The False Princess And The Beast

~002~ Fulfilling dreams

The carriage was not empty. There was a person inside, a face that looked too familiar to Cornelia, but it was impossible, right?

The face was an exact replica of Cornelia’s own face, the same eyes, nose, and even shape of lips were the same. The only reason Cornelia knew she wasn’t, in fact, looking at a mirror was because, unlike Cornelia, the other lady looked elegant. It was clear from the dress that hung off her frame and the jewels around her neck that she was a noble, a high-ranking one at that. Yet there was no denying the resemblance.

Vienna had been sitting in her carriage awaiting her maid when the carriage was suddenly thrown open and a small woman dashed into it, as if running from someone, but what shocked her was the face of the intruder.

They had the same face.

Finally, Cornelia felt her mouth move. “Who are you?”

Vienna was just about to ask the same question, but before she could reply, someone knocked on the carriage, causing both of them to jump.

“Is anyone there?” A man’s voice called out, “Did you happen to see a woman run past here?

Cornelia froze and shook her head, pleading with her lookalike.

So that’s what she was running from, Vienna thought.

Clearing her throat, Vienna replied, her voice firm, leaving no room for discussion. “NO, I did not, and there is no law that allows the capital guards to harass nobles for such reasons."

Cornelia was stunned because though the lady in front of her looked like her, she was completely different.

From her voice alone, the guard immediately knew he was dealing with a high-ranked member of the ton and offending them would ruin his life. He immediately apologized and scurried away.

Cornelia slumped against the door in relief, offering her thanks. After she was certain the guard was gone, she thanked her savior once more, “I am grateful for your help, my lady, and I shall not bother you any longer.” Cornelia turned to leave, but her savior stopped her.

“Wait, who are you?”

Who was she? Cornelia didn’t quite know how to answer that question. She was Cornelia Woods, a girl who had grown up in an orphanage at the outskirts of Crystalis until she had been adopted by a family when she was 17, which had been considered odd as she had been about to age out of the system. It became clear why. As soon as she turned 18, her adopted parents had forced her to marry their imprisoned son, hoping she would bear him a child before he was sentenced to death.

As he was the only child of a baron, they intended to secure their line, therefore, not only had they forced her to marry him, but they had also tried to force her to have intimate relations with him.

Luckily, she had managed to escape to the capital before ever laying eyes on her so-called husband, and months later she heard the news that she had become a widow.

Ever since, she had lived her life as an author, writing the most scandalous novels that never failed to shake the ton under the moniker Lady Midnight, using her earnings to support the orphanage she had grown up in. Technically, she was a baroness by title, as her so-called father-in-law had soon followed his son in death, and the title had passed to her late husband. She had never seen herself as a baroness, however lowly the title might be. She was now twenty-one. Although she hadn’t remarried, she had sufficient funds to last a lifetime and had no need for a title.

But she couldn’t say all that to a stranger, however much they looked alike. Instead, she kept it simple and said, “I’m Cornelia Wood.”

Vienna nodded and was about to ask why they looked so much alike when a familiar voice called out, “My lady." Once again, the carriage door opened, and Vienna’s most trusted maid, Clarisse, took in the scene. She too was left in shock as she kept looking from Vienna to Cornelia. “How?”

Cornelia started to get nervous as yet another stranger was present, knowing she had to leave, she thanked her once more and was about to push aside the newcomer, who seemed to be the lady’s maid, but the lady ordered her maid to stop her.

Cornelia panicked and tried to evade the maid only to be hit from behind by something hard. She fell hard too on the ground, and the last thing she heard was a soft, “I’m sorry.” The lady who had saved her hit her.

“My lady, what do we do now?” Clarisse asked Vienna.

Vienna had no clue why she did what she did, but one thing she knew for certain was that she wasn't about to let Cornelia leave.

“We take her with us.” Knowing better than to question her, Clarisse nodded.

Cornelia felt her head pound as she regained consciousness. She recalled everything that had happened and cursed under her breath. She lifted herself slowly until she was sitting in what was a massive bed in an equally massive room. Where was she?

“Oh, you’re awake. I was beginning to think I killed you.” A voice drew her attention, and she turned to see the girl who had saved her next to her maid.

“Why did you kidnap me?”

“I had to do that, you were trying to run, and I couldn’t have that.”

Cornelia couldn’t believe her years. The lady didn’t even have the decency to apologize for hitting and taking her without her permission.

Wanting to get it over with, Cornelia asked, “So why did you kidnap me?”

“Well, I want to figure out why we look so alike.”

“You could’ve just asked, you know?” Cornelia muttered under her breath.

The lady asked question after question, making Cornelia uncomfortable. After she seemed to be satisfied with Cornelia’s answers, Cornelia asked, “Can I leave now?”

“No.”

“But why? I’ve already answered all your questions.”

“Not all.” Vienna said, “I have one more, though I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.”

Cornelia swallowed, and just as she had expected, Vienna asked, “Are you Lady Midnight?”

Cornelia thought of lying or laughing it off, but the look in the other woman's eyes made it clear that she wouldn’t be fooling anyone.

“That’s why you ran from Viscount Torin, you knew what he would do to you if we were to discover the truth. After all, you did ruin his life?”

Why did everyone keep saying that? All she had done was protect the poor girl whom he had been hellbent on pursuing.

Cornelia didn’t bother lying, instead, she asked, “How much to keep your mouth shut?” As they say, money could move mountains. In this case, she just needed a mouth shut.

Vienna felt insulted. Did she look as though she lacked money?

“I don’t want your money.”

Cornelia was already prepared for that answer, that was what they all said before she started calling out numbers. “100,000 gold coins?” Cornelia smiled as Vienna’s eyes widened, they all gave in.

“You have that much?”

“Just name your price.” Cornelia stated dryly.

Vienna composed herself and said, “I don’t want your money, instead, I want something else.”

Cornelia was confused. What could she possibly want that was more valuable than 100,000 gold coins?

“I’ve read all your books,” Vienna started. “I love how the women you write about always fulfill their dreams despite the whole world being against them.” Cornelia was confused. Why was she saying that? “What I need you to do is to help me win in my story.”

That’s it? Cornelia thought, well, it was something she could do. “Sure, I can give you tips,” she started, but she was interrupted.

“No, I want you to live my life for me.”

Cornelia choked on her saliva. “I’m sorry, what?”

“We share the same face, you can just take my place and help me accomplish my dreams.”

“They are your dreams, shouldn’t you accomplish them yourself?”

“I believe you would be more successful in that regard.”

Cornelia had never felt more confused in her life. This lady that she didn’t know wanted her to replace her and fulfill her dreams. She seemed so convinced that Cornelia would succeed when Cornelia didn’t even know what her dreams were.

Cornelia refused immediately, but then Vienna’s eyes darkened. “If you don’t, then I will have no other choice but to hand you over to the Viscount.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I am merely stating your options. It is left for you to choose.”

The b***h was actually threatening her. Cornelia considered her options even though she already knew there was no way in hell she would let the Viscount get his hands on her.

Vienna already knew what Cornelia would choose but decided to make it easier for her. “It’s just for three days, and it will be over.”

“Fine,” Cornelia agreed, wondering how she had gotten herself into this situation. Then a thought occurred to her. She didn’t know the lady’s name, how was she to impersonate her for three days? “Who are you, anyway?” She asked.

Vienna smiled and stated calmly. “I’m Vienna Arlindor.”

Cornelia choked yet again. This time, she wasn’t certain she would survive it. The person she just agreed to impersonate for three days... was the princess of Crystalis.