Fake Princess
CHAPTER 30
Devan immediately realized his mistake.
“ I'm sorry. I'm sorry.I just forgot. When I saw you, I forgot. Amelia. Now your name is Amelia, right?”
Slowly, my head was so heavy that it felt like a big piece of rock on my shoulder, I nodded. I lowered my head, turning everywhere other than looking at Devan. Both of my arms, I realized, were completely covered in a blurry brown color from the failed dip, until I looked like I was playing with mud.
The front of my dress was, no, her daughter Alvi's dress was wet because of the water splashed by me, but it did not hide the entire worn-out fabric that had been thinned. A flying insect flashed by and I brushed it off with my hand, and my thumb accidentally scratched the cheek while doing so.
I could feel my face wet, and realized I might have just rubbed a brown stain over my cheek.
And for some reason, while standing glued, all the happiness that had been held within me and had no reason to appear, which bubbled to the surface upon seeing Devan, suddenly turned sour & bleakly. I'm ashamed, of my appearance, of my job, and how I messed it up.
In an instant I hated Devan for seeing me in this state, for coming and reminding me who I used to be. & I know, so open my mouth, any speech that comes out of my mouth must be horrible, cruel and as sharp as I can possibly be.
I even knew I should have held back, knew I would regret it, but right now, with smoldering dirty cheeks, I don't care.
“ What are you doing here, Devan?” I asked bland.
For a moment Devan's eyes wrinkled in shock upon hearing the tone of my voice.
“ I came to see you. I know for too long, I know I waited too long, but..”.
“ But there are various ceremonies & such, to welcome him. Everyone was called to the palace. They even made sure the real princess had returned.”
Devan added while grunting a laugh & flashed a hopeful expression at me. The Mossfeld family lived on the northernmost edge of Thorvaldor, and the female head of the family was so eccentric that it had not been seen in the palace since the king's coronation.
Devan and I spent a lot of time lying on the grass of the palace garden, imagining what the woman looked like and what she did while trapped in the wet and soft-landed Mossfeld.
But I didn't smile, and I saw Devan gulp before continuing.
“ By the way, I can't go. My father, he said I could be considered insulting him…. Amelia. if I go looking for you while they're still welcoming her. Finally yesterday he gave me permission, & I left this morning.”
“ I understand. But why?” my many. There was a tone I did not recognize in my voice, a tone that was double-edged & as sharp as a sword. Yeah, that knife will hurt Devan, but it'll hurt me where I'm holding it.
I don't give a shit.
” This,” I said, while stretching out the arms to designate the cottage & dipping barrel, “ is not something that is common to you.” Devan glanced in the direction I pointed, gnawed, and was confused. I shook my head.
“ No. You only know have fun, be mean, be silly, & joke.” Devan's face paled, hurt, and I almost went through the same thing myself. That's not true, Devan is much better than that, and we both know it. Even so, I did not stop.
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