Devil's Imposter Bride

'"You cannot marry the prince yet," said the king.

I was stunned. The words I heard were unbelievable. A wave of disappointment washed over me, and confusion clouded my mind.

Had I erred in some way? Did they not approve of me? Had I failed to leave a favorable impression? Yet, I recalled Princess Amelia mentioning that this marriage transcended personal affection. It was not a matter of whether the king or the queen approved of me or whether the prince liked me. It was a matter of a peace treaty between the two kingdoms. 

So, what prompted the king's declaration?

A chilling realization dawned on me, halting my heartbeat. Could it be that they had uncovered the truth? Had I been exposed? Had they learned that I was an imposter, assuming her royal identity?

"Your Majesty," I stuttered, trying to keep my composure, but my heart was full of fear. "Have I done something wrong? I will do anything to rectify it."

I must have looked quite crestfallen because when I had finished speaking, the queen chuckled slowly. "Do not be afraid, my dear. The prince, my dear child, wants to get to know you better before making such an important decision. I assure you, it is nothing to worry about."

"During your stay here, the prince will determine if you are suitable to be his bride, and then he will make his final decision. Therefore, ensure you gain the prince's favor, my dear," she added with a gentle smile. 

Upon hearing this, a wave of relief instantly washed over me. Thankfully, I remained undiscovered. Furthermore, the prince appeared to be a decent man. Coming here, I feared that I would be directly forced to marry the prince; however, this was not the case. 

Instead, I was getting the opportunity to get to know him. More importantly, this aligned with my mission. Last night, that mysterious man had instructed me to become close to the prince, and this could greatly aid me.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said, bowing humbly.

Just then, an announcement was made that the prince had arrived. My body tensed immediately at the thought that he was the man I was destined to marry. And then, the moment arrived.

The doors swung open, and my heart skipped a beat as the prince entered. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, his short black hair complementing his strikingly beautiful black eyes—the most exquisite I had ever seen. Not that I had seen many, but his were like gorgeous black gems.

He carried himself with an air of confidence and authority, as if he commanded the entire kingdom and everything was at his disposal. His presence was slightly intimidating, yet I couldn't help but be captivated by his handsome features.

"This is my beloved son, the eldest Prince of Arathorn, Prince Killian," the queen introduced.

However, I scarcely heard her words. My attention failed to remain on her because the more I observed the prince, the more he seemed familiar to me. Was this not the same man who had rescued me three days prior in the forest? That devil...

Prince Killian bore a striking resemblance to that devil I had seen. Furthermore, these were the same pair of eyes I had seen the previous night. He was the one who grabbed me and prevented me from falling down the cliff and then disappeared mysteriously. 

Or was I thinking too much? Was it him who saved me? And, what was the connection between him and that devil?

My thoughts were interrupted as Prince Killian made his way toward me. He took my hand and gently kissed it before greeting me. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but blush.

"Princess Amelia, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice smooth and enchanting.

I curtsied in return and greeted him back with a smile.

The king then stepped forward and addressed his son. "Prince Killian, I entrust you with the task of taking care of Princess Amelia during her stay at our kingdom. It is important that she feels comfortable and at home here."

The prince nodded in understanding, his eyes never leaving mine. I didn't know why, but I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my stomach at the thought of spending time alone with him, getting to know each other better. There was something about him that made me curious, intrigued, and nervous. 

The queen then stepped forward and added, "Prince Killian, I also ask that you show Princess Amelia around the palace. We want her to feel familiar with her future home."

Once again, the prince nodded with a charming smile. "It would be my pleasure, Mother." 

As the formalities came to an end, the king and queen bid us farewell and left the royal chamber, leaving me alone with Prince Killian. Standing next to him, I felt an overwhelming sense of nervousness and could sense his eyes scrutinizing me. I wanted to make eye contact, but I couldn't gather the courage to do so.

My heart was pounding so hard that I was sure he could hear it. I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths, but my anxiety was too strong.

Just then, Prince Killian turned towards me, and I could feel his gaze lock into mine. For a moment, we stood there in silence, and I could feel the tension building up between us. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft and gentle, "Shall we?"

His eyes were warm and inviting, and I felt a sense of comfort and safety in his presence. In response, I found myself nodding slowly, and we left the royal chamber together.

As I walked beside Prince Killian, nerves fluttered within me while he guided me through the gardens. Unaware of a small stone obstructing the path, my foot snagged on it, nearly sending me tumbling forward. In the nick of time, strong arms encircled my waist, anchoring me back to safety.

A soft gasp escaped me, my heart pounding even more rapidly as I raised my eyes to meet Prince Killian's intense black gaze.

"Careful there, Princess," he cautioned with a grin, his tone causing a tremor along my spine. "We wouldn't want you to get hurt."