"My lady, you have to wake up," Veda pleads.
"No, I don't want to. I feel like shit."
"My lady, please, you can't use profanities."
"Leave me alone, Veda, I am in a very bad mood."
"My lady, I am sorry to hear that, but breakfast will be served in half an hour," she informs her. "You can't miss it, the Crown Prince will be there."
It takes a moment for Veda's words to sink in, and when they do, Gene sits up quickly. A little too quickly, because she feels like her stomach is ready to throw itself out of her body. She runs to the bathroom and empties whatever liquid was still in her stomach.
"Oh God," she groans.
There is a pounding in her head. She wishes she could have Ibuprofen or some medicine from back home. She washes her face while frowning at the ghost staring back at her in the mirror.
'Leave it to me to make the most beautiful girl around here look like this.'
"My lady, we have to start getting ready."
"Alright, alright."
Veda starts her preparation routine, but today, she is working fast. It looks like she has four hands instead of two.
Gene wonders how she is supposed to have breakfast with the prince. Her head is about to explode, her stomach feels like knives are constantly stabbing it, and all she wants to do is crawl back to bed.
'I should really stay away from that whiskey, forever. Now that I think about it, how did I get back to my room last night?'
A few strange flashbacks from the previous night run through her head. She frowns.
"When did the prince arrive?" Gene asks.
"Last night."
Gene's heart picks up its pace. "But nobody was expecting him last night, who received him?"
"We were woken when he arrived, and the duke also welcomed him later at night."
Gene feels color leave her face as the urge to throw up comes back.
'Did they find out about my little drinking adventure? Was the prince really there on that rooftop? Oh God. Did I really kiss him?'
She looks at Veda who is avoiding her eyes while doing her hair. "Veda?" Gene calls cautiously. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
The room is silent for a moment, except for Veda's shuffling as she maneuvers the curling iron.
"I was very disappointed, my lady," she finally starts, her eyes meeting Gene's in the mirror. "Not only did you lie to me about going to bed, but you stole your father's expensive whiskey—that you are not supposed to drink—sneaked to the roof, and to make things worse, the prince saw you in a state of drunkenness. Do you know what any of these mistakes do to a lady's reputation?" Her voice rises a bit. "But combining all of them is-is...'' She stops and sighs as if she couldn't think of a word to describe Gene's horrible actions.
"Did my father find out?"
"No." Veda's voice is clipped.
Gene lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.
"But I almost had a heart attack when I had to put the half finished bottle back in his office," Veda adds. "Do you know how much it costs?"
"I'm sorry." Gene looks down, feeling like a kid being scolded by their mother. The room falls into silence again. "How did I get back to my room last night?"
Veda presses her lips into a thin line. "His Highness carried you back to your room."
"What?"
"I wish I was strong enough to do it myself, and I couldn't ask other servants for help to bring the drunk young lady to her room. It was a miracle that nobody saw anything."
Gene takes a deep breath that shakes in her chest.
'So much for staying away from the prince who is going to kill me.'
After Veda finishes Gene's hair, the latter makes her way to the dining hall. As she approaches the extravagant room, she can hear a lively conversation inside, laughter, and pleasantries.
She hasn't had a meal with Siv's family since she got here, they never bothered asking her and she just stayed away because it felt like that was the best thing to do. But as she enters the room, it seems like all the family members have been replaced with more cheerful and kinder ones.
"Siv, dear, good morning." Siv's stepmother is the first to notice Gene. The latter is so shocked by the change of attitude that all she can do is stare at them.
The prince, the duke, and the brother all stand, smiling at her when she approaches the table. They only sit back down after the butler helps her with her chair. Everyone is jolly, throwing smiles at her as if they were the happiest of families. Gene feels a tightness in her chest.
'Poor Siv.'
"Did you sleep well, lady Siv." A velvety voice gets her attention. She meets the prince's eyes, they look like fire with the reflection of the sun.
"I did, thank you for asking, Your Highness." A memory of their kiss passes through her mind and she feels her face flush crimson.
"We are just thankful the accident wasn't serious." Siv's stepmother has the audacity to say with a straight face. Nobody could ever guess that she actually wanted her dead. Gene feels a smile tug on her lips.
"Indeed, Duchess," the prince agrees.
"Thank you, Mother, you are always so sweet to me." Gene hides her sarcasm as much as she can but looking at her stepmother's expression, she is sure she got the message.
"Oh, Sister," Tyra surprises her. It is the first time she addresses her. "The seamstress is coming tomorrow to show us some dresses for the queen's birthday ball."
'The Queen's Birthday Ball?' Gene's eyes automatically shift back to the prince.
"Maybe Your Highness would like to give your input, since you and Siv usually match colors," Tyra adds.
'Well, that was bold. And why the hell do we match colors? It's an arranged marriage that the prince hates.'
"That is a great idea, Tyra," the duchess utters. "If the prince doesn't mind, of course."
'What is going on here? Are they plotting something?' Gene feels her breathing quicken. 'Is this how I commit treason?'
"Not at all, I would love to," the prince answers, shooting Gene a smile.
'He would love to?'
Gene thought that he hates Siv and being engaged to her, unless he is part of this scheme. Her head is about to split in two. She reckons that sitting with Siv's family has worsened her headache.
After breakfast, she is thankful that everyone is going their separate ways. She needs to be alone to try and figure out what these people are plotting.
"Your Highness, would you care to join me and Leif for a ride to town?" the duke asks, "I wanted to show you around."
"I would love to, but I was thinking of taking my fiancée for a walk." Gene's feet freeze in place. "Lady Siv, do you mind?"
She turns around, plastering a smile on her face to hide how terrified she is. "Not at all, Your Highness. I would love to."
He offers her his arm and she takes it.
"Then maybe later this afternoon if you'd like, Your Highness," the duke pushes.
"That would be terrific, Your Grace."
The prince guides Gene to the garden, she is so nervous her ears are ringing. She has a horrible feeling in her gut.
'Am I going to die today?'
*********
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