Princess in Hiding

Chapter 16

I stayed all day in my study as I try to submerge myself into work. I'm reading economy growth books, but I cannot even understand a phrase I'm reading. I'm still stuck at the first phrase. I hear a loud knocking from the door earlier, but I don't want to listen to it. It was just the Queen and I will not answer her. Right now, my mind is on flames on what my current situation is.

Me? A princess?

That is so impossible, but the evidences are in front of me. What if the results have been tampered with again so place me into this cruel ordeal? I shook my head from the thoughts I've welcomed. I closed my book in finality, somehow releasing me from the nightmare of this dreaded book.

I stood up and walked to the door. I halted when I thought that the King hasn't even come back. I bit my lip. He's the only one who takes my side from the monster of a wife he has and that Irvina the fraud. I slightly opened the door and looked around if there was a sign of the Queen everywhere. Finding nothing, I went out and I almost tipped toed my way through the halls just not to be heard or anything.

I was about to turn towards the garden when I saw Eros coming my way. I sighed with relief and he approached me.

"Hey, princess," he started.

I rolled my eyes and I cannot believe this guy. I shook my head and crossed my arms. "I'm no princess."

"Okay then, let's pretend you aren't." He gave me a sly smile and I just glared at him. "How are you?"

"Well, I'm not really sure. I feel so... pressured."

He tilted his head and I somehow notice that slight sadness in his eyes. Maybe pity. "I'm not entirely sure of what you are feeling but I know you are confused at the moment. Mind if I join you in the garden?"

I nod and we walked outside. We were strolling beside each other and we were just quiet. I helped Eros keep Irvina's identity. I kept quiet because I was scared what might happen to me if I revealed her secret. I didn't even know then that I was the real deal.

Maybe we were walking for about five minutes when Eros broke the silence between us. I'm not really sure if he's just plain curious or he's gauging my reaction to the fiasco what is happening here in the palace. Knowing that he's the chatterbox between us.

"So, uhm... given that you're a princess, and you've been training as an adviser, you were actually training for the real boss job," says he, like he can't believe what he's saying.

"Well, if I was asked if I want to keep my position as an adviser-in-training, I'd actually choose that over my newly acquired inherited occupation. Then again, I wanted to treat this merely as a promotion."

"Well, yeah. You were actually promoted to the highest job possible."

I sighed. I sat on a nearby bench and Eros followed suit. "I don't actually want this job, you know. I just really want a job that could make ends meet, you know. I didn't know that this was a package deal."

"Well, you have to know all the items in the package, princess."

"I actually realized that I hate being called princess."

Eros looked at me incredulously. I gave him a sad smile and I looked at the skies from where we are sitting. I haven't even seen the King since he's overseas for some diplomatic business. I don't know what he's enduring right now given that he might have received the news of me being his actual daughter.

I'm actually worried about him, truly. He has always been so warm and welcoming to me, even protecting me from Irvina even though he believed that she was the real deal. I tried shooing away my worries when I faced Eros again who was looking at me intently.