The Lost Princess

Not as it Seems

Keina's POV
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  So, with Ashton and I walking arm in arm and his child sister, Reyam walking alongside us, we made our way down to the ballroom.

  Although Ashton had said that we will "speak of this incident" on the way down, the walk was silent until Reyam spoke.

  Reyam looked up to me, brushing a blonde curl away from her face, "Why are you here? Are you Ashy's wife?"

  My face reddened slightly. Me? The wife of a prince? A prince I just met today?!

  I looked to Prince Ashton who didn't return the glance. I couldn't read his expression at all.

  I turned back to Reyam, "M-Me? Oh no, we're just friends, honest."

  Reyam shrugged and looked forward, "Too bad. You're really pretty. You look like you should be a princess."

  Kids say the strangest things, don't they...

  After a while longer of walking, the three of us made it to the entrance of the ballroom. From the voices inside, we could tell that the ceremony had already begun.

  Ashton sighed, speaking for the first time since we began our walk down, "Father will be angry if we go in now. We'll interrupt the ceremony."

  "So what do we do?" I ask.

  Reyam spoke up, "I have to help with the crown so I gotta go in!"

  Ashton nodded and patted Reyam's shoulder, leading her to the door, "Go ahead on in, we'll come in soon too."

  Reyam nodded and quickly ran into the ballroom as I watched, smiling, "Nobody will say a thing to her, she's much too ador- Hey!"

  The "hey" was a reaction. Not a good, happy "hey," but the surprised kind of nervous "hey" that comes out of a girl that just got pinned against a wall by a prince she just met.

  My heart was racing as my eyes widened. What the heck?!

  The prince stood taller than me, using his arm for support against the wall my body was seemingly stuck to.

  He smiled a mischievous smile as he stared down at me, speaking quietly, "Since we have to miss all the fun in there, why don't we have our own fun out here? An opportunity like me doesn't come around often..."

  I stuttered, "I-I don't think... and I mean... We just met!" I looked into his green eyes then around the hall as I weighed my options, "and what if someone sees us-!"

  Ashton's mischievous looked quickly turned into an offended one, almost glaring at me, "Are you saying... that you don't want me? I'll have you know that as a prince, I get what I-"

  And as quickly as the moment began, it ended.

  Princess Olivia, Ashton's twin sister stormed out of the ballroom, pure rage strewn across her face. She looked at Ashton, but didn't even bat an eye at the situation we were in. Maybe she's used to this from him. She stopped suddenly and spoke to Ashton.

  "Room. Now."

  Ashton rolled his eyes, looking to his sister, "Oh dear sister, can't you see I'm busy?!"

  Princess Olivia shot him dagger eyes and walked off.

  Ashton backed off of me and I was finally able to catch my breath.

  Ashton looked at me, but said nothing and walked off.

  I peered into the ballroom. I could faintly make out Aqua- I mean Rose's gown. It appears that they gave the crown Princess Olivia once wore, the crown only worn by the future queen, to Rose. Rightfully so.

  I couldn't help but wonder, however, what had gotten under Princess Olivia's skin, and why she needed Ashton. I'm glad she did get him though. I don't know what could've happened if he hadn't been interrupted.

  As if on their own, without my control, my feet took me in the direction of where the twin royals went. They were much too ahead of me to notice, but I followed them until I watched Princess Olivia close her bedroom door after she and her brother had went inside.

  After a moment, I crept up to the room, placing my ear against the wooden door. I could hear them speaking loudly.

  "So what do you want me to do about it?! Kill the girl? You sound ridiculous!"

  "I don't know what I want to do with her yet, Ash, but I'm gonna do something and you're going to help me!"

  "You've gone mad, Liv. Can't you just stop being jealous and go back to living the life you were born to? She's your sister!"

  "Not for all these years! All the years I slaved away learning how to lead, while she sat around as a lowly thief!"

  "She was kidnapped!"

  "That's no excuse! If she leads all chaos will break loose, and I'll have to pick up the pieces."

  "Then let it happen. Isn't that what you want?! To be viewed as some savior of the people?"

  "Shut up. Shut up! I'm not going to let her steal everything I've worked for all these years. I didn't say kill her yet! I don't even know what I'm gonna do with her! All I know is that she's in my way, and you're gonna help get her out of the way."

  "I'm not going to help you sabotage our own flesh and blood," Prince Ashton said, quieter now.

  "Our?! I think you mean my flesh and blood," Princess Olivia began to speak softer now, her words still sharp, "and if you refuse to help me... I'll tell everyone exactly why I was to be given the throne over you. I'll tell them all about how you don't even belong in this palace. I'll throw you right under the bus, and tell the world how you and that nasty servant girl you were hitting on are in the exact. same. boat."

  Prince Ashton must not've had a response for that one.