Dolleritis

A tall blond-haired boy with blue eyes sat comfortably in a chair, one leg folded over the other. Beside him stood a stiff-looking butler wearing a monocle and holding a folded towel over one arm.

From the balcony above, Queen Natalie, Elena, and Sybill watched the scene unfold. King Andrew had decided he was far too busy to deal personally with something this ridiculous, so Rowland had been instructed to handle the matter on his behalf.

“Let the show begin,” Elena whispered.

Sybill nodded.

“The beginning.”

Rowland entered the hall. For this particular occasion, he had deliberately dressed in his full Crown Prince attire. The crown rested prominently on his red hair.

The fake Sammy looked up. His blue eyes widened. A faint sheen of sweat appeared across his brow.

Rowland wore what Sybill had privately described as his deliberately arrogant face.

“Heh…”

The impostor smiled nervously.

“A very good day to you, Crown Prince.”

Rowland walked past him without even acknowledging the greeting and sat down in the largest chair in the room.

“What brings you here?”

The boy swallowed.

“I don’t quite know how to tell you this…”

He placed a hand dramatically over his chest.

“But I am Prince Sammy.”

“Really?”

Rowland leaned forward and interlaced his fingers.

From the balcony, Sybill nudged Elena.

“You see the Elena? The intimidation and the handsome face.”

Elena nodded solemnly.

“I see the intimidation part. Handsome is nonexistent for me.”

The fake Sammy sighed heavily.

“Alas, mine is a tragic tale. Full of betrayal, chaos, and suffering.”

Rowland stared at him.

“Go on.”

“After my mother was exiled, I went searching for her and was kidnapped myself.”

He lowered his head sorrowfully.

“The only person who came to my aid was none other than the great Dame Darlene.”

Elena slowly turned towards Sybill.

“Darlene?”

Queen Natalie frowned.

“I haven’t seen her in quite some time.”

She sighed.

“She was always a handful, that one.”

Elena leaned towards her.

“About that…”

A few whispered sentences later, Natalie’s eyes widened.

“Oh.”

Downstairs, the impostor continued.

“Dame Darlene found me and protected me when nobody else would.”

He pressed a hand against his heart.

“I have yearned for my family ever since. And now I have finally returned to relieve you of your duties and reclaim my rightful place as heir.”

“Really,” Rowland said again.

His expression did not change.

“Leo.”

Leo stepped forward.

“Why don’t we serve Prince Sammy some tea?”

Rowland smiled faintly.

“And assorted fruit desserts.”

The fake prince visibly relaxed.

“How thoughtful.”

Soon the table was covered with tea, pastries, fruit sandwiches, small cakes, and several desserts.

The fake Sammy glanced over them.

“No peaches, I trust.”

Rowland raised an eyebrow.

The impostor smiled knowingly.

“I cannot eat peaches, as you are undoubtedly aware.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Rowland said with fake sincerity.

The fake Sammy selected one of the small pies and began eating enthusiastically, occasionally throwing pleased looks towards his monocled butler.

“Dame Darlene and her grandson David rescued me from the imbeciles who abandoned me far away from this kingdom,” he explained between bites.

Rowland raised an eyebrow.

“And it took you two years to reach the palace?”

From the balcony, Elena covered her mouth. Sybill stared at Rowland even harder.

The fake Sammy took another large bite of pie, apparently unaware that several people were now watching him very closely.

A little later, Elena, Sybill, and the real Sammy entered the hall.

The impostor barely looked at Sammy. Instead, he flicked his fingers towards him.

“Servant boy.”

Sammy stopped.

“Pour me some tea.”

Sammy stared at him.

Rowland immediately looked away. Elena suddenly found the ceiling extremely interesting, while Sybill silently readied her wand.

Sammy picked up the teapot.

“As you wish.”

He poured.

The fake prince smiled proudly.

“I still cannot find my mother, unfortunately. But once I become king, I intend to reward your father, Harold, for his unwavering loyalty.”

Rowland’s expression changed.

The fake Sammy turned towards Elena.

“Oh, dear sister.”

Elena smiled sweetly.

“You look radiant.”

“Thank you.”

“You would look even better beside a handsome man like David.”

Sybill made a tiny choking sound.

Elena glanced towards her. Sybill immediately composed herself.

Rowland leaned back.

“And what are your plans now that you have finally returned, brother?”

The impostor straightened proudly.

“First, I will correct a terrible injustice.”

Everyone waited.

“Dame Darlene was falsely accused of attempting to assassinate Nigel.”

Leo and Rowland exchanged looks.

“Nigel himself was the true culprit,” the fake prince continued. “And Duke Seinfeld was involved as well.”

