CHAPTER 6: ANALIA

I release a long sigh that I didn't realise I'd been holding after Camara goes, leaving me stunned and having a lot, and by a lot, I mean A LOT of questions.

Because I am tired, and I had such a stressful day, I went to sleep with many things on my mind. My life has already been a mess, and now, it is getting worse. Plus, sleep is the best medicine.

I love sleeping. I could sleep for a whole day if I could. It's just so relaxing, and calm and you don't have to think or use your mind to sleep... Okay, I need to be worrying about other things, rather than talking about sleep.

I woke up a few minutes ago. The same scullery maids who woke me up yesterday woke me up today. This time though, they are not in a hurry. They're just cleaning the room (which is already clean) and probably waiting for me to get out of bed.

Because it's so quiet, and the chatterbox that I am, I start asking them questions and trying to make a conversation.

"So... what's your name?" I ask

"Kyra," one of the girls replies. She has white hair but she is not old. Her eyes are grey and her skin is white too, like her hair. It's weird but pretty.

"Laura," the other girl says. This one is the one who argued with me. Kyra seems mature while Laura is like me. Laura has light brown hair and grey eyes, like Kyra's. They both are wearing dark blue dresses.

Now that I notice, everyone in the palace except Camara, the two princes, and me, wear dark blue dresses or suits. Probably their house or kingdom colours or something.

"So... doesn't the prince want to see me? I really do need to talk to him," I ask them. And as if on queue, the door opens and Samantha comes in.

"You... you're not ready yet! Kyra and Laura, didn't you two get the message? Prince Drake wants to see her. Just get her into a gown and make her hair. You look fine," she says.

Wow, now that they know I am not a princess, I am not being treated like one either.

I quickly wash my face and then Laura helps me into a gown while Kyra makes my hair. Lucky them I don't like makeup, or that would have taken more time. Well, I can't decide things anymore either, can I?

As soon as I am ready, Samantha leads me to the prince. It's magic how they made me ready so quickly, really. It took them ten minutes to make me look presentable, and my hair gets very tangled after sleeping.

This time, we don't go into the library, but another room. This room is huge, with a long table in the middle. Looks like a conference room to me.

Prince Drake was sitting in the seat on the far end of the room. He looked happy like he just won the lottery. Seems like a good sign.

He looks up from the paperwork he was doing as soon as I and Samantha enter. Huh, no Camara today.

"Well, Princess Liferia, oh wait, you are not even her. I have some questions for you. Please have a seat," he says.

I do as he says. My life is precious to me.

"You say you are not Princess Liferia. Then who are you?" He asks.

"Okay?" I reply. That came out more like a question.

"My name is Analia. Analia Locke. I am sixteen-years-old, a high schooler. I work or worked, at a bakery but now I am going to lose my job because I missed, 1...2...3...4..., you know what, a lot of days of work. My mom is going crazy and drinking because of my careless dad. Now, they both are careless. And lastly, my life is a mess. That fine, or do I need to tell you about my school and my marks or how I am 'too young to marry'?"

Prince Drake just stares. Why does everyone like to stare at me? I fiddle with a little design of a flower on my nails.

After some time, he finally speaks.

"You are not her. But you are a miracle. I believe you. No wonder you were behaving so strangely."

That sentence of his lights up my hope. "Does that mean I get to go back?"

The prince just gives an evil or mischievous smile. That is definitely not a good sign.

"No, Princess Li..., sorry, Analia right?"

"Yes," I say

"You are going to be of great use to us. You are just what we need for this to work. From now on, you will pretend to be the princess of the Good souls. And yes, you will marry me, but I will wait for you to settle in here. Make yourself comfortable Analia. Or from now on, Princess Liferia."

"And what if I don't want to be a princess?" I ask him

"Then... let's just say, your soul would be in heaven."

And with that, he leaves the room with a grin on his face. Just before leaving, he tells Samantha, "Find Princess Liferia till then."

I wish I could slap that grin right off his face. UGH!!!

I am stuck here forever. My life is doomed. Whatever I do won't work. And this is all because of that one princess.

Why did it have to be me?