Flashbacks...
"What?!" I exclaimed dumbfoundedly. I couldn't believe what I heard from the princess. She just dropped a bomb on me as if she's announcing that she's pregnant or something.
In response, the princess just flashed a grin before tilting her head and looking for Dria. So, I unconsciously moved my head in Dria's direction, who's just staring blankly, as always.
Based on Dria's expression, it seems like she already knew about this, and if I combine Racia's reaction, then Dria might've thought of the plan that she mentioned.
"So, I just have to pretend that I'm clueless about everything?" I repeated her instructions.
"Hmm," Dria hummed.
"So... You won't care whatever I do?" I hesitated. And I guess Dria trusts me, that's why she just nodded.
Racia shrugged and suggested, "Well, I don't care how you'll take care of it, as long as it is believable."
I breathed and touched my ears. It's a habit when I'm thinking deeply and crafting a plan. While Racia, who's now sitting on her bed, crossed her leg and arms. And Dria, who remained motionless, and I'm even questioning how she managed to do that. She looks like a doll right now, with a matching emotionless yet beautiful face.
"After you act, I'll send someone to rescue you in that prison. We will take care of everything, so just focus on your part. I swear no harm will befall you," the princess reassured with a serious face.
Who is the person that's going to rescue me? Aside from the duke, does she have a person that she trusts?
Maybe. Because if she doesn't, then she won't risk this crazy plan.
But what's with that assurance?
Does she think that I am hesitating because I'm scared to bid her command?
Well... Honestly...
I am.
I am scared.
I am scared that it'll turn into a failure, and I'd be like, "Goodbye, world."
There are so many what-ifs in my mind right now.
What if they won't believe in my acting and kill me on the spot? I'm certain the princess won't be able to do anything with that.
But all I have to do is act better so that they won't suspect a thing.
What if the crown prince arrived and issued an execution right away? Then I'm forever dead! But I still want to see my big sister. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss her.
Hayyss...
I stared at the princess's eyes that were filled with expectation and then at Dria's eyebrows that were slightly raised.
There's no way I can say no since in this world, their standing is higher than mine. A princess and a commander, while I am nothing but a fake knight that isn't from this world.
"Alright. I'll do it." I sighed hopelessly.
The princess stood up abruptly and strode in my direction. I'm still right by the window, but I'm done cleaning it.
Then she held my hand and mumbled, "Thank you," and deep within me, I mumbled, "How can I say no to someone who's like my child?"
To be honest, I consider every character in my novel to be like my child. That is why I always hesitate to kill random characters in a novel. Especially now that I learned that a world is formed from a novel. So killing a character is like killing a person.
"So, you'll first head to the duke and ask for the vial of poison that I requested a few days ago," the princess started. "Note that you'll have to return at dawn. Then the knights will barge into your room just after you return," she continued her instructions. She's still in front of me, but she's no longer holding my hands.
"But... Nothing will happen to you, right?"
Earlier, she told me that she's going to pretend to die by drinking a certain potion. It's a potion that can temporarily stop someone's heartbeat.
"You know my position in this palace. It doesn't matter if I die and who the culprit is. All they're going to do is to blame someone for my death just to appease others. They won't care whether you were innocent or not. Since all they cared about were the benefits," she explained, and I couldn't help but feel pity for her and hatred for myself.
If only I had made her into a legitimate princess, then she would not have experienced discrimination since childhood.
"Then, what if someone stabbed you just to make sure that you were dead?" I inquired.
I thought of this when I remembered a certain movie where the villain shot an already dead body just to be certain.
"Nah, that won't happen. No one is foolish enough to act recklessly in front of the crowd. Also, I'm just a worthless royal, so they won't waste their reputation on me. But no matter what, I have to do this," she answered while wearing a strange expression on her face.
"Then how about when you were already in the casket? How are we going to fool them?"
Does she have a prepared double for this? Or a fake body to replace hers?
"Those snotty royals won't bother arranging a funeral for me. So they're going to toss my body to a maid and command them to bury my body." She spoke nonchalantly, and I couldn't help but feel hurt.
Even though it wasn't me, I was incredibly affected. I mean, how could she say those words when it concerns her? Does she really experience so much disrespect to the point that it's just natural for her?
"You know, you could dillydally after this. But right now? You have to practice internally about your monologue." Dria intervened, and my mind was immediately shifted to planning about my acting.
End of Flashbacks...
"To think you'd do that—it was so amazing." She laughed for a bit and became serious. "So, what's your secret? How did you act so brilliantly?" she walked near my bed and whispered, which made me smile sheepishly.
"Well, that's a secret..." I teased, but deep inside, I'm swearing that I'm not going to tell her that I manipulated my mind into believing that I'm unaware of the plan and I'm going to die if I can't act well.
Fortunately, my acting was believable, and those boastful knights were dumb enough not to notice anything.
But there's one thing that I confirmed. The princess is indeed right. The imperial family doesn't care about who the real culprit is. All they do is save their face and clear suspicions on them. But they're fully focused on investigating Princess Carina's death.
However, the most important thing is the princess has escaped from their grasps and is now free from pain and power struggles.
"You know, you shouldn't blast the door open like that, your highness," the duke stated with a stern voice. "You're acting like a thug again," he added with a sigh.
Ehh? That duke was still here? I thought he left, haha. But there he is, sitting on a chair in front of the bed that I'm resting in.
Though Racia just ignored him, she rolled her eyes. "Here comes again, this old man..." I heard her whisper, and I'm certain that the duke has heard them too.
"Aren't you much older than me? " he countered.
"Ugh! How rude! Did you know that it is rude to talk about women's age?" she said sassily.
"Well, you started first," the duke shrugged.
"Coz you deserve it," she retaliated, and it goes on and on. So all I could do was react with a blink, completely astonished by their behavior.
So this is how they're going to begin with their romance?
Meh. Right in front of a single, here?
The audacity.
To avoid being annoyed, I just pulled my blanket and lay on the bed.
After all, it's important to have enough rest, right?
"See? You should've just shut your mouth. Look at Zeana, she's now so annoyed at you." The princess retorted, and this time, the duke didn't retaliate. "Huh, did you suddenly turn docile?" I can feel her smugness based on her voice.
Then, I heard him sigh and stand up from his seat. "I'll leave first. You should take a rest," he whispered, and the next thing I heard was the door opening and closing.
An awkward silence befalls us before Racia chuckles, making me puzzled.
Though I chose to ignore that laughter of hers, all I could remember was that she left the room after a while.
After they left, a sigh escaped from my mouth.
Experiencing these things is very tiring. I'm incredibly exhausted, and that's probably the reason why I easily lose interest in conversing with them.
This also might be the reason why I was annoyed by their sudden interaction earlier. Nothing more, right?
Argh! Never mind. Let's think about this later. I want to rest even though I just woke up. My fatigue is lulling me to sleep.
Then, as I was about to drift into my dream, I heard a familiar voice that is filled with seriousness.
"Do you know what? Tomorrow's the time to know whether the clog in the destiny was removed or it'll be the ending of the world's destiny."