Lamps and Lies

by Laura Greenwood

"It's small."

  "I don't suppose they want their students to spend a lot of time in their rooms. They want us all to make connections and form bonds with one another. That's not very possible if we're locked up in our rooms reading." Though now I'm saying it, that does sound like a good option, particularly with the roaring fire in the grate. The servants must have laid it once they knew I would arrive. It's a nice touch.

  "Do you even know how to read?" he asks.

  "After a fashion," I admit. "There was an old man who used to give lessons in the square. I'd hide behind a ruined doorway and try to copy what he was doing."

  "Hmm. Perhaps we should add reading and writing to the things we study together," the genie says. "It'll never do for a Princess to not be able to."

  "I can get by."

  I'm not surprised by his concern. He isn't wrong. Though if anyone asks, I'm planning on saying that my Mother forbade me from learning, so I didn't start until she'd died. Hopefully, it'll be a smooth enough lie that people will feel too sorry for me to question whether it's true or not.

  The amount of mistruths I'm going to have to tell now I'm here is starting to alarm me, though. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep them up or not. And if one gets revealed, what happens to the rest of them? I can't deny it's a concern I don't want to give too much thought to in case I give up and run away. I'm here for a good reason. It's a chance to make my life better, and I have to take control of that.

  "Maybe this isn't a good idea," I say out loud despite my decision.

  "It's too late now," the genie points out. "You made your wish, Alyeesah."

  I shudder. "Please don't call me that."

  "It's your name."

  "Not really."

  "Aly is your name, though."

  "Exactly, so please call me that instead." I turn around and make my way over to the window. The grounds come into view from it, along with the students who are spending time in them. They seem happy, though it's hard to tell from this distance.

  To the right, there appear to be people on horseback. I hope no one is going to expect me to be able to ride. That isn't something I'm going to be able to bluff my way through. My best bet is to claim women in my country never ride, and so I never learned. Though that doesn't seem completely in line with my nature. If someone had banned me from an activity like that as a child, then I'm sure the first thing I'd have done was run off to learn how to do it. Then again, I spent my childhood on the streets. If I'd really been in a palace, perhaps that would have been different.

  "I don't understand what you have against Alyeesah..."

  "Would you like to be called a name other than the genie?" I ask.

  "I don't have any other name."

  "Exactly. And I've never had any other name but Aly. When you tell me what your second name is, then maybe I'll let you start calling me by my fake one," I suggest.

  "Hmm. So all I have to do is pick a name?"

  "Yes." I chuckle, knowing what he's like. I've been trying to get him to pick a name since we met, but he hasn't come up with one yet. Short of using one of my two remaining wishes to make him choose one, I'm not sure what else I can do. And I won't do that anyway. Taking away his free will to pick a name is a violation of his trust as far as I'm concerned, and I won't do it.

  "When do your lessons start?" he asks.

  "Tomorrow."

  "Then you'd better get studying the information they gave you." He points to the booklet sitting on my side table.

  He isn't wrong. I want to know everything I can about the academy before going out among the rest of the students, even if that means studying for the rest of the night.

  "In which case, we should have some tea." The genie flourishes his hand and a tray with two steaming cups of mint tea with honey appears.

  "Thank you." I take mine over to the bed and sit down.

  He's been using his magic for more and more things like this. I'm not completely sure he's supposed to, but all I know about genie magic is what he's told me. If he's doing it, then it must be within the rules.

  I push the thought to the side and start leafing through the welcome information while the genie makes himself comfortable at my desk with a book. I'll never understand him, but I'm grateful he's comfortable enough to start discovering things for himself now.

  Chapter Two

  "The Princess Alyeesah," an announcer calls.

  I swallow, fiddling with the ring on my finger. This never gets old. It doesn't get less nerve-wracking, either. I've had months to get used to how things work here at Grimm, and yet every time I hear my new name, it's like the panic starts all over again.

  The doors to the library swing open, revealing a group of people who really don't care about my status. Why should they? Most of them are royalty in their own rights.

  With better claims than I do.

  It's one of the reasons I hate moments like this. Most of the time, no one uses titles here, but the servants seem to be a different matter, and they always do. And there's no escaping them. The servants are everywhere. Letting us into rooms, bringing us tea, and lighting our fires. It's both refreshing and annoying at the same time.

  Which means I always have to be on my guard when it comes to slipping up. If I forget to be a Princess, even for a moment, my whole charade will come tumbling down.

  I push my thoughts aside. I'm too far into this deception to back out now. I need to hold my head high and fake my way through this.

  I sweep into the room, the slight train of my robe-like-gown pulling along the ground. The genie is a genius when it comes to adapting my wardrobe so it both fits in with the kingdom I'm supposed to be from, and the fashions of the other girls. Something I'm sure a real Princess from my part of the world would be doing in my place.

  A patch of dust catches my eye, and guilt floods through me at the thought of the maids having to clean my dress later, but that's all part of my disguise and I need to keep it up.

