The Swan Princess

Chapter 10: Two Faced

It's here, in the secret tunnel, behind the tapestry of shame, that I cry.

There's no way that I can pull this off. I can't get the guy. I can't pull off two identities at once. I can't even break a curse with a simple, definable task: get an unachievable guy to love me, using none of my magic.

I'm doomed.

Hunched over, silently crying, I hold back a scream when I feel a solid, warm hand on my shoulder.

"Princess Insun?" I hear Lukas's rougher, darker voice ask. "Why are you hiding, and crying, in an abandoned tunnel?"

"Why are you in the abandoned tunnel?" I ask, wiping away my tears.

"Servants use these sometimes, rather than the main tunnels, to stay out of the nobility's way," he explained. As he does so, I hear the rustling of clothes, and I realize he's moved to sit down beside me. "What's wrong?" He sounds concerned. Worried, even. Almost - hurt?

"How did you know it was me, when all I did in here was cry?" I ask, regaining my composure bit by bit.

His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he pulls me so that I'm leaning against him. In the dim light through the tapestry, I can only see the shadowy figure next to me, and I assume that's all he can smell of me, too.

"I heard your voice talking to the Prince on your way in," he answers, and I feel him press a handkerchief into my hand. "Do you want me to escort you back to your quarters?" His left arm holds me in place, and his right reaches over to rest on my knee.

"That won't be necessary," I respond, dabbing at my eyes with his handkerchief. In most circumstances, I wouldn't like an unfamiliar man being so close to me, especially when I'm this much of an emotional wreck. But Lukas feels safe. Comfortable. And the anonymity of being in the dark makes me bold, and, even worse, hopeful.

"Sorry I ran away from you at the ball. I had a ... situation emerge," I come up with sheepishly. "I've been ill ever since, so I have been around little."

"You are forgiven, my Princess," Lukas answers, sounding concerned. "I hate hearing you like this," he continues with a sigh, and I feel him shift over to rest his head atop mine. It's at that point that I realize he's not in his suit of armor, but rather, just normal clothes.

"No armor suit today?"

"No," he responds. "My day off," he adds, seemingly as an afterthought. His left arm around my shoulders pulls me a little tighter, so that he pressed our sides against each other. "Do you feel any better?"

"Yes," I respond in truth. I do. I don't know why being around him makes me feel so much more content, but I feel healed, somehow. Maybe I just needed a good cry.

"Lukas, what do you honestly think of Prince Siegfried?"

"I -" He balks. "I feel like you spend more time with him than I do, at this point. What do you think of him?"

"How many mistresses does he have?" I let the pain slip into my voice. My heart aches, but I need to know if this relationship is even worth pursuing.

"None, Princess," He says, in a hushed whisper. "He's had none," he repeats, passionately, earnestly, like he's trying to convince me of its absoluteness. "He's never even dated anyone before."

"Are the rumors of him being a functioning alcoholic true? Did he really once gamble away half the country?"

There's a beat of stunned silence.

"Since Prince Siegfried's eldest brother died, I have not seen him drink even once. He gambled, yes, but he knows his responsibilities now. And he most certainly does not have a mistress. He's far too infatuated with -"

"Himself, I am sure," I respond, using a light touch to move him away. It's dark in here, so I can't see Lukas' face, and he can't see mine. The anonymity gives me power, even in my servant clothes.

I lean over, pressing my hand into Lukas' shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of me," I whisper in his ear, and press a soft kiss to his cheek. He stills, and it's so silent I can hear him forget to breathe.

After that, I stand.

"Tell Prince Siegfried that I appreciate his hospitality, but I will return to Joseon shortly. My servant Hae-won has heard enough rumors of the salacious Prince's behavior to know that this is not a match worth making." I announce, even though I'm pale, and my hands are shaking.

Finished, I march down the dark stairs, determined to leave this place as soon as possible.

I am only 19 years old. Perhaps I will fight my way back to Joseon, ongoing war and all, and marry one of the princes there. I've had enough of the only "above my means" man here.

Even if I've made two new friends. A gallant one and a sweet one, both of which I will never get to see again if I return home as planned. My eyes begin to water when I realize I'll lose them, too.

I'm still stomping down the rest of the hidden tunnel steps when Lukas is shocked out of his disbelief and follows me.

"Wait, Princess," he shouts, catching up in seconds. I guess that's on me, for thinking I can move faster than a proper knight.

Now we're walking in tandem, his footsteps matching mine. We're heading through a narrow hallway I know will lead into the servant's quarters. I need to figure out the way to lose him before he sees me exit these dark hallways, and he realizes Princess Insun and servant Odette are one and the same.

"Give Prince Sieg a chance," he huffs. "I know he has a bit of a reputation, but he is well-intentioned." He places a hand on my arm, and I pause.

"Trust that Prince Sieg will be a good husband for you," he pleads, "or at the very least, trust what I have to say. I'm one of the working class like you, aren't I? You can trust me. I would never allow any harm to befall you."

His begging makes me look up at him, or rather, where his voice is coming from, with a realization.

A knight in shining armor is far above my means. A charming friend, who I can trust, and love, is beyond my wildest dreams.

Perhaps I should stay in Svenia after all, but with a new target in mind. He said it himself. He's in the serving class. I wouldn't even need a ridiculous disguise or persona to woo him.

I flip my arm over, exposing my palm so that our hands link. "Can I really trust you, Lukas?" I ask sincerely.

"Always," he repeats back fervently. Too fervently. With the handkerchief, the begging me to stay, and the pulling me close, he must feel the sparks that I feel igniting. I just need to repeat them as my normal self.

"For you, I will stay," I say, squeezing lightly. "But I have one condition."

"A condition?" His hand squeezes back, and it feels nice. Comforting, even.

"I owe a servant friend of mine a favor. A friend who has been a dear help to me as of late, and whom I think you two would be a good match."

"Hae-won, your majesty?" Lukas asks, baffled.

"No, Lukas. To earn my stay here, you owe me one date with Odette."