Playing Princess

Playing Princess 2.24

Phase Two of the plan started the moment Sunday night before the week of the Festival rolled around.

And once again, I was the one to start it off.

“Why me?” I planted myself in the chair by Izzy’s desk, refusing to move. I pointed a finger at my twin. “Why can’t she do it?”

“Izzy’s only just been given a rundown of what’s going to happen on the night of the Ball on Saturday,” Allegra explained calmly. “Joey and I have an outline for Phase Two and all we need now is to adapt it to the script for the Ball.”

“And by that I mean, there literally is a script,” Joey added, holding up a stapled booklet of papers. “The royal family’s putting on Queen Annabelle’s inauguration which also symbolically recognises Izzy as the official Crown Princess and heir to the throne, putting Andrew back into his place as just the normal prince.”

To my surprise, Andrew seemed unfazed by the words when I looked at him.

“I never wanted to be King,” he explained. “I’ve done everything I can to prove I’m not fit without ruining the family’s reputation. That’s why it’s so important that Izzy’s safe throughout all this.”

“And that’s why you’re the most selfish brother in the entire world,” Izzy muttered angrily. She held one of her large pillows in her arms and rested her chin on top of it.

I felt a rush of sympathy towards her. In her eyes, it must have seemed like Andrew only cared for Izzy’s safety so that he wouldn’t be called in to be King, seeing as Aldern only knew of two heirs to the throne.

But in the past few months since I’d gotten to know my brother, I realised that that wasn’t the case. Though he had no intention of running the country and tending to the people’s needs, he truly did seem to care about his sister though they seemed to bicker just about every time they were together.

They were like an older version of me and Peyton fighting like it was World War III, only we at least knew that we didn’t not care about each other. At least that’s what I hoped Peyton felt.

“So,” Allegra continued with a warning glare to the royal siblings. “Once we have that sorted out, all we need to do is figure out who is who on that night.”

“By that, my sister means –”

“– that you two need to figure out if you’re going to be yourselves or each other.” Allegra gave her brother a stern glare and he backed away, coming to a rest beside me. “So you, my dear Astrid, have to be Izzy for the next two days.”

“Two?” I squeaked in horror. “But – but tomorrow’s – tomorrow –”

I could have fainted for all I cared but I didn’t. It would have been a nice excuse for not playing princess but unfortunately, I didn’t have Kyle’s capability to act like my life depended on it. Even though in my case, it probably did.

“It’s alright,” Joey reassured me with a hand on my shoulder. “It’s just like we practised. And I’ll be there with you the whole time as the horse trainer.”

“But . . .”

I shook my head vigorously then shot Kyle a pleading look. He grinned at me wolfishly and leaned comfortably against the wall across from me.

“You can do this,” he encouraged. “You’ve practised heaps, you told me. Didn’t you say you could manage not falling off the horse?”

I felt my cheeks flame and stole a glance at my sister who smiled slightly. “W-Well horses aren’t exactly very safe. They’re huge and scary and – and –”