The carriage ride was long and bumpy, causing me to dose in and out of sleep.
The old man, who I guess is my contracted father now, kept eyeing through the window as the sun disappeared. The carriage halted, and through the windows were giant gates and a large house.
Not a house. A castle that I only ever saw in storybooks. I was drowsy, but I stared in awe at what I could see.
Pomf! I looked up, realizing the king threw his cape over my head. "Eh?" I voiced, but he just smiled.
"You seem tired and it's cold out. Warm yourself up, I'm going to carry you," he spoke softly as if I would disappear if he spoke any louder, his eyes were too sad for me to say anything else.
I just nodded and wrap the cape over my head, my body lifted off from the seat as King Lucio carried me out of the carriage.
"Is that really a good idea?" another adult's voice was heard, I turned away into Lucio's chest and covered myself with the cape the best I could. Even with a quick glance, the man was dressed in black and white.
"Calm now, Eldegard," the king lightly chuckled, "I know what I'm doing."
They continued to talk, but the warmth of the cape and the slow walking only made me drowsier, before I knew it we entered the castle and walked down a spiralling staircase.
Down, down, down the staircase, which I dozed off into the king's arm.
"Wake up," I was shaken, yawning as I stretched my arms out, feeling the cape drape off my body as it falls to the ground. The feeling of cool air hit my nape, forcing me to get out of my drowsy stupor.
"Mhm," I rubbed my eyes, "it's too cold," I muttered.
"I know, but after tonight you will get to sleep in a huge bed," the king smiled. As I rubbed my eyes, I turned around to notice another old man with us, much older. Still wearing black and white, he had white hair and old eyes, he must be Eldegard.
"Your majesty, she's just a child..." Eldegard eyed the king, his hands behind his back, seeming antsy.
"I'm 11 years old, actually! I'm not that young!" I stuck my tongue out, but doing so made me finally notice something else in the room-- actually, someone. A lot of someone.
There were robed people standing around with their arms out, concentrating hard as if never noticing that we'd arrived. In the centre of those people was a body of a girl with long curly hair, fair skin, and a big poofy pink dress. She looked like she was having a good sleep if I hadn't noticed how messed up her head looked.
The sight of it caused my back to crawl.
The king tried to lower me to the ground, but I wrapped my arms around his neck to not let me go. He laughed nervously as he pat my head, "It's ok, no one here is going to bite you."
I finally let him let me go, as I stood close to him and watch the little girl. "What are they doing?" I asked, curiosity getting ahold of me.
"They're trying to make sure that blood flows to her brain," he replied softly.
"Oh. Who is that?" I watched the strange-robed people hover their arms, wondering how long they've been doing that and if they're getting tired.
"That's my daughter," he said, I looked up to see his face, his eyes sullen as he looks at the girl.
"Not that it's my place, but under no right circumstances can I imagine bringing a child here to see this-!" the butler cries out, fixing his tie as an antsy tic.
"I told you, it's fine." The king scoffs, trying to shoo Eldegard away from us. He tries to usher me towards the body, and as much as I was reluctant to I followed. "Move aside," the king waved his hands, catching the attention of the robes as they tirelessly move away, still arms out for whatever reason.
"What are you doing here, your majesty?" one asked, though seemed disinterested.
"I wanted to say goodbye to my daughter," the king says, his hand wrapped on my shoulder as I can feel his tremors.
The people seemed alarmed, looking at him in befuddlement as they glanced at each other, one stepping up towards the king, "Are you... serious?"
He grits his teeth, "Yes, yes. This is no way for my daughter to live," he raised his arm out to gesture to the others to lower their arms, with hesitancy one by one they robed people lowered their arms, and I noticed that whatever warm feeling I was getting from the body was gone.
"Who is that kid?"
"This is... my daughter as well. Emmeline is going to live through her," I looked up at the king, realizing now why he really wanted me to be his daughter.
He needs me, and I couldn't turn away.
"That's absurd, your majesty," the robed men jumped, seeming upset, "that's just too much to put on a child!"
"Don't you think the servants are going to find out about this?!"
"You're still young enough to make a new offspring if that's what you're concerned about-" that guy got a smack to the head when he said it, "H-Hey!"
I gulped, looking at the princess as I realized what I have to do, "I..." I tried to call their attention, everyone looking down to meet my eyes as I tried to smile, "I would like to help, even if it means living as his daughter!"
The king seemed to smile at such simple words, and for a moment I thought that was enough for me.
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10 years have passed since the real princess died. It's been 10 years since I've been living as Emmeline.
Emmeline's 20th birthday came, and the guards were all around to escort me to meet my father.
He smiled sadly, taking me into his room as he closes the door behind us, guards standing around the front.
"You did well being my daughter," his wrinkles were apparent whenever he smiled, but it eased me nonetheless.
"It's easy when I have a great father," I returned the smile, giving a light curtsy.
"You grew up so well, I was starting to worry that you were going to outgrow me," he shook his head as he chuckles, allowing my ears to tint when it's apparent I've grown about as tall as the king, "I was surprised when you got around 178cm, I should start praising the chef for feeding you well," he jokes, allowing me to return a laugh.
"Ah, father, is there a reason why you brought me here today?" I hummed, glancing around the room in comfortable nostalgia.
He paused for a moment, turning away as if lost in thought.
"Father?" I asked again, growing concerned.
"Ah, sorry. If you want the truth, I was worried about this day since you're at that age to be married," he shakes his head, "I couldn't imagine myself handing you over to someone, how could I live knowing my precious Emmeline is in someone else's care?" his voice strained as if showing his upset.
