“This can not be true. Steefan was just here, how could this happen so fast. There is no one besides us that has absolute clearance to enter. Wait, you-”

  As her conjunctions hit close to home, I cursed myself for not believing Lady Valentia.

  “Not exactly Mielle… If you would allow me to call you that, it seems I might have committed a mistake of historic proportions. Someone did warn me but-”

  “Why would you do this? He is your own blood, right he might be twisted in ways incomprehensible to a simple human, yet…” She shouted covering her face, transforming into a frown. Tender lines, so light it was unbelievable. She had lived a life no better than mine, and had turned into a much better person than myself. A proper noble lady, from her coy smiles, to her tears. “You could have prevented this!”

  “Rest assured, it was not me. Even if, after this excuse of a reunion, they are doing a favour for the people. What use is a delusional ruler with no empathy or moral bearings?” As I spoke a bit loudly, the blonde lady scoffed at me

  “Maybe Steefan is right. You are a sheltered little girl who has not a drop of an idea of what it takes to thrive as a royal. What have you heard? Quick!”

  “And why would I obey you? You are an empress without an emperor.” I teased, annoyed at the insults she threw at me. Still, certainly not mad at the lady before me, but at the powerful men she followed.

  Loud steps could be heard from the hallway just past the wall.

  “Because you’ve got no choice. I know who you are and people who clearly are against the royal family are on their way.”

  It is a pity, she would have been a goddamn incredible empress. Either way it was amusing for someone to speak their thoughts so clearly. So in a leap of faith I spoke. “Lady Valentia warned me that the Young Duke was planning a coup. How could I believe that? I worship him.” A smile sprouted out of nowhere, no way to conceal it.

  “So you thought it was one of her schemes to separate you and him? Lady, you find yourself so very distinct, despite that you just love a man. As do I.” Her face softened. “Know I will never blame you for this. The measures of love one has, are so very distinct and in my case my side is the clear winner. But in yours, you might worship him but he seems to be willing to destroy the world for you.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  My shoulders relaxed and I could see the same person that guided me through the hidden entrance. To be a fool is to love it seems. “Well this sheltered little girl would not go against her morals in such a way. Even if his father convinced him in some way, using me as leverage. There is no excuse, causing internal turmoil inside an empire will surely lead to war” I sighed. “He is soft spoken and he never hunted, even if his family insisted. There is a bit of soldier in him after all he had to undergo the heir training but he never lost himself. This just can not be. Until I see it it might as well be lady Valentia who schemed all of this indeed. Because if this was for me, to win his father over that is not love that is destruction and obsession. ”

  “In that sense you are my opposite, Princess. When Steefan told me opening a latch and bearing a crown meant being by his side I threw away my pride, my wishes of being loved, of peace and kindness. In my mind, despite it being my family’s wish. I myself, I’ve grown to love him.”

  It seems we have arrived at an understanding. “After our little talk just now I wonder what he would say if he heard that-”

  “So there are some rats hiding here.” A voice pierced the wall sending my body into a freeze. With a loud thud the door connected to the room opened on the other side of the corridor. Soon the pillar we came out of wide open for anyone to see. “Now who do we have here?”

  This situation seemed impeccably arranged, not something planned in haste. They even had acquired the palace’s layout hidden in the Royal Library. The rough soldier before us had a long beard, matted, littered with leaves and saliva. As he laughed maniacally, his bare bulky arms sported a recognizable tattoo.

  The Kalmi Mercenary Guild.

  A sigh of relief passed through my face. Maybe it was not the Clementine’s after all. Mielle, also frozen, presented a collected demeanor, while my eyes widely searched for an escape around the room. Surely, whoever it was, had people watching everywhere. Enough to arrive at that poisonous information that could threaten my freedom.

  Mielle was one of the few people who knew. One of the others was Violetta, but she would rather die than surrender my identity. The King and his aide knew, and from his previous attitude he would hand me over on a silver platter. It seems when you give someone devotion and dedication, you can never expect it to be given back.

  The sooner I accept that he would not choose my safety, the better it will be. The lonely child I was, that is how I am to remain for the rest of time.

  “Oh, Dearie! It seems we are lost, My Lady.” I addressed Mielle with a high pitched voice. Her look while I said the words could kill, but she understood the assignment.

  “Well Dearest, maybe this gentleman can help us defenseless ladies?” It seemed that even if she did not approve, she would go along with my plan.

  Flattered, the man smirked. His teeth were so yellow it could as well be corn.