Royal Deception (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 25

Princess Faith

I felt guilty about the things I implied. First, If Hartley was truly from Vitalis, then what I said surely have offended her. Second, I fed into the stereotype of Vitalians' violence and sexual urges and I didn't even know if those rumors were true in the first place, but I just couldn't help myself.

I was too angry and hurt by all the lies, but most of all, I was hurt by the fact that everything Hartley said was true.

The fact that my father ordered me to stay here with Hartley and share this room for the whole duration of her stay proves it.

We have laws that forbid us from laying with someone who is not our husband or wife, but my father suddenly disregards all propriety at the chance of us finalizing this union early.

Wherever we are in the progress of our alliance with the Kingdom of Vitalis won't matter, a baby is stronger than any signature, especially here in the Kingdom of Gona. My father knows that.

These matters have been plaguing my mind but those thoughts fled instantly as my heart dropped from what Hartley had said.

The real Rebecca of Vitalis was missing and the last place she was seen was here in Gona.

How could that have happened?

If she entered our premises it would have been announced, especially when she's from Vitalis. We would've met her and shook her hand and maybe even hosted a banquet for her arrival.

How could she have come here and then disappeared? She was a royal, how could she vanish in the blink of an eye?

I looked at Hartley as she sat on the bed. She was watching me, discerning my every expression. I hated that my stomach wasn't immune to her presence and still felt butterflies as she looked at me.

Completely nonsensical feelings.

Technically, I don't even know who she is, how can I be drawn to someone I don't even know? Everything that I knew about her was a lie.

It's those stupid, beautiful eyes.

I ignored the voice as I studied her seriously.

Hartley, if that was really even her name, was an anomaly. She wore the royal garments like it was made for her. The confidence in her movements was only seen in royals. How can she switch from an obedient servant to royalty so easily?

"How do you fit in all of this?" I asked and sat down on a chair in front of her.

Hartley looked away, "That doesn't matter," her slightly deep raspy voice sounded.

I glared at her, "It matters to me. I'm marrying you after all."

She looked at me like she was contemplating about telling me something but changed her mind. Is it about our marriage? Was there something else I didn't know?

She sighed, "I'm just someone who's getting paid to find her."

So she's neither a royal nor a maid, yet she played those roles perfectly. She wore her lies like it was the truth, like shadows blending seamlessly with the night.

I rubbed my temple. I was getting confused and stressed. Hartley could be telling the truth or adding more lies to her pile of deceit, but I have no way of knowing.

It's also not helping that I have an irrational feeling of hoping that Hartley was the good guy, which was ridiculous because it would instantly imply that Gona is the bad guy.