Anna met with the Queen in her majesty’s private gardens.

"How lovely of you to come visit me, my darling," the Queen said, busying around the garden. Two servants ran after her, anxious looks on their faces as they waited for her commands.

Commands that never came.

Anna sat stiffly, looking around the beautiful garden and trying not to touch anything for fear of damaging it.

Unknown to her, the Queen wanted to make everything perfect as it wasn’t very often she had the Princess over for tea. Her hands trembled as she tried to come up with a reason for the Princess’s visit.

"I haven’t seen you since the council meeting, so I thought I’d stop by." Anna replied after a minute.

The Queen frowned.

She had heard rumors of a change in the Princess’s behavior following her recent head injury. She didn’t expect to witness it in person. The Princess looked different. She sounded different. Even her spores smelled different.

The Queen poured tea and handed a cup over.

It was Black Leaf tea, one the Princess hated very much.

"This is very good," she said with a wide smile. "Is that vanilla?"

The Queen gasped. The rumors were in fact true! Something did happen to the Princess! Vanilla? What was that? The Queen had never heard of it.

"Is everything okay, mother?"

Mother?! She never calls me mother!

"My darling, are you certain everything is okay?" The queen asked, sitting close to Anna and placing a warm hand over hers. "Your health, are you okay?"

Anna frowned, unsure of what to make of the sudden question. She summed it up to a mothers gentle love.

"I’m fine, mother. How about you? Your eyes are dimmer than I recall. And your skin, have you been sleeping well?"

The Queen shook her head, sighing softly. "Everything is fine. I’m more worried about you. Has that Leon tried to hurt you again?"

Anna chuckled, her voice bitter. "He hasn’t. And if he did, I’ll have him executed."

The Queen blinked. Executed? The Princess would never execute Leon. The whole kingdom knew how much she loved him. And yet right now, she didn’t seem to care. The fondness that was always present in her eyes and voice when she spoke of Leon was gone. In its place was fury.

The Queen sipped her tea aggressively.

I’m not sure I hate this new version of her...

Meanwhile, Anna took calm sips of her tea. This taste really good. Orchid’s mom is beautiful too. Is she a black cat? Or a calico? I can’t even tell. She’s gorgeous. One would think she’s Orchid’s older sister. I can watch her all day. Damn she’s pretty. How many times have I said she’s pretty?

"So!" The queen spoke up after a few seconds of silence. "What new exploits have you been up to? It’s been a while since you requested clearance for your project."

Anna choked on the tea. "R-right! I um...I’m taking a break from everything you know? Just trying to focus on the General Games for now. A-and soothing Leon is really taking a lot out of me, I can see why she didn’t want to do it in the first place," she muttered the last part to herself. "But yeah! I’m sure I’ll go back to...being um...me? In a few days. Or weeks. Or months."

The Queen listened to her, nodding slowly. My daughter...she’s changed. "You’re happier, darling." She said.

That shocked the words out of Anna. Gently, she lowered the tea cup and leaned closer to the Queen. "I’m...happier? What was I like before?"

The Queen laughed softly. "You’ve always been yourself. But now you’re happier. And you’re glowing."

"It’s because I’m having tea with you," Anna said, meaning every word. A sad smile made its way to her lips and she moved closer to the Queen. "I’m glad,"

The Queen’s heart beat faster. Oh how she had waited for this day, the day her beautiful daughter would smile softly at her, and say something kind. Anything at all.

"I’m glad too," she replied, her voice tight with happiness.

Anna bit her lip as tears rose to her eyes.

Damnit. Now I hate that Orchid even more. She has a whole mom! And she...

Anna decided then, even if this life was fake and she was wearing another’s face, she would make the best out of this life.

Especially having two parents.

Two parents who loved her. Who didn’t leave this world when she was just a baby.

The tears came.

She hastily wiped them, picked back the teacup and drank from it to hide her face.

The Queen noticed. Her heart broke, but in a good way. I’ve never seen her cry. I didn’t think she was capable of it.

"Come," she spread her arms and beckoned. "Let me hug you,"

Anna didn’t wait to be told twice.

She tossed the tea cup aside and ran into the Queen’s arms.

There she stayed, her shoulders trembling, her hands curled tightly into the Queen’s elaborate sleeves, until her body stopped shaking and the tears retreated to the back of her eyes.

She remained in the embrace, feeling the Queen’s warmth, and the calming scent of her clothes.

Anna closed her eyes and imagined she was hugging her mother.

The Queen held her close, stroking the back of her head like she did when the Princess was a little sapling. A bittersweet smile on her lips, the Queen too closed her eyes and savored the moment.

She didn’t know when it’d happen again.

In that moment, Anna didn’t know much. Except for the fact that she didn’t want to leave.

****

An hour later, Anna made her way back to her chambers.

The sun made its slow descent into the horizon, and all she wanted to do was go back to her strawberry plant and figure out a way to make it bloom harder.

