Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

The king was already on his way to greet me when I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself.

You can do this Krisella, I told myself many times. 

If you have surpassed this in the past, I am one hundred percent sure that you can also somewhat survive this event and come back home alive and well.

"Prince Arthur Spellman," King Emmet declared the prince's name with such importance to acknowledge my presence. "It is always a pleasure to see you here,"

"The pleasure is mine, your majesty," I bowed my head curtly to indicate my respect towards the king and immediately lifted my head up in less than two seconds. 

"Oh please, you are being too formal around me once again," the king chuckled as he waved his hand in front of me dismissively. "After all, I can already be considered as your second father since you are betrothed to my beloved daughter Marionette."

Upon mentioning the princess' name, I used her as my escape route from this uncomfortable and awkward conversation with the king.

"Speaking of her, where is the birthday celebrant? I was already looking forward to seeing her." I muttered as casually as I could.

"Oh, her?" He tilted his head slightly and looked at the twin staircase placed on both corners of the castle where a room can be seen on the second floor of this cultural hall. 

"I imagine she is still preparing in her dressing room. You know how ladies like to take their time preparing for such events, right? Sometimes it is a problem to wait longer than necessary."

I tried to crack a laugh at what he said, assuming he is trying to joke around to ease the mood in our surroundings.

"I think I know what you mean, your majesty. But I am already used waiting for my princess," I replied, barking a chuckle.

"I am glad to hear that then," 

The king looks like someone who could keep talking all day if not for the princess who finally appeared before the visitors after waiting an hour for her. 

Several of the guests stopped and stared at this gorgeous lady as she walked gracefully from the staircase. The hem of her silky royal blue off-shoulder ball gown is following right behind her with two of her servants adjusting it.

Princess Marionette still managed to look calm despite the onlookers' curious stares as she held a white fan in one hand. Two flights away from the ground, she opened the fan and delightedly placed it closer to her face while I stood on the edge of the stairs.

A smile curved on her red lips as she saw me waiting for her.

"My prince!" she almost yelled in delight, ignoring other people currently watching our every movement.

"You…" I tried to compliment her looks, but stopped when I tried to find the right word to say it. "You look splendidly gorgeous as always, my princess." And then I finished my sentence off with a genuine smile.

It is true… she is exquisitely beautiful, as what to be expected from a princess.

"Aww.. thank you, my prince!" I was stunned for a moment when she suddenly pulled me for a tight hug. "And you look extra handsome today as well. What a perfect match we truly are, am I right?"

"You are absolutely right my princess."

After the event had officially been opened by her father, the King, the visitors began exploring the venue. Those without a significant other started looking for partners: a handsome, rich, and (if they are lucky) very wealthy bachelor they could consider marrying in the future.

My three mentors were once again seated at a table alone talking about some unspecified topic. Instead of wondering what it was about, I chose to follow the princess and make sure she didn't suspect me as the fake prince.

As of now actually, I just invited the princess to her first dance after we spent some time talking at our table about anything under the sun. 

"You're such a good dancer." Princess complimented, her lips forming a smile at me. "We didn't get to dance together during my father's birthday three months ago because of what happened to you then."

I shuddered at the thought of it. I haven't completely forgotten about it, and it just makes me feel awkward and angry at myself for the epic performance I put on during the said event.

"Yeah, that was kind of awkward for me, really," I said and thought of how to change the topic as soon as possible.

"B-but now I am truly elated to be your first dance at the moment though." I quickly added, silently thanking my brain for the idea that came right away.

"Really?" she mockingly asked, eyeing me intently.

"Really."

"Well then, I will let you take good care of me on the dance floor."

My natural chuckle comes with the statement out of the princess' mouth. This girl sure has a lot of wits and a sense of humor inside of her, doesn't she?

I wonder, if she happens to know my secret, that I am not her real fiancee' and if we are not in this kind of situation, would she somehow have me as her good friend?

Because I would surely love to be close to her someday…

When the princess and I felt our stomachs churning inside at the same time, it was then decided that we should help ourselves with the food served by the waiters inside the hall.

It felt hard to contain the delight that I felt the moment I saw my favorite cuisines that I can't afford to buy with my own money that is actually served at the party while the princess is sitting across from me.

Being able to hold a strawberry tart in my hands filled me with joy. When I was a young child, my brother would bring me a basket of strawberries from his farm because he knows how much I like strawberries. I would then enjoy the sight of his gift.

"My prince…"

My thoughts easily went back to the current situation when I heard the princess's voice calling out my attention.

"Yes, my princess?" I casually responded, still eating the strawberry tarts.

"I thought you said in our last meeting a year ago that you disliked anything with strawberries in it? You prefer caramel to anything else."

Holy crap! 

I almost dropped the tart that I was holding upon recalling the orientation I had with my mentors three months ago…

---

-SHORT FLASHBACK-

"Please also keep in mind that the prince absolutely loathes strawberries and will not eat anything that has strawberries in it," Lancelot explained with all seriousness while I was busy taking notes.

My forehead wrinkled upon hearing that.

"What a shame! I enjoy strawberries a lot. I was referred to as strawberry-maniac daughter by my mother back in my hometown." 

---

I bite my lips hard, uttering curses in my head. How can I forget the one thing that separates me from the prince?

Panic started to rise within me while my body was stunned for a moment as I thought of a way to escape this awkward scenario.

What to do… what to do… what to do---

"I think it is only natural for people to have different preferences as they grow up, huh? What do you think about that?" It was also the princess who broke the awkward silence between us.

"Y-yeah…I think that's what it is," I replied, lifting my hand in the process and scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment.

Did the princess just save my grown-ass self from humiliating myself even further?

I know that I need to add my statement to support it even more!

"In one of my quests, I started to like strawberries..." I blurted out of the blue, but then I realized that it was a trap I set for myself in case she asked what quest was it and I didn't have an answer for that.

And here I thought I am already getting good at lying…

"And what quest was it? I surely like to hear it from you, my prince," 

Damn! Just as I thought!

When I didn't say anything after a few minutes had passed, the princess's excited face suddenly took on a serious look, which kind of made me even more nervous. 

For goodness' sake, I haven't seen her get this serious over the past few months that we've been together!

"Err…" And I haven't been this nervous before too!

"I get it…" she murmured, causing me to hold back the words that I am about to say to make up for my stupidity earlier. "I get it now…"

I refrained from speaking further and waited for her to clarify what she meant.

"You…" she added not long after two seconds. 

Her eyes shifted from the wine glass that she was holding toward me, while her lips parted at the same time.

"You're not the real prince, aren't you?"