chapter 2

All I could feel was the warmth as I lay on something soft.

Wait a second I'm not dead?

Slowly, I open my eyes and sit up. Looking around the first thing that I realised was that I was in a expensive looking room.

" Looks like you're finally awake." I turn to see Kevin sitting on a chair, reading a book.

Closing the book, he walks towards me and drags me out of the bed." Listen here." He says softly " I don't know what you're up to but you better not try anything. "

I say nothing. I mean he has every right to act this way. In the novel, he was also like this towards William because he saw him as an enemy of the empress dowager not that he wasn't wrong about it though.

" now then" Kevin walks towards a wooden box, I suddenly feel worried. " lets begin training shall we." He said as he opens the box. 

I know I'm supposed to know the story  but my brain went blank. 

Cutting the story short, I suffered. Hair pulling, corset pulling those are the WORSE. Even worse, is that I'm not even supposed to be the one being here.

 It should be WILLIAM.

DAMN YOU GOD!

I SWEAR I WOULD TRADE ANYTHING TO BE AWAY FROM THE HELL THAT WAS HERE. 

However, the end product was a miracle. Kevin had miraculously turn William( me) into a girl. Everything from my head to toe. A long black wig had been placed on my head, styled neatly and held together by a red headband.

" wow...." 

" yes. In terms of appearance you will have no problem however the real test is about to start." said Kevin as I gulped. 

For the next two days, I had been the victim of a trip to 'hell'. Kevin was a strict teacher, one mistake would cause me to have an extended hour and no snacks. I was honestly surprised, Kevin in the novel was a former assassin ( don't ask how he even got the job. The fandom is still trying to figure out)  but then again, he did train the original William and since he was able to fool everyone, it's not exactly something to surprise about.

Laying on the bed, I sighed. 

Thinking about it, tonight  was the fifteenth birthday for Eira. Since the rest of the court doesn't know about Eira's death, they will be expecting her to be there and that is where I step in. 

I really hope this will work

Kevin had given me a pass but even he wasn't sure about whether I was ready or not. Kicking the shoes away, I walk towards the decorated mirror. Looking at it, I realised William looked just like Eira in everything. Grabbing my cheek, I stretched it.

 It hurt badly.

From the novel, the evil queen will showcase her own children and brag to everyone. This is just one step that caused William to break a little. It takes a little more events before the evil queen realises his an imposter though, but even then the evil queen notices a little.

So that means that I would have to be extra careful. 

The clock chimes as it hits the eighth hour.

I look into the mirror one last time before placing the shoes back on. I walk towards the door where Kevin is there waiting to escort. " Don't mess up." Kevin mumbles as he extends his hand gesturing me to take it. I briefly nod my head before taking it. 

The only noise was our shoes clicking on the ground as we walked towards the throne room.

The doors  open to reveal the court. Everyone already seated, the look I got from everyone was just out of politeness though the evil queen just looked at me like I was a cockroach.

" His imperial Majesty, Emperor Henry IX . Her imperial Majesty, Grand Empress dowager Georgia ." I said as I curtsied to them before turning towards her royal painess." Her Majesty, the Queen Arabella." I said to her. speaking those words felt like poison in my mouth, if I ever have a child there is no way I'm ever going to name her that.

I directed the rest of my greetings to the harem and court before settling down on my assigned seat. I caught the Empress dowager and Kevin's eye, it was still cold but there was also a look of approval.

The rest of the night went down uneventfully, the occasional chats between me and some of the royals, the king ignoring me in favour of his harem. I think I did fairly well or maybe better. Everything I did, when I look around not one person looked at me strangely or suspicion.

It was only when dessert came around did the pain in the ass queen made a move.

" Princess Eira." 

I turned to face the queen she had plastered a fake smile on her face though her eyes said something else. 

" As a special gift for your birthday. I have Prince Henry do a performance for you." she said as she gestured towards a arrogant looking boy with a stringy auburn hair who walked over a grand piano ( when was it place there?) and played something.

I listened intently, the song he played was unknown and when I  looked at the way he way playing, I couldn't help but realise that despite the complexity of the way it sounded, it was fairly easy.

The song ended quite fast and I thanked the both of them for that ' wonderful' gift.

I was taking a sip of the tea when the queen started speaking again.

" I know. Why not we get the princess to do a song for us. After all it is her birthday today, so of course she must be the belle of tonight."  she said as she clapped her hands.

I choked on my tea in alarm, almost abandoning all etiquette.

Kevin and the Empress dowager looked panicked.  I looked at the king waiting for a verdict.

He strokes his beard as if contemplating this. " I don't see a problem in having to play. You have my permission." He says.

We( The empress, Kevin and I) widened our eyes in alarm. I shakily stand up slowly making my way to the piano my brain thinking of a solution. As I sat down, I immediately remembered a song that I knew how to play.

Placing my fingers on the keys, I start playing. As the melody started playing, I notice from the corner of my eyes, that everyone looked please, with the exception of the empress and Kein who looked surprise and the queen who was looking me with suspicion. 

Great she's suspicious. Of all people

Thank god, I knew how  to play fur elise all I would be in big trouble. Thinking about it, I can't make an encore because this is the only song I can do. 

crap

When I finished. I looked up to see the clapping of the court.  I smile before excusing myself to my bedroom. I have to get out of here before the queen gets even more suspicious of me.

As I walked back to the room with Kevin I couldn't help but tell him. " She's getting suspicious of me." I mumble as we walk along the darkened halls.

" Who?"

" The queen."

He stares at me for a second before nodding. " We will have to be more careful then."

I got back to my part of the palace, where I switched out of my clothes, kick the heels away and remove the wig. Landing on the bed with a thump, I couldn't help but look at myself in the mirror.

" Looks like life is going to get harder, huh. Where are you, William"

With that, I shut my eyes close, too tired to even try to stay awake any longer

( Meanwhile In another part of palace)

A furious queen was raging.

knocking over the numerous glass bottles and jewellery off her night stand. Bleeding hands pressed against the table.

" WHY IS SHE STILL ALIVE! SHE SHOULD HAVE DIED!" As she raged about the room, she didn't notice a mysterious cloaked  figure enter.

" My.. my... A queen shouldn't be acting like that should she." The figure says as he chuckles, delighted in seeing such pain.

" You..." The queen moves away from the table, looking at the  cloaked figure in fury. " What are you going here." she says pointing at him.

" Me. I'm just an audience after all this is starting to get more and more interesting."

With that the figure disappeared in a cloud of silver smoke. The only trace of him was a apple shaped gem and a screaming bloody queen.