Fake Princess
CHAPTER 21
My aunt's words are troubling my mind. Am I giving up like my father? Did I allow myself to be driven out of my life, when I could struggle to retain some of it? I used to dislike arguing, always retreating from confrontation. However, should I defend myself, demanding something in return for the sixteen years I gave to the kingdom?
No, I said in my heart. When the king says you have to go, you go. I am not a princess, nor even a noble; I have no power. There's nothing I can do to change everything that's happened.
I repeated it in my heart, but even then, there was a small part of me that seemed to shake my head, not believing.
Given the distance from my aunt, I think I should have sought friendship from someone else in Treb. However, I also did not manage to get any consolation there. With the various lessons my aunt gave me, I had little time to spare, and definitely not enough to wander the village and make friends. In addition, three girls my age have their own busy lives, two of them are engaged and are getting married soon, however, that's not what prevents me from doing more than nodding at them while crossing the street.
They found out what happened to me, they found out about it from a traveling salesman who was at Vivaskari when the real princess came back. Kings and queens also sent announcements to be read in all corners of the big city, and the cities were too small for couriers to come and spread to Treb.
This story, about a princess who was hidden without knowing her true identity, caused a stir throughout the country.
In most places, I think the rumour revolves around Diana, the real Diana. However, in Treb there is something else to think about, something that is almost forgotten elsewhere. Me; the fake princess.
Some people managed to gather the courage to approach me and ask that question, but only got a smile with my lips closed and a head bobble from me.
“ I don't want to talk about it,” I usually answer, & I always see disappointment emanating from their eyes, dislike, as if I had an obligation to answer their questions. However, it was all too new, too painful for me, and even saying that far made my body tremble as I left.
There are only two things that break my daily pattern in Treb. The first one is . I don't know what it really is. Something that has no name, something I can't touch, or point at, and then say,
“ Ah this is he who has been bothering me.” It was just a feeling, a feeling that arose roughly a few weeks after my arrival to this place.
It started with a feeling of being stuck in my chest, like when you wanted to cry and not let it happen. I initially ignored it; it didn't seem strange if you felt that way, not after everything that happened. But some time later, it all changed to grow and move until sometimes I felt strange, like there was hot and bubbling inside my body and wanted to get out.