  The room is filled with other students doing their own thing. That's the norm for this time in a morning. I'm not sure why they bother with introducing us as we enter, as no one ever seems to be paying attention. Nor do they have a need to. It's an old tradition that no one needs or wants.

  I take a seat in one of the alcoves and pull out the book I've brought with me. There's no reason for me to read down here other than appearances, and the off chance that today is the day I'll meet the noble I'll want to marry. Though that hasn't happened yet, and I'm starting to doubt it will. At least when I bring my own book rather than borrowing one from the shelves, it'll be one more my level reading wise. Despite months of practice with the genie, I'm still behind where I should be.

  "Oh, look who it is," Fatin sneers as she approaches.

  I roll my eyes. She's easily the worst thing about the academy and I seem to be her favourite target. Though it's never clear if she's trying to make me her friend or her enemy. No doubt she's been trying to work that out for herself ever since we first met in dance class.

  I'll be perfectly fine if she decides she wants us to be enemies.

  "How are you, Fatin?" I ask sweetly, not bothering to use her title. Not only do I not have to thanks to the rules of the academy, but I'm the one who is supposed to be a princess in this situation, she can't say anything about it without risking the ire of my non-existent father.

  "I'd be better if I wasn't looking at you," she retorts.

  I blink a couple of times. Has she truly sought me out for no other reason than to make a horrible remark? How does she have the time for that kind of nonsense?

  "There's plenty of seats at the other side of the room," I respond helpfully and point to a particularly comfortable looking chaise lounge. "I'm sure you won't be able to see me from there."

  Especially as the jousting team appear to be having a meeting in the middle of the room. There's a good chance they'll get their toy horses and lances out soon and start acting out jousting tactics. I'm sure there's some very intricate pla
nning going on in their heads, but I don't personally understand it. I suppose I don't need to when I'm not about to join their team.

  "I don't want to sit across the room," she protests.

  "Then sit with your back to me." I slam my book shut and give her the best withering stare I can muster.

  I don't understand how the real princesses manage all this stuff. But one look at Princess Briar or Princess Snow, and, even though they seem nice enough, I have no doubt either of them could have someone like Fatin on their knees with just a look. Even Lady Guinevere doesn't have any trouble with it, though I suppose she's known she's going to be a Queen all of her life, though I have heard whispers that she's more interested in her friend Lancelot, than in her betrothed.

  Fatin scowls.

  "Or, you could sit with me and the two of us might become friends," I suggest. This is the first time I've thought to offer her something like this, but I think it's what she wants deep down. I don't really want it, but it's better than being attacked by her whenever she feels like it.

  She bites her lip and glances around, no doubt to see who is in earshot. She must decide there isn't anyone that matters, as she fluffs up her skirts and takes a seat next to me. Her hands fold demurely on her lap, the deep bronze of her skin a striking contrast against the pale blue of her skirts. Her dress skews more towards the styles the other girls wear than mine does, but I don't know if that's just the fashion in her kingdom, or if she's doing it on purpose.

  Despite my skin matching hers in colour, I never feel as beautiful in it. Perhaps it's something to do with the noble pedigree she was no doubt born with. Sometimes it seems like that can make all the difference.

  "What would you like to talk about?" I ask her, hating myself for suggesting she sits with me. One of the reasons I haven't made any friends here is so no one can catch me out in one of the many lies which make up my life.

  "Do you like it here?" Her question surprises me.

  I smile and nod. "It's an excellent place for an education." And to meet an unsuspecting noble who'll marry me and then learn that my whole country is made up, giving me the life I want away from the streets. It may be a risky game, but the alternative is returning to the rundown place I come from. And it's not like I plan on lying to the man for the rest of my life. I want to tell whoever it is the truth and hope he cares enough about me to see past that. Perhaps I can help him with ways to enrich the lives of the poor on his lands too, that way I can give back to other people like me when I have the chance to.

  I twist my ring again, being careful not to rub it. The last thing I need is for a genie to pop out and draw everyone's attention. It'll lead to more questions that I want to answer. And it'll take the poor genie by surprise. I'm not sure how he'd feel about suddenly being in front of everyone, and I don't want to put him in that situation.

  "Do you like it?" I return the question a moment too late, but she doesn't seem to notice. Or if she does, she doesn't say anything. Perhaps I haven't stalled as long as I think I have. Or she's being polite because of who I say I am. I don't suppose it matters which of the two it is.

  "I want to be at home with my sisters," she admits softly. "But father wants me here to secure an alliance with one of the Southern Princes. I don't think it's going to happen." She glances over at the chess tables where some of the Princes are busy battling one another over a gaming board.

  "They're handsome," I observe.

  "That's not all I'm looking for." The flash of vulnerability in her eyes is hard to ignore. I think there's something else going on, but I don't want to push any harder, or else she'll return the line of questioning.

  Keeping the topic of conversation on the other person is rule one in hiding the fact my entire life is a lie.

  "What are you looking for?"

  "Power," she whispers. "I don't want to be the woman on someone's arm."

