Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

"It is my pleasure to be in your presence now, King Emmet."

Upon seeing the king standing in front of me, I immediately bowed my head and said my formal speech, just like what we practiced for the last few days.

"I'm glad that the rumors about your disappearance are only false." The king plastered a smile on his face as he guides me inside this huge, spacious room that Lucas called 'Cultural Hall' earlier.

As I completely entered the said hall, I noticed everyone stopped from what they were doing and took their time to scrutinize me from head to toe. Me, on the other hand, can't help but be anxious over my surroundings.

I swiftly sneak a glance right behind me and made me feel relieved to see Alex, Lucas, and Lancelot still with me. Somehow, with their existence, I will have the confidence that I could pull this one off by the end of the day.

When we arrived near a grand table that stood out among the rest of the tables placed here since it was covered in a red cloth while others are covered with white, we then halted and the king motioned to us that we should all take our seats.

I tried to look around and wondered why is his daughter not here. Maybe, she's late I guess? It's kinda relieving to know that she's not here to annoy me.

"Apologies, by the way, your highness, if I may have distressed both you and your daughter of my sudden disappearance. I was gone on a long quest these past few days." I said once we all take our seats.

Before going here, Lancelot also mentioned to me that he had already relayed to the king that I was out on a quest from a faraway country of Metropolis to make alliances, in case that he would be asking where I went this whole time.

"Ahh, yes I've known that. One of your confidants has mentioned that to me before." Then I saw him pausing from slicing his steak and turned to look at me.

"Say... what kind of quest did you make in that place?"

I tried as much as possible to fight off the feeling of wanting to swallow this invisible lump that seems to block my throat. The king is looking intently at me and I can't help but be anxious with his stare.

Wahhhh! Someone, save me!

"MY PRINCE!"

Our eyes immediately went to the girl who said that out loud. My eyes sparkled upon seeing Princess Marionette walking straight to us in his lovely lavender lace dress with its ruffled hem almost touching the floor.

Boy, I've never been so grateful for her presence before!

"My princess." I smiled back at the girl who's currently grinning from ear to ear as her face lit up to see me.

"Marionette! You're a bit late." his father said, which Marionette only pouted.

"I woke up past 9 am already," she replied. Marionette headed for the seat next to me and immediately sat down.

While they were talking, I turned to look at the three lads, who only gave me a thumbs-up as their reply. Wahhh, I think I will pass out any time soon.

***

-THIRD PERSON-

All of the remaining hours were spent eating quietly to each of their seats. Krisella, feeling really anxious deep down inside, still tried her best to apply all the things she learned to their never-ending table manners session back in their castle.

On the other hand, Lucas, Lancelot, and Alex can't help but feel worried about their replica's awkward actions. She seemed a bit off right now, it's quite obvious as they observed her every movement.

The princess, who has no idea what's going on around her surroundings, is happily sitting in her seat with the prince beside him. While she was talking about the good things that happened to her for the past weekend, Krisella became obliged to listen to her stories and tried her best to be as enthusiastic as the princess just to match her pace.

Meanwhile, without them knowing, the king never left his gaze on the prince who's with them right now. He decided to keep a keen observation around him while continued to eat.

Soon enough, to break this awkward silence between them on their shared table, the king decided to speak up once again.

"Say, Prince Arthur..." he said, making his daughter stopped talking and looked at him. "...I think it's about time that you'll be going to face the public."

Krisella, Lance, Lucas, and Lancelot were mentally frozen from their seats upon hearing the king's words. Suddenly, there was this unspeakable tension formed between them.

"Oh dear lord," Lancelot muttered to himself.

"Like right now, father?" The princess' face was distorted for a moment while looking at her father. "My prince and I are still talking."

"Aww, wouldn't my darling gave me the chance to be with his prince for the meantime?" his father said playfully, treating his daughter like a kid.

The princess pretended to think about it before giving her decision.

Krisella was hoping at the back of her head that somehow the prince's fiancee would save her from the hassle of showing herself to the public.

"Well, since it is your birthday now father, fine! I will let you steal my prince from me." Finally, the princess gave her decision which made Krisella mentally smacked her face.

Each of the lads that are with Krisella right now gave her a secretly worried glance which made the girl heaved out a sigh of frustration on her head. Even so, she still tried her best to pretend that she's okay and plastered a smile on his face.

"Well, thinking about it your majesty..." Krisella uttered under the prince's voice. "You're right. I think it's time to let the public know of my appearance once again. In that way, they'll feel at ease to know that I'm already here."

Krisella's words made Alex, Lance, and Lucas secretly looked at her with their baffled expressions. She sure is brave, I must say... is what they all are thinking at the same time.

"I'm glad you agreed Prince Arthur." said the king happily. "I will have the terrace open once and for all. The public is already awaiting your appearance outside of this castle."

Once we were finished eating the meal served to us, the king indeed had his servant opened their grand terrace. As the doors to the terrace were unlatched, the king swiftly set one foot inside until he was able to reach the end of it and started giving his speech.

Krisella was just outside the terrace and was waiting for her cue to enter the terrace with the king as well, while the three lads didn't move on their table since they weren't called to join the king and the prince.

Their eyes all focused on this poor girl and silently prayed that she would somehow have the wits to overcome the king's surprise movement.