A Royal Deal

Laying on her rather uncomfortable bed, Iyana eyes travelled around her room. "Closet? Small."

A bed, a nightstand, mirror, closet. The room was bathed in different shades of blue that was pleasant to the eye. She sighed and looked around, groaning when she didn't find a bathroom. If she was here as punishment for her kingdom, the less they could do was implant a bathroom inside her room. She sat up. "Well duty calls." In a matter of seconds, she stepped out into the hall.

"Umm...excuse me?" She asked one of the servants passing by.

Turning, an young male carrying a stack of blankets rested his gaze on the princess. A smile brightened his features once he recognized just who had called out to him. "Yes?"

"I don't seem to have a bathroom located in my bedroom...Is this a mistake?" She asked, slightly annoyed.

The servant laughed. "Aah you must be Princess Iyana...Well, I'm Brenton. And let me say you are a very fine lady."

Iyana sighed inwardly. Remarks such as these had no affect on her simply because she was use to receiving such comments at least twenty times a day. "Thank you, Brenton. And as for my question...?"

"Oh yea...Umm we have a bathroom shared by a couple rooms. You'll find a ladies' room in both directions, Milady."

Her shoulders slumped. A shared bathroom...? Gross. "Just call me Iyana, Brenton. I'm not a princess anymore." She sighed and walked back to her bedroom.

Before she could close the door fully, she heard Brenton's voice behind her. "Don't worry Iyana. It's not as bad as it seems. And I'm here to help you if you need anything."

"Thank you." She said, a slight blush arising on her face as she walked off in the direction of the bathroom. It was flattering, but not possible.

Returning, she kneeled by her bed and put her head down. Her mind of the latest events of today, yesterday, and when she left flooded her every thoughts like a wave washing against the shore. She started to cry, tears falling on the sheets below.

A knock came at the door of Iyana's the next morning. Iyana wiped away her dried tears slowly.

Sandy, one of the servants whom worked during the day, had decided that she should meet the new servant to the prince. She had seen Iyana leaving the party, and decided to follow. Hearing that Iyana was also this princess from another kingdom, only added to Sandy's excitement, since she had never met a princess before. Thoughts of goodness, fairness, and kindness filled the maid's mind whenever she thought of the princess.

"What?" She groaned.

"Princess, you were supposed to be up a hour ago." The voice of Sandy break the silence.

"Go away I'll wake up." As the door closed Iyana sat up. She grabbed a uniform out of the closet and walked into the hallway, trying to find someone who knew what they were doing.

"Good to see that you're up." A female voice echoed across the hallway. "I'm Sandy."

"Hey Sandy," Iyana said, making her way down the hall.

Sandy chuckled, "Okay, 8:00 a.m. you wake up. The first hour is dedicated to getting ready, showering, hair. That kind of stuff. Then the next two hours are just to make sure breakfast preparations are coming along nicely, maybe tidy up your room a little.

Then at 11:30, go and get the prince's schedule for the day from one of the head servants, I�m not sure which one. Then, at precisely noon, take his breakfast up to him. The prince will eat breakfast every day."

Iyana thanked Sandy as they went into the bathroom to get ready. She took a shower and applied a light layer of make up before doing their hair.

In the hall, Iyana made her way toward the prince's room. She was both annoyed and angry about being reduced to a servant.

"Milady," came a familiar voice. "How is the princess this morning?"

"I told you Brenton, I'm Iyana. Not princess, not Milady." Her voice held a slight annoyed tone. "I'd prefer you not call me princess... please, Iyana works fine." A saddened look crossed her eyes. "I'm not a princess anymore, any less than Dominick was a prince when he was in my care."

Benton saw the princess grew sad with just her one comment. "How about... Sweetheart?" He asked, the corners of his lips rising.

Iyana smiled and walked pass Benton, a small blush rising to her face again. She shook her head.

Benton chuckled as he watched her leave. "Milady it is!" He called out to her.

Despite haven't been to his kingdom in years, Dominick slept surprising well under the white satin covers of his king-size bed. However, with the first rays of sunlight shining into his face, he stirred into consciousness.

