C11 Touch Move

I stopped laughing. My eyes went wide in surprise. I saw him smirk at me at my gaping face. "H-How did you.....know?"

He shrugged his shoulders as if it were obvious. "Well, it was pretty obvious from the way you dressed and the way you act. Plus, the nonsense that the Queen is blabbering about training you like a Princess. Everyone knows that a princess is already trained in their childhood days."

My mouth formed an 'O'. "So, who else knows?" I asked.

He thought for a moment. "All the Princes know."

"Crap."

"By the way," He shifted on his seat. "Since I had caught you first, that means that you and I will have our training tomorrow."

"Double crap!"

"Oh, shut up. You're not the only one who's in agony, you know. It's all your fault."

I raised my head and glared daggers at him. "My fault?!"

"Yes, if you had just sat on the couch as I asked you to, then I wouldn't have to carry you and make contact!" Our voices were already rising.

What the hell is this? Touch move!?

"Excuse me, but if you just minded your own business, then none of this would have happened!"

"What am I supposed to do?! Leave you there on the floor? Fine! Next time I'll let you freeze to death on the spot!"

"Get off your high horse. Freezing to death just by sitting on the floor isn't possible!"

"Not yet. But I hope you're the first one!"

"Fine!" I spat

"Fine!" He spat back. He raised his hands in surrender as he got up. "You know what? Just meet me here in the morning. I'm leaving for today."

Not wanting to be left alone, I followed. He stopped, and his head turned to me. "Why are you following?"

"I'm leaving too."

"No! I'm leaving first. You stay here." He ordered, not wanting me to tag along.

"No way! I'm leaving too." I started to make my way around him, but he stopped me.

"Stay!" He ordered.

"What am I? A dog? Move!" I pushed.

"I said I was leaving first! Don't cut in!"

"Who are you? My mom? Move!" I pushed harder, but he was too strong. We wrestled like that until both of us finally gave up. "Alright, alright! Well, go out together!" He growled and headed to the double doors and opened it. Then, he turned to me and jerked his head, a gesture that meant to get my butt out of here before he changed his mind. I quickly got out with a victorious smirk.

He closed the door behind him and gave me a murderous glare. Wow, if looks could kill, I would be dead.

"Now get out of my sight before I might do something that I might regret."

"What? You're going to be nice? Eww!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself." He started to leave when his eyes lowered to my bare feet. He raised his eyebrow. "Where’s your shoes?"

"Err...." I hesitated. Where are they? I remember throwing them at the twins...

"Princess!!" To my far left, I heard the twins calling me. Each of them is holding a shoe. Yep, my shoes are with them, alright.

Ace turned his attention to the two, his eyes focusing on my shoes in their hands. Understanding flashed in his face as the answer to his question appeared in front of him. A smile found its way to his lips. "I'll be on my way now. Good luck, and don't forget about tomorrow." With that, he exited as the twins approached, panting.

"W-where...have you...been?" One panted while the other continued for his brother. "We...have been...looking everywhere!"

"I was hiding," I said.

"Where?" Twin one asked, finally recovering.

"Someplace where you two aren't."

Twin one suddenly became interested in the floor and pouted. Twin two saved his brother from his embarrassment when he decided to ask, "Was that Ace?" He looked at the direction that Ace had just gone.

I nodded my head. "Yep, he was just leaving.” Twin two pouted. "Does that mean that he's first?"

I sighed. "Unfortunately, yes"

Twin one decided to step up. "Well, at least we're the second. Are we?"

"Yes." I nodded. I was acting as I'll cooperate with the training.

"Good." Both Princes went on their knees as they offered me my shoe. "My lady, can we?" Ren asked.

"No. Leave it there on the floor," I said with a deadpan face.

However, it appears that the twins are deaf. Deaf twin number two took my foot and put the shoe on it. Following that, the deaf twin one did the same.

Both stood up in perfect unison, which I suppose is one of the benefits of being a twin. They both bowed with enormous smiles on their faces. "We expect your arrival the day after tomorrow, princess." Twin two stated. "Until then, take care and have a wonderful day." They winked and walked away.

I made my way around the castle, wanting to return to my room. I was passing one of the floor-to-ceiling windows when, suddenly, the curtains opened, and Nate startled me by blocking my way. "Found you!"

"The $-?$&@!!!!!" I yelped when I was startled.

Nate gave me a funny look. "What was that?"

I coughed and cleared my throat as if it could hide all the curses that I uttered a few seconds ago. "You scared me!"

"Oops, sorry." He gave me an apologetic smile. "By the way, has anyone caught you yet?" He asked.

What am I? "Yes. Two. Ace was first, then followed by the twins." I said.

Disappointment flashed in his eyes. It was quick when he pouted. "Cheeky that Ace is, and I thought I was the first. Well, at least I was not last." He shrugged. "So, see you after two days?"

"Can do anything about it?"

"Of course you can’t! No one can resist this charm!" He pointed to his face as he flashed me a smile that would make boys run of their money.

"Please! I've seen better." At least in movies.

"Really?" He fake gasped. "Oh well, but none of them is as lucky as me to be in front of a beautiful lady such as yourself." He winked before leaving me with a flushed face. "See you around, Princess!" He called, then he was gone.

