Chapter 2

THE TWO ETHEREAL ROYALTIES GRACEFULLY AROSE, READY TO DETERMINE MY INESCAPABLE FATE BY USING THEIR ORNATE, DELECTABLE HANDS.

The Asian beaut who I figured was princess Vanessa pulled me in her arms as she chuckled modestly. "You're absolutely stunning and I'm in love with your dress!" She fussed, giving me a warm embrace which I returned. She smelled of spring Magnolia and the fabric of her dress was as smooth as silken milk.

The heiress, Riallyn held out her gloved hand for me to shake which I took gladly, pleasantly surprised with how amiable they are. "Please sit."

I looked behind to thank Sir Carlos but he had taken off, perhaps to nag on another student.

I took my seat, relishing the softness of the cushion while my feet sighed a bunch of thanks for the long awaited break. "Thank you, your highness."

"Oh please, don't be absurd. Enough with the formalities. You don't need to be so polite to us. Just think we're your average classmates. Also, my friends call me Nessa." Princess Vanessa smiled with her radiating pearly teeth.

"I'm called Ria. On the other hand, what is your backstory, Clary? We don't usually get a new student at this time of year, " the heiress explained, munching on her Caesar salad and juicy blueberries.

I took the same fork she was using and dug into the tasteful greek salad in front of me. "I'm the daughter of Richard Valdez, a renowned con artist who helps out the FBI with fraudulent crimes. And apparently, he gave consent for me to be taken here. His royal highness who is still a mystery to me requested my admission to this academy which I was hoping to find out from you guys. Forgive me for speaking casually."

"You are to speak like this from now on and not ask for forgiveness," Nessa commanded playfully. "What a cool dad. I would love to meet him someday!"

"Indeed, what a character. I assume you've been taught the ways deception works as well. That is completely badass and just what we need for the upcoming competition. We have no idea though which prince asked for you." Rita looked pleased to have me on their team.

"What competition?"

"It's the battle Royale. Every year we're given ten rigorous challenges to test us if we are ready to face the public and all that it can give. Whoever wins the battle Royale gets to roam freely in the public eye and inside the Academy," Nessa excitedly informed.

"The reason we are so eager to win this competition is because we are not allowed to step out of the academy for our safety in the next 5 years of our stay here. It's bullshit."

"Language Ria!" Nessa chided.

"Sorry, it's just if I had known it would be like this I wouldn't have come here. A year without contacting my family is torturous." Ria scrunched madly on the crisp lettuce, her stormy eyes vividly angry.

"This is unbelievable, " I said, disbelieving that we are stuck in this wonderland like imprisoned cattle. "Why did they make such a rule?"

"We have no idea and when we tried prying the advisors, they simply shook their heads and dismissed us." Nessa frowned as she popped a pomegranate in her mouth.

Sir Carlos would know the answer, I'm sure. I better find out where he stays because I have a feeling I'd be asking for his candid advice every time I'm in trouble.

"Is there anything else I should be wary about?"

"If it's someone you should be wary about, it's princess Anastasia. Her powerful family rules the North of America and she is an only child. Furthermore, the spoiled princess made ridiculous rumours of me and Nessa having a polyamorous relationship with the princes."

"In other words, she stained our reputation with the name-calling of sluts and whores, " Nessa added disdainfully, her hazel eyes lowering with reverent sadness.

"That's preposterous. Why would she do that?"

"Because we declined to join her clique. We wanted to be our proper and classy selves and not follow her around like a sick puppy, " Ria answered as she rolled her perfectly winged eyes.

Nessa sighed. "We were new and we didn't know who we were up against. The rumours were terrible, I still have nightmares about it sometimes."

"We steer away from her from then on and you should too. We are sorry if we're dragging you with our ruined reputation just by hanging out with us. It's the sole reason why there are only two of us dining at this table while the rest are filled."

"Yes, I did notice, " I let out, confirming my suspicion of why the other royalties moved away from us like the plague. "But I'm not bothered at all. Princess Anastasia can go to hell for all I care. I would choose to hang out with you guys in a heartbeat."

Nessa sniffled as she wiped her diamond tears with a laced handkerchief. "That's so beautiful. I'm touched to the core."

Ria locked her grateful eyes with mine. "Thank you, that means a lot to us."

Our heartfelt exchange was interrupted by none other than the devil herself. She cleared her throat, pulling our attention. Yet when I stood up and turned around, I was not expecting to see such a goddess.

Her tiny waist was cinched with a teal hue leather while a generous show of her ivory skin was smeared with silver glitter. A diamond necklace was placed on her bare neck accenting her smoky blue eyes and the bottom frills of her jaded dress were cut short mid-thigh to display her long tanned legs and studded heels.

Princess Anastasia stretched out her ringed index finger at me and gave a smug smirk. "Who's this? Another lamb for you to devour? What a poor little girl, I pity you." She touched her chest in feign distress earning a peal of laughter from her cronies.

"Don't include her in your sick need to control people. She's new here and doesn't deserve the way you treat us, " said Ria defiantly.

"Leave us alone, Anastasia," added Nessa.

"Oooh, defending the little lamb to earn her loyalty. Unfortunately, pretty soon she's going to beg to be on my side just like your other friends did," the spoiled princess taunted, her blue eyes cackling.

I feigned a look of surprise and covered my mouth with my fingers. "It didn't match." I muttered, shaking my head.

"What didn't match?" Anastasia interrogated.

"Oh no, your Royal Highness, I wouldn't want to--"

"What is it?" She insisted.

I smiled meekly. "I was wrong with anticipating to hear a voice of a man from your vile mouth. Clearly, you are a woman of refined nefariousness. I apologize for my ignorant guess."

The jaws of my audience were open wide, and the pure shock in their eyes made me want to roll on the floor laughing.

This is it, said the banshee in my head. This is how you take them down.

"Y-you thought I was a man?!" Was the cry of princess Anastasia, beguiled and perplexed. "How dare you!" She looked down at her dress and opened a small mirror to check on her impeccable makeup.

"You insisted, " I reasoned meekly, shyly scratching my jaw.

"Ugh! This is not over you stupid girl!" She turned around, red-faced and calling for a dress rehearsal.

I faced Ria and Nessa who burst into laughter.

"That was gold," Ria laughed, her silver eyes twinkling under the noon sunrays.

"The look on her face was priceless!" Nessa giggled as she covered her mouth with her fingers full of scintillating rings.

I chortled along with them as I took a sip of chamomile tea and began to reach out for the mouthwatering strawberry cheesecake muffin.

Pace yourself, Clarissa. You don't want to show that conniving side of yours. I reminded myself yet the banshee in me cackled. You can never change who you are, she declared and let out a peal of giggles. You are a destroyer of calamity, bringer of unbiased justice, annihilator of the powerful. You vowed it to yourself which is why I am here.

Own it.

Out of a sudden, the herald dressed in a neat white uniform began to announce the latecomers to the royal banquet. "I present to you Prince Lucas of Spain, Prince Eric of Netherlands and Prince Gavier of Greece," his voice deep-toned and blaring.

The mighty doors were unbolted and strode in the three most handsome boys I ever had the fortune of laying my eyes upon.