I am the Queen

Callabelle Waltz, second daughter of the Waltz family. She was a woman of pride and independence. She knew her worth and wouldn't tolerate anything less. A perfectionist, equipped with the virtues of a true noble. She was well educated, prim, and proper, wouldn't do anything that would tarnish her reputation. And at this moment, she was currently at a corner, watching her older sister, Lilybella Waltz, preparing something in the kitchen.

Biting her thumbnail, she hid from her sister's view, didn't want Lilybella to find out that she was spying on her, least she wanted her cool, detach image ruined.

Clicking her tongue, she watched as her older sister was at it again, baking something for the Prince.

Ever since the trial engagement, Lilybella was always in the kitchen. Well, she was always in the kitchen before. But now it was different. She was cooking every day, twenty-four-seven for his Highness, Prince Daniel Richardson. Eager to please him.

Her older sister was naïve, simple-minded. Her brain had stopped growing since puberty, as well as her height. Not to mention she acquired the face of their mother, which people forgot the moment they stopped looking. The reason why their mother and father indulged her, they were too guilty for her appearance. Edging Lilybella for her childlike ways.

Lilybella tastes were weird too. She liked to wear vintage lacy old maid, mismatched dresses. And when it came to food, she would eat anything, spicy, cold, hot, sour, everything. She was the type who anyone would like to invite to eat for her appetite.

Every reunion, Lilybella was always the favorite topic. Their relatives didn't know her as they do. They visited once a year, and they think they knew everything. They were saying every time that her older sister didn't have any future and that no man would want her, so it was better if she was married off to another family after college.

And now, their relatives must be chewing their lips and eating vinegar about the news of her older sister's engagement. And she bet the next topic this year was that her older sister was unfit for the Prince.

And when at home, Lilybella was the odd man out. She was weird. She had her own little word and understanding of things. But when someone was in trouble, be it a maid or the gardener, she was the first to appear at their defense. And when their mother and father quarreled, her presence was enough to calm them. And it was her older sister's face that greeted her whenever she got back from a late night's work from her student council duties –– asking her always if she already ate. And whenever she was sick, her older sister would drop everything and take care of her.

As much as a noblewoman would go, Lilybella was lacking. But as an older sister, a member of the family, she was irreplaceable. And she was sure that no one deserves her –– not even that Prince.

DiiinnNGG!

"Oh~ coming~!"

This was her chance! While her older sister was running towards the door, she snuck into the kitchen. Her brown eyes constricted, staring coldly at that piece of box. Behind her, she was holding an identical box.

  ----

"Good morning, Kelly! You're right on time! Lilybella baked some cookies."

Kelly beamed. Her stoic face moved at the sight of Lilybella's cheerful face.

"Ah. Sorry for the trouble, and thank you for having me again," Kelly said with her droopy eyes and dopy face.

"No bother, no bother. Lilybella is always happy whenever you come and visit. Come in! come in!"

Lilybella led Kelly in her room before she clapped her hands in front of her face in an apologetic smile. "Sorry, but can you wait here for me? Lilybella will be back before you know it."

"Don't mind me. You go and take your time."

Lilybella beamed before she went out of the room, hurry in her movements.

Well, it was not like Kelly didn't know what her friend was up to. It must be because she was sending another gift to her fiancé, the Prince of Everland.

Blowing her cheeks out, Kelly grumpily cursed under her breath.

Lilybella and her weren't friends before, and when they did become friends, she'd seen to it that she visited her whenever she had the free time. Mostly because she baked one of the most delicious cookies in the world and that because she had nothing to do.

Lilybella always had something going on. It was either she was coking, writing her stories, playing with her toys, or playing her BL and Otome games. The reason why she loved visiting her whenever she can. She was never a bore.

But lately, her friend's attention was occupied by her fiancé, Daniel Richardson, and this was pissing her.

Lilybella was weird. She was the kind that others find ridiculous and childish. Loud even.  She was more like a crazy person in school, and no one bothered to try to hide their eye rolls when they were paired with her during class activities. She was like that to her in the past too.

It was not because Lilybella was an idiot, even though her face always had an idiotic smile, she was, in fact, knowledgeable and good with her studies. Else, she wouldn't get in St. Elizabeth's Academy for women. She just didn't gossip about the same topic as they did. Didn't laugh the same joke. Didn't watch the same movies or didn't sing the same music as they did. On top of that, she was clumsy, any breakable near her would drop dead on the floor within seconds she held it.

