The Impostor Luna

An impostor bride

Nora

"Why are you still sitting so formally? Doesn't that upright posture tire you out?" Charlotte's voice jolted me back to reality. "The show is over, you should relax."

"I can’t," I whispered. "Madam Lydia insists I maintain the princess's poise at all times. I mustn't shame the royal family."

"Well, Madam Lydia isn’t here. She wouldn't know," Charlotte said, pulling me over. I yelped as I toppled into her arms. I struggled to sit up, but she held me down. "Lie down and take a break, Nora," she softly insisted. "You've been on your feet all day. You need rest."

Her suggestion was tempting. I hesitated briefly, then lay my head on her lap, sighing in contentment.

"Really, why the hell didn’t Princess Cynthia come herself this time?" Charlotte said.

"She caught a cold; she needs to rest."

"She better be sick," Charlotte snorted. "You know that’s her excuse. She just doesn’t want to face the slums. She thinks the people are filthy and refuses to shake their hands. She’s not a good princess at all."

I quickly placed a finger to her lips, signaling her to stay quiet. "Shhh."

"What?" she retorted, brushing my hand aside. "Am I not speaking the truth? She enjoys the luxuries of being a princess while dodging all the responsibilities. Every challenging task falls on you. Shame on her."

"Please, don't say any more," I pleaded.

"Can't you find an excuse to refuse next time?" Charlotte suggested.

"Like what?" I smiled wryly.

"Say you caught a cold too."

"I'm afraid that's not reason enough to skip an event," I said, allowing myself the small indulgence of a grimace."Madam Lydia said that as long as I breathe, I must be the princess's shadow."

"It’s totally unfair," Charlotte remarked.

"Have you kept count? You've said that over a hundred times," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I don’t remember. I lost count," Charlotte replied. "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Bother me about what?"

"Attending exhausting events as her substitute."

"I'm alright," I said. "Interacting with different people is interesting. Not everyone gets to witness such grand occasions. I should be thankful that I look exactly like the princess."

"You’ve been brainwashed, my friend," Charlotte murmured.

I couldn’t help but smile. "I’m just trying to stay positive," I said. "Whether I resist or comply, it's something I must do. You know, they have my sister."

Charlotte sighed, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It’s okay," I replied. "Lily will soon be eighteen. Maybe she'll meet her mate. Then, even the court won't have a reason to keep her here as a bonus hostage."

"And what about you?" Charlotte asked, genuine concern mingling with a hint of teasing in her eyes. "You're already past eighteen, and clearly, you haven’t caught the enticing whiff of your mate anywhere in this country."

"I don't know," I admitted. "But as long as Lily finds her happy-ever-after, I'll manage to keep trudging through my own fairy-tale nightmare. Besides, having you by my side is comforting enough."

She squeezed my hand again and smiled.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. I quickly sat up, and Charlotte helped straighten my hair.

"What's happening, Adam? Why have we changed direction?" Charlotte asked. "Weren't we supposed to head to the church to meet the bishop? Moon Day is around the corner and we haven't decorated the room and dispatch the gifts…"

"King's orders," the coachman simply replied.

"But where are we going?" I asked.

"Back to the court. His Majesty requires your presence immediately."

"What? Why?" I asked, frowning, my voice filled with concern. "What's going on?"

"Sorry, Your Highness, I have no idea," the coachman said, urging the horses to speed up. "Move!"

Charlotte and I exchanged a silent glance. My heart pounded as a sense of dread closed in. Something felt off. It seemed like my life was about to change once again.

When I reached the corridor, the hall was already bursting at the seams with people, and the ministers were whispering to each other.

"This is all your fault!" King Theodore roared, pounding the table with enough force to splinter it. He snatched up a scroll and hurled it towards a minister in the front row. "I should have your head cut off!"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty!" the minister quivered, collapsing to the ground and asked for mercy."Spare me, spare me!"

"Guards! Take him away and execute him tomorrow!" King Theodore bellowed.

The king's rage was enough to make me tremble. I was fairly accustomed to his less than sunny disposition. Why was he so angry? Sure, he usually looked the other way while Cynthia bullied anyone who crossed her path, but public tantrums weren't his style.

