The Swan Princess

Chapter 12: Skeletons in the Closet

"In the flesh." She smiles, and I might have hit my head hard enough to be hallucinating, because I can see two sharp, blood-tipped fangs between her teeth. "I can take it from here, Lukas," she continues, taking me out of Lukas' arms.

I'm impressed. She's strong enough to carry me without having to bend over and wince, and her steps are steady and make soft thumps on her carpeted rug as she leads me to what must be her bed.

We're halfway there when I hear the door close behind us, and a massive crash echoes from the outside hallway. It's followed by the clattering of metal, a roar loud enough to be thunder, and a howl that leaves me shaking in Princess Annalise's arms.

"What was that?" I whisper.

"Lukas has unfinished business, it seems," is her only reply.

Once she puts me down on her comforter, I take a look around. Her room is enormous, filled with a massive, multicolored rug, and dark wood furniture around the room. A glittering, rose gold chandelier hangs from the painted roof. My eyes fixate on the warm orange glow coming from the tiny flames as she moves me by the shoulders into a position where I'm fully supine.

"Hold still," she orders, moving her hands to surround my neck.

I shrink back. Sensitive, I jerk away, and she withdraws her hands.

Her opens her mouth, as if to speak, then closes it. She shifts so that she's sitting on the edge of the bed next to me, not standing over me.

Slowly, like she's approaching a wounded animal, she reaches out, so that she's holding my hand instead. I stay still this time and squeeze my hand around hers.

"Can I tell you a story, to soothe you into calming?" She asks, looking at me. I swallow hard, and nod.

"When we were young, me and my brother used to go running around in the woods outside the castle. We used to imagine we were fighting against evil witches and sorcerers, and that nobody could ever best us."

Her brother, the prince? I recall meeting him in the woods. I did not realize this was a longstanding hobby of his. And what did she mean by the youngest? Had she another sibling that neither I, nor anyone else, had ever heard or spoken of?

She stares off into the distance, a wistful look on her face. "We used to think that we were already the prince and princess, and while I was planning imaginary tea parties with the trolls and pixies, he was issuing governing ordinances against the neighboring rabbits."

That sounds like him. I can imagine it now, a little Prince Siegfried, puffing his tiny toddler body up with pride to rule the tiny animals of his backyard.

"Father used to scold him for his childish rules and restrictions against the neighboring animal creatures - not that they understood human speech - but that did not stop him from accepting his position as a powerful influence. Mother took delight in his capacity for control, and began plotting for him to find a suitable wife at once."

Hmm. The king is an elusive entity, but from what I hear of the queen, she appears quite invested in Prince Siegfried's future.

"Since those days, she's been peppering him with duty this, duty that. It is your duty to study so that you may understand how to trade. It is your duty to socialize so that you may understand the importance of winning people's favor. Eventually, she was prepared to tell him it was his duty to marry well to promote the kingdom."

She looks at me then, before her lips turn down into a frown. "The last time me and him were in the woods together, it was supposed to be our last hurrah as siblings before he attended his birthday ball and married a charming young lady. I brought a picnic basket, he brought his list of invites, and we started making invitations and having one last lunch together."

She squeezes my hand then. "Have you ever had something you needed to keep a secret before, Odette?"

I nod, worried. I hope she suspects nothing.

"On our way back - everything changed. A serious of events unfolded, and I," she pauses, and I realize she was using her other hand to wipe away a tear.

"I could not stop my brother, nor myself, nor anyone around us, from becoming who we are today." She takes in a deep breath.

"We are still the same people, and yet, we are not. But, if anything, we are more connected to our former selves, if unprepared and insecure in our new forms."

She moves then, placing her hands around my injured neck. I am still, enraptured by her story. What happened to the royal family?

"Do you feel like the war in Joseon changed you?" She asks, looking at my face again.

I nod, but this one is strained. I hate thinking of the circumstances that led me here. The screams, the burning, and the memories of watching loved ones perish will forever haunt me.

"Everybody keeps secrets, and trauma from their past," she begins, her hands glowing the same orange-white that lights up the candelabras. "But deep down, I think everybody wants to be loved for who they truly are at their youngest and most innocent, despite any monstrous changes that may occur."

My neck warms, but it is a pleasant feeling. She draws her hands back. "It is my hope that despite what life has done to us, I can still find happiness just as I wished for as a child. Do you wish that, too?"

"Yes," I answer. My throat is healed, and the words come out without any pain or discomfort. "I am not the same person I once was, but I still want to be loved just the same."

"My brother does too," she responds. "He's arrogant and makes tasteless jokes sometimes, but he has a good heart."

My heart drops. Tasteless jokes? Did he tell her he called me a potential mistress? If so, I might have to throw myself off the drawbridge to save myself from the embarrassment.

"When you reach Princess Insun next, will you send her my warmest condolences? From myself, and my brother too."

Oh, thank the stars. She's just speaking generally about her pompous brother. Nobody knows my late-night library humiliation.

"I would be honored to, your majesty." I curtsy. "Thank you most sincerely for healing me."

"Of course. You may return to work now, Odette."

"One last thing," she adds, causing me to turn before I head out the door. With all the force and absoluteness of her brother, she says, "Tell Princess Insun that I shall come straightaway after dinner to see how her illness is progressing. I am not fearful of catching anything, as I can simply heal myself, so she has no need to worry."

Unholy Stars. It's a good thing I've just recovered, otherwise, I might have fallen through the doorframe.

"Unless, of course, you report back to me she is healed. In which case, I look forward to receiving her at afternoon tea. I have heard so much about her."

"Yes, your majesty." I sputter out. I hope I look dignified, because desire to flee has tripled. She's perceived me! My face! She'll know I'm no real princess, nothing like her, unable to pretend I can be a true royal. No court rumors that she cannot hold the wit of her brother would save me from a basic face match.

"I'll see you soon," she finishes. A polite dismissal. I am standing, gaping, and I scramble out, desperate to escape a princess' watchful eyes.

Closing the door of her chambers to exit, she startles me by putting a hand on my arm to stop me. "I misspoke. That was not the last thing."

She looks at me, a glint in her eye, the corners of her lips upturned. Like this, she looks like a jester I intimately know.

"I look forward to designing a wedding dress soon," she concludes, closing the door for me. Stunned, I wonder, did I escape the princess' scrutiny after all?