CHAPTER 6

"Ms. Valdez, chin up and straighten your back!" Mrs. Wales shouted like a commando. She was tapping her heels impatiently, looking at me sternly. I guess the Mrs. Wales at the reception was gone. I heard a few snickers from around, mostly from the manipulative princess-Anastasia and her minions. Nonetheless, I complied with what Mrs. Wales ordered but seriously these heels hurt like burning hell. A few steps forward and I fell again.

More snickers and a few glanced at me concerned, I felt two arms lifting me up. It was Ria and her eyebrows were scrunched worriedly at me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just really not used to this," I replied, smiling slightly at her. Just as I was about to go again Mrs. Wales stopped me with a strong grip.

"That's enough Ms. Valdez. I'll talk to you later. Please sit on one of those chairs."

I groaned inwardly, then I realized most of the girls were looking at me with pity eyes. I mean I couldn't blame them pitying me, after they saw me fall about a hundred times. I smiled at them brightly.

"Don't worry guys, I won't break that easily," I told them and tapped my heart with my fist to emphasize that I was really alright as they nodded smiling and went back to their training with about 20 books on their heads as they walk with ease. I swear, how could they do that?

"Don't worry Clary, you'll get there soon," Ria told me and I nodded at her as she left. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see who it was.

"No wonder you didn't want to wear heels." Nessa chuckled at me, handing me a glass of water.

I took it and drank it all in one go. "I guess now you know."

The door suddenly opened and in came a beautiful woman with the most bongacious dress. It was a very lacy dress with intricate designs and she wore a big hat. Who the hell dresses like that nowadays?

Everyone also stood rigid facing her and seeing them do that made me wonder how important this woman that barged in was.

"Oh god, here she is again," Nessa groaned quietly. "You have to stand up Clary unless you want to get scolded later."

I stood up anyway. "Who is she?"

"She's princess Anastasia's mom, Queen Elizabeth and she's not very nice," She whispered.

I could tell by how she looked at the girls scrutinizing.

Anastasia went at the front and smiled at her mother before she curtsied. "Your grace," she said. Then everyone including Mrs. Wales followed. There were choruses of "your grace" in the air as they all curtsied even Nessa while she dragged me to bow my head as well which was a mistake because again, the clumsy me with ridiculous high heels fell down hard on the ground with a big splat. Talk about embarrassing.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry," Nessa sputtered as she held me up.

"It's fine, I'm used to it," I said brushing off my dress.

Someone cleared her throat and I saw Nessa gulp from the corner of my eye as I continued fixing my dress, her eyes widening. The queen must be looking here then and sure she was. Nessa paled as the queen trudged her way towards us, her hands began to shake. Nessa must be really terrified of this person, I have never seen her this scared and I hate it. I took her hand in mine to stop it from shaking, she smiled at me, feeling more relaxed than before but I could still feel her anxiety.

"How disgraceful!" The queen's voice boomed. "You can't even do a little curtsy to the queen!" Her words directed at me. I felt a sudden rage well inside of me but I calmed it down.

"I'm sorry but I'm still new to this." I looked at her in the eyes and she gasped. Her face paled as she stared at my face as if she saw a ghost.

"Oh heavens." I heard her say silently, still staring at my face. I mean was there something on my face? But then I realized her different expressions: Shock, anger, anxiety, fear, and guilt. Hmmm. . . Does she know me? She seemed to be hiding something, something dark, a past that was taboo, a sin.

"Mom, mom!" Anastasia's voice broke her trance. "Are you alright? You look really pale."

"Yes I'm alright," She stuttered, glancing back at me then full on glaring suddenly. As if I was her sole hatred. "It's just that indecent princesses shock me by their impudence."

"I know right," Anastasia sneered at me, "And she's not even a princess, she's a daughter of a criminal."

I flinched at her words. How dare she talk about my dad like that?! Nobody talks about my dad like he's a criminal! My dad was not a criminal! It's true that he stole some money by conning them but he only did that because they were selfish, cruel bastards that stole those money from the poor! He only gave them back to where they belonged.

I was about to say something but Nessa squeezed my hand hard, shaking her head at me, reminding me again that these bitches were very powerful.

