I was lucky that Duke Leeland had quickly come to my aid after the incident. It was reassuring to have someone on my side no matter what, who truly believed that what happened was an accident, though part of me felt guilty. He would be the same whether I did it on purpose or not. Thankfully, he noticed I was shaken up and after a quick word to the King we swiftly left to our carriage to stay at the wing of the palace that had been provided for us.

"Father, I swear, it was an accident..." I said, my breath shaky.

"I know, my daughter, I believe you. Now, get some rest before tomorrow. I've a meeting with the king, but you are free to rest as much as you need."

Julian seemed indifferent to the whole ordeal, like it was something he expected to happen. Yet, even he noticed my demeanor—I was utterly defeated, nauseous and shaking, trying to calm my nerves as the servants led me to my quarters.

—----------

Despite my father's insistence that I stay home and rest, I knew I had to face society. Their image of Rosaria wasn't going to change unless I was proactive, so I had to show that I wasn't the evil person they all thought I was. I couldn't hide forever.

As the carriage jostled over the cobblestone streets of the capital city, I couldn't help but recall Roland's face the night before. How hurt he looked at me, and how tenderly he looked at Katia as he led her out of the ballroom. I needed to convince him that it really was an accident, that I loved Katia as much as he did, and that I had no intentions of becoming a villainess. I know how scary it is to be his enemy, I thought with a shudder. I won't make the same mistakes as the original Rosaria.

I hardly spoke a word as we rode along, and Duke Leeland hummed quietly. He didn't seem the mind the silence, and looked over at me with a reassuring smile. The carriage slowed as we arrived at the grand entrance of the palace's inner court. Footmen pulled open the doors, and I straightened my back, inhaling deeply before stepping out.

We were led into the inner court, and through the palace halls until we reached the throne room. The carpet muffled my hesitant footsteps as I followed Duke Leeland. Gilded frames lined the walls, the painted faces of long-dead kings watching us with solemn gazes.

"You know, the Palace never ceases to amaze me," He said to our escort, "As much as I try to compete, you still have simply the finest decor in the kingdom."

The servant smiled awkwardly, not used to being directly addressed by a noble, but he relaxed as we continued to walk and they carried out a jovial conversation. As they talked, my mind swirled through my next plan of action. I hadn't been raised in nobility, and I certainly had never had an audience with the King. I'll just copy what the Duke does, I thought, but that didn't give me any reassurance.

As the doors opened to the throne room and our names were announced, my thought was proven right as the Duke entered with all the ease of entering his favorite tavern. I stiffly followed beside him, trying to manifest Rosaria's skills. The room was grand, with marble floors and pillars, a tall ceiling, and a velvet carpet leading us to the throne where Roland sat next to the King.

Will Roland be mad at me? I wondered. I caught his eye, but of course, his expression was unreadable. He regarded me just as he would if I was some vassal coming to inquire about extra funds. Our brief conversation during the dance had turned the tides in my favor, but after spilling the wine on Katia I was back to square one. I needed to convince him that I was no conniving snake.

As we approached them, I curtsied, lowering my head. Duke Leeland still held his casual demeanor and I braced myself, looking up at the King as I waited for him to tell me to rise. He waved his hand and I rose from my curtsy, and then, surprisingly, rose from his throne with a grin to shake the Duke's hand.

"Ah, Duke Leeland! It's been far too long," the King greeted, clasping my father's hand with a firm shake.

"Not that long, old fool! You just like pretending you're busier than you are," He laughed. My heart dropped, Did he really just call the King 'old fool'?

Nevertheless, the King never missed a beat. He clapped the Duke on the shoulder. "Ah, so you noticed? I see you haven't changed," he grinned, "You know how it is. If I spend too much time with you the vassals would have accused me of playing favorites—and we both know how dramatic they can be. But I doubt that will be a concern now." He glanced at me, and I shifted under his gaze.

"Well, now that you mention it, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me entirely!" The Duke laughed, the light from the window sparkling the mirth in his blue eyes. "There was a time when we didn't have to worry about court politics—just the thrill of the chase and the wind at our backs, wonderful times, weren't they? But I suppose those days are long behind us." The Duke and the King have been friends since childhood, I recalled, But I had no idea they were this close. No wonder he picked Rosaria as the Crown Princess.

The King chuckled, shaking his head with a look of nostalgia in his eyes. "Indeed they are, old friend. Indeed they are." There was a pause as they both recalled their nostalgia, and then he looked over at me. "And this must be your lovely daughter, Rosaria!"

The Duke nodded. "That she is! The brightest star in my sky, the apple of my eye! Not to mention, twice as charming as me—which is saying something."

I tried not to let my face flush at his words. His affection was never something he kept hidden, and while it was comforting, it was also mortifying to have him sing my praises in front of the King and the Prince. I felt undeserving of it, especially since I wasn't the real Rosaria.

