Ani.
Thin streams of blanched sunlight cobwebbed through Ani's vision as she sat up.
The clouds outside her window almost looked like they were mocking her. They probably were, too be honest.
I must be going mad!
She shook her head, dispelling the gloom that was beginning to settle over her head like the storm clouds outside her window.
Roaming away from the window, she sat in a chair that never seemed to become worse for wear, no matter how many years it had been occupied by a less than compliant child.
Falada would be lonely, she thought to herself, not wanting to admit that she would be lonely.
And Ani closed her eyes, dreaming of wind whipping around her like a typhoon, sending her golden hair into the air like ribbons. She could almost hear it now, the wind roaring in her ears, almost there.
She snapped her eyes open.
She was sure that she had felt wind. Looking about, she knew that the window was shut tightly. There was no other means of wind coming into her room.
And she laughed at her antics nervously.
I must be going mad!
The girl wondered where Selia was. Probably flirting with one of the visiting lords.
She noticed Selia's smooth speech, the way she glided through a conversation as if skimming across ice. Ani supposed that she was supposed to be envious of the other girl.
She wasn't. But that didn't seem to matter.
She had to straighten herself out, become more like a princess. There was word flying through the castle that she was not fit for her crown.
I must be going mad!
She didn't know.
She couldn't know, that at the time it was not she that was mad.
But rather the girl that stood beside her.
She must be going mad.
Selia
She knew that no one would catch her barely there sneer that she threw at Anidori's back. No one ever caught her.
She kept a straight face most of the time. It was unladylike to go about making such unpleasant facial expressions. Anidori needed to learn that.
Selia wondered why it was her of all people that had the crown. She had the crown in the palm of her hand and she didn't even care.
That's what put the venomous poison that snuck through her words and into the ears of the kingdom that should have been hers.
"Selia?"
Daft girl.
"Yes, Crown Princess?"
Unworthy girl.
"Would you assist me in my Conversation lessons?"
Stupid girl.
"Of course, Crown Princess."
Insolent girl.
Selia's mind threaded through her plan. The plan that had taken so much work. The plan that would succeed. The crown would be hers. The prince would be hers. And the girl that no one could remember existing would be gone. She would take her place. She deserved it. Not Anidori. Never Anidori.
She knew the name would be hers soon. And she smiled at the thought. It suited her so much better.
The other girl interrupted Selia's thoughts with a brilliant smile.
"Thank you, Selia!"
Oblivious girl.
Selia's smile widened.
"Why you're welcome, Crown Princess."
Nonexistent girl.
_
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