Page 7 of Façade

For a long moment I could only stare at the man lying pale and lifeless, my sharp breaths coming short and fast even as my whirling thoughts attempted and failed to comprehend the ghastly sight before me. A crimson splotch stained his clothes from where another knife with a gilded hilt protruded from his back, even as the metallic scent of blood filled the musty air.

My stomach lurched even as the world spun and the narrow alley closed in on me. I blindly seized hold of the wall for support and only managed to barely keep upright before my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the ground, bringing me eye level with the dead man I didn’t recognize, his gaunt expression frozen into one of shock. I tried to look away, but my horrified gaze remained locked on the corpse. My mind whirled, scrambling to assemble the fractured events like a chaotic puzzle, along with questions as to the assassin’s identity and the reason for his sinister intentions.

That was the last thing I should concern myself with in this moment, escape being my primary objective. My pursuer had been murdered…which meant whoever lurked in the shadows could easily hunt me next. I couldn’t even begin to guess their identity or that of my pursuer, nor why the dead man had attempted to kill me. I lifted a shaking hand to my cheek, sticky with blood from the cut of the blade that had missed hitting me fatally by inches.

I crawled towards the knife the assailant had thrown, now lying discarded several meters away. It was a unique design with an insignia I didn’t recognize, offering no clues about my attacker. My fingers fumbled to pick it up before I shakily stood to stumble through the twisting streets, pressing forward as quickly as my weak legs allowed. My heart pounded painfully, yet I didn’t slow, even when I heard no sign of pursuit.

If someone was after my life, that could only mean they’d discovered I used to be the princess…or word hadn’t yet gotten out that I was the fake one. It seemed my purpose as a decoy in protecting the true princess remained, which meant my life was in grave danger. If I hoped to succeed in my own scheme to protect Estoria, I needed to meet with Prince Ryland as soon as possible…a step in my plan that felt far more dangerous than the situation I’d so narrowly just escaped.

CHAPTER3

It was strange to be surrounded by the royal elegance that, while familiar, now felt part of an unreachable dream after my week and a half living as a commoner. I sat in the parlor in Brimoire’s grand palace awaiting the arrival of my intended—or rather, the real crown princess’s betrothed, a change I still struggled to comprehend despite the time I’d had to grow used to my new situation.

I had struggled for the past week and a half to reconcile my parents’ recent betrayal with everything I knew of them, and the only conclusion I could come to was that there must be something about the situation I wasn’t understanding. I could either focus on my anger or I could cherish the beloved parents they’d been all those years. I settled on the latter, because otherwise, I’d be consumed by my bitterness.

Each steadying breath was a struggle as I fought against my escalating nerves. Not only did I have to don a guise that was no longer mine—a task that had always been exhausting but which felt utterly overwhelming now that I knew it to be merely a part—but I had to convince a dishonorable prince to agree to a marriage I’d be required to sacrifice everything for.

I’d used every last coin the king and queen had given me and that I’d earned for the purchase of a gown appropriate for a princess as well as my travel expenses for the three-day journey to Brimoire. I’d passed the lengthy carriage ride studying the passing scenery yet had seen no sign outside of evidence of poor harvests of the blight supposedly afflicting the land, leaving me reason to believe the rumor was a lie used to cover up the true reason the royal family’s coveted Estoria’s power—greed.

Prior to my departure, I’d attempted to investigate the validity of the rumors I’d overheard in the alley. Though I’d discovered very little about the nature of the curse Prince Ryland’s kingdom was supposedly suffering from, I’d gleaned enough to trust the necessity of my drastic plan. Even if I was no longer a true princess, I could still choose to serve the kingdom my lack of title hadn’t lessened my love for or my determination to protect. I’d not only use my marriage to protect Estoria, but uncover the prince’s secrets to present to my former parents about Brimoire’s plans to prevent that alliance permanently until every last one had been brought to light.

Yet fear flared in my heart, my hesitancy in putting myself on the sacrificial altar. In truth, I possessed little information regarding Prince Ryland and his kingdom’s plot beyond my prophetic dream that had led to that single overheard whispered conversation: I only knew that I couldn’t allow him to harm my beloved people. But more than being motivated by goodness and honor, I sought purpose, to do something useful so that my role as a decoy hadn’t been in vain. And a part of me wanted to hold on to the royal identity that wasn’t mine, afraid of what I’d become the moment I was forced to entirely let it go.

I stiffened as the door opened to admit a footman, signaling that my unbearable waiting had finally come to an end. “Presenting His Royal Highness, Prince Ryland.”

He bowed the prince into the room. I shakily rose, doing my best to maintain an image of poise despite the sudden flare of anxiety that had accompanied the announcement of Prince Ryland’s arrival.

Remain calm.You may not be a princess, but you were raised as one. You can do this.

My self-assurances weren’t enough to quiet my doubts from my former title, the memory of the judgements I’d constantly heard about court, or the sharp whispers I’d overheard after my true identity as a decoy had been exposed:I’d always suspected there was something wrong with that princess.

My eyes stung at the recollection, made more painful after all the effort I’d expended to live up to my subjects’ expectations. If the court had so easily seen through my royal façade, would I be able to maintain it for the prince with all that was at stake?

I was so consumed by these doubts I didn’t notice that Prince Ryland had spoken and now watched me expectantly with a look like he was awaiting an answer to a question I hadn’t even heard. Heat engulfed my cheeks at my lapse in attention. What an impression I was already making.

I pushed through my heavy embarrassment to focus my thoughts on him. “Could you please repeat that?”

I detected a brief flash of annoyance before he hastily tucked the emotion behind the decorum he’d been well trained to always maintain. “I expressed both pleasure upon seeing you again and my sentiments concerning your unexpected arrival.”

A diplomatic way to chide my breach in protocol by arriving unannounced—not to mention I’d arrived of my own accord rather than under Estoria’s royal banner, negligence caused by the painful fact that I was no longer a member of the royal family.

Despite his questioning tone, his expression remained polite, betraying no hint that he suspected I was anything other than the true princess. As I’d hoped, the news that I was a decoy hadn’t yet reached his kingdom, though it’d surely spread soon, leaving me little time to act.

I offered a deep curtsy. “My apologies for the surprise visit, but please trust I had a reason for it.”

His eyebrows rose. “I admittedly find myself intrigued and am thus inclined to hear you out. Please be seated, Princess Evelyn.” He motioned to the seat I’d occupied during my endless wait.

Princess Evelyn. It’d been over a week since I’d last received such an address. The title was comforting in its familiarity and, though it also stung, considering it no longer truly applied to me. Yet I still clung to it, not keen on letting it go.

Prince Ryland eyed me with thinly veiled puzzlement as he took the seat across from me. His gaze lingered on the cut marring my cheek from the assassin’s blade, not quite healed in the days since I’d received it. Concern briefly penetrated his rigid expression before he tucked it away.

I scarcely heard his scripted pleasantries, too occupied with studying his expression. He’d grown more handsome since our last meeting earlier this year, even as something sinister seemed to lurk beneath his chiseled features, a mask for the schemes I now realized he harbored against my kingdom.

I managed to refocus my thoughts in time to hear his next inquiry that would require a response. “I’m admittedly rather curious what would bring you here, especially after…” He trailed off, leaving me eager to hear the remainder of this statement.

My brow furrowed. “Especially after…what?”

He gave me a tight smile that was clearly forced. “Nothing, just personal matters concerning my kingdom. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

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