I just shook my head at the ridiculous thought, "Have you really thought of such things? You know that no matter what, I will always be your daughter, so there's no need to worry about such needless thoughts," I tried to wave it off to ease my father's mind.
And yet, he didn't laugh like he usually did, that faltering smile stuck to his face as he nods. "I know, I was worried about something I shouldn't," his hands began to shake lightly, as he raises it to gesture at me, "because no matter how you look at it, you can't be married."
At that moment, I remembered that I wasn't his real daughter. The pit in my stomach was damningly loud, as I tried to wash it off with a weak smile, "T-That's true. I could never produce an heir since I don't... have your blood," I tried to make light of the situation.
"Which is why I have decided to send you off," the king sighed, "it would be a matter of time when the Duke and Marquis try to offer their sons for marriage proposals, and even if you aren't my blood it does put a bitter taste in my throat,"
I clasped my hands together, trying to hide my discomfort by such words by giving him my serene smile, "... Where are you planning to send me off to?"
He perked up, walking towards his window as he looked into the distance, turning to me as he points through the window, "I have a manor by the coast, the sunrise is gorgeous over there and the ocean view is breathtaking," I looked at where his finger is pointing, only imagining what he was describing, "it's not by any other towns or the border, so no one should be able to bother you there. I will make sure that the servants greet and tend to your needs there, and that you write to me of what you want so that you can continue living comfortably," he combs through his golden-brown hair, greying strands which act like silver.
"Why would you go so far for me?" I wrung my dress, letting go so that he doesn't notice.
"I made a promise 10 years ago to you," he closed his eyes, thinking of the bygone past, "that I will make sure to take care of you and make sure that you live well. Isn't that right," he opened his eyes, always bright blue like a crystalline lake, eyes that I will never have, "Emmeline?" he raised his hands out towards me.
I just laughed and took his hand, "Of course, and you did well to keep that promise, father,"
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I lay within the wrecked carriage, my legs bent and torso too scratched up for me to even run for help.
It was an ambush, but where had the guards that protected me for 10 years gone?
The idea of living the rest of my days in my father's detached manor felt far away, as my breathing ragged and the split wood planks were breaking my skin.
"S-Someone," I tried to reach out, to sit up and cry for help, "someone, please, help," I choked.
The sound of rustling and jostling came, the wood being moved about as I looked up in momentary relief, until my eyes widen in despair when I realize these are not my saviours.
Ragged masks and clothes befit for mercenary work, the woman bent down to look me down in the eyes, her iris golden and sharp as pulled down her mask to show her smirk.
"They weren't kidding, her eyes are nothing like the king's," she cackled.
"W-Who-"
"The king sent us, kid," she reached her hand out to grab my jaw, turning my head around to take a close look at my face, squinting in disgust, "unbelievable," she mutters.
The king? King Lucio? My father!? My... contracted father? My head began to throb as I scramble the useless thoughts, wondering if I should believe this cruel woman, or if I had been tricked by my father the whole time.
"Should we kill her?" A man perks up as he tries to dismantle the boards and wheels of the wrecked carriage.
The woman, who I assume to be a leader, shook her head, her jet black hair swinging along. "Nah," she laughs, letting go of my face as she thrusts me to the ground, "this road only leads to the king's detach manor. No one is gonna come here unless they do a check-up, but by then she should have bled out," she licked her fang, excited of her horrific plans.
I opened my mouth, having so many questions and needing to scream, but the assailant just shot a look with eyes as bright as a full moon.
"I almost feel bad for you," she gives a dramatic sigh, "you've been used by the king this whole time and didn't know it until it was too late,"
They buried me under the wreckage of wood and left me to rot. Fading in and out of consciousness, hoping that I can bleed out sooner to stop the stabbing pains, my memories began to slip of the 10 years I was the princess.
All the servants were replaced, using the excuse that I would be overwhelmed by them from my memory loss.
I had zero etiquettes and was slow to learn the royal language, deciding to throw away all I knew as a commoner.
They've chopped up my matted brown hair in favour of it growing out, but it would never be as curly and lush as the princess before, spending hours just to get my hair right.
Every time we passed the hallway with the royal family painting, my eyes would never be as bright as the painting of the real Emmeline.
Father said he would always love me, and he did. He spent ages coddling me and making sure that I was loved, but as I grew older I grew into my features, which became apparent that I didn't take after the king or queen.
I rarely went to social events or talked to anyone else my age, terrified that I will slip up and they will learn that I am not the real princess. I've hardly left the castle to the point I refused to read invitation letters, throwing them out immediately. Carelessly, I would throw out letters from my biological mother and father, because for all that I am concerned I have always been the king's daughter.
It was... a lonely and complacent life. But it was fulfilling enough. I got to eat good food, wear dresses that I want, and read whatever books were at my disposal. What more could I have wanted?
"What a sad life!"
I looked up to see a white light hovering over me, as I squint to make out what it was it reminded me of...
"Hey, Miss Replacement! You can't actually be content with that, right!?" the voice grew louder, hovering over my face to meet sparkling blue eyes, so full of life. I quiver my mouth to reply, but it took energy that I didn't have. The voice shook her head, glaring at the sky as she points to the heavens, "Hey, if there's a God out there, hear my wish! Give this girl a do-over, but at least let her live her life the way she wants!!"
My eyes widen at such a strange request, but my body has gone so light that I didn't care about what imaginations ran through my head anymore.
A do-over, huh? That wouldn't be so bad...
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"Would you like to be my daughter?"
My body tensed as I opened my eyes, looking up to see my father before me, but he was much younger now like the day we first met.
My heart throbbed and my hands began to sweat.
"What?"