FALLING FOR HIM : THE IMPOSTER PRINCESS

"You came," George whispered and I pulled away almost immediately, losing balance.

The dark-haired man caught me and we locked eyes.

"I wanted to see — I mean, I wanted to tell you," I licked my lips. "I had nothing to do with —"

"I forgive you."

I froze. What was he saying?

He released me and sat up. I frowned my gaze following his movements.

"I know you added the salt." my eyes widened at his words. "It is fine. You had enough reasons to want my death and I do not hold it against you."

No, no, no. He had me all wrong. I did not plan to harm him. That was the last thing on my mind.

Yes, I initially wanted to kill him but now...

Now, what?

"No, George, I did not —"

The chamber's doors slammed open at the exact time and the Queen strolled in, her eyes narrowing at me. George stood up.

"Whatever are you doing here? I threw you out. I asked you never to show your face—" She pointed her finger at me but George stepped between us.

The sturdy man's eyes darkened. "You did what?"

"George, you should not be on your feet right now—"

"What did you do to Anastasia, Mother? What did you do to my wife?"

"You mean your murderer? That is what she is. She tried to kill you!"

"I am king, mother!" he growled. "I decide who is wrong and what labels to give and I say — Anastasia is innocent. Anyone who is dissatisfied with my decision can take the law into their hands, I will be glad to meet them halfway."

The Queen paused, reading the room. Her sharp gaze traveled from George to me before her shoulders sagged. "Is that a threat, George?"

"No, mother. It is the inevitable consequence of going against me and harming my wife."

The tension could be cut with a knife and the Queen took a step back, almost stumbling over her long golden dress. Her nose flared but no words escaped her lips.

I watched as she wordlessly marched away, her voice long gone.

Once the door shut behind her, George turned to me. "Your hatred for me is justified."

I did not hate George. I tried and failed at it.

If I hated him, I would not be here. My heart would not be racing and I would not walk towards him when I should be leaving.

What I felt for King George was not hatred and the possibilities of what it could be — terrified me.

"You bother me," I spat instead.

Our eyes met, and he laughed. "I fancy you."

"Whatever is that supposed to mean?" I asked. "Where does this take us? This drama? Why not hand my sister over and be done with it?"

"What? Do you not fancy my presence?"

"Do I not have a shortage of reasons why I should?" I retorted and he grinned.

I moved to leave but he caught my arm. "Shall I give you reasons, then?"

"Are you even deserving of a chance?" I quipped at him and we locked eyes.

"You have a way with words, I like it."

"You look handsome when your mouth is shut."

"I look handsome?" his eyes sparkled and I rolled mine.

Was that all he took from the sentence?

I huffed, marching out of the chamber.

He followed me.

I paused, turning. "I am off to the kitchen, to cook for your lavish Royal breakfast, which I have nothing to do with. Whatever do you want now, George?"

"Say it again?"

"What?"

"George," The taller man said, his eyes softening. "Say my name. George, just George."

"Will you cease to exist if I do?"

There was silence between us and he grabbed my wrist. "Come, today, I fancy cooking." I raised an eyebrow. "Besides," he continued. "You'll need a helping hand to prepare that many dishes overnight."

"The king of Keyes is now, a cook?"

"What? This is child's play, you have no clue the list of the things I am willing to do as long as it involves you,"

I rolled my eyes and marched into the kitchen. The maids present left as we arrived, scrambling out.

I tried my best to ignore him as I began cooking, focusing on chopping the vegetables and arranging the ingredients.

I set some water to boil and continued working, feeling his eyes on me. I frowned when something pressed against my forehead. I raised my gaze and they landed on George.

He seemed unbothered as he wiped some sweat off my forehead.

"You came here to work, not be the rag boy." I huffed, reaching for the pot. My eyes widened as it slipped from my grasp but George pushed me and I shrieked as it poured on him.

"No, no, no!" I cried, rushing over. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to unbutton his clothes, my hands trembling.

"... Ana—Anastasia, I am fine!" George snapped me back to reality, shaking me off him. "The water wasn't hot enough. I am of good health."

I released him, dread washing over me as I realized what I had done.

I grabbed him, tried to unbutton his —

"Leave at once." I blurted. "Leave now!"

"No," George broke into a laugh. "I am not leaving you here— in the middle of the night with this," he gestured at the bowls.

"Do you trust me?" I asked and he frowned.

"Is there a scarcity of reasons why I should not?"

"I mean I did try to unalive you, right?"

"You called me handsome afterward, so the debt is cleared."

"I said you looked handsome when your mouth was shut. On that note, you have looked utterly awful for the past fifteen minutes."

"So, you were looking at me?"

My jaw almost hung loose at his words. "Shall you leave or should I?"

"I shall leave because I trust you." George smiled and my heart fluttered against my better judgment.

The dark-haired man exited the kitchen, disappearing down the hall.

I sighed and continued cooking. If he was far away — he would not get hurt. Right?

What a foolish king.

"I see you have familiarized yourself with my son."

I turned to see the Queen.

"Your Highness," I greeted but she stopped me midway.

"Save the theatrics." She gritted. "I will make one thing clear, Anastasia. If anything goes wrong with this festival moving forward, I will no longer attack or harm you," I raised an eyebrow at her words.

She walked over to me and leaned. "I will cut her into a million cubes and covey it to you in a pretty box," my stomach twisted as my forehead creased. "And by her, I mean your beloved sister."