Page 12 of Stolen Magic

I forced this uncomfortable thought aside and focused on my next mission: tracking down these letters so I could get a better feel for their relationship. My role as the princess’s handmaiden provided very few chances to be alone, but I finally found an opportunity one evening towards the end of my first week in service.

I waited until the soft echo of her footsteps faded, signaling her departure to the evening’s extended dinner with the ambassador. Slipping quietly into her chambers, I approached the ornate wooden desk, bathed in the soft moonlight filtering through the nearby window.

The desk was meticulously organized, allowing me to quickly locate the personal correspondence between Princess Gwendolyn and her fiancé, Crown Prince Callan of Eldoria. Asher future impersonator, it was crucial I understand every facet of their relationship.

I flipped through the neatly stacked papers until I found a bundle tied with a silk ribbon, the seal of Eldoria pressed into the wax that held them together. A shudder of anticipation rippled through me as I carefully untied the ribbon and unfolded the topmost letter.

What first caught my attention were the bold and confident strokes of the prince’s elegant handwriting, a visual testament to his character. I scanned the lines, looking for any useful glimpse into the prince’s mind. The beginning passage immediately caught my eye, showcasing a snippet of his supposedly honor-bound nature:

Dearest Gwendolyn, as we stand on the precipice of uniting our realms, I pledge to uphold not only the duties that come with our union, but to honor and cherish the trust you place in me. Let our forthcoming marriage be a testament to not only our kingdoms’ unity, but to our personal commitment to foster respect and understanding between us.

I scoffed at the polished words, like lines from a well-practiced play meant to convince an audience of his noble intentions, too perfect and rehearsed to be real. I hardened my resolve and read on, seeking more:

I eagerly anticipate the day we shall meet not as strangers but as allies and friends. I am dedicated to making our alliance one of strength and mutual respect, where you shall find a partner committed to your well-being and happiness.

Partnership and happiness—idealistic concepts that were often traded in royal marriages like currency in exchange for political gain. His Highness expressing such sentiments that contradicted reality confirmed this was all a façade, a diplomatic veneer to smooth over the reality of a union formed out of necessity rather than affection.

I continued reading, but each letter was the same—portraying Prince Callan as an honorable and considerate man, emphasizing his role as protector and unifier…yet though his words had undoubtedly reassured the princess, to my cynical eyes hardened by betrayal and loss, they read like strategic moves in a grander game of chess—he played the part of the devoted future husband a bittooperfectly.

When I finished reading, I gathered the letters and replaced them exactly as I had found them, leaving no trace of my intrusion. I thought that would be the end of snooping through Princess Gwendolyn’s correspondence, but fate seemed to be on my side, for I received another opportunity only a few days after investigating the princess’s letters.

Prince Callan’s response to their latest exchange arrived on a brisk morning when Princess Gwendolyn was still in her bath, affording me a rare moment alone. I automatically placed it on her desk for when she would have time to read it…when a sudden idea made me pause.

My fingers toyed with the edges as I stared at the letter, tempting me to open it. I hesitated only a moment before succumbing; Princess Gwendolyn would never know her fiancé had written her, the anxiety caused by the extended absence of his correspondence irrelevant with my determination for her marriage to the prince to never transpire.

The sight of Eldoria’s familiar emblem—a soaring eagle clutching arrows in its talons—sent a wave of revulsion through me as unbidden I recalled the image fluttering on a golden flag above my burning home. I steeled myself as I carefully broke the seal—taking a small measure of satisfaction in destroying the waxen eagle—and unfolded the parchment. Prince Callan’s handwriting moved neatly across the page, each line penned with a care that suggested the consideration he’d exerted for each weighted word.

My Dearest Gwendolyn,the letter began.As the day of our union draws nearer, my thoughts are ever more with you. I find myself counting the hours until I may finally call you my wife and partner in all things. Our kingdoms will soon be joined, and my hope is that our hearts will follow. I wish to know more of your desires for our future, for it is my deepest wish to see them fulfilled.

I rolled my eyes. His diplomatic words were perfectly strung together to convey warmth and partnership, yet to me they were nothing but another move in this elaborate round of chess—him positioning his pieces in preparation for a game that he believed only he knew was being played.

I glanced towards the closed door leading to the room where Princess Gwendolyn bathed; I likely had a quarter of an hour, perhaps a little while longer if I was lucky, just enough time.

With a cold smile, I picked up my quill to craft a response in the princess’s stead; it felt heavy in my hand, each stroke laden with the dual purpose of deception and discovery. This was the perfect opportunity not only to impersonate Princess Gwendolyn, but to seek some of the truths that had long eluded me and subtly begin weaving my influence into the fabric of my and the prince’s upcoming interaction.

It was time to lay the groundwork by manipulating my future union for my revenge.

My Beloved Callan. I winced at the necessity of adopting such a sappy, flowery script, extra blasphemous when used to address my enemy.

Your words bring warmth to my days. I too eagerly await our forthcoming marriage. With each day that brings us closer to our union, I find myself reflecting on the legacy we will inherit and the one we will build together, as well as reflecting on the vast responsibilities we will share.

I paused, considering how best to introduce the topics that burned at the core of my quest without arousing suspicion. This was an opportunity to not only subtly assert an advantageous dynamic, but to hopefully obtain context to the political situation that I’d been unable to find midst my secret midnight perusals of the castle library.

Choosing my words with care, I continued:

I have always believed that a true union is built on transparency and understanding. It is my fervent hope that we will strengthen the bonds not only between ourselves but between our kingdoms. I would be most grateful for your counsel in navigating the intricacies of your homeland, particularly in matters of state and diplomacy. I wish to understand every facet of our shared future—including the more difficult truths our realms may face, particularly the lingering tensions and silent wounds tied to the magic that once flowed through our lands.

I couldn’t help but be grateful for the princess’s innocence that lent credibility to the words I wrote in her stead. She undoubtedly wanted a union of peace just as desperately as she desired this marriage to be one of love…though I, draped in her identity, had different plans.

With each word, I felt a twinge of guilt for using Gwendolyn’s identity to probe into matters so personal to my vendetta. Yet the need to uncover the truth about Mother’s death and the theft of our power urged me forward.

I would be most grateful if you could share how Eldoria has addressed such matters. Understanding your kingdom’s response to its historical challenges will help me stand beside you not just as your wife, but as a queen who supports your vision and helps guide our shared rule with wisdom.

My heart tells me that confronting these shadows from our past will bring healing and deepen the trust between us. Ilong to understand any wounds left by ancestral magic or past grievances—so that we may begin our future unburdened by the pain of what came before.

The moment felt significant as I sealed the letter with the royal emblem. This was no ordinary correspondence—it was a weapon cloaked in ink, a calculated move in a game that stretched far beyond the page. With each word sent to the treacherous prince, I wove a tighter web around the truths I sought, carving a path not just to the throne, but to vengeance, bringing me one step closer to avenging my mother and reclaiming what was rightfully ours.

The prince’s response arrived by courier within a week, and I was able to once more successfully intercept it before Princess Gwendolyn was made aware of its existence. My hands almost trembled with anticipation as I opened it in the privacy of my room, the weight of the revelations it potentially contained pressing upon me as I unfolded the parchment.

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