The Princess Swap

8.

“Why didn’t you use your napkin?” My ‘Mother' growled, her eyes showing her wolf at the forefront. I didn’t think anyone but me should be this angry. A man had purposely humiliated me before more than thirty men but my ‘Mother' concerned herself with me not wearing my napkin at the table. “This could have been prevented with a simple table manner. What is the matter with you, Ariana?” She raged at me for something beyond my control. If she was in the mood to rage, she could do that to Zion. He had caused this dilemma.

They say hate is a strong word but it wasn’t strong enough to describe what I felt for that man. He wrecked my building bravado with one action. He made me feel like Selene, the worthless, unranked wolf again, when I started to settle into being the Princess. For once, I felt like somebody. But with one spiteful move, he took me back to being nobody. The girls at the table had snickered, mocking me.

Something had to be done. Fast. But it seemed this woman didn’t care about that. I should be faulted for my imperfections while Zion moved on with no consequences for his actions.

I may not know much about being royal. I may have no class, no charisma and no grace, but I knew that for as long as I was Princess Ariana, I had power. And I had to start acting like someone who did.

Selene wasn’t strong but Selene wasn’t here. Princess Ariana was and she had power and influence. She spoke and people heard. Speaking with her voice, I had to be heard. I had to make it echo the way a Princess’ should.

A soft knock sounded on the door. The Queen stepped in. Queen Gwendolyn, fondly called Queen Gwen by the entire kingdom; an image of grace and class. Not a single strand of her hair stood out of place. Her tiara perfectly placed, her spine straight, chin up and look soft.

“Marcella.” She smiled at the Princess’ mother. She walked to where I sat on an ottoman at the foot of the bed, receiving a verbal lashing for the Prince ruining my dress. “My Princess.” She took my hands in hers. Hers were small and soft with clean, trim nails covered in clear nail polish. “Is anything the matter? I have noticed you to absentminded since you arrived.”

“She is nervous about the wedding. That is all,” Marcella cut in.

“Is this true?” I nodded, at a loss. “The wedding is two months away and your mother is kind enough to shoulder all the weight for you. You should not be nervous or worried.”

“She is scared the Prince will shift the wedding again like he has done the past two times,” Again, Marcella cut in. The Queen, the sweet woman with a pronounced daintiness, turned to glare at her.

“She can speak for herself.” And there could be no missing the growl of power. Despite her calm air, she was still Queen and the second most powerful person in Karriel. “The wedding will take place in two months. Has Zion given you any reason to doubt this?” I shook my head, in total and complete awe of her.

She squeezed my hands in hers. “He tells me all you ever speak of is the wedding so I know how excited you must be. It’s no secret he has resisted this engagement for as long as he could, but I will step in if I have to. This is the best time to settle down and produce heirs to secure our kingdom.”

 She meant it to be kind. She really did. If the Princess loved the Prince as we all suspected, then she would be happy to hear this, happy to mother children that would one day be princes and princesses. But to me, a bystander in their affairs, all I could feel was cold.

“If he doesn’t want to do it, why make him?” I asked. Marcella gasped while the Queen's jaw fell open. She schooled her expression to a smile, one not so perfect as her usual ones.

“Ariana –“ Marcella began to say but she was cut her off.

“You would make a fine addition to our family.” She pushed hair out of my face. “Look at you, you would make a good queen to Karriel. Your love, your compassion, the people love you already.”

It didn’t answer my question so I asked again. “He doesn’t think so. Why do we have to get married if he doesn’t see me fitting?”

“Ariana!”

“Oh doll, he sees you fitting. Who wouldn’t? You’re beautiful, smart, kind and from a good family. Zion sees you fitting, darling. He just doesn’t know how to express his feelings properly.”

“You haven’t seen the way he looks at me,” I pressed. I wasn’t trying to cause commotion as Marcella looked like she would pass out. I just had to know. I had to know every and anything about my new life.

“I have. He looks at you in adoration.” At least I knew the Queen didn’t shy away from lies. “Maybe he hasn’t been expressing himself in the best way. From now on, you both must spend more time together. I will see to it that he doesn’t engage in any travels until after the wedding.” She kissed my palm, smiled her most gracious smile before standing. “In fact, the fishing my mate mentioned at breakfast is a fantastic idea. You both should go fishing alone. I will arrange it.”

Nice way to shoot yourself in the foot, Selene.

If there was anything I wanted, it would be to spend less time with the arrogant prick.

“Come, Marcella. Find her maids and put her in appropriate clothing for the trip.” She saved me from what could have been more nagging and backhanded insults and guilt trips.

More appropriate clothing turned out to be a smaller dress and an ugly hat.

“Prince Zion will call for you shortly.“ His shortly took an hour during which two girls burst into the room as I read through a pamphlet.