Turning away from the sunlight, he kept his eyes closed. He had not wished to wake up. The problems of his duties as prince awaited him, just as soon as he stepped from the warmth of his bed. Those duties, some from before he had been tiring, wasn't something he was yet ready to face. He could hear his door opening, yet he remained still-listening to whoever had walked into his room.

At noon, she had his breakfast in hand and was walking up the stairs to his room. "It's nice to sleep in... isn't it?" She said entering his room and placing his tray on the bedside table.

Hearing Iyana's voice, a ghost of a smile threatened to form on his lips, but he turned away from Iyana, sitting up. He had expected to receive the cold shoulder from her. "Yea, well it's draining after getting up at eight to make sure I had everything in place for you before you opened your eyes" His voice slightly soft as he scratches his head, which had been in a mess from sleeping.

Iyana smiled softly and rubbed her eye. "Yea. I'm not exactly awake right now." She looked at him and tilted her head ever-so-slightly. He looked different when he wasn't completely groomed. But it wasn't half bad either.

No. She shook off that thought and smirked when he told her to turn around. She waited for him to speak. What's he thinking about...?

Realizing that this was actually the first time, the formal princess saw him in a mess, he half glared at Iyana. "Turn around and don't look at me." His voice sharp and demanding. Inwardly, he scolded himself for making her his personal servant in the first place and for not getting up early enough to at least make himself presentable, after she did what he said.

Looking down at himself, he frowned. The unbutton shirt he had worn from his celebration had remained where it was revealing his chest. Raising the covers and looking at himself, he had concluded that he was still wearing his clothes from the travel. This had only meant that Leon, his head butler, had come into his room and had placed him into his bed properly.

He remembered that last night he had drifted to sleep thinking about how much things seemed different, and what princess Iyana was doing. He even remembered debating about rather to go down to her room to apology and maybe ask her to forgive him, but that wouldn't have solved their issues between each other.

Dropping the covers, he looked over at his breakfast. Taking a moment to at least smooth out his hair, he leaned back against his many pillows. "What is it? And you may turn around."

She turned around and shrugged. "Umm... Eggs Benedict, and some kind of drink, and vitamins or some kind of pill to help you?" She said, glancing at him. "And if you think I actually care about seeing you in a mess, when you've seen me every morning, and when I was broken down crying, with mascara running down my face...well...then you have another thing coming." She said, shuffling her feet back and forth.

A light blush started to color the prince's cheeks only to disappear the next. "Do me a favor, Princess. Don't pretend to know me?" His voice free of any anger or bitterness. �It would be in your best interests...He trailed off. At least until I can settle a few things.

Iyana huffed and rolled her eyes at his comment, and tilted her head at him when he trailed off. This wasn't like him. She wasn't going to act like she didn't. Even though he was annoying and demanding at the moment, he would soften up eventually...she hoped. She couldn't quite tell. Power does, in fact, change people.

Dominick picked up the vitamins. Emptying them in his left hand, he frowned. The vitamins were something he had been required to take since he had been a really small boy. Insisted by the queen, the medicine was supposed to be strengthen the prince muscles and give him essence growth supplements. "I didn't need these five years ago, and I don't need them now. Closing his fist around them, he pushed his cover to the side. "You can take the breakfast away. I won't be eating it anyway."

As he was standing up, he paused. "Actually, give the food to someone or eat it yourself." Walking over to Iyana, he took her hand and placed the pills in them. "Get rid of these, and don't mention this to a soul. Every morning, one of your goals is to get rid of the pills."

She listened to his words, frowning as he placed the pill in her hand. She closed her fingers. Is he depressed...? Surely he wouldn't be... I mean, he's a prince... he's royalty... However, Iyana could tell something was off about him. She sighed and shook her head. "Okay... I'll take care of the pill. But as far as the food goes...you need to eat. I know as your...servant...no. As Iyana, I'm supposed to make sure your healthy...even if that means defying you." She sighed and continued.

Dominick arched an eyebrow with Iyana's resolution to maintain his health. Amused, he found that he couldn't really believe this. Knowing that the once fragile princess was actually taking another person's emotions into consideration was too hilarious. That's was when it hit him. Was Iyana actually on some hidden plan of hers, he ponders.

