Yvonne's POV
Who did this little brat think he was?
I was the Queen Consort, for crying out loud! Didn't he realize that? Yeah, I was in my nightwear, but I didn't exactly blend in with the servants, did I? He wasn't blind. And judging by that stinky attitude of his, he definitely didn't live under a rock.
My gaze flicked over his clothes again, expensive fabrics, neat stitching. Definitely noble. For him to be in the Queen Mother's estate... he had to be related to her.
My brain connected the dots, and my eyes went wide.
Oh shit.
I clapped my hands together, bending one knee in a sloppy little curtsy, nothing too deep.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm so very sorry, Your Highness or Your Grace or whatever title fits you."
He blinked, caught off guard by my sudden switch-up.
I straightened up, narrowing my eyes.
"Wait a minute... you're related to the Queen Mother, aren't you?" My voice dropped as a worse thought crossed my mind. "Or worse... that asshole."
I muttered the last part in Spanish, but I made sure to say asshole loud and clear in English.
He pretended not to hear, lifting his chin.
"You ought to be sorry, you."
But I didn't catch the rest because I suddenly burst out laughing.
I couldn't help it. The whole situation was just too ridiculous, me, a whole Queen Consort, sneaking around in the dead of night, getting into a fight with a spoiled little brat who barely reached my chest.
I laughed so hard my ribs started to ache, bending over with my hands on my knees.
His face twisted into a scowl.
"I do not recall uttering anything of amusement. I command you to cease thy laughter."
That only made me laugh harder.
It was the little order for me. This kid really thought he was somebody.
I was about to hit him with a sarcastic clapback when I heard the distant shuffle of boots.
The guards.
Shit.
My laughter died in my throat.
"Fuck," I whispered under my breath.
"Halt..." the kid started again, but I didn't let him finish. Without thinking, I grabbed his hand and bolted.
I didn't know where I was going. I barely even knew this estate. I just ran, dragging the brat along with me.
To my surprise, he didn't fight me like I'd expected. Probably because if the guards caught him, he'd be in trouble too. And something told me this little prince or duke or whatever hated getting scolded.
Not that I was scared of getting caught, I was the Queen Consort, after all, but I didn't need that icy king on my case.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the brat jerked back, making me stumble. My feet slipped on the damp grass, and I tumbled to the ground, landing hard on my knees.
"Ow..."
I cut myself off when I saw where we were.
We'd stumbled into a clearing, completely surrounded by trees, with a small, still pool right in the center.
The moonlight spilled down through the branches, making the water shimmer like there were diamonds and gold hidden beneath the surface.
I blinked, breath catching.
It was... beautiful.
My big toe was barely touching the water, and even through the cold night air, the pool felt even colder. Almost unnaturally so.
What is this place?
"Are you simply foolish, reckless, or perhaps both?"
The brat's sharp voice snapped me out of my trance.
I tore my eyes away from the pool, glaring at him.
"Who are you calling foolish, you little ungrateful jerk? I just saved your sorry little ass!"
His brow pinched like he couldn't believe I was actually talking to him like that.
"Save me? When, pray tell, did such a thing occur?"
I snorted.
"Did you hit that oversized head of yours somewhere, or do you have a problem with your memory? Didn't you see those guards were about to find you?"
He jabbed a finger at his chest, eyes narrowing.
"Me? Or you? For I am certain it is you. You are not meant to be here... are you?"
I stared at him, fighting the urge to launch him into the shimmering pool behind me.
Whoever gave birth to this kid was probably regretting every decision that led to his existence. It made perfect sense though, if he was related to that man, then of course he'd be a little self-entitled, condescending, miniature version of him.
Cold. Horrible. Pain in the ass.
The apple clearly didn't fall far from the frostbitten tree.
"You know what?" I sighed, flicking my hand in a dismissive wave.
"I don't have the energy to argue with a pint-sized demon anymore. If you want to go get yourself caught, be my guest."
I turned back to the lake, expecting to hear his annoying little footsteps retreating, but they didn't.
Instead, I felt his stare burning a hole into the side of my face.
"You can leave now. Stop trying to set my face on fire with your eyes."
But what he said next actually caught me off guard.
"Why speakest thou in phrases so perplexing?"
I blinked, turning to him with a raised brow.
Huh?
"What the hell do you mean?"
He sat down, still keeping his distance — good — but his dark eyes stayed locked on me.
"Like now. The way you speak... it is different. Unnatural." He paused, his gaze sharp, as if fitting together a puzzle.
"It does not sound... as it should."
Oh.
Oh shit.
It hit me all at once. Of course he noticed. These people spoke like they were trapped in a Shakespeare play, all formal and flowery, while I was out here talking like I'd just walked out of a Netflix show.
But how the hell was I supposed to explain that I wasn't actually Queen Annaliese, just some random girl from the 21st century who accidentally body-swapped with a royal snob?
I couldn't exactly tell him the truth.
So I did what any self-respecting con artist would do.
I lied.
"It's... a curse," I blurted out.
His brows shot up, suspicion flickering in his eyes. I immediately regretted it, but it was too late.
"A curse?" he repeated slowly, like he was trying to process the nonsense I'd just fed him.
"Yeah." I crossed my arms, leaning against a tree like I totally knew what I was talking about.
"A witch cast it on me... only happens to special people. You wouldn't understand."
His eyes narrowed, clearly not buying it, but there was the tiniest flicker of doubt behind his smug little face.
I should have known that little lie would come back to bite me.
And bite me hard.