Chest out, head up. Deep breath. I told myself before stepping into the hall, where all eyes instantly zeroed in on me.

"Your Highness," they greeted me, and I nodded, maintaining my best serene princess' facade.

The king’s eyes lit up at the sight of me. He waved everyone away, saying, "All of you leave. I wish to speak with my daughter alone."

The ministers practically tripped over each other in their hurry to exit, leaving just us in the room. He sat regally on his throne and beckoned to me. "Come here, child."

I stepped forward obediently, and he lifted my chin as he studied my face. A smile tugged at his lips. "You are a gift from Moon Goddess to the Crimson Court, Nora," he declared, with all the sincerity of a salesman.

"It is my honor to serve the royal family," I replied, laying the humility on as thick as I could.

"Good," he said, his gaze fixed on me. "I have an important task for you." He paused dramatically before adding, "In fact, this is the last time I will ask you to play the role of my daughter."

I looked up sharply, staring at him in disbelief. My heart pounded at his words.

What did he mean last time?

“Once you complete this task, you will be free," he said.

My breath quickened at the prospect of freedom. "What do you need me to do?" I inquired, attempting to keep my voice from quivering. "Is there a banquet? A speech? Or do I need to give alms on the Moon Day?"

"No, no, it's much more serious than that," the king said, as if asking me to perform the trifles of a royal life had ever been serious."I need you to impersonate Cynthia and marry Clyde Murphy, King of Frostfall," he said, the words dropping like ice blocks.

I inhaled sharply.

Clyde Murphy was more notoriously known as The Savage King, someone you’d imagine laughing maniacally in a lightning storm.

A chill colder than a disapproving glare, shot up from the soles of my feet. It raced up my spine, tickling it like an unwelcome breeze, freezing my blood and numbing my heart.

"But... but isn't our country at war with that monster?" I sputtered.

"Yes," the king nodded gravely. "News from the front arrived yesterday; it seems we're losing. Clyde's soldiers have crossed the Glacier Spine. At this pace, they will encircle Emerald City in less than half a month. Our envoy managed to broker a truce with Clyde, and fortunately, he agreed—but there's a catch: he wants to marry our princess."

Fortunate, indeed. This so-called luck seemed a bit dubious, especially for the princess destined to become a strategic bargaining chip.

"Can we negotiate with him?" I proposed. "Perhaps we could suggest holding it after the Moon Day. Once Clyde's army runs out of food, he'll have no choice but to retreat."

"He won't fall for it," Theodore replied, shaking his head and muttering to himself. "We've used a similar trick before, and he no longer trusts us."

Similar trick? When? I wondered briefly, but there was no time to dwell on the question. "What about fighting with him?" I asked, mustering the spirit of a dying moth.

"Ha, with what? We have no soldiers left. Our main forces have perished on the battlefield," the king frowned, not happy about the question I asked. "Clyde Murphy is brutal and relentless. Once he takes Emerald City, he will surely m******e everyone. Trading a princess for peace is our best option," the king added.

"But why would he want to marry the princess?" I asked.

"I'm not sure; there could be many reasons," the king mused. "Years ago, when Frostfall and we were still allies, Clyde and Cynthia met once. They both attended a feast held by Lord Chambers . Perhaps Clyde fell in love with my daughter at first sight and hasn't gotten over that first embarrassing crush. Or maybe that barbarian values lineage and wants a pure-blooded noble as his bride, or he's playing a game of power and intends to control me by taking my daughter. Regardless, I cannot let that bastard have his way." The king paused, appraising me as if I was a fine wine he was about to uncork. "It's time for you to serve our country, Nora. This is your last mission. Will you replace Cynthia and marry Clyde?"

Indeed, the last mission, ending only with my unfortunate demise. Lovely.

As if I could refuse.

"By the way," King Theodore began, "it's been some time since you last saw your sister, hasn't it?"

I bit my lower lip, aware that his mention of my sister was a silent threat.

"Would you like to see her before you leave?" he asked, his tone deceptively pleasant.