Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(98)
When I look back at our rocky relationship, it’s incredible that he never gave up on me, no matter how determined I was to leave Athelia or that he had plenty of chances to marry another girl. He could have suffered far less if he chose someone else, but he didn’t. The best I can do, on the verge of leaving, is to let him know how much I treasure his affection, and that this time I won’t have my memories be erased. I want to remember him forever. It will be painful, of course, but I’d rather have the pain than ignorance.
Snow is falling outside—the flakes come down with the speed of heavy rain, coating the ground in a thick white layer. This is one of the few instances that I’m thankful for bad weather. Edward had gone to High Court the first thing after breakfast, to request that my court trial be re-scheduled due to a terrible cold. I sure don’t want myself returning to the trial and fainting again.
I smooth a piece of blank paper on the desk and take up my pen. But the words won’t come. It feels like once I’ve written this farewell letter, my departure will be irrevocable.
While dallying, I notice the morning papers lying on the upper left-hand corner of the desk. Since I decided to move in Edward’s office, I asked Amelie to deliver an extra copy of the papers for me in the mornings. If I were to assist him, I’d better be informed of current events. There are three different papers from three agencies, each with its own political preference.
Unjust Slanders On The Princess’s Identity—from a paper that favors the royal family.
Princess Katriona and Lady Pembroke Appear in Court is the title of a paper aimed at those apathetic to royals and aristocracy. There’s a lengthy article that describes the entirety of my trial, including the details of what occurred after I fainted. Edward had leaped from his bench and carried me out of the room, while Bertram warded off a swarm of reporters who wanted to know the prince’s opinion on this messy affair.
Princess Katriona: A Royal Fraud? reads the one that enjoys long popularity for satirizing and lampooning the royals, or simply anyone who’s a celebrity. There’s even a cartoon showing Bianca in an unflattering caricature, towering over me like a monster. Maybe the person who did the illustrations was at court that day. He (in Athelia it’s most likely to be male) captured Bianca’s twisted fury in perfect strokes of genius. I wonder if Bianca would dare to claim defamation of her movie-star looks—it’s one of the very rare instances that she appears unattractive.
What will the papers say when I leave the palace? I suppose the question mark in the last headline would be replaced by a period. I was never Katriona Bradshaw in the beginning. Perhaps this is my punishment for meddling with Story World.
If only Krev’s appearance yesterday was a hallucination. Maybe I was so stressed out from the appearance of Katriona Bradshaw that my imagination has taken a wild, dramatic turn.
“It’s a lie,” I say aloud. “It must be a nightmare.”
As though my words were meant to be refuted, a violent spasm seizes my chest and I start coughing so hard that I have to grab the edge of the desk. Letters tumble onto the ground, but I can barely stand up, not to mention pick them up.
“Princess!” Mabel hurries into the study, her round face filled with alarm. “Oh dear, when did you catch such a bad cold? I’ll get the doctor for you right away.”
I grab her arm and shake my head, while trying to contain my coughing. A moment later, which seems like a century, the itchiness in my throat gradually subsides and I am able to drink some water.
“It must be that horrible trial,” Mabel says with a vehemence that isn’t like her normal cheery self. “You’ve been worrying too much about that nasty woman who’s pretending to be you, and the weather turned bad when you were most vulnerable.”
“That’s… most likely.”
“Put this on.” Mabel brings me a heavy cloak lined with ermine. “You’ve got to stay warm and get well soon. How dare Lady Pembroke accuse you of fraud! I was completely flabbergasted when I heard the story. Honestly, how did she find someone who looks so similar to you? Do you think it’s possible that you could be twins?” She presses a hand on her chest. “Maybe that other girl was a sickly baby, but later survived when everyone presumed she was dead?”
I pull the cloak around my shoulders and am rewarded with instant warmth. “Thanks, Mabel. And no, I don’t think she is a long-lost twin sister.”
“Oh well.” Mabel shrugs. “Guess what—I found out the name of the guard outside! His name is Percival. Doesn’t it sound romantic?” She ducks her head, suddenly shy. “Do you, uh, do you think you can teach me a few tricks?”
“Teach you?”
“Well, you know, you attracted His Highness, and he’s so hard to please. So I wondered if you had, uh, some tips. Men never take me seriously.” She sounds so doleful that I have to smile, even when my own situation is down in the dumps.
“Be yourself.” I don’t dare to speak too loud, in case of another fit of coughing. “No tricks, honestly. It happens that Edward likes me the way I am. He likes that I’m different from most of the women of his acquaintance.”
She tilts her head, then her eyes widen. “Your… Your Highness!”
Edward has entered the study. He looks older than his age, and there’s a depressing aura surrounding him like a dark cloud.