One of them I knew as Raven. With glossy brown hair and beautifully mismatched eyes, a slender build and willowy frame. The other girl must be Jordyn, opposite from Raven in appearance. While Raven was dark and slim, Jordyn stood an inch or two shorter and curvier with very skin. No one needed to guess the leader of the duo.

“I heard you fainted in the Prince’s arms yesterday. Uggh, lucky you. What I would give to be in a three feet radius of him.” She collapsed into the bed. I had to remind myself that we were friends. There was little need to be upset with them barging in.

“Don’t speak about her Prince like that, Jordyn.” Raven rolled her eyes. She took a seat next to me. “What are you reading?“ She yanked the pamphlet out of my hands, ripping a small piece of it.

“I’m just saying. It’s not like they’re married yet,” Jordyn replied.

“We will be in two months.” I yanked my pamphlet out of Raven’s hands. “I was reading that.”

“Sure, Ari. We are all praying he doesn’t postpone this time. Words already got out of the wedding. It would be shameful if the public hears of it and then it gets postponed.” Jordyn turned from her back to her stomach to smile sadly at me.

“I’m just trying to see what you’re reading.” I stretched my arms away from Raven as she reached for the pamphlet again.

“You can ask if you want to know,” I said to her. “I just spoke to his mother. No more postponement. Raven, will you stop it!?” I exclaimed when the girl continued to reach for my outstretched hands.

“As if she hasn’t said that the two times it happened. None of them can interfere with his decisions.”

“Wow, you’re mean today,” Raven said, turning away from me. “Jordyn, did you see what Lady Ophelia wore to breakfast?”

“Of course I saw. You kept giggling every time she spoke.” Jordyn giggled behind her hands. “Her maids must be cruel. None of them told her yellow is an awful colour on her!?” I knew Lady Ophelia. Or at least, I knew of her. The Queen’s sister-in-law.

“A barren omega with no fashion sense. It pains me that the king made her mate a lord. They haven’t got an iota of grace in them. Wonder how they can be related to our beautiful queen.” They continued to talk of Lady Ophelia and her life, of every other woman in the dining room, bar Marcella, including the Queen.

Someone knocked on the door. “Come in!” Jordyn called before I even looked up. Wilhelmina stepped in.

“The Prince has called for you.” She curtseyed and left.

 I stood, ignoring the looks from the girls. I wasn’t trying to be rude. It just met them but I knew their kind. The people they reminded me of just pissed me off.

“Oooh, going out with the Prince?” I nodded, smoothing out my dress.

“We’re going fishing.”

 They also made me feel self-conscious which was just ridiculous as it wasn’t my body! But their skins glowed and they were stunning and confident in their skin in a way I could only wish for.

“We’re coming along!” Jordyn exclaimed as both the girls rushed to stand.

“No, you’re not. This is a – personal time for us.” The already got on my nerves. Maybe what Marcella said about Jordyn stuck or maybe because they reminded me of Xavier, overconfident and snobbish, but I didn’t like them.

They seemed the type to judge a person by their appearance. Their noses would wrinkle if they ever met the real me. Then they would go home to their mansions and discuss how unfortunate it was that I had been birthed. They were bitches, in plain terms.

“Yeah, as if you don’t want to save yourself an infinite number of embarrassment from being alone with the Prince. Come, Raven, let’s go change our clothes.” I grabbed her bicep to stop her.

My jaw tightened of its own accord at her blatant dismissal. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my voice level before speaking. “You are not allowed.” Her eyes widened. She pulled her bicep out of my grip.

“Fine. Have fun with your Prince.” She said in a tart tone. They exited the room and I could breathe again.

Prince Zion paced at the foot of the stairs leading to the west wing. He scowled when I descended. “I’ve been down here for five minutes. What were you doing? Putting on kohl!?”

“I waited for you for an hour. What were you doing? Styling your hair!?” I shot back. The look on his face was priceless. Yes, this was how I always dreamt of speaking to Xavier. I almost skipped as we left the castle, a smile playing on my lips.

By the time we got to the river which I suspected the prince had taken the long route to, my chest heaved and my legs were hot. He walked fast, without looking back, his back and shoulders stiff as he marched forward. It was either I kept up or got lost.

My suspicions were confirmed when I saw two girls beaming at us. They managed to get there before us!

“Great. You brought an entourage,” He growled. I felt like growling too. Heat climbed up my chest, tightening my fists.

“I didn’t bring them.” My fist tightened further and I marched forward.

“Then why are your giggling crew here if you didn’t invite them?”

The annoyance I felt at my ‘friends’ coupled with his desire to pester and humiliate me all the time made me snap. “Don’t growl at me, Zion. I said I didn’t invite them so stop with your condescending attitude. I’m not the cause of your problem for god’s sake! “