But when her parents divorced, she went into depression. And when she called her so-called 'friends,' they all scattered, pretending they didn't know her. And when she accidentally called her, Lilybella went to her house, carrying a bag of cookies accompanied by that usual toothy smile on her face. She didn't know why she cried at that time, but she did.

As far as the ideal woman from the ducal household, Lilybella was far from it. But as a friend, she was a keeper.

And she would be dammed if she let her suffer inside the messy inner royal family. Prince or not, no one is enough for her.

Her stoic face turned ice cold. Squinting eyes replaced her droopy ones, staring at the small box neatly wrapped in a cute ribbon. 'To his Highness' was written on the tag.

----

Daniel unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt the moment he slumped against his swivel chair inside his office. It had been a busy day at court, not to mention he had a board meeting right after. It was already ten in the evening when he finished everything.

Blowing out a breath that ruffled his lips, Daniel indulge himself in the comforts of his chair before he eyed those usual gifts on top of his table. An edgy, twitchy feeling hit his nerves at the sight of Lilybella's name written on the tags.

Scrubbing his hands over his face, he gazed upward and despairingly shook his head. He sighed, and he cracked his head from side to side. He wanted nothing to do with whatever was inside those gifts, but his noble side forced him to at least check, even though he already knew what was inside.

It was the usual, burn cookies which tasted like flour and sugar, and the other would be, what he hoped not, was something entirely disgusting. One time, it was an old rag. He didn't know how long it hadn't been wash, but it caused him an upset stomach for days. Another time it was a handmade indiscernible handkerchief, more like pieces of discarded fabrics clumsily sewn together.

He didn't know if it was intentional. But . . . does she hate him that much? Or her idea of love was so twisted like her gifts?

Feeling the familiar elevation of his pulse, he sighed once more before he carefully untied the gifts, feeling like something revolting would come out from it. And to his horror, his guess was right. It was those usual burnt cookies that tasted like flour and sugar. But the most horrendous thing was the second gift, it was a girly sock, and it was missing a pair.

What on earth?!

Was she purposely sending this to spite him? Else, why does she kept sending these things to him?

His comprehension couldn't comprehend her at all! In the first place, she was weird, to begin with.

Feeling defeated again, Daniel called for his assistant to dispose of his 'gifts.'

And right on cue, Lilybella called.

Pursing his lips, he didn't want to answer. But if he didn't, she wouldn't stop calling him until morning.

Throwing his hands up in the air, he gave up and answered his phone.

"Your Highness! Did you like Lilybella's gifts?"

Lilybella spoke almost the moment he picked up his phone. He could imagine her asking that question while her head tilted in a side to side rhythm.

His lips curled. His muscles and veins were throbbing against his skin from holding his temper at bay.

"Miss Waltz, please don't send me any more of these . . . these filthy things you called gifts."

". . ."

He regretted his harsh words when he noticed the other line went unnaturally silent.

But what remorse was dissolved when she countered with her usual cheerfulness and optimism.

"Eh? His Highness didn't like Lilybella's chocolate chips and the socks she sew? Then. Then. Then. What does his Highness like? Lilybella will make it for sure!"

"What I want is for you to stop bothering me," he snapped.

". . . Ah! Lilybella get it! Because his Highness didn't want to bother Lilybella, right? Because his Highness knew baking cookies actually took her half a day. Not to mention sewing those socks nearly went for seven hours! But don't worry about it, your Highness! Lilybella already decided to dedicate all her time to you! Lilybella is your fiancée, after all!"

". . ."

Daniel closed his eyes and tipped his head back. Oh, God . . . that was a very twisted way of seeing things. It was over line optimistic. It was already delusional.

And the best way to counter her was a proven sure way he discovered.

"I have to go. I'm busy with matters here. So be an understanding fiancée, and don't bother me."

He then ended the call without letting her reply. Moments later, as he expected, she replied through text.

[Your Highness, Lilybella won't bother you anymore. Lilybella will research to the best of her abilities to know the things his Highness likes and Lilybella will swear to make it for you, 200% surpass your expectations. Stay tuned and look forward to it. Chu!]

Shaking his head, Daniel turned off his phone and resumed working. Didn't know that there was already a small smile on his lips.