Chapter 3
"I'm not scared of some sewing needle you stole from your seamstress. Stop this madness or I swear, I'll scream until the whole castle hears," I replied. Now why did I say that? I wonder if, on some level, I harbored a subconscious death wish. He laughed a little. Oh thank god, it seems like it went over we-
The knife pierced my skin a little. I winced as the sharp sting of pain hit me like an electric shock. Just delicately enough that barely any blood was drawn. He obviously knew what he was doing.
"I don't think you quite grasp your predicament, sweetheart. If I tell everyone that you are an incarnate afterwards, the entire room won't bat an eye at any injuries you get due to my hand. Or do you perhaps believe in life after your first reincarnation?"
"Whatever are you talking about? I am Princess Amelia. Whoever you are, stop this madness or face a life behind bars."
"You are a liar," he said, putting an emphasis on the word 'are.' He sheathed his knife. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he noticed the bewilderment etched across my face. "Though since you are an imposter, introductions are in order."
"Prince Alexander of House Blackthorn, at your service," he declared with a playful bow, as if this were all part of an elaborate game.
"What? You? You're my betrothed?"
"It seems someone didn't do their homework." He chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But since you're an imposter, introductions are in order."
"Prince Alexander of House Blackthorn, at your service," he declared with a playful smirk.
"What. You? You're my betrothed?"
"It seems someone didn't do their homework," he chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He spun me around before pulling me close again. "Gods, you're bad at this whole imposter thing. Even if you weren't wearing such a dead giveaway on your neck." He grabbed the chain of the pendant that Angel gave me and pulled it out from inside my dress. "That's more like it."
"I am still confused. I am Princess Amelia." Even I could recognize that I was sounding like a broken record at this point, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. Angel really left me for the wolves. Was she actually purposely sabotaging me?
"Darling, you can drop the act. We're more alike than you think." His gaze lingered on the pendant.
"This." I pointed to him and then me. "Whatever this is. It's over. Surely as the princess of this land, my word carries more weight than some false claim."
He laughed mockingly at me. "I like you," he bowed due to the dance ending, and when he arose, he said, "The mistake here is that you seem to think that just because there is no longer a knife to your chest that you aren't in severe danger." I curtsied in response, trying not to let his void threat bother me.
"Well, it was a displeasure to make your acquaintance, but I'm afraid your one song is up." I walked away, surprised that he didn't stop me.
"This won't be the last time we see each other. Do try and be more careful, dear. In your current ignorant state, you're like fresh meat in a lion's den." He seemed genuinely concerned for my safety. Perhaps it was simply empty sarcasm. Either way, it sent shivers down my spine.
...
I had so many questions but it seemed for now they would have to wait as he left me to my own devices. At my core I am the type of girl to stick to the sidelines of a party if I am ever invited to one. I was tired of dancing, so I decided to do just that. I became a wallflower blending in with the actual flowers on the terrace, doing what I do best: people watching.
The evening air was filled with more questions than answers. After watching the same four dances being repeated for the millionth time, my mind began dancing as well.
The encounter with Prince Alexander left me with more questions than answers. For example, who was I in my past life? What did he mean by the word "incarnate?" And most importantly, why did Angel leave me with a pendant that seemed to betray my identity?
Lost in thought, I hardly noticed the fact that someone was standing right beside me. "Are you alright, princess?" she gently asked.
Startled, I turned around to be met with a kind-faced servant girl who had been arranging the flowers. "You seem troubled," she continued, her eyes holding a glimmer of concern.
"I.. I'm not sure," I admitted, lowering my gaze. "It's just been a rather eventful night." She smiled knowingly. "The court can be a confusing place, especially for someone new."
"New?" I questioned, feeling a flicker of confusion.
"Aren't you just precious? Rule number one to these kinds of things: if you want to know the truth, you become a servant," she snipped off a leaf from the bush I was leaning against. "The things you'll hear."
"You aren't alone, though." she continued, "I'll be here for you. Your guardian angel."
