"You are so beautiful, Arabella."
I immediately noticed that everyone around us, including her fell in silence the moment I said those words.
"Eh?"
My eyes widened as I looked at Elijah who was now creasing his brows as he looked at us.
"Do you… remember me, my dear sister?"
"You remembered Her Royal Highness, Princess Ariah?"
Shit! Shit! Shit! Bella, you're supposed to act that you have amnesia for god's sake what are you doing?! I know Princess Arabella is prettier in person but come on, prioritize yourself! If you're going to mess things up by getting yourself busted for faking amnesia, then you might get killed so early than you imagine!!!
Shit, at this rate I might really get busted this time. I have to think. I have to think of something not to jeopardize my life here as Ariah! I really need something to get away from this mess!
I immediately side-eyed the maids before I returned my gaze to Arabella who was awaiting my answer. I subtly swallowed my saliva and took a deep breath before responding.
"I… I heard from the maids that I have a sister and her name is Arabella. I don't know much about my life before the accident and I wanted to know more about me and my past and then I heard that I have a sister…" I reached for her cheek and gently caressed it. "You called me sister and I thought you're the Arabella that they're talking about and I couldn't help but admire you and I felt so happy seeing you."
That made the maids nod in agreement, saying they did talk about Arabella when they knew that "I" got a memory loss.
At that moment, Arabella couldn't contain her tears anymore as she hugged me and cried in my arms. I looked at the people around us and saw Lucien looking so relieved to see me then at Elijah who looked at me then at Arabella and I could tell that by the look on his face, he was concerned for her—more concerned about her than his own wife.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes mentally. What a freaking bastard he is.
That made me sigh in relief as I hugged Arabella back, patting her back. Somehow, I managed to convince all of them that I have amnesia, most especially Elijah.
But I still need to be careful. I could tell that Elijah was a bit suspicious of me and he seemed like he was keen about me, my actions, and my words, as if he was reading me like a book. By this, I really have to be careful.
It was already afternoon when Princess Arabella and Crown Prince Lucien finally decided to go home. As much as Princess Arabella wanted to stay with me and watch over me, she couldn't since she had affairs to attend to in the kingdom along with Crown Prince Lucien since the coronation of Crown Prince Lucien will take place two weeks from now. As much as I wanted her to stay as well because I just felt so uncomfortable with Elijah's presence, I also couldn't do it. As I said, I really need to be careful around him so if I'll act like I've known Arabella, it won't take a genius to obviously tell that I am faking everything—my identity that I don't have amnesia and the reality that I am not Princess Ariah and I just got reincarnated as her. It'll be much more complicated for me to survive at that rate.
"I have to go now, Princess Ariah. But do not worry, I will visit you again as soon as possible," Princess Arabella said as she held my hands. I could feel how soft, warm and gentle her hands were as she held me. Ah, she was indeed the sweetest and such loving princess albeit her sister wasn't really that good to her.
I may be living inside Ariah's body but I will never, ever do something bad to this princess. She deserves all the love and happiness in this world. After all, she's my favorite character in the novel and I want her to receive everything good in this world—if I am still on planet Earth, that is.
I nodded and smiled at her in response and as she hugged me one last time, she looked at her husband and they finally exited my room along with Elijah following them. As the door finally closed right in front of me, I immediately let go of a sigh and sat on my bed. I couldn't really move that much because of my injuries but hey, at least, I could still manage to stand up.
Silence finally spread inside my room as I was finally left alone. I couldn't help but reminisce about my life at the moment As I stared at nothingness, I realized how much my life did a 360 degrees turn after I died in that accident. From a simple college student who dreams to finish school and land a job to help my family to an actual princess who married a villain from the novel I read. In all honesty, I still couldn't process everything as of this moment. I just don't know what to do and how to start this new life that I am in—especially since I suddenly became a member of a royal family. I became royal blood. I became a princess just like that.
But one thing's for sure is that this is not the fairytale that I used to dream of when I am still a kid. This is the matter of my survival as Princess Ariah. My survival in the hands of her cruel husband, Grand Prince Elijah.
As I turned my head at my room's window, I could see the orange shade spreading in the sky already. I slowly stood up and walked towards the window to get a better view of the sky. It was indeed beautiful and serene. I haven't really seen this view in a while ever since I entered college.
College…
That's right… ever since I entered college, all I could possibly think of is to study well and work hard. I haven't really spent time like this and I haven't spent any time with my younger brother except if he'll ask help for with his assignments but after that, we couldn't really spend time with each other. I haven't really hugged him the same way I hugged Arabella.
I bit my lower lip and sighed. I guess, spending more of my spare time with my mom and my younger brother is one of my regrets in my past life.
My gaze went down and I saw Elijah talking to Arabella and Lucien. I don't know what Elijah told Arabella that the latter kept giggling at him and Elijah couldn't just take his eyes off her as he smiled. I slightly felt a light squeeze on my chest. Woah, even Ariah's body reacts to this, huh? I can't blame her. After all, she's in love with him.
But still… I don't know what's the reason why I existed and why I got reincarnated but one thing is for sure, if changing everything is all it takes for me to stay alive and survive as Ariah, I will do it, whatever it takes. I don't want to die twice. I will not be going to let that shit happen.