One In The Same Flame. ~Red Queen~ 《Cal x Reader 》

Chapter 12 ~Schedule

Your schedule is a follows:

0730--Breakfast / 0800--Protocol / 1130 Luncheon

1300--Lessons / 1800-- Dinner.

Lucas will escort you and miss Barrow to all. Schedule is not negotiable.

Her Royal Highness Queen Elara of House Merandus.

The note is short and to the point, not to mention rude. My mind swims at the thought of five hours of Lessons, remembering how terrible I was at school. With a groan, I throw the note back down on the nightstand. It lands in a pool of golden morning light, just to tease me.
Like yesterday, the three maids flutter in, quite as a whisper. Fifteen minutes later, after suffering through tight leather leggings, a draping gown, and other strange, impractical clothes, we settle on the plainest thing I can find in the closet of wonders. Stretchy but sturdy black pants, a skin tight deep purple long sleeve shirt, polished gray boots, and a black vest to go over the shirt, witch may be bullet proof by the way it looks.

Beside the glossy hair and the war paint, I almost look like myself again.
Lucas waits on the other side of the door, one foot tapping against the the stone floor. Mare is by his side, looking almost the same as me. We have the same boots and paints, but she dawns a purple jacket with sliver buttons. I guess the purple that we wear resembles are new life and family name. Titanos. We lock eyes and swiftly cross the hall to each other. We quietly grab each others hands, trying to convince the other that everything is okay. Even though neither one of us actually is.

"One minute behind schedule," Lucas says, interrupting the moment.
"Are you going to babysit us everyday or just until we learn are way around?"Mare asks her annoyance leaking through her words. He falls into step beside us, gently guiding us in the right direction.
"What do you think?"

"Here's to a long and happy friendship, Officer Samos." I say jumping on the sarcasm train.

"Likewise, my ladys."

"Don't call us that."

"What ever you say, my lady."

Next to last night's feast, breakfast looks dull in comparison. The "smaller" dining room is still large, with a high ceiling and a view of the river, but the the long table is only set up to fit four. Unfortunately for me, the other two happen to be Elara and Evangeline. They're already half-way through their bowls of fruit by the time Mare and I shuffle in. Elara barley glances at me, but Evangeline sharp-eyed stare is enough for both of them. With the sun bouncing off her metal getup, she looks like a blinding star.
"You should eat quickly," the queen says without without looking up. "Lady Blonos does not tolerate tardiness."
across from me, Evangeline laughs into her hand. "You're still taking protocol?"

"You mean you aren't?" My heart leaps at the prospect of not having to sit through classes with her. " Excellent."
Evangeline scoffs at me, brushing of the insult. "Only children take protecall."

To my surprise, the queen takes my side. "Lady OliviaVinna and Lady Mareena have grown up under terrible circumstances. They know nothing of are ways, of the expectations they must fulfill now. Surely you understand there needs, Evangeline?"

The reprimand is calm, quiet, and threatening. Evangeline's smile drops, and she nods, not daring to meet the queen's eye.

"Luncheon today will be on the glass terrace, with the ladies of Queenstrail and their mothers. Try not to gloat," Elara adds, though I never would, doubt Mare would either. Evangeline, on the other hand, blushes white.

"There still here?" I hear myself ask. "Even after-not being chosen?"
Elara nods "Our guests will be here for the coming weeks, to properly honor the prince and his betrothed. They won't leave until the parting ball."