BECOMING ROYAL (Souls Swap #1)

Becoming Royal — 9

LYRA (OLIVIA)’S POV.

My leg joints hurt so much from trying to get their greeting manner which shouldn’t be this hard as I had thought.

“Almost there.” Gina tells me as I fall on my knees and let my forehead meet the floor after a quick thirty seconds count.

Fighting the excess urge to fall on the floor and sleep, I raise myself up and give out a weak smile.

“The smile is fake and way too obvious but we can work with it. The next and last lesson to be learnt today is the tea method. There is a way you should pour and drink tea as a member of the royal family. To the other humans who are unaware of we are, there are expected ways from one of the royal family. A very good example is holding unto the handle of the mug containing your tea with just your thumb and index finger.

Your middle and ring finger are meant to be folded to yourself, while your pinky finger must be pointed upward. Never forget you are meant to hold the handle of the mug with just your thumb and index finger. Whenever you want to pour the Alpha or Luna a drink, ensure you have your left hand on your tummy while your back is bowed slightly. Can we practice what I have just said now?” She ends her worded lesson with a question and I nod.

She moves to stand at my side and at the snap of her thumb and middle finger, a maid drops a semi-large jug containing some liquid, while the other places empty mini-mugs for me to fill.

“It is just water in the jug, but just assume it is wine and you are about to pour the Alpha and yourself a drink.” She tells me and I nod before taking my stance right in front of the round wooden table containing the jug and mugs.

Raising the jug up slightly with my right hand, I bow slightly and place my left hand on my tummy.

“Stop.” She exclaims and I stop filling the mug mid-way.

“Am I doing something wrong?” I ask and she shakes her head.

“I omitted the important part. Never fill the cup to the brim.” She answers and I make an ‘oh’ sound.

Starting the whole process of assuming I am pouring the alpha a drink; as the maids had been ordered by Gina to empty the mugs and refill the jug. I take my respective stances as I pour the drink and soon I as I have filled all mugs halfway, I push one forward slightly, before taking my own mug. Holding unto the handle of the mug and shooting out my index finger as expected, I move the mug to my lips before placing it down.

“I have never gotten the opportunity to show anyone what I love doing. You are my first student and you learn so fast. That would be all on physical exercises for today, but you still have to complete some books that might help you. You can either decide to visit the town’s library or get a copy of the books from the Alpha’s office.” She informs me as we walk out together and two of the maids assigned to take care of me approaches me as soon as they see me.

“Your dresses needs to be changed, we will need you to come with us, your highness.” One of the maid says and Gina shrugs.

“I will just have to come with you, except if you would prefer your maids over my kind gesture.” Gina replies and I grin as the maids lead the way.

“Does Mateo stay out for weeks?” I ask out f the blue and she narrows her eyes on me.

“You can’t be thinking of my brother now. Here is a list of the scrolls you are to find in the library. It might seem too long and wide but you will eventually find out everything you need to know.” She says and move closer to me.

Moving her hands to my arm, she holds me in place and move her lips to my right ear.

“I know something is not right with you, but I will always be on your side nevertheless.” She whispers and I feel my body tense.

“How much do you know?” I whisper back and she dismisses all of the maids.

“Enough to tell that you are trapped in Lyra’s body.” She replies and I step back.

“Is it obvious?” I ask and she smiles.

“No, except that you have had series of tongue slips and you seem not to get the customs here when Lyra has lived here all her life.” She answers and I nod.

“So, what’s the next thing?”

“I will teach you all the customs and not even Lyra’s mother will find out you aren’t actually her daughter.” She responds and I let out a sigh of relief.

“Let me have a change of dress, you will then lead me to the town’s library.” I say and walk out.

Leaving her behind and finding my way to my room. My sense of smell picks up Mateo’s scent and I am tempted to inhale more, but I would rather have them being unable to do without me than having myself be at their mercy.

Pushing my doors open, I strip out of the stressful layers of robes and take up a new one.

“I miss my casual tops, trousers, denims and jumpsuits.” I murmur as I get through the last phase of wearing a dress.

“You are to return to this room before the moon shows. Failure to do that will lead to severe punishments.” Mateo says as he walks in without my permission and I scoff.

“Does the Alpha or Luna knows such rules are made?” I ask as I walk past him and head for the door.

“You are my wife and I have the rights to make my family’s rules.” He answers and I turn to face him.

Stepping closer to him, I ensure that only an ant can pass between us before raising my head to look up at him as I place my hand on his chest.

