The Great Pretender

Lila's heart pounded as she sprinted back towards the palace, the image of Heather's bloodied legs etched in her mind. She needed to find help quickly. As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with Margaret, one of the palace servants.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Margaret exclaimed, concern knitting her brow.

"There's no time to explain, Margaret. Heather's hurt—she's bleeding badly near the pond. We need to help her, now!" Lila's voice was urgent, her eyes wide with worry.

Margaret's face paled as she absorbed Lila's words. Without a moment's hesitation, she nodded and turned on her heel, beckoning Lila to follow. "This way, quickly! We'll gather a few more people and some medical supplies."

As they ran through the palace halls, Lila's mind raced with the events that had just unfolded. The confrontation with Heather, the fall, the blood. It all seemed surreal, yet the urgency of the situation grounded her in the present moment.

Within minutes, they had assembled a small group of servants and grabbed a basic medical kit. Margaret led the way back towards the pond, her face set in determined lines.

"How did this happen, Your Highness?" Margaret asked as they hurried along, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Heather tried to push me into the pond," Lila replied breathlessly. "But she tripped and fell. When I looked back, she was on the ground, bleeding. I think she might have hit something sharp."

Margaret's eyes widened in shock but she said nothing, focusing instead on reaching their destination as quickly as possible.

As they approached the pond, a heavy silence settled over the group. The spot where Lila had last seen Heather was now eerily quiet. The grass was stained with blood, but Heather was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?" one of the servants whispered, looking around with a mix of confusion and fear.

Lila's heart sank as she scanned the area. "She was right here," she murmured, her voice trembling. "She couldn't have just disappeared."

Margaret knelt beside the bloodstained grass, her fingers brushing the ground. "There's a lot of blood here. She couldn't have gone far in her condition."

Lila turned in a slow circle, her eyes searching the surrounding area. "Heather!" she called out, her voice echoing through the stillness. "Heather, where are you?"

The only response was the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Panic gnawed at Lila's insides as she tried to comprehend what could have happened. Had someone taken Heather? Or had she somehow managed to drag herself away despite her injuries?

"We need to spread out and search," Margaret said firmly, rising to her feet. "She can't be far. We need to find her before it's too late."

Lila nodded, her resolve hardening. Despite the complicated history between them, she couldn't leave Heather in danger. They split up, each taking a different direction, calling out Heather's name as they scoured the area. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over their search, but Lila refused to give up. Heather had to be found.

Margaret gently placed a hand on Lila's shoulder, her eyes filled with sympathy and concern. "Your Highness, you're clearly shaken. Why don't you let me help you change into something clean? The officers are already searching for Heather. They'll find her."

Lila hesitated, her thoughts racing. The memory of Heather's bloodied legs haunted her, but she knew Margaret was right. She nodded slowly, allowing Margaret to guide her back to the palace.

As they entered Lila's chambers, Margaret moved with efficient grace, selecting a fresh gown for Lila. "You've been through a lot, Your Highness," she said softly, helping Lila out of her soiled clothes. "Take a moment to breathe."

Lila's hands trembled slightly as she slipped into the new dress. "I just can't believe it," she murmured. "One moment we were arguing, and the next... I should have done more."

"You did what you could," Margaret reassured her, fastening the last button. "Sometimes, these things are beyond our control, Your Highness."

Lila took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Thank you, Margaret. I need to get back to the reception. Axel will be worried if I'm gone too long."

Margaret nodded, giving her a comforting smile. 

Feeling slightly more composed, Lila made her way back to the grand halls of Ezra's palace. The wedding reception was in full swing, the opulent surroundings a stark contrast to the turmoil she'd just experienced. Guests mingled and laughed, their joyous celebrations a world away from the chaos outside.

As she entered the hall, she immediately spotted Axel, his tall figure unmistakable among the crowd. His eyes lit up with relief as he saw her approaching, and he quickly made his way to her side.

"Lila, where have you been? I was getting worried," Axel said, his voice low with concern. He gently took her hand, his touch grounding her.

"I had a run-in with Heather," Lila replied quietly, glancing around to ensure no one else could overhear. "She tried to push me into the pond, but she tripped and got hurt. The officers are looking for her now."

Axel's expression darkened, his protective instincts flaring. "Are you alright? Did she hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine," Lila assured him, squeezing his hand. 

As Lila and Axel mingled among the guests, Lila's gaze swept across the grand hall. She suddenly froze, her heart skipping a beat. There, standing by the elaborate floral arrangements, was Heather. She was laughing with Mateo, looking radiant and carefree, as if nothing had happened.

Lila's mind reeled. 'How was this possible? Just moments ago, Heather had been injured and bleeding. Now she was standing here, completely unharmed, smiling and conversing as if the confrontation by the pond had never occurred.'

"Lila, are you alright?" Axel's voice cut through her thoughts, his eyes following her line of sight. He too saw Heather and Mateo, his expression shifting to one of confusion and suspicion.

"I don't understand," Lila whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "She was hurt... I saw the blood. How is she standing there like nothing happened?"

Before Axel could respond, Heather's gaze locked onto Lila. A slow, almost predatory smile spread across her face as she excused herself from Mateo and walked towards them. Lila instinctively tensed, unsure of what to expect.