Royal Jester

19. Anastasia

Despite how much she had missed the castle and her family, Ana was looking forward to going back to UPenn. She hadn't thought she'd get so attached to a college, but she was probably more excited to go back than she had been when she got to travel home.

She would be leaving late that night (before Thanksgiving break ended) to give herself a full day of recuperation.

She decided that she would spend the free time she had before the flight to visit her people in town. Having been gone for about two months now, her body double had been put to use and gone to town a few times already. Although she was never seen talking to anyone, the royal family had guaranteed that she had been spotted walking around the stores, which was enough to convince her people that it was her.

The Princess thought it was strange they had resorted to a body double, before her parents were able to call and explain that it would be more troublesome if she had seemingly just disappeared off the face of the Earth.

"Anastasia," her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her brother's voice. "Anastasia," he repeated, more annoyed this time.

She shook her head softly to clear it, turning to look at the crown prince. "Sorry, what were you saying?" He had chosen to accompany her on the trip into town and Ana couldn't even begin to fathom why.

Jeremy sighed with exasperation and she wondered if he was resisting the urge to roll his eyes at her. "We're here. Get out."

"Wait- what?" He wanted her to just leave him in the car? "Aren't you coming with?"

"I have something else to do."

"Oh, okay." She wasn't going to lie, while the crown prince wasn't exactly the best company, she had gotten excited at the thought of hanging out with her brother. She always silently hoped that they would eventually be able to find common ground and get along.

She apparently couldn't have been more wrong.

"Go on," he nodded towards the door that the driver had already opened for Ana.

She moved to place her foot on the pavement, before pausing. "If you have to lie to our parents just to be able to do something, you're doing something very wrong Jeremy." She stepped out of the car and let the driver close the door behind her.

She wasn't sure what he might be hiding, but if he had to lie to the king and queen about it, it couldn't have been a good thing.

She relaxed her shoulders as she heard the car drive away, smiling at the sight of Cherry Fabrics in front of her. She could clearly see Thomas and Alex in the store, hanging clothing on racks and rearranging the hangers.

The princess pushed open the building's door and watched as Alex noticed her, a smile appearing on the young girl's face. She whispered something frantically to her grandfather, to which the man's head turned to see Ana.

His eyes widened, hands grappling towards Alex as she suddenly left his side and ran towards the princess.

Ana giggled at her exuberance, picking up the small child as she practically flung herself into the woman's arms. "Wow," Ana gushed as she set the girl on her hip. "Look how big you've gotten."

"The doctor said I grew so much," she stated with a decisive nod, crossing her chubby arms over her chest pridefully.

"That's wonderful," she responded with a grin, "I can definitely tell."

"I'm taller than all of my friends," the little girl continued with a shrug. Ana bit her lip to hide her smile as she stuttered adorably over the sentence. "Even Jack." Alex's nose scrunched slightly at this, clear distaste on her small features.