"Eat...Dominick. Do at least that. I may already be harming your health with letting you get away without the pill." She held it up as she spoke then dropped it in a small pocket located by her left breast. She sighed and studied him, trying to find a hint to tell her what was wrong, but she couldn't seem to find anything outstanding.

In his mind, there was no way, Iyana was being caring toward him unless she would receive some benefit. Or she actually pitied him. Despite either option, Dominick decided he didn't care at the moment, but he would have a bit of fun to set his day off to a royal start. "O and what is I refuse once again to eat." His voice challenging. "What would you do? You can't force me as I'm more than stronger than you, and you can't order me because I'm your superior. So, Princess, what exactly would you do?" Amusement colored his tone.

She sighed at his question then shook her head. "You're right. Maybe I can't do anything. Don't eat it...See if I-" She stopped and shook her head once more, closing her eyes and taking a seat in a chair in the corner of the room. She didn't care what he thought.

Determination shined in his silver eyes. He gaze straight into Iyana's eyes trying to see any signs of weakness. To him, her eyes told their own story as to what Iyana was thinking.

"Now...?" She said, crossing her legs, "Answer me this. What exactly are your motives for..." She gestured to the plate of lure warm food on his bed side table. "This?"

He watched the beginning of what seem like anger rose to her eyes.

"Is something truly wrong? Are you unhappy for some unknown reason? Or... are you doing this to get a reaction from me? For your own entertainment purposes? Is this enjoyable to you?" She asked, her anger spiked and her voice was gradually raising, "Watching me get worried, and trying to care? Then just laughing and throwing me down? Is this all a game?"

She couldn't stop herself. She was truly mad at how he was acting. "Well look here, oh almighty Prince Dominick, I'm done playing your games. If you're trying to drive me mad, break me, I'm broken. I'm fragile. You win." She stopped there, a tear running down her cheek. She wiped it off and glanced at the ground before putting her head between her hands, her silence returning.

As she crossed her legs and began speaking, he shifted his gaze from hers. He watched the anger rose to her face, yet he did nothing to interrupt her. Trying to care, huh. So you don't truly care, just acting. Those words seek through above all else. "I don't believe you are broken yet, Princess Iyana. Far from it actually. You're too spirited to break so easy. I know that much." No kindness touched his voice. "To answer your question yes I'm playing a game in which you are the entertainment. Working for you has taught me some things about you, except the very thing I want to know."

Iyana sighed and looked up at him, a slight hint of darkness flickered in her eyes and she smirked. "You're right Dominick... I'm not broken. I may not like it here, but I won't be shot down by the likes of you. You think I'm as innocent as I look? The fact is, I may just have some motives of my own. Maybe I'm playing a little game as well." She stopped and laughed softly, fixing her hair.

Making his way over to his dresser, which was passed her, he opened the top draw. "I want to offer you a deal. You figure out my game, and I'll return you to people."

She then glanced back up at him, her smirk turned into a forced, pleasant smile, the darkness still in her eyes. "Fine, Dominick, I accept your deal. I'll play your game."

Turning around, rested his gaze on Iyana. "Another thing my princess slave," He smirked. "When I give you a direct order, don't question it. I have no desire to eat in the morning. The food is tasteless. And you can give my regards to the chief." One man he was never fond of since he was a kid.

"Just remember..." She took his tray and opened the door, "You're not the only clever one here." She stopped and looked back, "I'll give your regards to the chef." And with that, she left.

He wasn't blind to her motives. He saw the darkness that lite her once careless eyes, but he pretended to not be effected by her eerie gaze and her warning. Knowing the princess for five years, he never really knew her rage. Despite her standing there, fixing him with a gaze that could cut him to pieces as if it had been a sword, however, he didn't fear her. But, he knew better than to belittle someone who were filled with rage, enough to harm as well.

As she took the tray and reached the door, returned his eyes back forward. And so everything begins. Sorry Iyana, you will lose this game. He heard the door shut closed behind him. After he was sure she had gone, he proceed to finish getting ready for the day.

Once Iyana was out in the hallway, she smirked, feeling a new air of confidence enter her lungs. She returned the tray to the kitchen and stated exactly what Dominick had said, and walking back out. She then returned to her room and plopped down on her bed, waiting for the next summons that would arrive soon.