Falling For The Crown

Chapter 5: Keeping Up Appearances

That was the most terrifying thing I have ever had to do. I thought the king had seen straight through me. The duke and duchess were pretty confident that the king never met the girls. I can't stop shaking, I hope he hasn't noticed. And no one said anything about us sharing a room already. I-I don't know what I am supposed to do. Do I try to slip out and make a run for it before I get even deeper or-

"Hey."

I jumped from the sudden sound which probably came off as weird. Would a proper lady react this way? I don't know if I am overthinking things or not thinking about them enough. I'm at a loss here and I have no one to confide in. I have never felt more alone than I do at this moment right now.

"This is Alessandra and she will be your lady in waiting."

Oh wow. She is so cute, she is petite with long black hair. With beautiful blue eyes, so blue they kind of look like glass. I have never seen anything like it before. She also looks young. I wonder how old she is.

"I will leave you two to get to know one another. Aurora this is where you will sleep tonight, I will sleep in someone else's chambers."

So we don't have to share a bed tonight? Oh, thank the heavens!

"Alessandra I expect you to behave appropriately."

"Of course Sir. Dimitri."

Dimitri let out a long sigh as he left the room. I wonder if that was him tired or if he is already tired of me. I'm probably not what he expected and honestly, he is not what I expected.

Alessandra and I kind of just sat there in awkward silence. I've never had a lady in waiting before, if anything I think I was one to the girls. If a lady in waiting is someone that cook's and cleans for another then yes I was.

"Um, so your name is Alessandra right?"

"Ding ding congratulations you aren't deaf. He only said it about three times. Or are you just stupid?"

Wow okay. I didn't expect that to be the first thing she would say to me. I am supposed to be a duke's daughter. Does she always speak this rudely to people of higher status? Or have I already insulted her in some way?

"Have I done something to you? You are coming across a bit rude?"

"Oh, I'm coming across rude? I must have been too subtle because I was aiming for rude."

"Why? Have I done something to you?"

"Yes! Yes, you have!"

"Okay, are you going to tell me what?"

"Nope. You can figure it out for yourself. Or are you just going to run to daddy and make me go away?"

If only I had that kind of power.

"Well if you don't need anything I would like to return to my room. May I?"

She said that nicely but the look on her face is giving off a different vibe. I think I need to be careful around this girl. I can't explain it but something in my gut is telling me she is a bit unstable.

"Yes. Thank you for this wonderful conversation. It is certainly one I won't forget any time soon."

"Whatever."

She rolled her eyes so far back into her head I am surprised she could see the door. This is already more than I can handle. I don't know how to deal with people like well any of them. Dimitri is gorgeous but scary. All I know is I don't have any allies here.

*********

Aurora!

What?

Aurora heeds my warning. Not all is what it seems, trust no one.

I don't understand. Who are you?

Remember trust no one! Or it may be the last thing you do!

My eyes burst open to a blinding light, I shoot up and discover that I am still in the castle in my bed. I look over to the other side of the room and see Alessandra opening the blinds. Pretty aggressively I might add.

"Do you plan on sleeping forever? Some of us have things to do and I don't feel like waiting all day for you to grace us with your presence. I have to help you get ready for the day."

"Are you always this lovely in the morning?"

"Only when I am forced to deal with annoying little slews like you."

"Annoying? Little slew? How old are you? I'm pretty sure you are younger than me by a fair bit. Will just tell me already what it is you don't like about me?"

"Everything. Your very existence irks me to no end. Happy?"

"Ecstatic. I don't need help so you can leave."

"That is not what the king wants. I have been ordered to be your lady in waiting. So here I am. Doing my job."

"And I am telling you to leave. Thank you. I will call you if I need help."

She kind of just stands there and gives me daggers for a few more minutes before storming out of the room while muttering something under her breath. Maybe it's just a little bit of jealousy? Hopefully, I can appease her a bit so I don't have to wake up to her lovely hostile self every morning. Especially if I take her with me and Dimitri.

I hop out of bed and wander over to the mirror. Was that a dream? Or was someone in my room talking to me while I slept? Either way, it was creepy and a very ominous message. Is someone trying to warn me? Or scare me? I think for now I will heed its warning until I know what I am going to do and how long I can keep up this charade.

I walk over to the closet, the one thing I remember the duchess saying is that they tend to unpack your things for you. Seems a bit excessive to me. I open the closet door and my god this isn't anything that I brought with me. I have never seen such gorgeous dresses before in my life. I don't even think I have seen the twins in anything this extravagant. No wonder Alessandra was going to help me get dressed, I don't know where these dresses begin and end.

After about an hour of digging through the dresses, I managed to find one of mine. I got dressed as quickly as I could and tied my hair into a quick ponytail. I'm not sure if I am supposed to look a certain way, maybe I should have had Alessandra help me after all. Although I wouldn't put it past her to make me look ridiculous on purpose.

I decided to explore the castle a bit. I'm not going to get anywhere just sitting in my room all day. This castle is huge, I won't be surprised if I end up getting lost. You can tell this castle is extremely old as well, the stories it must have.

Not even really paying attention to the people around me I turned a corner and there was Alessandra. She's talking up someone from the sounds of it. I can't see who it is, oh wait he is turning his head. Oh my god! She is talking to Dimitri. Now it is all making sense. She has feelings for him and I have been brought in as his wife to be. Were they in some sort of relationship before the king decided he marry me? Well, the duke's daughter anyway.

I don't want to want to interrupt them. I'll just go the other way.

"Aurora."

His voice just made me freeze instantly. It's like silk wrapping all over my body, it's intoxicating.

I turned around to see of course Alessandra giving me more daggers. At least now I understand why she hates me. Unfortunately there most likely isn't anything I can do to fix that situation. Hopefully, it doesn't go any further than insults here and there. That I can handle.

"Sorry I didn't want to interrupt your conversation. I just wanted to look around the castle a bit. I've never been inside anything so beautiful."

"Weren't you here with your mother a few years ago?"

Were the twins here? s**t, I don't know. It's not like they ever told me where they went and what they did.

"Right. It was so long ago, plus now that I am living here everything looks different. Like I still can't believe this I am here."

They both just stare at me like I am some kind of freak. Maybe I am, who knows.

"But I do have a question. Wasn't this place run by magic once upon a time? With mages and wizards-

"I would keep those kinds of questions to yourself. If there was one thing the king agreed with the last king was getting rid of everything magical. He doesn't like that kind of talk."

"Oh. I'm sorry I had no idea."

"It's fine as long as you don't bring it up again. Anyway, I was on my way to find you. The king has requested we join him for dinner tonight. He said he had something he wants to discuss with you."

I can feel all the blood draining from my face and the lump in my throat getting bigger. What in god's name could he want to talk about with me?

"What does he want to talk about?"

"Something about your father I think. Alessandra will help you get ready. I will pick you up in a few hours."

I think I might be royally f****d.