There was something seriously wrong with me. My brain most likely had unscrewed bolts, worms in my ears, and moths obstructing my common sense. All of them were mostly false, but I had to come up with the most ridiculous justification for my utterly stupid behaviour.

The course of the evening appeared to have become predictable. I was cordial and limited conversations to a minimum; I only exchanged a few pleasantries with people who really irked me. They believed that they were entitled to everything, and that everyone who was under them was nothing more than a particle of dirt.

My whole degree was based on the premises of protecting such people. Yet, unknown to them, I honed my skills and knowledge, expanded it in a way that when I was ready to be a whistle-blower, no one would see me coming. These pitiful people were the only ones who were deserving of being locked up. 

At the double doors, a server emerged out of nowhere to announce the start of dinner. I was fortunate to be right next to the table and immediately moved there to find a suitable seat. The most important lesson I took away from all of these events was that individuals give their seating choices a lot of thought.

My uncle was already standing near to the chairs and motioning for me to approach when my legs abruptly came to a stop.

Oh no way.

One seat was vacant as I rapidly examined the table. Whether the world had a whole agenda for me to fail or not, I would personally like to know. Given how little options I had, I sat down in the chair that seemed to be empty for the remainder of the evening.

I took a deep breath through my nostrils, sitting down with my legs crossed and my clasped hands resting on my lap. My posture screamed elegance and collected, yet I was anything but that.

I knew it was stupid when I decided sitting next to Claud would save me from any sort of humiliation. I felt that Claud, with his raised lip and frosty gaze, was the finest option among the group of sleazy men battling it out to sit beside me.

Claud gave a resounding round of applause as soon as my ass plopped down on the cushioned dining chair. Along with a few others, my head shot in his way as I tried to figure out why he was drawing attention to himself.

"If the Princess herself isn't sitting next to me."

I gave everyone a faint, forced grin as I quickly peered around the table, or as much as I could see considering it was likely the largest table in the city. 

"Stop clapping," I pleaded at Claud, ignoring the prickling consuming my exposed neck.

"But you need a warm welcome." He remarked, having the audacity to sound genuinely surprised. "This is the first time you've sat next to me."

Claud stopped clapping at this point, and everyone began to ruminate among themselves."You seem like my best bet today." I mumbled under my breath as I gently placed the immaculate napkin on my legs after removing it from my plate.

I straightened the cutlery, even though they required no such thing. Claude flung his fingers haphazardly in my direction, asking, "Are you usually this...fiddly"

"If I say yes, would that deter you from speaking to me?"

"No."

"Then, no Claud. I'm not always so fiddly, but I have to keep my eyes peeled for any bullshit that would somehow always deflect on me."

His chest made a low rumbling sound, which led me to believe that he had a very deep baritone laugh. I knew Claud's alluding looks and charisma was prone to fool any human but I knew details about him that he probably didn't know I had knowledge about. For instance, he appeared quite private about his origins, despite the fact that I knew he was born and raised in Leeds, and that his family consisted of two devoted parents and three children. I was aware that he was 10 years my senior. I was aware that he dropped out of college and chose to work on a apprenticeship for a while. How he came into this circle of society was still a mystery to me- but I had given myself a deadline of a year to figure it out.

I was also aware that he wasn't there for the standard status-seeking, money-grabbing reasons that everyone else was. He had no reservations about fitting in, as seen by his manner and the lack of regard he showed for my father.

In reality, he did his finest work by setting up unforgettable scenes wherever he could.

I heard someone clear their throat through the throngs of people. I could recognise that sound anywhere, regardless of how loud the room was.

My father was looking at me as I turned to my right; his eyes were an exact replica of mine. Despite the fact that father was the one who raised me and brought me into the world, I was unable to penetrate his tough exterior. And even then, I knew I would find nothing but an empty shell. My earliest recollections are just of speaking to impress him or being quiet so he could work. Yet, in both ways it never met the standards he had placed so high for me.

My younger self believed I could alter him on my finest days. I consequently showered him with love in both my words and my deeds. My mother used to whisper things in my ear in the dead of night, which I repeated to him. I had physically stretched out to him, emulating the way my mother used to hold me every day, hoping that he would experience the same positive emotions that I did.

The shutdown was ruthless and swift.

It was one shove.

Followed by a word.

"No."

I never touched him again after that. I never spoke to him unless he spoke to me first. And I'll never forget how my chest felt as though it were being squeezed, making it difficult for me to breathe until I was able to locate a hiding place and collapse.And now, sitting at the head of the table, with his hard and impassive glare trained on me, I wanted to run.

My spine stiffened as I felt something heavy touch my shoulder blades. I slowly turned back toward Claud while being engulfed in flames. He had hung his long arm across my shoulders, his slender fingers circling the skin exposes above my sternum. I attempted to get his attention so I could give him my most intense death gaze, but he was preoccupied with my father, his face clouded by an expression of impassivity.

I may not have seen the subtly raised eyebrow, which was almost like a quiet challenge, if my eyes weren't so fixed on him. Dare to do what? Even though I was aware that I was in the thick of a conflict, my mind kept recalling all the times I had felt exposed and defenceless. As if I were a lifeless puppet, willing to comply with any orders given by any anonymous, faceless individual.And that's when my stupid self decided to take the floor. My hand raised on its own and delicately landed on Claud's chest. I could perhaps feel the shape of his rib since it was firm below my touch and felt hard.

Claud suddenly focused on me, with mischief developing in his eyes. He seemed to be ten steps ahead of what was about to happen.

His eyes briefly glanced over my head before he murmured in a hushed voice, "Your loving dad is becoming red in the face."

I chose to focus all of my attention on the other males who just don't get the hint because I didn't want to accept that aspect of the situation. Never, not even once, was I going to attempt to date them. Fuck their grasping hands, too.

"Don't think this is going to start some fake boyfriend things."

Claud scoffed aloud. "Honey, you are not my type."

I quirked my eyebrow at him. "I'm curious to know what your type is. Do you favour preppy women?"

His lips were quite near to my ears as he leaned in very closely. Hot air flowed across my skin as he said. "Don't you count?"

"You are aware of who I am...right?"

This time, his skin was only a feather's touch from from me as I leaned in close. From the outside, it seemed that we wouldn't get near enough and would just talk for each other's ears. If only they were aware of the truth of the matter.

I gave him a sincere kiss on the cheek and lingered for a few additional seconds before easing back just a little bit.

"Oh, that's hot." Claud grinned and laughed once again. "If only you had intended it for me instead of the guy you go to see every night at midnight."