At that instance, everything clicked. Her being super vague and mysterious mixed with that touch of southern vernacular. After everything I've seen, a mere disguise wouldn't be beyond Angel's power. "My angel…" In an instant, everything clicked. Her being super vague and mysterious mixed with that touch of southern vernacular. After everything I've seen, a mere disguise wouldn't be beyond Angel's power. "What in the ever-loving hells took you so long? The prince. That Alexander boy, he knows-"
"You catch on quick," Angel interrupted me. "But have patience. You were right to call him a boy. It is all he is. A mere pawn in the grand scheme of things."
"A pawn with a knife," I protested. It seemed like she wasn't truly grasping the matters at hand. I mean, to be fair, I hardly did either.
"A pawn nonetheless, and if you play your cards right, you'll be a queen. Your options are limitless while he is confined to his single-space moves. Do you understand?"
"Not at all." This resulted in one of her signature sighs that sounded more lovely than the music playing. I smiled absently.
"If you follow my instructions exactly, then there is no need for you to understand— are you smiling?" her face was becoming flustered, so I decided to lay off.
"I'm sorry, Angel. But you have to understand I'm new to this whole life in another world bullshit. I'm taking what you're saying seriously."
"If you truly mean what you say, then in the meantime, you have to leave this dance. While just a pawn, Alexander poses a threat. One that would be better dealt with if you weren't here." She moved her head up as if examining the crowd. "Besides, there's a girl that's been watching you this entire time." She pointed to the doorway at one of the servant girls. Adorned with wavy black hair and freckles, I could see even from this distance, I was starstruck. She was truly a Cinderella in the rough.
"What's her name?"
"Her name is Isabella. She apparently has been a servant here for some time. And if rumors are to be believed, she is quite close to you, Princess Amelia. Tread carefully."
"Ah, say no more, Miss Angel. An espionage mission. I shall investigate thoroughly—" Angel grabbed my arm, preventing me from leaving.
"She is the most important person to convince. If you convince her of your identity, you convince everyone."
"You're telling me you care more about this servant girl's opinion than some prince."
"The prince would have found out no matter what you did."
"He seemed to find out because of the necklace you so conveniently placed on my neck." I'm glad I found a place to bring it up. Besides sarcastic banter, I was dreadfully bad at confrontation.
"I would not have been able to find you without it, Princess. You have to believe me that it was necessary."
"Why? You know where—"
"Heavenly matters are complicated. The threads that bind Olympus and this world are extremely tangled for those working without the gods' blessings."
"Right, Angel, you're losing me again. Do not fret on the matter of the mysterious servant girl. I'll find out what she knows." I broke free from her grasp and began to make my way through the sea of people to the doorway that the servant girl was standing in.
"Madam Amelia!" She yelled after me desperately, but I ignored her calls. Unfortunately for Angel, I did not trust her completely. My trust for her was very conditional. Conditions such as her being my only option for people to trust. Besides, I was doing what she said. Leaving the ball and getting out of the way. Surely people would understand if I left with her. We were obviously friends. I couldn't be the first introverted princess to ditch a party.
Thinking back on it though, my true motivations for leaving Angel without hearing her out were very childish. Sure, this is probably for the greater good, but I wanted to get to know her and become close friends with her as Princess Amelia did.
And of course, due to this kingdom pumping beauty potions into the air, there was one factor that drew me towards her. As a plot twist to no one. She was hot.
Just before reaching halfway through the crowd, I saw her figure disappear in the door. She ran away. I searched frantically through the crowd before confirming that she indeed must have retreated even deeper into the castle. A large and confusing castle that I was unfamiliar with. Of course, being reasonable and smart, I followed her lead by going through the doorway without hesitation into the winding hallways branching off in multiple directions. I was the princess, so I prayed for my protagonist's powers to kick in and went down a random hallway.
My dumb decisions were interrupted by a scream. Treating the sound like the golden twine that led Theseus out of the labyrinth I followed the scream not prepared in the slightest for what awaited me.
…