6 The Accidental Consort

Nesrin bowed to Hans, he looked a bit confused but said nothing and left. As she watched him disappear from the gates of her bed chamber, Nesrin noticed a certain painting at the end of the corridor.

The man in the painting had no warmth, but he carried a cold enchanting beauty to him. And he looked strangely familiar. Nesrin turned to one of the guards outside her room and pointed at the painting.

"Who is that?"

The guard had a bewildered look on his face that Nesrin couldn't understand. He opened his mouth then closed it again, then exchanged an uncertain look with his fellow guard.

"Um...ah, that is his imperial majesty, the emperor."

"..."

Nesrin turned back to look at the painting, she couldn't believe her eyes and walked closer to it. But her feet paused when only a few feet remained between them, her body froze and the colors washed away from her face.

She knew this person in the painting!

There were broken memories of last in her mind, she recalled a feeling of fighting him. He has done something that made Nesrin want to fight him but no matter how much she tried to remember, she couldn't remember the rest.

'What have I done?!'

The fact that she couldn't remember the events of last well only added to her misery.

Nesrin noticed that there were increased numbers of knights outside her room and her heart started to race.

A middle aged lady who rivaled Izekiel's coldness arrived along with four maids. They all curtsied as they spoke,

"Your highness," she said, "We would like to offer our congratulations on this joyous occasion."

[New Character Introduced: Hansel Croff, Princess Johann's lady in waiting appointed by Emperor Izekiel.]

Nesrin dismissed the notification immediately. She watched the knights and then glanced back at the maids before rushing inside her chamber.

The maids followed her quickly.

Lady Croff was appointed to Johanna to keep a watch over her. The emperor wanted to make sure she doesn't try to run away or try to join hands with any enemy of his. Since she was brought here against her wishes, Izekiel wanted to make sure no trouble arises.

Despite all that, Nesrin remembered Lady Croff as a righteous lady.

She would never let an innocent person suffer instead of someone else!

With this in her mind, she blurted out in panic.

"I am not Johanna,"

"..."

Lady Croff blinked her eyes in surprise.

"It's the truth…" Nesrin said but the disbelief was so clear in Lady Croff's back that she swallowed back her next words.

With a sigh, Lady Croff advised,

"We should start the preparations, it's getting late"

The head maid glanced at her pocket watch and gestured at the other maids, they walked towards Nesrin looking docile but their demeanour was far from how servants are supposed to act.

When Nesrin stood bewildered in her place, one of the maids gently took her hand but the grip was firm as she said,

"The bath is ready, your highness"

The head maid turned her back and began to give order to the other maids and check up on the preparations.

Nesrin clenched her hands in frustration, the maids were not here to serve her but make sure she obeys the commands of the emperor. Two of them took her hands and 'led' her towards the bathing chamber.

Panic began to surge inside her as she thought about how the emperor might punish her for what happened last night!

Nesrin tried to tell them the truth but their eyes were dedicated to their work and their ears were deaf to her voice.

"I am not who you think I am!"

It was beginning to scare her a little, all these maids acted as if Nesrin had said nothing. They ignored her so naturally as if she was not even there or perhaps not worthy of their attention. Despite her protests they began to remove her gown.

Instinctively Nesrin thrashed, but her new body has more strength than she imagined. The maids holding her staggered and fell down, one of them crashed against a giant vase that stumbled and shattered with a loud voice.

Nesrin was sorry for the maids but she was also a bit impressed by herself. She turned her eyes towards them and repeated slowly and clearly,

"I...am not your princess."

"I expected something like this might happen, so I had told them not to pay you any mind. Today is your wedding, this childish act won't change anything." Lady Croff entered the chamber and dismissed other maids.

"What are you even talking about...I really am not Johanna!"

"The proposal has been accepted, it would do you no good to pretend."

"I am not pretending!"

