Royal Deception (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 22

Hawk / Hartley / Rebecca

I walked Malin and Natalia out the main doors and then out of the castle. Vitalis royal guards immediately marched to their sides but with enough space to give us some privacy.

Malin sighed, "This situation isn't ideal but at least it's something. We can continue writing using Robin. At least now you have complete freedom to roam around the kingdom and investigate on your own time, but be more careful and alert. Also, the servants that know you, will never see you again. Unless you go to the main castle which would be very rare."

I nodded numbly at Malin. It was true, other than this annual banquet, I had never seen any other royals in the castle besides the Gona Royal Family. I felt some relief after what she said but not enough to ease the worry. I guess I don't have to stress about the little things right now.

What I do have to worry about is Princess Faith.

I don't know how often I'll see her but there is no way I could avoid talking to her.

I wasn't looking forward to speaking with Princess Faith. I know I needed to explain everything to her, but how much do I have to say? I hold so many secrets that I feel like no amount of truth I say would ever alleviate the heaviness in my chest. I feel like there will always be something I was lying about. My real identity was slowly disappearing, names that weren't mine were slowly piling up on me, and I was starting to forget my real name.

That's one of the reasons why I spent the majority of my time alone, I could never create genuine relationships because I never felt real enough to connect. Even Malin had no idea who I was.

If deception was a person, it was me.

At least I didn't have to live so close to Princess Faith anymore. Her room is in the main castle while the King said I'll stay on the other side of the castle with the other nobles and royals. We'll have the whole courtyard between our quarters.

My best strategy would be to steer clear of Princess Faith as much as possible. Keep the lie going long enough for me to find the real Rebecca and leave before anything gets more complicated. As soon as I find the missing Royals, I'm gone. Malin will handle all the bullshit she stirred up.

Maybe she will marry Princess Faith with the real Rebecca.

As soon as that thought popped into my head my heart clenched at the idea. I pushed the feeling away, the last time I felt it, it didn't end well for me.

"So, I guess this is goodbye for now. I'm going to do everything to make sure you can leave this place as soon as possible," Malin said. "You have no idea how much I appreciate you for doing this. I wish I could send some of my people to help you but I can't. You have to understand that I still couldn't trust most of my knights, I couldn't stop thinking that if they ever found my cousins, they would kill them just to spite me and then lie that they already found them dead." Malin finished with a sad sigh.

I nodded. "I understand. I like working alone anyway." I said and glanced at Natalia who had been very quiet the whole night. I remember her being a little more relaxed than this. Maybe the seriousness of the situation is taking a toll on the red-headed witch. Not to mention the wedding that would be happening soon.

I turned back to Malin and met her eyes, "I just need you to promise me that when anything goes wrong you have my back," I said.