Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 66

A walk around the palace
“Go where?” Trace asked Sapphira suspiciously.

“Magical help?” Anaisa questioned.

“Yes,” The Princess shook her head, answering her servant’s question while ignoring the new bodyguard’s query. “You think I could be this beautiful without it?”

Trace suppressed a grin. The royal’s magically-assisted glamor was not quite on par with his wife’s natural beauty. In his eyes, there was no real comparison, and he felt a small wave of compassion for the princess. To be outshined by a servant, even though she would not admit it, must be a very upsetting thing for someone so spoiled.

“Well, I–” Anaisa paused, likely realizing that any answer had the possibility of offending, one way or another. “You are very beautiful, Your Highness.” She finished lamely.

“And we will keep it so!” Sapphira beamed. “Now, hurry, time is of the essence, the ball is less than a week away!”

“Do you still plan on—” Anaisa began, but the Princess hushed her, cutting a sharp look at Trace.

Who still wasn’t supposed to know about the Princess’s plan to potentially run away during her own ball. He tried his best to look confused, but the way Anaisa sighed let him know that his performance was less than stellar.

At least the princess seemed to buy it.

“Let’s be off!” Sapphira announced. “Quick, pretend to be me.”

Anaisa took a deep breath, then lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders, imitating the princess’s haughty posture. She strode towards the door with a toss of her hair, and Trace was almost startled how easily his wife fell into the role of spoiled heiress.

Until she stopped and turned.

“Which way are we going?” She asked a bit timidly.

The real princess, in her servant’s uniform, stepped forward. “Come along. I’ll pretend to carry a book or something for you and lead the way.”

“Remember we’re not to leave the palace.” Trace warned.

“Of course, of course. You worry too much,” Sapphira brushed off the warning as she snatched up a small novel. “Let’s move.”

Thus, the little procession moved through the castle: first the real princess, in servant’s clothes, then the fake princess with a haughty air, and finally, Trace, with a bemused expression.

Anaisa kept up a steady stream of demands as she gracefully moved through the palace halls.

“You! That flower vase isn’t centered. Adjust it! Do you not care at all how the palace looks?”

“Why are you moving so slowly? Do you not have enough chores to do?” She called to another.

“Maid, treat my favorite book more respectfully! Carry it with both hands!” Anaisa snapped at the princess.

Trace choked on his laughter and coughed. The two ladies paused to stare at him, and the princess rolled her eyes at Anaisa’s display.

They watched until he collected himself and stood at the ready. His lips still tugged upward at seeing the princess get a taste of her own medicine.

“Shall we proceed, guard, if you’re quite satisfied with your unsightly display of illness before royalty?” Anaisa shook her hair behind her shoulder and looked at him disdainfully, and he was momentarily stunned.

Anaisa’s lips twitched, and Trace narrowed his eyes at her. Anaisa’s serious expression slipped, just slightly, her eyes betraying that she was having fun. Getting to pretend to be the princess was apparently a source of great amusement for her, so he would gladly play along.

“As you wish, Your Highness. I stand at the ready,” He affected a dramatic bow.

“It seems you’re bowing at the ready instead of standing,” She said, her voice dripping with condescension, “I hope in the future you will correctly describe your posture at all times. I would hate for you to lose your head to the executioner’s ax for lying to a member of the royal family.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” He mocked her and stood up straight, dipping his head with faux respect, “I’m at your disposal.”

“I won’t dispose of you too quickly,” She eyed him.

“I should hope not.” He resisted the urge to smile. “Not even a princess can evade the king’s orders.”

“I would never attempt evasion of any kind!” Anaisa lifted her chin. “Circumnavigation, however, would be another matter entirely.”

“I am, sadly, ignorant of the difference between the two,” He lifted an eyebrow, challenging her.

“Your education is obviously lacking,” The fake princess frowned. “I must have a talk with someone about hiring standards at the palace. Clearly they are in need of revision.”

The real princess cleared her throat, and the couple were pulled from their repartee. Trace swallowed, and gestured for them to move onward. Sapphira shook her head at them in chastisement, rolling her eyes again.

“Let’s go… if you please, Your Highness,” Her tone on the title held a little censure, as if Anaisa was somehow not doing a fantastic job at imitating the princess. She really was.

Aside from flirting with him, although he enjoyed that a great deal. Admittedly, the princess had made suggestive comments towards him. The main difference was he felt no desire to flirt back with Sapphira.

He was convinced he could spend all day engaging Anaisa’s ready wit and not experience one moment of boredom.

Perhaps later, when they weren’t out and about in the palace. Anaisa turned, and Trace found himself watching the way her hair caught the sunlight streaming in through the windows. It was mesmerizing, like staring into a flickering flame.

He tore his attention away and concentrated on Sapphira instead. She was who he really needed to be guarding. If she was harmed, all their lives were at stake. The princess wound her way to a room that was near the servant’s quarters, but still part of the main castle.

She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but grimaced and turned to Anaisa.

“Ugh, I suppose I should have you do the bulk of the talking or it will seem suspicious. This is Sanders. We need him to seek out a magic user that will suit my purposes. Make sure he finds a good one.”