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"..." I paused after hearing her. My face quickly grew hot. I shook my head vigorously.
"O-of course not!" I scoffed. "I can assure you, I do not have feelings for… him." I said. She stared at me, her smile only growing bigger. She giggled before shaking her head.
"Miss, regardless of how you feel about the 4th Prince, you must'nt allow your feeling for him to get in the way of this." She said seriously. "If it turns out he had done this.." I persed my lips before nodding in agreement.
"Of course. I wont." I said. But deep down, I knew I would still remain somewhat bias towards him.
The 4th prince… In the original story, he was only mentioned a handful of times, but every time, I couldnt help but fall for such a well-written character! His character was described as honest and just, and in the end of the story, he became well trusted by the king.
'How could things change so much…' I thought. 'Some part of him, had to have remained the same, right?'
"Bella," I spoke up. "If the rest of the kingdom does not know about this, and the Queen has kept it to herself for so long, why does the rest of the kingdom continue to despise him?" I asked her, remembering the faces that were made every time he was mentioned. She looked at me shocked.
"Miss, could it be you do not remember the stories of him?" She asked. I blinked.
'Thats right! I only came here not to long ago. The original Eva…'
I quickly shook my head. "N-no, it seems I have forgotten them, what were they?" I asked. She sighed before sitting next to me. She looked around the room warily before whispering.
"M-miss, it is said that the 4th Prince became ruthless after the 3rd Prince's death! He began cutting down the trees in the Queen's courtyard." She paused and gulped. "And when a servant tried to stop him, he…" I couldnt help but grow nervous myself.
"H-He what??" I asked impatiently. She looked at me, dragging her hand across her throat in a swift motion.
"He killed him." She said. I gasped and grabbed my own neck.
"S-seriously?! Bella, are you sure this isnt just a tale?" I said. She shrugged.
"It isnt known, the servants who wittnessed this were quickly changed afterwards. The only peron who would know is.." She stopped. I sighed, knowing what the answer would be.
"Is the 4th Prince himself, right?" I said. She nodded nervously. I shook my head and took a deep breath. Bella quickly cleared her throat.
"M-Miss, you shouldnt, worry about this, It has been a long day, you must get rest." She said. I nodded. She helped me stand and change into night clothes. Carefully, she sat me down in a chair as she helped me do my hair. I looked into the mirror that was resting on the desk.
I hadnt had the time to truly look at it. Compared to my curly coils that I would expect to see, I had black silky hair, that framed my face nicely. I touched it with my hand.
'Is this a wig? Or maybe, a silk press? How could my hair be so.. Straight?' I thought. Bella stepped back and bowed.
"Miss, I am finished." She said softly. I nodded before standing up and turning to the bed. Before I layed down, I turned to Bella.
"Where will you be sleeping?" I asked. She bowed again.
"Miss, I had enough rest before you came here, I will guard the door." She said. I nodded before laying down. She quickly blew out the dim candles before leaving, the room now completely dark.
I turned on my side after she left, today's events quickly catching up to me as I fell asleep.
*
The next morning came quickly, I opened my eyes slowly. Panic sinking into my heart as I quickly sat up. My eyes roaming the foriegn room.
"Where am I ?!" I thought, I was about to begin screaming when the memories came back to me.
Waking up in that room, meeting my mother and Bella in this world. The Black Jade, The Queen. I sighed and rubbed my face. I looked outside the room window.
The sun was just coming up. It seems like I had woken up earlier than expected. I was still used to going to work and waking up around this time. I sighed again.
'How would Mave be feeling right now? Was I actually gone in my own world? Or was the old Eva from this world now in my body?' I thought to myself. I couldnt help but groan loudly. There were so many questions left unanswered, how was I even so sure that this is what I was supposed to be doing?!? I heard a knock on the door.
"Miss? Are you already up?" Bella asked. Slowly, I got up to the door and opened it. Upon seeing me, Bella quickly bowed.
"Miss! You are up so early." She said. I nodded.
"I would like to rest for a bit longer, please wake me after a bit, alright?" I said. She nodded before bowing again. I closed the door before turning back around to sit on my bed.
I lied. I did not need more time to sleep, but I needed to process the events that had happened until now. I didnt realize it, but everything that had happened yesterday was a lot! I could only try and make sense of it all. I also took this time to properly calm myself. Unlike in my own world, there were no such thing as medicine for anxiety, I could only hope it would go away.
"Bella!" I said. Quickly, the door was opened and she entered the room.
"Yes miss?" She said as she bowed.
"I would like to drink some tea please." I said. She nodded before leaving to prepare it. I sat up as I thought some more of yesterdays events.
'The 1st concubine…' I thought. Ever since my arrival worked in favor of the Queen, she had not liked me. Of course, she had not said it directly, but after growing up in such an environment..
I sighed again. It was very obvious the 1st concubine did not like me.
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(Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed.)