“You promised to make this marriage hell for me, but you are also planning a family.” I whisper as I draw small circles on his chest with my index finger.

His left hand moves to hold my waist and he presses me to himself such that my heart almost skipped a beat. He moves his right hand to stop my index finger movements and I smile at him.

“Return before the sky becomes darker.” He let’s out a throaty rumble and I smile.

“Scared of the fact that some other male might get attracted to me?” I ask and his grip on my wrist tightens.

He holds my wrist to himself as he turns me in such a way that my back is turned to him and my hand pinned to my back in an extremely painful manner.

“Don’t test my patience.” He whispers harshly next to my ear before moving his lips to my neck.

Nibbling on the skin of my neck roughly but slightly, I let out a soft moan and I feel his smirk against my neck before he lets go of me.

Walking out without another word. I hold my hands across my tummy and walk through the hallway that leads to the foyer. Gina waves to me at the exit and I smile as I take steady strides towards her. As soon as I am next to her, she holds my hand and we both step out of the palace. The carriage seem to have been waiting as I can tell from the sweat creasing from the foreheads of the maids standing to help me in.

“The town’s library.” Gina orders as soon as we settle in and I move my hand to the spot Mateo nibbled on earlier.

“Tell me more about this town, city or village. Tell me about your school system. How do you all learn some new languages? Can you write?” I ask and she sighs.

“I can’t write but I can speak and probably read basics. There is only one academy per pack and two mid-schools. The royals are to take home classes or be given a special floor to sit.” She replies and I nod.

I should probably re-think my thoughts. The current Alpha’s tenor as stated in the history books wasn’t during the medieval, it was during… arrgh – why can’t I remember properly?

“The new princess has arrived.” One of the men outside announces my arrival as the carriage stops and Gina helps me off by offering me a hand.

“Look who we have here.” Vienna says as she steps out of her own carriage with Kaia and I frown.

Kaia and Vienna are close friends? Or could it be that they have united in other to get rid of me?

“No, let’s not get negative Livia.” I murmur and move to walk past them when Gina holds my hand in other to stop me.

“Bow slightly.” She whispers and I turn to face her.

“You should listen to Gina.” Vienna interrupts my attempt to reply and I shift my gaze to her.

“I think bowing should be vice-versal and not from one side. You bow, I reciprocate and we go our separate ways.” I respond and she crosses her arms over her breasts.

Parting my lips to speak further, I stop when I notice an extremely yellow pupil shining at me through on the windows of the library. Walking past Kaia and Vienna, I head into the library to find the owner of the yellow eyes but it seems pretty difficult as the library is extremely larger than what I imagined an ancient library to look like.

Walking through the first aisle, I take a quick right turn in other to head for the window but I see nothing.

It left –

“Lyra, maybe I should warn you properly. Kaia is not someone you should mess with especially if you want to get on Mateo or Adrian’s good side.” Gina says as soon as she finally catches up with me and I shake my head.

“Rather than trying to get on his good side, I think they should both be trying their possible best to get on my good side. No offense, because they are your brothers.”

“No, offense taken.” She replies as she takes out a short note containing the list of scrolls she wants me to read.

“Can the scrolls be taken out of the library to be returned on a promised day?” I ask and she nods.

“It depends on the size of the scroll though. If the scroll isn’t large, it can be taken out and returned in two days, but if it is large; it has to be read in the library and you can decide to read all night, but the Alpha must never find out. Which eventually he will because you will be absent at the family’s dinner.” She answers and I nod in understanding.

Was Mateo trying to save me from the Alpha’s wrath? Why has my wolf not said anything to me? I thought the inner wolves were meant to talk to their hosts.

‘Who is our true mate?’ Wolfie asks and I sigh.

“I will find out for you and Lyra.” I reply and one of the princes comes out.

“You two are here.” He observes as he notices his sister looking through series of scrolls for the exact one she is looking for.

“Lyra, was bored and decided to get some stuffs to read.” She explains right before he questions her further and I roll my eyes.

“You are Calvin; the third, right? I ask and he smiles.

“Just Calvin.” He replies and I return his smile.

Finally, the nicest of the Alpha’s sons I have met.

“If you do not mind. I and Gina needs to complete some work at the palace, you may enjoy your read or decide to leave with the shortest of the scrolls you came to read. Just ensure you return it tomorrow.” He tells me and I bow slightly.

Doing the same, he takes Gina’s hand and lead her out as I pick up the longest and decide to read when I notice the yellow eyes peeping through one of the bookshelves. Running towards it, It leaves and I turn around as I hear a crashing sound.