I've never liked exams.
No one does, sure.
But me? A failed exam could mean I was sending my planet into destruction.
So I made sure to do more than my best. Studying for weeks. Ingesting every "brain booster" under the moons and sun. And having a colic inducing amount of tutors around me 24/7.
From a young age, I knew my life wasn't just mine. It belonged to my planet.
Our successes. My failures.
And now, as I face this exam in a crowded, hushed room, I couldn't shake this ball and chain weighing me down.
If I had my way, I'd be travelling across the galaxy just exploring what it has to offer. No titles, no legacy, no expectations.
But normalcy was never on the table for me.
I lift my fingers, typing in my name and credentials. The hologram, only visible to me, sounded with each touch.
With a sideways glance, my eyes bounced about the room. The silent panic choked me. It was sickeningly thick.
I wondered if it was the same for previous years. Or is this just the territory that comes with making a past privilege open to all?
While nobles could live a fairly good high society life even without House of Aegis, commoners were not so. For them, this was a jackpot.
I wonder what the principal was thinking when she suggested it.
Or, even more pressing, what my father was thinking when he approved.
I dragged my eyes over every face in my peripheral view with the intention of returning to my test when someone caught my eye.
A boy, three rows over. Green hair braided, cascading down past his nape, wooden beads clicking at the ends. His green eyes familiar. A gold bracelet hugs his forearm, two more stacked on his wrist, nearly identical to mine.
And yet, I didn't know him.
Which was strange, as I know every noble kid on this planet.
And let's say I did miss a couple noble kid introductions, what's with the wooden beads?
How unbecoming of a noble.
Our eyes lock.
He doesn't look away. The corners of his mouth lift into the tiniest half-smile.
I arched an eyebrow.
He tilted his head.
Is he really engaging this silent duel?
I roll my eyes first, breaking his gaze. I've gotten enough to deal with without decoding mysterious wood-beaded pretty boys.
Within two and a half hours, the holograms disintegrated with a small pop. Leaving many hesitant test takers with unanswered questions.
A collective sigh whipped through the room like a sandstorm across the outer ridge. Finally, the test that I had spent my whole life preparing for had passed.
I stood, stretching my body that had grown a bit numb from sitting in the same spot. I wiggled my fingers.
Yes. I can go home and rest for the first time in a while.
In the hall just outside the exam room, I spotted wooden-bead boy again. This time, he talked with a tall woman draped in a brown robe, copper embroidery woven through it. Her green locs crowned her head and her skin was the same warm gold-brown as his.
She was beautiful, really, but it was her presence that parted the crowd.
Nobles glanced at her, eyes narrowed. Their mouths set in a deep frown, jaws and lips tight. She doesn't even blink.
As I passed her, I slowed down.
She was even more beautiful up close.
The boy noticed me first. His head tilted. Again.
Amused?
"You're staring," he says casually.
"Well, it's hard not to. She is truly breathtaking."
I smiled from ear to ear. Eyes closed just like I practiced.
The lady turned her attention to me. He must have gotten most of his features from her; they looked strikingly alike. Her eyes scanned me up and down.
"Princess Ka'laniyah," she politely bowed."Did you find the exam too easy?"
"It wasn't much of a challenge, yes, but I do owe it to my parents' diligence when it comes to my studies."
Smile.
Her mouth twitched, then formed a smile quite like mine.
"Indeed. We must be grateful for our Rulers' parental benevolence, as the cost of your failure is a little steeper than disappointment. Don't you think?"
Huh? Was that supposed to be an insult?
I brushed it off.
"Well, I–"
She turns to the boy. "Son, let's not bother the princess anymore." She bowed once again. "Thank you for humouring me, your highness, it's been my honour."
I could feel the heat rising in my chest. My fist stiff, balled at my side.
That slimmy–
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes.
Calm down, Kay. A temper isn't cute. Breathe.
As they strutted away, the wooden bead boy spared me one last look, a half-smile.
I spared him a look too.
I raised my balled fist high enough that he could see it. I'll be sure to beat his ass the next time I see him. For his and his mother's rudeness. I just have to figure out a way to do it without my parents gaining wind.
It would have been easier to ask a guard to dig around for me, but instead, I'll leave it up to fate for us to meet again.