Conference

My heartbeat raced as I jumped out of bed at once, got ready, and started reading lines aloud from a book on royal etiquette that I borrowed from the library.

What do I do? They’ll see right through me! They’ll know I’m fake. Maybe I should just be myself.

“The lights are on?” asked Comet.

“Yes, of course they are. Argh, I need a friend who understands this royal stuff!”

“Heh, how many friends do you have?”

“Shut up, Comet.”

“You too,” she said, putting her eye mask back on.

The screen faded to black as Comet fell asleep.

“Ugh!”

Maybe she’s right. I really have no friends in my second life. I never hit it off with the Princess.

Sighing deeply, I fumbled with my magic wand and created a cream and brown dress, without imagining it.

As I looked at it from all angles in the mirror, I whispered, “Not bad, but certainly not good.”

I went out at that ungodly hour.

After all, I should look around before I get kicked out.

If I were given a way to work and earn my own keep, then I wouldn’t need to be locked in forever. I would be free. But at what cost?

If Cass wasn’t around, I would’ve fled ages ago. There was something about him that was different from the other royal members.

Perhaps it was his delusion.

He is my delusional Prince.

I tiptoed out of the room. There was a guard, fast asleep on a chair. The soft sunshine flowed through the cracks of the curtains. I took in a deep breath.

No matter what happens, I’ll be okay.

I smiled and skipped forward, only to nearly crash into the statuette of Cassius.

I swear, this thing appears out of thin air!

I looked into its hollow, bewildered eyes, gazed at its neutral mouth, and the soft curls.

Why is it that this soul of his has no resemblance to his nature?

After having pancakes with chocolate syrup at the hall with the staff, I got up, swallowed hard, and sighed.

“Madam, you have been summoned to the conference room,” said Fran, the maid.

“Thank you for telling me this.”

I dragged my feet all the way there, swallowing, and staring at the floor.

Once I reached there, I opened the door, looked up, and forced a smile on my face.

“Please, come in,” said the King.

I curtseyed and went to the center of the room. The King sat at the head of the table, followed by an old man with glasses, Princess Amelia, a middle-aged woman, and finally, Prince Cassius, who had a sparkle in his eyes. He wore a beige shirt and pin-striped trousers.

The Crown Prince Evan wasn’t present, as I heard he was still battling on the outskirts of Angelpoint.

The King cleared his throat and asked me to introduce myself.

I looked at the patterned wallpaper with various shelves of books, then back at the King.

“My name is Janessa Drexel, I have studied economics, and I hail from the land of Griffiths, which is far from here. My parents aren’t in this world, but I can assure you that they had noble professions.”

“Oh? Do you not have any family?” asked Princess Amelia.

“I’m afraid not.”

“Oh, very sorry to hear this, darling,” said the woman.

“Indeed,” said the old man.

“Well, she is beautiful. I suppose the rest of the family will not object,” said the King.

“Alright, Prince Cassius and Janessa, kindly leave this room, so that we may discuss,” said the woman.

“Yes, of course.”

I waited outside the room so that I could greet Cassius. He held the door open while leaving.

I couldn’t believe my ears as the Princess said, “At least Edith will be saved. We do not require a war waged over her disappearance…”

Cassius’s eyes widened as he hastily shut the door, and he had a stiff smile on his face.

“Prince Cassius, what’s going on?” I asked.

“Whatever do you mean?” asked Cassius.

I exhaled loudly and said, “They mentioned something about Edith’s disappearance.”

“My goodness, Janessa, I can explain!” said Cass.

Explain what? He must be hiding something from me!

“Well, you see… my soul in the statue is cursed. If anyone grows too close to me, but does not love me eventually get dragged into hell,” he whispered into my ear.

“Wait, what? I can’t believe this.”

Does this mean that all this time, his silhouette that had been following me had the intention of dragging me into hell?!

“Janessa? Janessa…” said Cassius.

“So why did you put me in danger? Do you even love me?” I asked.

“Janessa, I was certain that you would love me back.”

“You don’t know me well enough.”

“We have all the time in the world to know each other.”

I almost fainted. If I could faint on purpose, I would do it now.

A bell rang from inside the room. It brought me back to Cassius, who stopped talking and stared at the carpet.

“Excuse me,” said the maid.

She entered the room and then called us back inside. Cassius entered at once, and they had to call my name for me to step into the room.

“What happened? Lover’s quarrel?” asked Amelia.

The Prince and I looked at each other, and then at the floor.

“I will take that as a yes,” she said.

“Shall we call off the potential engagement to Lady Edith?” asked the King.

“Yes please, your majesty,” said Cassius.

“Alright, son. Please inform me of any preparation required between you and Janessa.”

“Alright.”

“Now, scurry along, both of you. Please maintain her honor till the wedding… unless it is too late.”

My face heated up, and I looked at Prince Cassius, who also had a blush over his face.

“Goodbye, Cassius.”

“Goodbye, father.”

We left the room. Cassius wrapped his arms around me, and I froze.

“What is the matter?”

“I’m scared. What if I fail to love you?”

“No, I believe in you.”

He let go, grinned, and placed his hand on my back.

“Sorry, Prince Cassius. If you’ll excuse me,” I said, curtseying.

I ran down the hallway, straight to my room.

“Wait, come back!”

I entered my room, locked it shut, and sank onto the floor.

How many times do I have to pay the penalty for being unable to love someone? First Kevin, and now Cassius? Really?! I’m afraid I’ll never be able to find peace.

Warm teardrops rolled down my cheeks. I whimpered for a while as there was a pain in my chest.

Well, this just proves it. I might not love him after all. In that case, I have to avoid him from now on and plan an escape.