My eyes went up to his and I saw tears pool in them. I couldn't look in them anymore, it felt like he could see through me.

"Max, why would you say that?" I say, looking outside the window, not wanting to make eye contact.

I can't let him know who I am. And not only because he is not supposed to know, but because he will feel like he has lost his sister, that may have betrayed him and is somewhere in the mortal world, safe.

"You would've known by now how I know this if you knew me. Do you even know my power?" he asks.

I swish my head to meet his eyes, and then think about it. I had never asked about his power, neither had Samantha or Camara told me. I stay silent, not sure what to say.

My mouth opens, willing to say anything stupid that comes out of it, but Max beats me to it.

"I can't exactly tell who's lying, or what they are lying about, but I can sense it when someone tells a lie. At first, I didn't pay attention to it in the Good Souls Palace, because many new people were here, but I felt it when I was with you at the attack on the palace.

"I felt it when Camara called you Princess Liferia in the room, and most of all, I feel it now," he says. I look down, unsure of what to say.

He takes my silence as an answer. "Please, where is she? What happened to her? Why isn't she here? Who are you?" he asks, his voice tremulous, and desperation touching his eyes. He tries to hold back his tears and stand straight, but after all, he is a twelve-year-old boy.

I stretch out my hand to comfort him but drop it last second, not sure he'll like it. "Max, I... I am stuck here myself. I was at my house, in the mortal world as you call it, and the next thing I knew I was here, told to pretend like Princess Liferia. I know this must be hard for you now that you know, but please. You can't let anyone know about this. My life is at stake."

He closes his eyes and opens them again. "I am sorry. You've gotten into something my sister is responsible for. I promise to not tell anyone. It's funny though," he says.

"What's funny?" I ask.

"You are two different people, yet so alike. And I don't only mean by your looks and all. You have a beautiful heart, like Leaf did," he answers me, the last three words a whisper.

"Thank you, Max. I hope your sister comes back soon, not only for me, but for you and your kingdom too. Until then..."

Max nods and Samantha comes in. "And here's your glass of waa..." she looks around and notices Max's shining eyes and my pale face. "And... Are you guys okay? Max, did something happen? Oh My... Was it the Prince?" she asks, freaking out.

I chuckle and answer Samantha, a smile building up on my face. "No, it's nothing. We were just remembering the attack and..." Max completes the sentence for me. "I kinda got emotional. Leaf could've been really hurt. Anyway, you must be wanting to dress her, I... I'll leave."

I give Max a grateful smile and he walks out of the room. Samantha looks confused but brushes it away.

"Anyway, the healer was going in and out of the room while you were unconscious. He was healing you, but the wound was quite bad so it's going to take some time. Here, have the water," she says.

I drink the water. It has a sour kind of taste, but in a good way. And then a question pops up in my mind. I don't even know Camara or Samantha's powers, or Prince Andrew. I close my eyes and groan.

I'm supposed to live here until this careless Princess comes back and I barely know anything.

"What's your power?" I ask. "And Camara's for that matter."

"Ah, the two scullery maids told you too soon. Weren't you supposed to be freaking out? I mean, you are a mortal," she says.

I roll my eyes and reply, "DUH! I was freaking out. But that moment has passed. Now I'm getting used to it. Now please tell me," I say to her, trying to make puppy eyes, though my eyes look more like a dead puppy's when I do that.

Samantha laughs at my expression and says, "Okay, Okay. Fine, anyways you'll know it soon so why not now. I can hypnotise people. And Camara has a gift, not power, of sword fighting."

Oh. No wonder Samantha has such beautiful, violet eyes. And that Camara always carries a sword with her. I nod and start to feel sleepy. Was it the water I drank? Nevermind.

Ah, sleep. The best thing ever. So peaceful, and calm, and there is no stress, just dreams...

And my eyes close, going into a calming dream, with water, and Max, and weirdly enough, The Prince?
...

A week passes, and I heal quite quickly. The healer does somethings with his hands and even the scars disappear, scars I didn't even know I had! My skin is spotless.

Max stays with us because things in the Good Souls kingdom are still chaos. Nobody, except the guards, Kyra, Laura and some other servants are at the palace. Max insisted on going horse riding with one of the guards, but I don't even know how to, so I stayed.

I am walking around the castle, admiring its beauty and paintings. Mostly, everything is black or blue. This place needs more colours.

I am thinking about what I could add to this palace when I hear a voice behind me.

Guess I am not that alone.

"Analia. Are you okay now?" I sigh and turn around.

Prick is wearing a black suit, a comfortable one though, his hair is messy and his skin sweating.

"I'm okay... What is it now?" I ask, too annoyed to argue now.

"I have free time now. We can start with you practicing sword fighting today. But, once you commit, there is no going back." He says.

A smile creeps up my face and I say, "Let's go..."