As much as she hate to do this, there was no other way to save Ash and Aki, her face was what they wanted and she knows that, so she would give them what they wanted.
"I don't know what you want but I would do whatever you want me to do" Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and rose her head, she stared the Queen back in her eyes.
She doesn't want to know what they would require of her, as far as it help her to keep her life and that of the kids then she would readily agree to it.
"You are not dumb after all" Queen Jordyn said then waved her hand. One of the guards walked towards the children a syringe surprisingly in his hands. Gwendolyn's eyes popped open frighteningly.
She had agreed! She agreed to do what they wanted so what was the syringe for?.
"What is that for?" She asked but got no reply. The guard holding the syringe got to the kids then injected it into their body. It didn't take a minute and then the kids began screaming and vibrating on the table.
"What is going on?! What have you done?!" Gwendolyn rushed forward and held them with trembling hands, she could see their teeth gnash in pain. Fright filled her face, tears found their way to her eyes.
"Please make it stop! Please don't let them die!" She got on her knees and began to beg "I promise I would do everything you ask of me, I promise. Just please save their lives."
A soft chuckle rang out in the whole room. "That's more like it. Even though I don't intend to kill them it's such a pleasure to see you beg."
Gwendolyn wanted so much to glare at her but those kids life were at stake so she could only bow docily.
The Queen's voice turned stern. "Let this be a reminder, in their system is a rare poison that has no cure. As long as you remain faithful to your promise then I will always provide them with the relief but the day you betray me, they won't just lose their lives but you also will suffer".
"Yes your highness" with clenched fist, Gwendolyn replied.
Queen Jordyn snorted and waved her hand at the guards. The guard moved forward and injected the kids with a different syringe and soon their writhing and screaming came to an end, They were fine in a matter of minutes it was like there had been nothing wrong with them in the first place.
Gwendolyn rushed to where they are anxiously, "Ash! Aki are you okay?"
"Sister Gwen!" With flooding eyes the two kids lunged in her arms, their childlike voices filled the room. It was heartbreaking to hear them cry so bitterly yet only Gwendolyn seemed to be affected by their wails.
"Floyd take her away and get her ready, you know what to do!" The Queen ordered the guard standing next to he then turned to leave.
"Wait" Gwendolyn called out "get me ready for what?"
The Queen stopped in her tracks, she looked over her shoulders slightly then replied "Ready to be the Princess replacement"
The Princess replacement?
Gwendolyn could not believe her ears. Why was she replacing the Princess? What happened to the real Princess?. She wanted to ask this question but the words couldn't find their way to her mouth.
Once the Queen was gone that Guard ordered the maids. "Take the kids away, they are our special guests"
"No wait! Where are you taking them too?!" Gwendolyn stood up and asked, she didn't trust them as far as she could throw them. If she let the kids out of her sight she might end up getting to meet their dead body at the end.
"You have a lot of things to do, if you want to see them again then you would do all that you're told to do" the Guard didn't even look at her while answering, one could see how much of contempt he had for her. It's not unexpected.
Like how wind blows a leaf from a branch, she and the kids were taken away in different directions,, their heart heavy with worry and anxiety. The uncertainty of the future they now possess hung like ornaments on their faces.
***
Days few by like leaves in the wind and soon three months came to an end. It was just like yesterday, she switched from being a pauper to now a royalty. At least that was what it looked like on the surface but underneath she was a prisoner even in her own skin. A face that used to be ordinary was now treated like gold, she had series of script to act in accordance to.
Gwendolyn had learnt to walk and talk like someone else, sleep and wake like someone else even act and think like someone else. Albeit out of her desire she had built a cupboard in her heart and locked her real self within, never to see the light of day again.
Princess...
Believe it or not, she was now princess.
"Princess Guinevere?" The large wooden door softly creaked open and a small head popped in.
The already awake Gwendolyn sat up with much effort, her hand softly clutching her stomach under the duvet, she had quite a hell of a night. Her body was still churning in pain from the effect of what the Queen and her minions carried out on her.
Every mark, blemish, spot and birthmark that used to be on the real princess body was forcefully imbedded in hers overnight, behind the closed walls of the dungeons were no one could hear her scream.
Even after acting as the princess for three months already, Gwen has no idea or whatsoever of the Real princess whereabouts? Was she dead? Why she was searched out to Impersonate the Princess? She had no idea. All she knows us that they have been rapidly grooming her to fully take over the job they have given her.
"Yes come in?" She called out to the maid at the door. The door was pushed open wider, then a small figure walked into the room.
"I'm sorry your highness but I have been ordered to get you ready for the morning" The girl stuttered nervously. Her fingers fidgeting around the handle of the tray of morning supplies in her hand.
Gwendolyn wouldn't blame her for her nervousness. She had never seen the Former princess but the talk of her haughtiness had reached the four mountains and seven seas, Every knows what a monster the young princess was. Even she who had never been to the palace had heard of her wondrous tales.
"Sure come in" She said then sat up. It was still a new feeling having to get dressed with the help of other people but she just had to put up with it. She had been warned to show no flaw in her princess act, the littlest flaw she make earns her torture. So she learnt to quickly adapt.
It was frightening but she was glad she was the one who went through all the pain and not the Kids.
The kids...