The Princess's Stolen Body

Chapter 5: A Thief’s Help

-Jonah-

I wished I could say meeting the princess had changed my ways. It truly had an impact on me, one I didn’t expect to be so profound because I found myself feeling a bit guilty when I “accidentally” bumped into a rich merchant and lifted his purse from his belt while apologizing.

However, the guilt was somewhat alleviated when he scolded me with a cruel tone to watch my step. It actually eased my conscience, and a smile spread across my lips as I tossed the bag into the air and caught it effortlessly. Sometimes, it was just too easy. I craved a challenge, but people rarely provided one.

As I walked down the street with a smile, I noticed two beautiful women approaching. I slipped the bag of coins into my jacket and spotted a flower stall. I quickly snatched a flower without the vendor noticing and hurried back to the brunette. I extended the flower toward her. The two women stopped and giggled as they admired the flower I offered to one of them in particular.

“I see you haven’t changed your ways, Jonah,” Tessa said.

“I’ll change them for you,” I replied charmingly.

This made the two women laugh. I had met Tessa a long time ago. She worked at the castle but frequented the market, where I’d tried to charm her before.

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” she stated, walking past me with her friend.

I sighed, rolling my eyes, then stepped in front of them again, holding out the flower.

“Then give me a chance. Be mine and see me change,” I urged.

“Really?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Her friend shook her head and leaned closer. “Don’t believe him. He’s a wanted man. He’ll always be on the outside of the law.”

Her friend clearly didn’t like me, and the feeling was mutual.

“Was I speaking to you, Anna?”

“It’s Hannah!” she snapped.

“Oh, really?” I inquired, feigning surprise.

Hannah crossed her arms and shot me a hard look, which only made me smile smugly before I turned back to Tessa.

“What do you say?” I asked, dangling the flower in front of her.

Tessa laughed sweetly and gently pushed the flower away.

“Prove yourself to me,” she said.

“How?”

“Well, you’ll have to figure that out, won’t you?” she teased.

With a final, radiant smile, she grabbed her friend’s arm, friend Anna or Hannah or whatever, and pulled her along.

“Bye, Jonah,” she teased, glancing over her shoulder and winking at me.

I just smiled, twirling the flower between my fingers as I watched her walk away. She really was beautiful. Yet, after everything, I wasn’t so sure anymore she was the most beautiful I’d ever seen. Only a night ago, I was certain. Now, not so much.

I shrugged off my thoughts and tossed the flower aside. I’d have to do what she’d asked: prove myself. With that determination in mind, I turned around, swiped another purse from a passing man, and headed toward one of the taverns. Just as I was about to enter, someone grabbed my arm.

-Liana-

I had no idea what to do after I found myself sprawled in the mud. I’d been sitting in a dark alley, crying and trying to wipe away the grime and dirt, but it only smeared more. My own spit was a poor substitute for water.

But I knew I couldn’t sit here forever. I turned my head to look at the people enjoying their day, feeling a pang of desperation. I needed to find someone who would believe me, but who? I didn’t look like myself, and besides my brother, I had no one. Just as I was about to bury my head in my hands and start crying again, I heard a familiar name.

“I see you haven’t changed your ways, Jonah.”

I jumped up from the ground and started walking toward the end of the alley. Peering out, I saw the bustling street and scanned for the source of the voice. That’s when I spotted him. He stood in front of two women I recognized as servants from the castle.

He was holding a flower out to one of them, clearly trying his best to charm her. Though she kept turning him down, it was evident she was attracted to him. Her hesitation seemed to stem from his dishonest work, or so I gathered from their exchange, until she grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled her away.

“Bye, Jonah,” she said, glancing back with a teasing smile.

I watched as Jonah continued to gaze after the woman as she walked away. He tossed the flower aside with a smile, and then—almost imperceptibly—I saw his hand shoot out, snatching a bag of coins from a passing man.

He really was a thief. I crossed my arms, contemplating him as he strolled by. An idea began to form. If he had managed to get into the castle once, perhaps he could do it again. I quickly followed him and, just as he was about to enter a tavern, I grabbed his arm.

He turned, shock evident on his face, and pulled his arm back. “Who are you? Why did you grab me? Do I know you?”

“You do,” I replied, stepping a bit closer.

He took a step back, and a man exiting the tavern walked between us. “Listen, girl, I don’t know who you are, so—”

“Are you going to return that man’s purse?” I interrupted.

I glanced at the bag in his hand. Jonah looked at it too, then slipped it behind his back and shrugged. Oh, he was using that same little trick again.

“What purse?” he inquired with a smug smile.

I shook my head and sighed. “I don’t care about the purse, as long as you help me.”

“Help you?” he asked, his confusion evident.

“Exactly.”

Another man walked between us, glancing from me to Jonah, clearly puzzled by our conversation in the doorway.

“Listen, I don’t know you, so why would I help you?” Jonah inquired.

“Because I could turn you in. Is that what you want?” I retorted.

His eyes narrowed slightly at my threat, but he might be my only option.

“And what will you say?” he inquired, his confidence returning. “Do you have proof?”

“I saw it!”

“Oh, did you now?” he countered. “And what does the word of a pagan matter?”

He grabbed one of my wrists and pulled the sleeve back further, revealing the swirling tattoos.

“And someone serving the God of Death. Your kind isn’t popular around here,” he added.

He was about to let go and walk inside when I grabbed his arm again, holding him back.

He sighed, turning to me with irritation. “Listen—”

“How do you know she serves the God of Death?” I interrupted.

He looked at me as if I were stupid, then took my wrist again and traced a particular line through the tattoos.

“This line here is a symbol of death. If you didn’t know this, perhaps you shouldn’t have gotten the tattoo,” he said with a laugh.

He was about to leave once more, but I stopped him.

“You mean she sacrifices people?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Why do you keep saying ‘she’?” he questioned.

“Because I am not her!” I exclaimed.

He looked at me, puzzled by my outburst, even leaning back slightly as if I were insane. Maybe I was—this whole situation felt like madness.

“I am Princess Liana!”