"Do I need to ask?" A voice from behind startles me.

Well I had just returned from seeking out some rats to execute my plan, but a certain prince had to discover me.

Slowly, I spin around to meet his cool gaze on me.

"No. This is none of your business." I manage to keep the rats concealed somewhere in my gown. Hopefully he doesn't hear their tiny squeaks

He smirks. "What are you up to this time, mistress of mischief? Last time you pretended to work in the kitchen just to steal some food, now what?"

My eyes widen. "How did you-"

The prince takes a step closer. "I have my ways. Now tell me, what are you up to?"

An impish grin steals up my face. "Wait for the headlines tomorrow, Your Highness." After dropping a curtsy, I turn around and flee the scene.

Why don't I still know his name?

Now, it wasn't hard to find out Theresa's room from the maids.

Satisfied with the progress so far, I head to my room where Judith immediately interrogates me about my whereabouts, while Symphony helps me out of the burdensome gown.

"I just went to stretch my legs." I lie.

Judith snorts. Then realising her mistake, she quickly slaps a hand over her mouth. I really am a bad influence.

Chuckling, I take out the pins in my hair.

"When do we get to meet the prince?" I ask out of curiousity. It was hard to understand why the object of our contention was kept hidden from us.

"Tomorrow." Symphony responds.

Pretending to be tired, I yawn, hoping to get rid of the girls faster. "If that's the case, then I need to retire early."

I sink into my bed and this fools them into thinking that I would be asleep in minutes. After they had dimmed out the lights and left through the servant door to the side, I jumped into action.

From my observation, outside each of the rooms there's a small balcony which could be easily assessed from an adjoining balcony. This makes my task easier.

In my night dress, I pull the windows open, sliding into the balcony and swinging my legs into the next balcony belonging to Hilda. Theresa's was five balcony's away.

A breathless ten minutes later, I drop silently with the precision of a ninja.

Seven rats.

A couple of horrified screams spring up minutes later, and I let out an evil chuckle before returning to my room.

What would that green-eyed stranger do if he saw me like this?

Half-way back, I hear voices in the garden beneath.

Craning my neck forward, I spot two figures. A male and female.

"This is not proper, Lady-"

"Hush now. I only wanted to see you." The female says.

"But, the choosing, you can't do this. If the King finds out, Harriet."

Harriet? I slap a hand over my mouth.

That sneaky thing.

"I don't care, Isaiah. I iike you, not the prince." She confesses, holding his hands close to her chest.

Isaiah? As in my guard, Isaiah?

Bloody hell.

What did I just witness?

Refusing to witness the scandalous moment any further, I retreat into my room.

                                    |||||||||||

Thursday : History Lessons/Languages.

I opted for the language lessons instead of history because I had enough books on that plus I always wanted to learn the ancient language Lhis (pronounced as lees).

Isaiah escorted me back and fourth as usual.

"Something strange happened last night." He speaks.

"Hmm?" I answer him absent-mindedly, pretending to be studying the shadows made by the columns of the outdoor hallway we're walking through.

"Lady Theresa complained of rats in her bedroom last night-" I look up to meet his face. "-which is strange because the rat catchers make sure none of those creatures are found around the main palace."

I shrug indifferently. "How unfortunate. And I observed something strange last night."

Isaiah raises a brow. "Really, what?"

A smirk stretches my lips. "I don't care, Isaiah. It's you I like, not the prince."

The colour fades from his face at record speed. Chuckling, I tilt my head to the side.

"You were saying."

Like a fish, his mouth opens and shuts. "How, how did you-"

"-don't worry, you've been nice to me so I won't tell anyone."

Cackling, I race down the hallway, away from him and ignoring the baffled stares of some girls.

Wild is my nature.

I had barely stepped a foot inside my room when Madam Alicia grabbed my arm.

"The king has made his decision about you."

"Oh really?" I ask, struggling in her grip as she jostles me down the corridor away from my room.

"Yes. And from now henceforth, you'd be in my room. All your belongings have been moved."

I believe everyone close by could hear the clatter as my jaws sank low.

"Hell no."

"Language, Miss Kennedy." She reprimands, wearing a huge smile which irks me.

Rooming with her? No way.

I could barely stand being within three feet to her.

Nopity nope!

"I'd rather sleep in a kennel than in your room." I spit, wriggling in her grip. If I actually wanted to get away from her, I would have. Her grip was as weak as Tony's.

Speaking of Tony, I should write to my family soon. If that is allowed.

Resigning to my fate, I just let the woman drag me to wherever.

↭↭↭

The wherever turned out to be a seamstress shop somewhere in the palace. I bump into a mannequin after Madam Alicia forcefully shoved me in.

A tiny woman seated behind a sewing machine blinks multiple times at us. Then all that shock vanishes in a split second.

"Good evening Madam, how may I be of help to you?" She asks swiftly, stepping forward.

"Good evening Gwen, I need to pick up a couple of gowns for this unruly young lady here."

Crossing my arms, I smirk at the Head. "A pleasure to meet you, Gwen."

She laughs, moving to the back and uncovering a rack filled with gowns in different shades of colour.

"You must be Lady Alanna."

An unladylike snort leaves my throat. Madam Alicia nudges me but I ignore her.
"Alanna lives back at Eaton. This here is Alan, thank you."

Snickering, Gwen waves me over to inspect a gown of my choice. However, Madam Alicia pushes me aside and picks a forest green gown.

"There's no way I'm wearing something that makes me look like moss." I protest.

"Yes you are."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Gwen stares back and forth as we argue over a flimsy piece of fabric.

Madam Alicia inhales deeply. "Just pick a colour, you pesky creature."

Being called a creature didn't stop a wide grin from possessing my face.

Now, to meeting the mysterious prince.

What is your favourite animation? Encanto and Coco are one of the best for me.