Oh, great. He really did send a physician here.
As much as I wanted to roll my eyes while the royal physician was checking up on me, I just couldn't especially since Grand Prince Elijah was looking at me with such hawk eyes—reading me and scanning me like a computer so, of course, I really do have to act as a "sick" person, you know?
My acting skills will surely get on a test with this one. They should definitely pay me up for my acting skills here. I am doing my best to look convincing that I have amnesia, you know? I deserved a high talent fee on this one.
Once again, I could feel Elijah's gaze burning holes in my face.
Knowing Elijah's character, he knew Ariah from head to toe so obviously, he'll know that something's going on. As much as pretending to be a person having amnesia is a bit risky, I have no choice but to do so. I didn't know much about Ariah aside from the fact that she's an antagonist in the novel since the novel focused on the main character. All I know is that she's the total opposite of sweet Crown Princess Arabella, her sister.
I am still bitter over the fact that I got reincarnated as the antagonistic side-character of this novel I mean, I didn't do anything wrong in my past life. I am good in my academics, and in my studies. I helped my mother with household chores and even in her small business. I didn't do anything wrong to people nor harm people and I even helped people if they really need my help and yet I got reincarnated as a side character.
I am not bitter over the fact that I am a side character. I am bitter at the fact that I got reincarnated as an antagonist, the main villain's wife who will eventually die in the end for a plot armor thanks to her main villain husband.
Haah~ Lord~ why are you doing this to me?
It seemed like the physician was already finished checking up on me when he stood up from his seat and faced Grand Prince Elijah. "The physical condition of Her Highness is now stable but she still needs to rest. She still has an injury on her left leg and her wounds are still fresh so it'll take a week for her to recover. Thankfully, there's nothing fatal symptoms that might endanger her life, however…"
"However?" Grand Prince Elijah asked.
The royal physician looked at me then he returned his gaze to Elijah. "It seems like it will take time for the princess to gain her memories as of now, Your Highness. All we could do right now is to wait until she regains her memories. For now, let's be patient with her and help her remind her of everything little by little, starting from the simple things that she could easily remember such as her name and your names and what you are in her life."
Elijah's eyes settled on me and it made me slightly flinch on my bed. His gaze was so intense that I could feel chills on my spine and I could feel myself breaking into a cold sweat.
You should calm down. Bella—I mean, Ariah. You don't need to worry about Elijah. The royal physician himself told him that you're experiencing memory loss so you really have to chill and just go with the flow. You must act like one and convince the hell out of Elijah.
So that he doesn't kill you!
I just felt my back and shoulders starting to feel heavy. Help, why am I experiencing such a dilemma? I am just a graduating college student that has a huge dream ahead of me! I still want to land a good, stable job, save up and be rich.
Why me, of all people, why me?
"If that's the case then worry not. I will definitely take good care of my wife until she recovers," Grand Prince Elijah told the physician.
Weh? Di nga? I wanted to make a face. If it was the original Ariah hearing these words from the grand prince, I know for sure that she'll believe the heck out of this bullshit. But not me, I will not let this guy sweep my feet with such words. Heck, I will not let him kill me so right now, I will start to make plans on how to escape this place before that war will break out and let him burn me alive in this place.
Right, this place. This is the place where he left Ariah to burn alive.
What a heartless man he is.
"So you really lose your memory from that carriage accident," I heard him say as he sat on the edge of the bed, facing me.
Ah, so Princess Ariah got caught up in a road accident, huh? Relate much.
As much as I wanted to talk back to him, I just remained silent and looked at him with such an innocent face.
He sighed. "This is really a handful but we will try our best to regain your memory although… I find this beneficial that you lost your memory."
He just whispered the last part that he said but I could still hear it.
I already read the novel and of course, I knew that he was planning something up his sleeves and he's using Ariah as a cover for those schemes. Ariah is also the reason why he has access in and out of the palace because, after all, even though Ariah hates Arabella to the core, the crown princess is such a loving sister to her that she let Ariah visit her anytime anywhere without the two of them knowing that Elijah was using Ariah to get close to Arabella. I feel sorry for the woman, though. She just love this man so much that she let him do whatever she wanted.
"You are…" I broke the silence in me. Of course, I have to act that I have amnesia and one of the things that people having amnesia—based on those movies, TV series, and novels that I've read—usually get confused about what's going on in their surroundings. "I am…"
Elijah looked at me and as much as I saw how he's not really that interested in Ariah's well-being since, after all, he only married the woman to have his free pass on the couple without them knowing what he's scheming and also, trying to make Princess Arabella jealous—he still needs to do his 'husband duties' on Ariah since she's experiencing "amnesia".
"You are Princess Ariah Laurenzia, one of the princesses of the Kingdom of Ethashalia and I am your husband. I am Grand Prince Elijah Carlisle," he said, trying to make his voice as gentle as possible at me.
Not gonna lie, this guy is really good at acting. No wonder he matched with Ariah.
"You are… my husband…" I said, trying to sound like I am confused yet happy to know about it. After all, Ariah is in love with him so, of course, I should act like one.
Damn, me acting so lovey-dovey on this villain when I don't have any experiences in love after all.
"Yes," he answered as he nodded. "We got married four months ago."
So I woke up nine months before that war broke out.
"Oh…" I muttered, acting like I am trying to process everything he said. "Why… what happened to me? Why couldn't I remember anything?"
Elijah took a deep breath and spoke. "We got… we got in an argument and you were about to go to Ethashalia to go to your sister, the crown princess. It was a stormy night when you insisted to travel and there, the carriage that you road fell from the side of the mountain. We are fortunate to find and rescue you as soon as possible and you've been unconscious for fourteen days."
Shit, she's in a coma for that long? That's insane.
No wonder I felt so hungry and tired at the same time. Being in a coma for two weeks is no joke, you know?
But wait, I haven't read this in the novel. I am sure that I haven't read this part in the novel. So how come there's an accident scene of Ariah?
Elijah reached out to touch my hand and I tried my very best not to flinch on his hold. "I wished I didn't let you go that night."
I tried my best not to furrow my brows as I heard those words from him. I know he was acting so concerned about Ariah—on me right now but I just couldn't feel that he's acting concerned at this moment. He just sounded genuine as of this moment.
But no, I won't let this guy sweep me off my feet with his words. He's the main villain. He will be the one to kill Ariah and Lucien so he could conquer the kingdom and Arabella as well.
"I am sorry… if I left that night," I muttered, making him stare at me in awe. "I… I don't know what causes us to argue but still, I am sorry."
"Princess…" just as he was about to say something, the door barged open and there, I saw a woman coming hurriedly into the room. She looked so worried that she didn't care about anyone and anything anymore that she immediately rushed to my bed to hug me.
"Ariah! Ariah, my sister!" she cried, hugging me tight then she pulled herself away from the hug to look at me. "I am so worried that's why I took the fastest route to come here! Thank heavens you're finally awake!"
I just couldn't help but stare at this woman in front of me in awe. She's so beautiful—no, scratch that, she's so gorgeous. She looked like she was an angel who descended from the heavens. That's how beautiful she was.
"You are so beautiful, Arabella."
That made her and everyone around us falls in silence.
"Eh?"
My eyes widened as I looked at Elijah who was now creasing his brows as he looked at us.
Oh. My. Gosh. Did I just, did I just get myself busted?!