Early the next morning, I was already well and awake, just like I always was every morning. I had a habit of rising with the sun, and today was no exception. As I stretched and yawned, I heard a knock on my door. I assumed it was Brock, my usual wake-up caller, but when I opened the door, I was surprised to find the princess standing right in front of me, staring down at me with an air of regality. She was dressed in a elegant white gown, her hair styled perfectly, and a small smile playing on her lips.
"Get ready, Gabriel," she said, her voice commanding and authoritative. "We'll be leaving shortly."
I was taken aback by her sudden appearance and her words. I had expected to see Brock, not the princess herself. I nodded hastily, still trying to process what was happening. I couldn't help but notice the way she seemed to radiate an aura of power and confidence, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I met her gaze.
"Yes, Your Highness," I replied, trying to sound composed. I stepped aside to let her in, but she simply turned and walked away, leaving me to wonder what was going on.
I quickly got dressed and made my way outside, expecting to see the others gathered and ready for the next challenge. But when I arrived, I was surprised to see the Boss standing there, a smile on his face. He was dressed in his usual attire, but there was something about him that seemed different today.
"Ah, Gabriel, good morning," he said, his voice cheerful. "I think there's been a change of plans."
I looked around, confused, and saw Liam standing there, looking just as perplexed as I was. He seemed to be trying to make sense of the situation, but I could tell he was just as clueless as I was.
"What's going on?" I asked the Boss, trying to get some clarity on the situation.
"Well," he began, "the princess has decided to take both you and Liam as the tournament winners. You'll be going with her today."
I was stunned. I had not expected this at all. I looked at Liam, and he seemed just as surprised as I was. We exchanged a glance, both of us trying to process this sudden turn of events.
"But...but what about the challenges?" I asked, trying to understand what was happening. "We were supposed to have another round before the final winner was announced."
The Boss chuckled. "I think the princess has seen enough," he said. "She's decided that you two are the best candidates for whatever she has in mind. You'll be leaving with her today."
I was still trying to wrap my head around this sudden change of events. I looked at Liam, and he shrugged, equally confused. We both seemed to be thinking the same thing - what did the princess have planned for us? And why had she chosen us as the winners?
As we settled into the plush seats of the princess's limousine, she began to explain the sudden turn of events in a calm and collected manner. "I know you're probably wondering why I've chosen to take both of you as the winners," she said, her voice confident and authoritative, with a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "But let me tell you, this is all part of my plan, a plan that I've been carefully crafting for a long time."
Liam and I exchanged a curious glance, our eyes locking in a silent communication. We were both eager to hear more, to understand the reasoning behind the princess's unexpected decision. I leaned forward slightly, my hands clasped together in my lap, while Liam shifted in his seat, his eyes fixed intently on the princess.
"What plan, Your Highness?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity. "What could you possibly need us for?"
The princess chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Ah, Gabriel, you'll learn soon enough," she said, her eyes glinting with intelligence. "But for now, let's just say that I believe two is better than one. I'm taking two of you in, just like recruiting two smart boys into my game for the rightful place for the throne against my sisters."
Liam frowned, confusion etched on his face. "I don't understand, Your Highness," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "What do you mean by 'the game'? What are we getting ourselves into?"
The princess smiled again, her expression enigmatic. "Ah, Liam, you'll learn soon enough," she repeated. "But for now, let's just say that I have a plan to win the throne, and I believe that with both of you by my side, I can achieve it. You see, my sisters and I have been vying for the throne for years, each of us trying to outmaneuver the others. But I've come to realize that I need something more, something that will give me the edge I need to succeed."
I leaned back in my seat, trying to process what the princess was saying. It was clear that she had a hidden agenda, one that she wasn't willing to reveal just yet. But I was determined to find out more, to understand what we were getting ourselves into. "So, you're saying that you want us to help you win the throne?" I asked, trying to clarify.
The princess nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, Gabriel, that's exactly what I'm saying. And if things go as planned, I would be getting the throne in the future, and with both of you always competing on who's better than the other, I can have myself one of you two smart boys to take over after me."
I know we wasn't told about all this right from the start, but one thing is for sure, the princess is definitely taking away our future just for her selfish reasons, she's definitely as manipulative as I heard she was.