FALLING FOR HIM : THE IMPOSTER PRINCESS

"You bleed," George said, reaching for my wrist.

The moment his hand even so much as grazed my blood, he would die.

I almost grinned at the thought until something struck me and I retracted my hand, hiding them behind my back.

George's widened. "I shall call the physician —"

"There is no need for that, Your Highness."

George raised an eyebrow. His blue orbs searched mine. "You bleed," he repeated. "I see every need to protect you."

It was laughable. I wanted to kill him and he was desperate to protect me. Either way, I could not afford to kill him, not now.

Not until I knew where my sister was. If only he would slip it out. Then I could put him forever and rid this world of King George.

"Whatever were you searching for in the Storeroom, anyway?"

Our gaze met and I walked accross the pristine room, the detailed sculptures almost mocking. My breath hitched as something grazed my wrist. I turned to see his hand wrapped around it.

"I expect answers when a question is asked, Your Highness."

I glared at him, yanking my wrist. "To retrieve salt.  The food lacked it and I was told —"

"Salt?" George stared at me as if I had run mad. "Salt is not allowed in any of the dishes. It would be a catastrophe. Did you not know this?"

"How could I know that? Besides, the ma—" I froze mid-speech. My eyes widened as realization dawned on me.

The maids. They intentionally lied to me.

But why? For whatever reason would they do this? Were they the ones who planned to assassinate me by that snake? Or was it the Queen herself?

She seemed as I battled death to live and—

"What does this have to do with the maids? Were they responsible for misleading you?" George's eyes darkened as he spoke, his fists clenching.

Clearly, one word from me and blood would startch the golden walls of the palace, staining it.

"No," I lied, offering him a tight smile. "They have nothing to do with it," If I told the king, deaths would ensue but I would not get my answers.

Besides, If I managed to squeeze a few words out of those maids with the threat of their deaths — Perhaps, I would be closer to finding my sister than ever.

For once, the cards were in my favor.

"Alright. I'll inform you that the dishes must be sweet not salty as per tradition. Nothing should go wrong, Anastasia, I am entrusting this to you."

I looked away as he marched past me, leaving me room with his robe brushing the marble floors.

I swallowed and adjusted my clothes. I had questions and I knew just the right people to demand answers from.

Gathering my dress into my hands, I strolled out of my chambers toward the kitchen. Certainly, the maids stood there, alarmed.

"Aidel Vera?" I called and she appeared, her gaze buried to the marble floors.

"Whichever do you prefer, hanging or a javelin through your heart?"

Her head snapped up, eyes widened with horror. "Y-Your Highness?"

"That is the punishment for attempting to kill a Royal, right?"

"I have done no such thing!" She shook her head, frantically. "I—"

"I am neither interested in your justifications, neither am Interested in unravelling the mastermind," I closed the distance between us as the other maids scrambled away. "I only have one pressing, choking question."

Our eyes met, a silent conversation brewing. "A blonde girl, petite. Have you set eyes on her."

She was about to shake her head but I continued. "Ponder before you spoke, Aidel Vera. You answer will either spare you from death, or hand you over."

Her body trembled, eyes filling with fresh tears as she stumbled over her words. "She is not here. She is not present in the confines of the palace. That is all I know. She is not within the palace, she resides outside."

My eyes widened but before I could process her words, a loud voice rang through.

"Whomever she is?"

We turned to see the Queen standing there. Dressed in a regal golden gown adorned from head to toe. Her sparkling emerald eyes retold history and the throne of bones and terror she sat on. "I await your answer, Anastasia?"

"A painting. I wanted a painting." I lied. "The ones in my room repulse me."

The woman's nostrils flared. Her grip on her dress tightening. "Pardon?"

"My apologies, I meant to say that I desire to paint, It was a hobby I was forced to leave behind. I was just asking Aidel if there was an canvas' and she spoke about her favorite artist and then —"

"Enough." She shut me off, a look of disgust flashing accross her features. "My son brought a cheap commoner." She seemed ready to double over there and then. "That I can swallow. One who dabbles with the maids," she gestured between us. "I refuse to stomach."

She turned to leave but froze, snapping her head back. Her eyes filled me enough displeasure to make a man curl into themselves.

So much animosity — Just because I was not of royal blood, hence, not worthy?

She need not worry. Once I found my sister — whom I now know is outside these walls, nothing would stop me from killing her son, and maybe putting her to rest as well.

All I had to do was find a way to leave the palace under the pretext of this festival.

"You have a huge responsibility with this festival. Ensure it is handled with great care. Or else, you will humiliate the king in front of his subjects." she turned to me. "I know failure is stemmed your bones. All I ask is that you leave my son out of it. If you refuse to, your days will be numbered. That said, I will take my leave."

As the Queen faded from our view, the maid let out a breath, crumbling to the ground in fear.

The Queen loathed me, could she be behind the snake in—

I jerked, my back colliding with the way as I gasped for air. Images. Several of them, like shutters.

A basket, a woman's hand, a door handle and finally — the python crawling out of the basket.

I doubled over and expelled my breakfast there and then.

The maid scrambled away, horrified by the scene.

My visions were always like that — Violent and forceful. They came in images and were neither clear as to future or past.

However, this time, I knew what it was.

Or rather, what it was saying. The person who let the snake into the storeroom was a woman, as much as I would prefer to blame the queen — this person was much, much younger.

It was not Aidel Vera.