Princess in Hiding

Chapter 11

"Aikaterina!"

        My head jerked up from the table I was sleeping on. Fudge, I fell asleep while reading. Eratho rushed in the servers' quarters and he looked at me. My eyes puffy from reading and staying up later yesterday just to finish a whole chapter on consumer goods.

        "What happened to you?" he asked.

        "Uhm..." I felt a piece of paper stuck on my cheek and I immediately brushed it off. "I fell asleep."

        "It's late." His brows furrowed and he seemed lost. He checked his wristwatch and just stared at me. I think he was waiting for me to move but here I am, just simply rubbing my butt on my chair. I don't even know what to do.

        "What time is it?"

         He rolled his eyes to me and I gave him a dog smile. He smiled and shook his head. "It's time for you to wake up, sleepy head and start the day. We have a busy day today. Wash your face and go to the kitchen after. I will meet you there. You are needed immediately."

        He rushed out of the study and I stared at the closed door for a long moment until I pulled myself up from my chair. Still don't know what to do, I walked to my bathroom and washed my face. I didn't mind changing my clothes and felt my necklace in my pocket and it was safely tucked in my jacket.

        I awkwardly walked along the corridors and was momentarily lost when servers were rushing to and from places. What was happening?

        Oh, yes. It was the day of the ball. I was too fed with the economics studies that I forgot the ball was today. I ran to the kitchen and passed by the King walking nearby, but I didn't mind him I just ran until I reached the kitchen.

        I saw Eratho taste testing some dishes prepared. He saw me and tossed me a muffin. He approached me and I took a bite from the muffin.

        "What's wrong, Eratho?" I asked in between chews.

         "The King and Queen needs you in the Princess quarters ASAP and I need to take you."

         All of the blood from my face flushed down my system and the imaginary alarms in my body were on high alert when I heard Eratho say the Queen wants me in the room. Okay, this day wouldn't get so much better.

        I finished my muffin and we rushed upstairs to the Princess' quarters. Eratho stopped right in front of the double doors and fixed me. He nodded and opened the doors. We walked inside the room and we see a stressed King and Queen, the three designers who looked overly joyed upon laying their eyes on me and my group of friends.

        The King stood up from the chair and approached me. I curtsied to everyone. The Queen's eyes were pinned to me and I'm now digging my own grave. The King looked so stressed. He tried smiling when he stood beside me.

        "I'm glad you could come in an instant, Aika—" He struggled for words and I was staring at him dumb, not knowing what to do. The Queen stood up and she went beside the King, she held his hand and he calmed down.

        "I need you, we need you to do a favor for the royal family, Aikaterina," said the Queen Monster with her infamous icy tone with me. But she looked all stressed in and out. Maybe still on with Irvina's hunt and up until this day, she's still missing and her 'parents' were crazy about looking for her.

        "What can I do for you, Your Majesties?" I softly asked.

        "You need to pose as the Princess Aikaterina." The King himself muttered it. I think they were both struggling with the idea of having someone pose as their daughter for them.