Her visit to the Queen hadn’t answered the question she had. But it was something.

She could still feel the warmth, and the love poured into that hug.

It made her want to go back and hug the Queen again. Longer, this time. Till she fell asleep.

[Princess Orchid wouldn’t hug her mother.] the System said dryly.

Colorful insults boiled on the tip of Anna’s tongue. She swallowed them all.

Anna turned down the corner to her chambers when she remembered her daily soothing sessions with Leon.

"Fuck!" She hissed, annoyed as she changed directions and headed to the prisons.

She wanted to call Azul to accompany her, but after the last words he said to her, she didn’t want to test their fragile alliance. So, she went alone.

Upon arriving, she found Leon by his desk, going over the candidates’ information from earlier.

Work freak.

"We should get to it," Anna announced, clearing her throat.

He raised his head. His gaze went over her shoulder and around the luxurious room before settling on her. "Where’s your lapdog?"

And every time he opens his mouth, he pisses me off.

"Azul is not a lapdog, General."

"Is he?" Leon rose to his feet, a cutting smile on his face. "And yet he tags along everywhere you do. Was that your idea or his? Let me guess, it’s something about his Northern obligations."

Anna didn’t realize she was stepping back till her back met the wall. She ducked to the side, all her senses turned on flight. Leon caught her arm and yanked her back, slamming her back into the wall and pinning her in place.

"Get off me," Anna whispered, her breath catching in her throat.

He was tall. Too tall. And too hot. The heat bled out of him, it was like standing next to a solar heater.

Leon grabbed her chin, his fingertips digging harshly into her skin, as he forced her gaze to meet his. "Where’s your lapdog now you need him the most?" He sneered, his mane starting to glitch. "Has he finally seen you for the monster you are?"

"General, back away from me this instant."

Instead of obeying, his grip tightened. "Or what? You’re gonna scream for Azul? Want to test if your voice can reach him before I rip your fucking throat out?"

Anna sucked in a sharp breath.

She seen enough of Leon’s cruelty to know that he never joked. Ice water filled the gaps in her ribcage. She grabbed his arms, trying to pry him off her.

"You know, I heard you asking him to try out for the Games. You think he’s good enough to replace me?"

"Yes." Anna spat without hesitation.

His smile dropped.

The gold of his eyes darkened to black. His hair bristled, tripling in volume, the edges turning glitchy and spiky.

"Say that again." He growled, his voice transforming into something else.

Anna cried out as his fingertips sharpened and claws pressed into her skin. "Leon! Get the fuck off me!"

"Go on, Princess. Scream! Cry harder!"

"You want to die?!" Anna shrieked. Panic clawed at her ribs, turning her skin cold. "You hurt me and that’s it! You’re done!"

He chuckled. "You think I care about my life? If I get to drag you down with me, then I’m more than happy. What do you think will happen after I’m gone? You think my men will just sit back and watch?"

Horror grabbed hold of her heart.

Her mind rushed back to the Arena. The worship in the soldiers’s eyes. The effect Leon had over the them. The devotion on their faces.

And she knew.

She knew exactly why he did it.

He was showing her. Showing her what will happen if he were to give an order. Any order.

The entire Eastern Army was loyal to their General and not the kingdom.

This man is dangerous! Fuck! Fuckkkkk!

Anna did the one thing that came to her mind.

She brought her knee up and rammed it as hard as she could into his crotch.

He grunted, his grip on her cheek loosening enough for her to kick him the second time, then slip out from his hold.

She didn’t wait to see how long it’d take for him to recover. She didn’t wait to see if she hit her mark.

She bolted for the door.

Her heart caught in her throat. Her chin burning. Her chest like it was on fire.

She ran and she ran, not stopping to see where she was going, not glancing over her shoulder.

By the time she came to a stop, her cheeks were soaked with tears, her gown ripped up, and to cap it all, a gaping hole in her heart.

She’d ended up in the garden.

Thankfully, there was no one in sight.

No one around to see her in such a sorry state.

Everything came crashing down on her.

Everything.

She collapsed to the floor, her head cradled in her hands.

The tears she’d managed to hold back when meeting the Queen came back with a vengeance.

Her sobs, heart-wrenching and full of anguish, filled the garden air. She cried like the world was crashing down on her shoulders, which frankly, it was.

For fear of someone hearing her, she jammed her fist into her mouth and bit down hard. Till she tasted blood. She didn’t stop. With her teeth clamped around her hand, she sobbed her heart out.

I hate it here.

I hate it here so fucking much!

I want to go home.

Home.

Back to my stupid job.

Heck, I’d even be happy to see Manager Park right now.

Oh God, I want to go home!

A rustle came from behind her, trapping her sobs in her chest. She whipped around, for fear it was Leon.

"W-who’s there?"

"It is I, your highness." A familiar voice called out.

Then, a man walked out of the bushes. Holding a bright red flower.