Decoy

ℴ𝓃ℯ

Akasha

"Your betrothed is to arrive tomorrow," the king says. "If all goes well the wedding will be at the end of the year."

Astrid and I look at each other, careful to not show our emotions. We know this time was coming, we just didn't think it would've happened so fast.

"Yes my king," we both said bowing our head and continuing our food, salmon and rice.

"You guys are so alike, I sometime forget who is who." He comments, it was his favorite thing to say when we were in public. He said it so much that I find myself sometimes forgetting which one of us is the decoy.

Astrid and I don't look identical, but with makeup and how we're dressed it is hard for others to really know who is who. We thrived on that, when we were young we use to play so many pranks on the king.

"That's the point," we both say, laughing our identical laughs. The laugh that took both of us years to perfect.

He joins in the laughter. Dinner at the castle is often like this, Astrid and I accompany the lonely king and we have small talk. He gives us updates about the engagement, ask us about our studies and hobbies, and we'll ask him about his affairs, not that he ever shared much.

He carried on the burden of ruling the kingdom by myself, but his health is failing, and because of his only daughter must marry and produce an heir. All the candidates so far have failed their trial run, prince Xiphus is the fifth one this year.

After dinner, Astrid and I were taken to our chambers to get ready for our baths. We had identical tubs facing each other, maids prepared them the same way, with the same flowers and the same lavender scent that we like.

I can't recall if lavender was my favorite smell, or if it was Astrid. All I know is that

"I'm getting tired of lavender," Astrid interrupts my thoughts.

"I was just thinking the same thing," I laugh agreeing with her. "Please make us a new bath, with a new smell."

"Yes princess Akasha," My maid bows working her way on draining the bath.

"What new scent were you thinking princess Astrid?" Astrid's maid asked, pulling out different scents.

We both look at them, Astrid pulls out a scent and shows it to me, "What do you think?"

I nod, "Yes, vanilla is good."

"It's subtle."

"And subtle is good."

We strip out of our garments, and do each other's hair while our maid made us a new bath. I could tell that Astrid's mind was going a mile per minute.

"What's wrong princess?" I ask, braiding her hair carefully.

"What do you think about the engagement?" She asks, I could tell she was anxious because she knew, we both knew, what it meant once the wedding happens.

"I think the King is tired of us chasing away suitors," I answer, calmness in my voice. "He said betrothed this time, not suitor."

"It's not our fault the others were incompetent."

I nod, she was right. I finish the quick braid in her hair and turn around for her to do mine, she breaks the silence again, "Your level headedness will make you a wonderful queen."