I MET A STRANGE WOMAN

CHAPTER 6

The grand ballroom of Alagascar palace was bathed in golden lights, its walls adorned with intricate tapestries that told the stories of kings and Queens long gone. Grace stood talk at the center of it all, dressed in an ornate suit that shimmered with beautiful embroidery.

Around her, the most eligible daughters of the noble families had gathered, their dresses vibrant and jewels catching the light. The air buzzed with murmurs, laughter and the sound of shoes clicking on polished marble.

She sighed. Her spirit still felt heavy with the weight of being Grace Johnson, a woman who had dreams of her own, now trapped in the body of Prince Quicke, forced to uphold his legacy and marry for the sake of the throne.

As the hour drew near, Grace adjusted her royal attire, trying to summon the confidence of the fierce and commanding man she now embodied. A light knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts.

"Your Highness, the brides have arrived," her personal guard announced.

With a deep breath, Grace followed him to the grand hall. The air was rich with the scent of roses and candles, the walls adorned with silk banners bearing the royal crest. Grace's heart pounded as the royal announcer began introducing the women.

She had been briefed beforehand, each woman present had been hand-selected by the king and Queen.

The first bride, a regal woman with piercing green eyes and a calm demeanor, stepped forward. Grace nodded politely, exchanging pleasantries. The second was more bubbly, her laughter ringing through the hall as she curtsied. Grace tried to focus, but her thoughts felt muddled.

Then came the third bride.

As soon as the woman entered the hall, Grace felt a strange and familiar pang in her chest. The woman carried herself with poise, her dark curls cascading down her back, and her eyes sharp yet kind, locked with Grace's. She introduced herself as Juliet, the daughter of a well-known personnel.

Grace's gaze lingered on her for a moment too long. Something about Juliet stirred an uncomfortable feeling deep within her. A memory, blurred and faint, clawed at the edges of her mind. She had seen this woman before, but where?

"Are you alright, Prince Quicke?" Juliet's soft voice broke Grace's reverie.

Grace forced a smile. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, though her heart raced.

As the evening progressed, Grace couldn't shake the nagging feeling. Juliet's mannerisms, her tone, even the faintest tilt of her head, it all seemed vaguely familiar. But how? The only people who knew Grace Johnson were from her old life, and Juliet was a stranger to this kingdom.

Or so it seemed.

Later that night, alone in her chamber, Grace sat by the window, replaying Juliet's introduction in her mind. A flicker of a memory surfaced: a rainy afternoon, the sound of laughter, and two women standing in her tiny apartment. One of them was Queen Jonah. The other could it have been Juliet?

"No," Grace muttered aloud. "It can't be." But doubt gnawed at her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"Enter", she called, her voice steady despite her worries.

Her royal guard stepped in, bowing deeply. "Your Highness, the Queen has instructed me to inform you that letters are pouring in from noble families across the kingdom. They are eager to present their daughters as potential brides. Shall I begin sorting through them?"

Grace waved her hands dismissively. "Not now, just leave them in the study. I'll deal with them later".

The guard hesitated. "If I may, Your Highness, you seemed particularly intrigued by Lady Juliet during the gathering. Shall I prioritize her family's proposals?"

Grace froze. "Yes", she said after a moment, her voice firm. "Do that, but keep it discreet. I want no one to know my interest just yet."

The guard bowed and exited, leaving Grace alone once more.

Grace resolved to find out who Juliet truly was, "because if she was the same person who visited her with Queen Jonah, then it isn't a coincidence and there'd actually be a problem because how on earth could she live properly knowing fully well that her killers are even closer than she could imagine." She thought.

While deep in her thoughts, her eyes drifted to the wall clock and she saw that time was already far gone, she wiped her face and moved slowly as though been forced to the bathroom to take a proper shower.