Rowland’s eyebrows rose.

The impostor lifted his chin.

“Winland and House Carrington have been conspiring against me from the beginning. Once I am king, both of them will answer for what they have done.”

Leo quietly drew his wand.

Footsteps sounded behind them.

Queen Natalie descended from the balcony.

The fake Sammy looked her over.

“And where did this one come from?”

He frowned.

“One of Andrew’s concubines? She looks rather exotic.”

Sybill leaned towards Elena.

“Exotic? Like the animal?”

Elena stared at him.

“Whoever sent this idiot clearly didn’t know Natalie was back. They didn’t even bother showing him her portrait.”

Natalie stopped, genuine anger flashing across her face.

“Even if, in a million years, we were to believe that you are indeed Sammy, you would be dead by now.”

The impostor frowned.

Natalie looked towards his plate.

“My son is indeed severely allergic to peaches. That part you got right.”

She pointed towards the half-eaten pie.

“But you have just eaten almost an entire peach pie.”

The fake Sammy slowly looked down at his plate.

Then back at Natalie.

Before he could speak, Leo placed the tip of his wand against his neck.

The fake butler took one step backwards.

Sammy lunged forward and tackled him to the floor.

“What is the meaning of this insolence?” the impostor shouted.

“I am the real prince!”

He looked wildly around the room.

“Ask me anything!”

Rowland glanced towards the half-eaten pie.

“I think your mother already did.”

The fake Sammy was arrested along with his butler for further investigation.

Sybill looked around.

“Elena, where is the Silvi?”

“Oh, about that,” Elena said. “Silvi said she was feeling really sick and asked me to wrap her in a tiny shawl.”

Sybill’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry, Sibi. Helen’s with her,” Elena added quickly.

But Sybill was already running towards Elena’s room.

By the time Elena caught up, Sybill stood beside the bed with her hands pressed to her face. Silvi lay wrapped in the tiny shawl.

The normally tough porcelain exterior of her body had cracked in several places, as though her outer shell were slowly breaking apart. A golden glow shone through the cracks underneath.

Elena hurried closer.

“What happened?”

She looked at Silvi with concern.

“What’s going on, Silvi?”

Sybill stared at her sister in horror.

“It is the Dolleritis.”

Her eyes flooded with tears.

Elena screwed up her face.

“The what?”

Sybill bawled.

Silvi blinked up at them.

“It’s all right, dear.”

Her voice was weaker than usual.

“This happens to me every few years. I’ll be fine.”

Elena looked at the glowing cracks covering her porcelain body.

“You call this fine?”

“It is essentially doll fever. Every few years, the outer layer of my porcelain cracks away and replenishes itself. It’s rather like the way human skin renews itself.”

Silvi explained and glanced towards Sybill.

“Sibi is usually the one who doesn’t do so well with it. She gets terribly upset every single time.”

Sybill wiped furiously at her eyes.

“I will be staying with the Silvi.”

Elena immediately took hold of her arm.

“Okay. I’ll stay with you too.”

Silvi tilted her head.

“No, dear.”

She gave a tiny cough.

“You both have affairs that need to be sorted out. I don’t want either of you abandoning your engagements because of me. I’ll be perfectly fine on my own.”

Both girls looked at her.

“Elena, stay with Sibi and help her prepare for her meeting with Sammy’s mother. Guide her on how to conduct herself properly during it.”

Sybill nodded miserably.

“The Natalie.”

“I can help her prepare, but I’m afraid I can’t stay for the tea,” Elena said. “I have my own tea party. I’m supposed to meet several of noble's daughters. 

“And there is one more thing.”

Sybill looked suspiciously towards her.

“It isn’t only Queen Natalie.”

Silvi paused.

“Zeena will be joining you.”

Sybill froze.

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened.

“The Rowland’s mother?”

Silvi blinked.

“Yes.”

Sybill took one step backwards.

“She is the very, very scary. That woman is sending the shivering down the spine.”

Then another.

“I will be running back to the Domain.”

She turned.

Elena grabbed her arm.

“No.”

Sybill looked down at Elena’s hand. Then at Elena.

Elena stepped directly in front of her and gently took Sybill’s face between both hands.

“Sybill.”

Sybill’s enormous lavender eyes stared into hers.

“You have to do this without us.”

Sybill looked horrified.

“It’s time you learned to talk to people without me or Silvi being there to rescue you.”

“But the—”

“No.”

From the bed came a weak little cough.

“I would feel better if you did, dear,” Silvi said.

Sybill stared at her sister. Then at Elena.

Her shoulders sank.

A defeated Sybill grabbed her blue lace gown and left to change.