Que dramatic music, as I stand face to face with the one and only, the tyrant, Prince Chaker.

He doesn’t look much like a tyrant as I look at a smaller slightly different version of Prince Horus.

Hmmm, how was it again? I’m the fiancé of Prince Horus, but Prince Horus isn’t the crown prince, which mean the brothers are of the same status, and I’m below that, since I’m ‘just’ a fiancé, sooooo.

“I greet my Prince, sunshine of the empire” I say accompanied with a curtsy. The formal greeting of royalty.

“I greet Prince Chaker, sunshine of the empire” Sir Winston says from beside me, with a small bow. It is now also confirmed that it is indeed Prince Chaker. Suddenly I feel nervous.

“Greetings Sir Windsor, Greetings Lady… Amy Wells I presume?” he says, asking me.

“As my Prince correctly guessed, I am Lady Amy Wells, daughter of Duke Wells, fiancé of Prince Horus” I say. Urgh. Being this polite will never suit me. Whoever thought that you had to state everything about who you are as if that is ALL you are should suffer the death sentence.

Hmm, it’s kinda interesting, though. The way he hesitated. When I met Prince Horus for the first time, he was sure of who I was, and acted like it was a natural part of being the prince. But here is a prince that didn’t know for sure. Even though I am to be his sister-in-law. The difference between the two just became even more apparent.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Amy, I have been hearing a lot about you from both Sir Windsor and my brother.”

“Only great things, I hope, My Prince” I say with a slight smile. Oh how charming I am.

“Certainly. As we are to be family soon, you are welcome to talk a bit more relaxed to me, Lady Amy. It feels weird to have my soon-to-be sister-in-law refer to me in such an uptight manner.”

Hmmm, maybe they aren’t that different anyway. Prince Horus told me almost the same thing earlier.

“I will keep that in mind, Prince Chaker”

“Yes, please do. Now, what were the two of you laughing about when I met you? It seemed like you were telling an awfully funny story.” He says, with a smile that sends a chill down my spine.

Ah, there it was. The tyrant. He is looking for leverage. Sir Windsor is here, so it wouldn’t look good if I started lying…

“I do not think it will be of much interest to you, Prince Chaker. I was just telling Sir Windsor how I accidentally took a small mental break in the middle of Lady Sandoval’s lessons, and got caught.” This should be enough. It’s not like I think he could use my horse poo story for anything, but better safe than sorry. I still don’t know how he got Prince Horus imprisoned. However, now I’ve met him, I’m pretty sure it was him.

Prince Horus might be super obvious, but I can’t see how he would be obvious enough for his own father to imprison him, unless someone came with concrete proof. And who else would be able to get that proof, other than his brother?

“I see, that is indeed something to be wary of. I have been taking lessons from Lady Sandoval, myself, and I too have felt her wrath when not listening. Please be careful and pay attention, Lady Amy.” His words are kind, but the way he says them rubs me the wrong way. I don’t know if this is because I know how he is from the novel, or simply my intuition.

But he is dangerous…

“Lady Amy, did you not have another lesson you had to get to soon?” Sir Windsor breaks the tension that was building up between Prince Chaker and I.

“Oh, yes! Thank you for reminding me, Sir Windsor. Thank you for the advice, Prince Chaker. Until next time.” I curtsy and start walking again.

“Until next time… Amy”

I only faintly hear it as we walk by him. He dropped the ‘Lady’… Somehow, that scares me. It’s like he is openly declaring war against me.

What did I do to him?

With pressure and anxiety forming in my chest, I finish the day. Sir Windsor asked me if I was okay before leaving me, so I must have looked kinda funny, I guess.

Sigh, this is all so tiring and overwhelming. Funnily enough, I almost miss the awkward lunches at the Wells’ house.

Lying on my big, still unfamiliar, bed, I try to relax. So much keeps happening, it’s like I can’t wrap my head around it. My knowledge from the novel isn’t much help either. Oh Author, why couldn’t you have put more details in about the Mercia empire. Yes, Mercia. Not even the name was in the novel. I only learned it by chance from some of my new maids, that told me that when I was married to Prince Horus Mercia, I too, would be given the name of our great empire, Mercia.

What was the name of the main empire from the novel? Something with V I think…

*Knock knock*

A knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts.

“Yes? Please enter” I say as I straighten up and make myself presentable for visitors.

In comes, of all people, Prince Horus. I mean, we ARE betrothed, but ever since coming here, I almost never see him. As a prince he apparently has a lot of things to do and is busy all the time.

“Good evening, Lady Amy, I am sorry to interrupt you this late, but if I do not come see you once in a while, I am afraid I will forget my dear fiancé’s face, and as such, here I am.”

…HAHAHAHA, what a straight up lie. I notice some maids, a butler and a knight standing by outside the door, being able to hear everything. Now it makes sense. Hehe, it’s time to have some fun.

“Oh, my dear Horus! How I have missed you! Your eyes looking at me ever so sweetly! Your lips saying my name. Have I not told you to just call me Amy when we are just the two of us? It hurts my heart ever so greatly when you put distance between us!” Being extra dramatic is fuuuuuun.

Prince Horus doesn’t seem to think so, though. He hurriedly closes the door and walks my way.

“There is no need to overdo it, Lady Amy…” He says, sighing so deeply that I think his lungs must be all shrunken for a moment.

“I have come here today because I heard you have met my brother. Sir Windsor told me. He also gave me a basic rundown of the conversation. He also told me something about a certain someone that does not seem to take her lessons seriously, and as such told Lady Sandoval she likes to partake in mowing out stalls” His tone is sharp and rude, but I can spot a bit of worry inthere. Also, SIR WINDSOR YOU TATTLETALE

“You are now my fiancé, and as such, I expect you to behave the part. Everything you do will impact me, good as well as bad. I can not allow you to openly like something that is the job of servants.”

“YES YES I KNOW WE HAVE SERVANTS FOR THAT, SORRY I WAS TOO BUSY MAKING UP LIES” I yell, snapping after a hard day and a hard life and a hard everything.

Prince Horus looks at me horrified but gathers himself quickly.

“Manners, Lady Amy, M-A-N-N-E-R-S” he spells each letter emphasizing that he is not amused by my sudden outburst.

Oops…