"How did this peasant enter here? She's not supposed to be in here then! Take her out back to her criminal of a father! She's a disgrace to this school! She belongs in prison!" The queen enraged, her face red.

"Hey the-"I began, ready to kill this bitch but Mrs. Wales stopped me by clutched my arm.

"Excuse me, your majesty. Your orders cannot be done. Ms. Valdez was already enrolled in this school and many had chosen her as the best candidate this year. In fact she was the only one chosen to enter our academy after a long time and for the time being she's a student in here. She's also my student and I don't tolerate people degrading my students. If you have any complaints, please talk to the chairman and heads who run this school." Mrs. Wales voice was hard and didn't even waver.

"I cannot accept this! Who knows what she'll do to the other princesses?! She is not to be trusted. And look at her, clearly she does not belong here."

This time I stepped in. I couldn't just stand there and let her criticize me without saying anything because that wasn't me at all. That wasn't how I was brought up. 'Clarissa, don't be afraid to speak up. You have a mouth for a reason. Some people get hurt to the point of insanity because people don't understand them but they don't realize that it's their also at fault for not speaking up. If you meet those people who doesn't have a voice, you should help them find it. Be their voice but also never forget to be your own voice'. And again dad's words of wisdom reminded me.

"I'm sorry, your grace," I almost sneered. Nessa and Mrs. Wales tensed beside me but I squeezed both their arms to let them know it's going to be okay and let go. "I know that my back ground is quite shady but you should know that my dad isn't a criminal that you think he was. He's the most caring, kindest, greatest man in the world that I know. He taught me everything he knows. It's true though that he was once a con man but that changed when he got me. He changed for me because he wanted to be the best father for me and now if you search about him. He's one of the most powerful business man in the world and I'm proud of him not because of what he is now but because of what he was all along. Not a criminal, not a con man, not a powerful business man, but a father, a father that loves his daughter, my dear father."

I paused, holding my tears back. I hate it when people say something bad about my dad. They don't know him so why should they judge him? I really hate it. I glanced at the queen whose mouth was hanging open along with Anastasia. I guess my ranting was good enough for them to render speechless.

"You should also know that it wasn't my desire to enter this academy. I was brought here forcibly and for all I know, this academy doesn't trust very well like you. But then they still chose me. I wonder why?"

The queen's face paled even more.

"They must trust me very much then for allowing me to enter this academy. Or I may be something extraordinary of the sort or princess material, not that I'm bragging. Then I realized, maybe there was a different reason why they chose me." I emphasized the last sentence.

"Enough!!!" Anastasia cried, holding on her pale dear mother. "Shut up already. I'm sick of your trashy words. Let's get out of here mother."

The queen finally regained her composure. "As much as you're capable Ms. Valdez. I will still not allow this. I will talk to the chairman to get you out of here as you don't desire to be here anyway."

"Actually I changed my mind, quite recently I may add, your majesty." Because you were acting too suspicious.

She glared at me.

"Now if you're done, your majesty, please let me escort you outside," Mrs. Wales said as she escorted her outside with Anastasia who glared at me, probably forming a plan for my deathbed already. How sweet of her.

When they were finally out of the room, everyone began talking again, some sneaking glances at me, most approaching me and giving me complements. Wow, these princesses must not like her very much as well.

"I can't believe you stood up to the queen," Nessa exclaimed when we were finally alone with Ria, "I thought my heart would burst for a moment there."

"That was dangerous though Clary. It seems like she doesn't like you," Ria contradicted, her face dead serious.

"I know, it's like she hates me a lot to make a huge deal about me staying here and I don't even know why."

They both nodded at me with agreeing eyes.

"Maybe your dad did something to her in the past. You know probably stole one of her huge hats or ridiculous dresses," Nessa said chuckling.

Ria and I joined her, imagining what Nessa just said.

"Or maybe he tripped her or something and she fell on her face," Ria joked which was rare and we laughed again but something wasn't right.

"But she didn't seem to know my father or even my name guys but I could totally tell that she was hiding something."

Their eyes widened and I beckoned them to get closer to me with my forefinger.

"Listen girls, she's definitely hiding something which is somehow connected to me and we're going to find out what it is."