  Ah. She wants to rule instead. I wish I could say I understand, but I don't. From where I'm sitting, even being the wife on a minor noble's arm is enough. It'll mean a comfortable life, with enough to eat, and never having to worry about whether there's enough fuel for the fire in the morning.

  "Is there anyone you have your eye on?"

  She shakes her head. "But I do have an idea..." Her eyes shift from side to side.

  Trumpets sound through the whole room, making me jump out of my skin. They don't do this unless a new student is about to enter. And only if the new student is a royal. For an institute that allegedly doesn't pay much attention to titles, there's a lot of rules and ceremonies revolving around them.

  The doors fling open and one of the announcers steps in.

  "Prince Enver of the Eastern Peninsula," he booms.

  Everyone gets to their feet, but I barely notice. The whole world stops as the most handsome man I've ever seen makes his way into the room.

  The girls around the room drop into varying levels of curtsy. The desire to do just that myself is in me, but I refrain. I'm supposed to be a Princess, the lone heir to the throne. I shouldn't be curtsying to a Prince.

  He looks around the room, his eyes lingering on me for a moment. I smile and dip my head. Now he knows I've noticed him, but that I'm not intimidated by him. Exactly how I want it to be. If he's royal, then he's probably too high up for me anyway. He needs a real alliance, not one with a girl who used to live on the streets.

  "Thank you for your kind greetings." There's a rigidity in his words that make it clear he's not speaking in his first language, but it gives him a charm I can't place. Whatever it is, I like it.

  "I think I've found the one I want," Fatin whispers as the noise in the room sets back in and people go back to doing their thing.

  "That's good." I don't mean the words. Because she may have found the prince she wants to catch, but I don't want her to have him. He may be too far above my station for me to even consider, but something deep within me wants him anyway.

  Chapter Three

  Students chatter away, oblivious to the fact class is about to start. Though I suppose that must be what it's like to have friends and always want to talk to someone about something.

  Instead of dwelling on it, I focus on setting up my desk for what's ahead.

  "Is this seat taken?"

  I look up to find Prince Enver waiting patiently by the desk.

  My heart skips a beat. He's even more handsome up close, and I'm not really sure what to do about it. I've never been affected by someone like I am him. Mostly because I haven't had the time to be, but that's hardly the point.

  "No," I say with an attempt at a smile.

  He flashes me one in return and pulls out the chair, taking a seat next to me.

  My palms begin to sweat and I sneak them under the table to rub them against my dress. The fabric soaks up the moisture, and I breathe a sigh of relief. It's unlikely he'll want to shake my hand. It's not something men and women from our part of the Kingdoms normally do. In fact, I'm surprised he even asked permission before sitting down. From what I've seen at the market, the rules in our lands are mostly that women should always defer to men. I don't agree with it, but there are some things I don't have any control over, and that's one of them.

  "I'm Enver," he says softly.

  "Alyeesah," I answer calmly.

  "Princess?"

  "Mmhmm." The lie feels ashen on my tongue. Something about him makes me want to tell him the truth. But I can't. Only two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

  "What is this class?" he asks.

  "You didn't check your schedule?" I raise an eyebrow. Despite the way my mind seems to be idolising the man, I'm surprised by this.

  "My schedule?" He seems genuinely confused by my question.

  "Yes, it looks like this." I flip to the beginning of my notebook and tap my finger against the parchment I've placed there. It lists the times and locations of all my classes, along with what they are. It changes every six to eight weeks or so as our classes change and we finish some and sta
rt others, so I like to keep a copy of mine with me at all times. It'd be embarrassing to turn up to a lesson I'm not supposed to be in.

  "Oh, that's what that is." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a scrunched up piece of paper. He smooths it out with the flat of his hand and reads down it.

  I raise an eyebrow at the state of it. Has he not thought to take better care of the things the academy gives him? I push the thought aside. I don't know what's going on with him, or why his family has sent him here. For all I know, he's distracted by something important.

  "We're here," I say, ensuring my voice remains soft and non-accusatory as I point to the lesson in question.

  "Ancient languages and what they mean to modern life," he reads. "That sounds rather dull."

  A small giggle escapes me. "If you're not a history fanatic, then it can be," I admit. A couple of the students seem to love this class. I'm not one of them, partly because some of it is a little beyond me. Thankfully, the genies lessons have helped me be able to read enough to get through it, but it's still a little complex for my liking.

  By the sound of it, Enver isn't particularly interested in the subject either.

  "At least we can spend the class getting to know one another, then," he says.

  Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I don't know why you'd want to spend your time talking to me."

  "You're a beautiful princess. That's exactly the kind of connection I was sent here to make." Ah, so he's here for the same reasons a lot of the other students are.

  Connections. Marriage alliances. Treaties. It's amazing what a bunch of teenagers can achieve even when other more experienced diplomats fail. Perhaps it's because they aren't focusing on all the reasons an alliance can't go ahead, and are instead interested in whether or not they like the other person.

  But no matter what, I need to get Enver to dismiss me as a potential alliance partner. As much as I want to get to know him for my own selfish reasons, he needs to focus on finding people who would actually further his kingdom's interests.