Prince Roland, whose face I couldn't read until now, gave a polite nod and rose from his position to greet us. He gave a nod to my father, Duke Leeland. "Lady Rosaria, it is a pleasure to formally meet you." In a true princely fashion, he knelt and took my hand, kissing it. If one didn't know any better, they wouldn't be able to see the storms behind his eyes as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions towards me. I could only imagine—Was I the woman from the rumors, putting on a face, or should he just let rumors be rumors?

"The pleasure is mine, your Highness," I said simply.

The King grinned. "Now, we have much to discuss.Your daughter's appointment as Crown Princess is an important matter, and I trust you understand what this entails, Duke Leeland."

My father waved a hand dismissively. "Of course, of course! I may be a fool, but I'm not that much of a fool, old friend."

We took a seat on the sofa near the grand windows. This truly is a marvelous throne room. From the velvety sofas with intricate patterns to the mahogany table and crystal glasses, everything was ornate and expensive. The King waved his hand at a servant, who quickly brought us tea. Too afraid of spilling my cup, I refrained from drinking as I regarded the King and Roland quietly.

After a few more words of jovial banter with the Duke, the King shifted his gaze to me. "Rosaria, I hope you understand that your appointment as Crown Princess was not a decision made lightly. The nobles will expect you to act with grace and wisdom, and the people will look to you as their future Queen."

My muscles seized. The rumors about me were based on the original Rosaria, but I wasn't her. I had to prove both him and Roland wrong about me. "I will do my utmost to meet those expectations, Your Majesty," I said, keeping my voice steady.

My father, ever the doting parent, let out a dramatic sigh. My Rosaria is far more capable than I ever was at her age. You'll see." He thumped a hand against his chest. "She was raised by me, after all."

The King, amused but not distracted, leaned back in his chair. "Then let us speak plainly, Rosaria. There are those who will not be pleased with your appointment. Some expected another to take your place. You must be prepared for resistance." His expression darkened slightly.

I swallowed. I already knew that. I felt it last night when whispers followed me across the ballroom, when Celine's icy stare burned into me after I was chosen for the first dance, and their scrutinous stares after the wineglass incident when Roland led Katia away as if protecting her from me. He continued, "As Crown Princess, your first duty is to the people of this Kingdom. You will need to learn our court, our politics, and how to navigate them with skill."

"I understand, Your Majesty," I said.

The King leaned forward, folding his hands together. "If you truly understand, then you must also realize that your behavior from this point forward will reflect not just on yourself, but on the royal family."

"Of course," I replied instead, forcing my voice to remain calm. He's talking about last night.

I grit my teeth. It seemed the rumors of Rosaria had reached even the King. I wanted to protest, to tell him that I knew that. That I had no intention of being a burden, or a villainess, or whatever else they thought of me. But I could not let my emotions get the best of me. He was the King, after all.

The King nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Then we are in agreement. There is much to do in the coming weeks, but for now, let us focus on making your transition as smooth as possible."

Roland finally spoke, his voice curt but cool and even. "Words are easy, Lady Rosaria. Actions are what matter." His amber eyes seemed to bore into me, and I met his gaze, trying to read him. His words cut sharp, but they were true. I wondered how the original Rosaria would have reacted. She probably would have made some flippant remark and brushed him off.

I nodded, flashing a polite smile. "I understand the weight of this responsibility, Your Majesty, and I will not take it lightly. I want nothing more than the best for the people of this Kingdom. Whatever misconceptions exist about me, I am determined to prove them wrong through my actions." I said this with the best intentions, under the mask that I actually had no intention whatsoever of becoming the Crown Princess. I'll leave that up to Katia—there's nobody better than her.

The King scrutinized me for a moment. Then, seemingly satisfied, he leaned back and clasped his hands. "Wonderful. Rosaria, have you had the chance to see much of the palace?"

"Not yet, Your Majesty," I admitted.

"Then it would be fitting for Roland to show you around while the Duke and I discuss things further," he said with an easy smile. "No one knows these halls better."

I flicked a glance at Roland, whose expression barely changed. His jaw tightened slightly, and there was the briefest hesitation before he inclined his head. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Oh no. He definitely hates me. I'd been right to fear the worst. As I took Roland's arm and followed him out of the throne room, I couldn't help but glance back at the Duke and the King, as they shared a conversation like old friends and not two of the most powerful people in the Kingdom. Then, my gaze shifted to Roland, who was as stoic and as hard to read as ever. But I knew him—probably more than anyone in this castle. After all, I had read about him.

But that doesn't mean anything, I thought, as I let the man with brown hair and broad shoulders—bearing the weight of the entire kingdom—lead me into the hallway. It's true I may have known about him, but I was quickly discovering that things here weren't exactly as they were in the book. Every word counts.