Page 20 of Take My Crown

Ivy Archaic

“Hey, Ivy.” Milly practically skips over to me when she sees me walk into the common room. I can’t help but admire the way she now wears her long hair down and a single braid hangs on the one side. “How are your classes this morning?”

“It’s official. Ihatepolitics.” I dump my bag on one of the sofas and slump down next to it. “My father will never let me drop it, though. We spent an entire two hours debating whether the result of the Brexit referendum is valid or whether there needed to be a larger majority to trigger the process. It issooooboring. Like, who cares? It’s not like I’m going to be allowed to leave my father’s houseever, let alone live abroad.”

“You shouldn’t speak about your father like that. He’s only doing his best.” Milly’s response surprised me, but then she doesn’t know the truth about my complicated family history. I can hardly tell her I didn’t know my dad from Adam until he hired her asshole brother to kidnap my stupid ass and drag me here.

“Yeah, well, if his best means I have to suffer through more classes like this morning I can do without it, thanks.”

“Look.” Milly dropped down on the sofa next to me. “I know we’ve only known each other a couple days and I’m not exactly top of the class when it comes to the Academy, but if there’s one thing Idoknow about, it’s what it’s like being a daughter of one of the most powerful men in King Town. Your father sent you away to that boarding school to keep you safe and only brought you back to make sure you can build the connections you need for when you take over his business. As his only heir, as well as being a girl, he’s got to take extra special care of you.”

“Boarding school?” I did a double take.

“Yes. Before you started here, we were told that you were transferring from an exclusive boarding school in Switzerland.”

“Seriously?” It is all I can do not to burst out laughing. “Is that what you all think?”

“Well, yes.” Milly frowned. “Why? Isn’t it true? Were you not homeschooled by a governess, hidden away in your father’s mansion until he thought you were old enough to take care of yourself?”

So close.

“N-no.” I laugh nervously, realising that much as I liked Milly, I don’t know her well enough to be able to trust her yet. “You’re right. I did go to boarding school. I just didn’t think Dad would tell you all where I was since it was all such a big secret.”

“So what was it like?” Milly asks. “I always wanted to go to boarding school, but Daddy wouldn’t let me out of his sight for a moment. He said I needed to stay close to home where he can keep me safe. Is it like those Enid Blyton books, you know, St Malory’s and Clare Towers?”

“Malory Towers and St Clare’s,” I correct her. “And no, it isn’t. I had a lot more freedom. I could pretty much study whatever I liked.”Katy always said you learned best when you are excited about the subject.“We were able to put together our own curriculum and choose when we wanted to work.”

“Wow,” breathed Milly, hanging off my every word. “That sounds incredible. It must have been one of those progressive type schools. I wish we were able to do that here. I’d be able to study dress design and business studies so I can set up my own fashion label one day instead of Daddy making me do ‘useful’ subjects like French and German so I can take over the family business abroad one day.” She pales and put her hand over her mouth. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that.Pleasedon’t mention I said anything.”

“Of course not, Milly,” I say. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Though I’m interested in what she said. So, they have business outside of King Town? What exactly do they all do there?

“What are you two talking about that’s so serious?”

Archer leans over the back of our sofa, his head suddenly between ours, making me jump. His hair looks wild today and I like the look on him. He grins, stretching his muscular arms out as he looks at me.

Dammit, his smile could stop my reckless beating heart.

“Where did you spring from?” I gasp.

“I saw my two favorite girls, and I wanted to hang out,” he explains, coming around to squeeze himself between the two of us. He smells so good too. “So, come on. What are you talking about that has you looking so concerned?”

“Oh, I was just explaining to Milly the horrors of boarding school,” I reply. “You know, the place I went to before my dad whisked me away…”

“Ah. I see.” And of course, he really did. Archer knew full well I have never been to boarding school, so he can tell I was lying to him, but he can’t call me out on it without exposing the details of my kidnapping to his beloved sister who saw him as an innocent teddy bear. “Is it like they say it is, you know, all lesbian orgies and romps with the stable boy?”

“That stable boy is the happiest guy alive,” I shrug, as Milly giggled, eyes wide as she tried to decide if I was being serious or not.

The room goes oddly silent and I look up to see Romy walking in with a girl I don’t know clinging to his arm. His eyes are on me, well, more like how close I am to Archer. His eyes narrow and I look over to see Archer smirking at him. “Are you two friends?” I question as Romy walks off to the seats on the other side.

“No,” Archer’s reply is sour at best.

“They are the kings of the academy. They don’t like each other but they have to get along or there would be riots,” Milly informs me and I chuckle until I realize neither one of them are joking.

“Kings?”

“My brother, Romeo Navarre and Declan Dauphin are the kings of the academy and hold it all with a tight balance. Nothing goes on here without them knowing about it,” Milly tells me.

---