaled sharply through my nose, amusement and frustration battling inside me. “I didn’t say I was hunting you down for that reason. Don’t flatter yourself.”

Suddenly, something caught my eye, and I rushed towards her, my face breaking into a smile as I confirmed that, indeed, her eyes had opened. "Your Highness," her voice was hoarse, but her smile lit up her face. I had no idea that her smile was this beautiful.

That smile-- she must be plotting something again. “Stop smiling, it’s making me shiver.” She shot me a deadly glare and I could feel a cold sweat running down my spine. I immediately raised the white flag by taking a sip. Suddenly, my eyes widened at its taste. “Milk!” I exclaimed joyfully as I clapped my hands like a little child. Everyone chuckled at my expression and went back to business. I squirmed my legs as some ladies tried to massage it gently. “Ah! It tickles!” I giggled at their touch but they only gave me a soft smile and refused to let go. Aha. ha. ha. How cruel. “Don’t worry, Your Highness! We’ll make you into the most beautiful woman at tonight's banquet!” My eyes widened at

A sly smile splits her face into a smiley emoji and I find myself grinning in return. The only other person with this ability in my old life was Kenny and I find myself wondering how she is. She and Mallory, how they're doing? If they're still bickering like kids or have descended to a full-blown war? “If I am to be your friend then you must listen and take heed to my advice otherwise I'm your mere servant and nothing more.” She says firmly as she turns back to the closet and finds a deep red off-shoulder gown with a lot of gold sparkles on the helm that makes it look like flames and raises it for me to see.

She has done more running than she could ever remember doing in the whole of her existence, perhaps it was time to stop running from the inevitable and finally give up. “ hello princess “ she looked up to meet the river blue eyes of the high duke , he was here , death was finally here. “ high duke ” she acknowledged, maintaining her regal posture, even though she was a fallen and ridiculed princess she was still a princess no doubt. The high duke smiled.

Well, she was my only key to Camille and getting out of this place so I must bear with it. Like I predicted, she was smiling when I turned to face her, “Can I get more of this juice? It was just too good.” She says raising up her now empty glass. I stared at it in shock. Wasn’t that full just a second ago? I thought these people ate slowly and proper-like. “Of course, your highness.” I say, with a bow only remembering that she said not to call her that after it had already left my mouth. I shrugged as I made for the door. It’s not like it could harm anybody.

Unproblematic to the point where it was boring for me. Chaos and rebellion undo me, not obedience. She smiled when I approached and dipped into a smooth curtsy. “Your Highness.” I gave a sharp bow, one second too late. “Your Highness.” We settled at the table under hundreds of fairy lights above us. Camera flashes far enough to be polite, close enough to catch the way I shifted in my seat every two seconds. Bernard hovered nearby, pretending to check something on his tablet.

Amber all but sneered at the girl, her eyes glowing in the dim light. "I'm sorry Your Highness, but we already prepared these for you." Her smile was sickly sweet and not unlike Amber. The rage within my stomach twisted into something ugly at her expression. That twisted smile. I averted my gaze somewhere else, choosing not to fight. Not to let that rage unspool right before our big entrance.