Lady Croff acted as if she heard nothing. It was beginning to annoy Nesrin. The head maid continued with indifference,

"We can not delay it anymore, his majesty won't like it if we reach there late"

Nesrin took a deep breath to calm herself. She has to use her brain and not let the emotions get the best of her.

"With my authority as the princess of Iyanora, I command you to stop all this."

"Your authority can not surpass-" Lady Croff paused,

She frowned and came a little closer. Her gaze scrutinized Nesrin, she had begun to suspect something when Nesrin acted differently from the Johanna Lady Croff knew. But she thought it was all just an act.

"You look a bit older than Princess Johanna..." Lady Croff's voice became low, "I have been watching her highness for a long time, the color of your hair is lighter than hers…"

Her eyes widened in shock as the truth sank in.

Nesrin exclaimed in relief.

"Thank goodness you have realized this!"

Lady Croff shook her head, it was still hard for her to believe this.

"This is not right...you-you are not the princess..."

"I can't marry Izekiel now. Thanks for understanding, but please help me leave this place!"

"That can not happen." Lady Croff rubbed her temples, her thin lips curled into a frown, "His majesty would be furious."

Nesrin bit her lips as she watched Lady Croff's conflicted face. Why was she thinking so much about this?

As she realized the reason, the glimmer of hope she had seen started to fade away. These maids were kept here to keep a watch on Princess Johanna. Since the princess has managed to leave, the maids have failed in their tasks.

Now they are subject to Izekiel's punishment.

Lady Croff was in a tough situation.

Nesrin felt sad for them, but her life was threatened the more she stayed close to Izekiel.

Lady Croff pressed her lips into a thin line and announced.

"You can not leave, the ceremony has to be completed."

"I am a mere common girl," Nesrin subconsciously stepped back, "If a commoner marries inside the imperial family, won't the blood be tainted?"

She didn't believe in such things but the class system inside the novel was very strict. This has to change Lady Croff's mind!

Lady Croff wrinkled her nose.

"A...commoner?"

Nesrin nodded her head.

"Um-yes! I-uh my parents are small farmers." she rubbed the side of her nose, "They must be worried for me...I have to return home."

Lady Croff folded her hands and watched her coldly. Nesrin was starting to feel uneasy under her gaze and she quickly added.

"I am only a victim here, Lady Croff. But if Izekiel finds out about your deception, he won't be happy."

"Does the common girl think she would be forgiven?"

Nesrin had once liked Lady Croff's character, but now she was beginning to doubt her own choice. Lady Croff took in a deep breath and said,

"We do not have time for this senseless talk. If you pretend to be Princess Johanna, I and my maids will serve you despite your lowly birth. You should know that we are not mere maids, but a part of something very high in this palace."

Lady Croff was a retired assassin and her maids were trained in combat as well as espionage. Their unit was created for the sole purpose of dealing with the palace's inner conflicts.

Nesrin bit her lips and thought for a while.

"I will act as Johanna if you obey my every command,"

Lady Croff narrowed her eyes.

"Don't cross your lines"

"Alright then," Nesrin turned towards the gates, "I am not risking my life with this little act of yours."

Nesrin already knew how Lady Croff would respond, she wouldn't put herself and her maids in danger by failing her mission. Once Lady Croff agrees to her wishes, she won't go back on her word.

While Lady Croff was facing her dilemma, Nesrin was thinking about her next move.

To survive in this palace, she has to think ahead.

"Okay, we shall obey your every command." Lady Croff glared daggers at her as she said this, "Everything but running away from this palace or doing something that places us in danger."

"Do you give me your word?"

"I... I do."

Nesrin smiled.

The next step to take was decided.

It made her heart race a bit too fast, but this was something that seemed like the only way now. Things might turn bad but if Lady Croff supports her then it should be alright.

Nesrin turned back and lifted her eyes at Lady Croff.

"You said...you will obey my every order right?"

Lady Croff cautiously nodded, the change in Nesrin's expression didn't went unnoticed by her.

Her eyes carried hints of trouble, something which made the head maid contemplate the promise she had just made.