Disclaimer: I don't own Ella Enchanted or it's characters.
A/N: I want to thank bookreader for reviewing! I hope this one is more exciting than the last one. Enjoy!
Chapter 3:
About two weeks after my (and Fausta's) seventeenth birthday, the princess and I were called to the Ella and Char's quarters.
I already knew that I would be getting another assignment. That was the only reason for risking calling us into the same room when we weren't being forced to get along in disguise.
As soon as I saw grim looks that filled the room, I knew that this assignment would be more than just a dinner party.
Char spook first. "As you both know," he began, "Relations between Allassia and Kyrria have been very...tense."
I nodded, but Fausta seemed to be to concerned with her perfect nails to be listening. Everyone knew about the bad relationships with Allassia. Everyone talked about it. There were even rumors of the Allassian ruler, King Jonathan, declaring war on Kyrria. All because of some business thing that I didn't understand.
"In order to settle this matter, we, the Allassians and myself, have come to an agreement that will hopefully make things smoother between us," he continued. He looked at Fausta. "My daughter, I am sorry to tell you that you will have to marry the Allassian Prince Conner."
Fausta twisted her face in disgust. "Me? Marry a dirty Allassian? What were you thinking!"
I almost felt bad for her. I wouldn't like being forced to marry either. However, I would have been more concerned about not knowing him, instead of if he was a 'dirty Allassian.'
Char then turned to me. "Necia," he said, "This will be your most important assignment. With tension between the two country, things will be especially dangerous. One mistake could be fatal. Do not reveal your identity until you are sure that everything is safe. You will need to act mannerly toward the prince, in order to keep the Alassians from getting suspicious. Do you understand?"
I nodded, although I knew that I wasn't going to enjoy this. I hated acting 'mannerly' toward boys. Whenever there was a ball, I had to act this way, or in other words, I had to be flirtatious and obnoxious. Where Fausta was rude to nearly everyone, when an attractive guy with a good name ever crossed her path, she was all over them.
Char dismissed me, and told me that we would leave in two days. Fausta remained in the room to argue about the marriage arrangements. If only she would realize the good she was doing the country through this. If she accepted her fate, then she would be, as much as I hate to admit it, a hero.
As I walked through the hall, I found my footsteps leading me toward the room of my old Acting Mistress. I needed to talk with someone about my assignment. Ella was busy, and my mother had seen me on my Birthday (we had once-a-month visits, so we still had two, if not more due to the assignment, weeks left), making Kell, as I called the Acting Mistress, my only choice next.
I knocked on the thick wooden door. It immediately swung open to reveal a slim woman that was in her mid-forties. The only thing that gave her age away, however, was the silver streaks that mixed with her brown hair.
"Necia! How are you?" Kell said kindly.
"A bit nervous, Kell. I just got assigned to a tough mission."
"Oh! Come in so you can tell me all about it," she replied with a smile. I quickly filled her in.
Kell looked thoughtful for a moment. "It will certainly be a challenge," she said at last. "However, I think that you could take advantage of the situation."
I replied with a confused look.
"Think about it. In Allassians don't know anything about Fausta. There, she doesn't have a reputation for being rude."
A light went on in my head. "Oh! This will be a piece of cake!"
"Exactly," Kell replied smiling. "You would have to worry about acting like Fausta. Just be yourself, only more of what people would consider 'proper.'"
I grinned, and reached over to give Kell a hug. Things were beginning to brighten up.
A/N:I hope you enjoyed it! I can't wait to get to the good stuff, I'm trying to be patient though. Please review truthfully!