"Stupid Princes and their flirty attitude. And this stupid castle with their stupid queen." I muttered as I turned right in the direction of my room. It took me a while to get there because of the size of this castle.

When I finally reached the floor to my room, I saw Prince Fred leaning against the door. His blond hair slightly covers his closed eyes. His head was lowered, and his arms were crossed over his chest. He looked so charming. Was he waiting for me?

I made my way towards him, careful not to make a sound. His breathing was even. I think he's asleep. I leaned in to see if he was asleep and couldn't help but notice the way his hair would fall to his eyes when he is leaning down, his long lashes, his high cheekbones, strong jaw, sharp nose, and the way that his mouth would move as he slept.

I feel like such a creep.

Oh, and he smells so good! Kinda like pine cones. His eyes fluttered open and stared into my gray ones.

I gasped in surprise as I backed away.

Fred covered his mouth as he yawned and rubbed his eyes before he looked at me. From the look on his face, he probably just noticed me. "Hmm? Princess, how long were you standing there?" He asked.

"I-I-I.....I just got here!" I stuttered, feeling relieved that he didn't ask what I was doing.

Fred noticed where he was leaning and abruptly straightened himself up. "I-I'm sorry. Was I blocking your way?" He asked. "I was just waiting for your arrival."

Oh right. The princes and their stupid games with a castle and a stupid queen.

I laughed nervously as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I gulped. "Sorry, but the boys beat you to it. You were the last...." I said.

He surprised me by laughing. "Well, I guess that waiting for you here instead of looking for you was a bad idea. Oh well, you know what they say 'save the best for last.'' He bowed, then gave me a grin. "Until then, Princess. Have a good day." with that, he left, leaving me staring at his retreating back.

He's handsome. I wonder if he is single?

I opened my door and walked in a while banging the door closed. I walked like a zombie towards my bed and slumped against it. I bounced once before the bed settled. I grabbed a pillow and buried my face in it.

"Getting comfy?"

"Shi-" I quickly sat up on my bed.

"None of that language, dear."

I glared at her. I grabbed my shoe and aimed at her threateningly. "What do you want?" The Queen sat on a chair at the far left of my room with a book in her hand. She shut it before she turned to me with sadness in her eyes. Looking at her face, it seemed to have aged a day. "Look, Rose. I didn't know....and I'm sorry."

Did I hear her right? Is she apologizing? Grab a wall. The world is about to end.

I scoffed at her. "If you're truly sorry, then the least you can do is send me back."

She shook her head. "That I cannot do."

"Why?" I asked - suddenly feeling tired.

"The magic that brought you here...well... it isn't ready yet." She smiled innocently.

"What do you mean by that? What isn't ready?"

As an answer, she brought out a clear fist-size crystal orb. Something was thick and swirling inside of it like black smoke or mist. I stared at it dumbfoundedly. "What is that?"

"This is the thing that brought you here."

I gapped. "Really? I remember it being a flat paper and not an orb."

She rolled her eyes. "Honey, you remember that I'm a fairy with magic, right? I used some of my magic to morph this thing to look like a charm."

My mouth formed into an 'o'. For some reason, I guess I now honestly believe that I really am from a different world and that the queen is a fairy. And that I have no magic and I am not a heroine to save this world from a demon lord.

I waved my hand at her. "I don't care about the details. I only want to know when that thing will be ready to take me back home." So I can sulk and cry that I was taken to a different world as a romance protagonist.

The Queen scratched her head and avoided looking at me. A sure sign that it was terrible. "I don't want to disappoint you, but I...don't know....."

"What?!"

"Now watch your blood pressure, my dear. I heard that it's not good-"

"What do you mean that you don't know? Explain. Now!" I demanded. I was pretty close to throwing my shoe at her.

"This magic is unpredictable. The amount of magic required to bring a human to our side depends on the amount of baggage they have. By baggage, I mean emotional, but sometimes it could be because of blood. In your case, you completely drained it. We have to wait until the mist is gone. You will know if it will be fully charged when the ball turns into a solid ocean blue and would radiate a brilliant light. When that happens, you can decide if you would stay or leave. Until then, you're stuck." She explained.

"Can you at least-"

"I can't give you powers either. Zero magic means zero."

"When that thing is ready, I will surely leave this heck of a place," I said.

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. "You wouldn't know that."

"Oh, I know, and my decision is final."

She shrugged. "Hmm....we'll see about that in the future, won't we? After all, with all the handsome Princes in this castle, you might change your mind." She winked, got up, and left the room, closing the door behind her.

I sighed.

I yelped when the door opened once again, and the Queen's head peaked out. "Oh, By the way, I searched the word alien in Merriam - Webster Dictionary." With a flick of her wrist, a tablet appeared in front of her. "It says-"

"Get out!!" I threw a pillow at the door, and she was gone. Sheesh!!! Give the person some rest!!

Dinner was served to me that night as I was reading the book that Ace had lent me. I just sat there on the bed. What does she mean by me changing my mind? She's still up with her plan?! The nerve. No worries. For now, I will 'cooperate' with her.

I'll take the lesson. I'll try to know more about this world as much as I can. For now, all I know is that I am in a different realm, and only the queen can bring me back. It's a realm where princes and princesses exist. Okay, I think this much I can handle.

Until I can return home, that is.