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AFTER Sara took her leave, she was led by the chamberlain to the drawing room.
Right on cue, Hermine rushed in not long after, her eyes red.
“Sara! Oh, Sara!”
“Princess Hermine.”
Sara held Hermine tightly as she sobbed in her arms.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Hermine blubbered. “I… You’re…”
“Don’t be, Princess Hermine. It’s fine. As long as you’re spared from this hardship, that’s all that matters,” said Sara, gently stroking Hermine’s golden hair.
Hermine looked up at her. Her skin was pearly white, even without any face powder on, and her wet eyes were large and brown. She was a little shorter than Sara and had a thinner frame—except for her chest, which was just as developed as any other young woman.
Sara was the daughter of a baron and baroness, and six years ago, her parents’ business went under. Just as they were working hard to get the business back on its feet, they were both killed in a tragic carriage accident.
In the blink of an eye, Sara lost not only her parents, but also her home and servants because of her parents’ debts… And Hermine was the only one who offered her a hand.
Sara was the daughter of a baron, and Hermine was a princess, but they were second cousins, united genealogically by a shared great-grandfather.
Sara’s mother was an indirect descendant of a duke, but because she practically eloped with Sara’s father, none of Sara’s extended relations would welcome her as part of the family.
When Hermine learned of Sara’s destitute situation, she proposed to the king that Sara become her maid.
But Hermine might needn’t have said anything…, Sara reasoned. As soon as he saw me, His Majesty might himself have thought of making me a maid so that I could act as her body double someday.
Sara and Hermine were second cousins, so their facial features had always been somewhat similar, and, with some incredible genetic luck, they both had blonde hair and brown eyes. They had looked so alike growing up, in fact, that with the right makeup and outfits, they could be mistaken for sisters.
The king had given Sara the task of studying all sorts of subjects she would need in her new role, as well as ordered her to start “living exactly as Hermine does.” Everything was suddenly different. The length of Sara’s hair, the clothes she wore, her new personal effects… None of them were what Sara would have chosen for herself.
But Sara knew she really had no choice in the matter—she was a maid, and one rescued by the princess at that. She would have liked to have her hair cut a little shorter, and to wear purple and green dresses, not just pink and yellow ones. She wished she could play in the garden instead of meticulously embroidering, and laugh in a carefree and uninhibited manner like she used to.
But knowing this could never be the case, Sara smiled and put a hand on Hermine’s shoulder.
“You’ve always carried a heavy burden as a princess. And being forced into a political marriage as a reward for that? Of course it would be hard on you.”
“But…now you’ll have to take my name and be forced into a political marriage, and I’ll live a life under your name free from worry.”
Sara felt a brief, sharp pain in her chest at Hermine’s words, but she just shook her head.
“Yes, I guess so. But His Majesty made all these decisions with your best interests at heart. If anything, I feel sorry I have nothing more than my name to give you.”
Sara would marry a man in a foreign kingdom as Hermine. Naturally, after that marriage took place, Hermine would no longer be able to go by her real name and title, so she would instead take Sara’s name and live as a commoner.
For someone like Hermine, who was raised in such comfort, losing her royal status and having nothing but the name of a bankrupt baron’s daughter would surely be difficult to come to terms with.
“Hermine… Thank you for saving me six years ago. Being able to repay the kindness you and His Majesty have shown me…makes me truly happy.”
“Sara…”
“Take care of ‘Sara’ for me from now on.”
When Sara smiled, Hermine’s sweet face crumpled, and she threw herself against Sara’s chest.
Hermine was a delicate soul, ignorant of the world, and endlessly kind.
My happiness is making sure Hermine can live her life peacefully and uneventfully…so everything will be okay.
That was what Sara believed.
✦ ✦ ✦
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FROM the next day onward, Sara would be Hermine, and Hermine would be Sara. Everyone was informed that the maid Sara would be temporarily relieved from her position as the princess’s maid due to ill health. Hermine was feeling quite emotional about the whole situation, so she was secretly living in the royal family’s second home in the capital city until her nerves calmed, hoping to have recovered her health enough to see Sara off when she departed for Ferrier.
Sara, meanwhile, was receiving a princess’s education in preparation for the wedding in two months’ time. Fortunately, however, Sara had often been present at Hermine’s lessons in the past, at the order of the king.
Truth be told, Hermine was not very good at academics and had often asked Sara for help during the tutors’ lectures, which Sara attended with her. Sara was two years older than Hermine, had often walked around the capital when her parents were alive, and knew a lot about the ways of the world, so there were some things Sara was more capable at than Hermine.
There was nothing she could do about her voice, but otherwise Sara knew everything about Hermine—her habits, the way she laughed, the way she walked, and even her little quirks.
Much to Sara’s relief, one day her tutor told her, “When I see you from the back, it’s like I’m looking at the real Hermine.”
Hermine’s studious side could probably be fudged a little.
But…I’ll probably have to wait a little longer to tell Firmin.
As Sara rested in her private chambers, her thoughts turned to her lover.
Firmin was the second son of a viscount and a member of the Knights of the Guard. He had long been Sara’s childhood friend, and now he was her boyfriend.
The baronial side of Sara’s family were originally wealthy commoners that ascended into nobility. This, along with the fact that barons were the lowest aristocratic rank, meant that not many families looked too kindly upon them. Firmin’s father, however, supported her parents’ business, and when Sara found herself out of her depth as the chief mourner during her parents’ funeral service, Firmin’s father offered his assistance.
She and Firmin had been friends for ten years, and after Firmin confessed his feelings to her two years ago, they began dating. Having been friends with Sara’s father, Firmin’s parents approved of the relationship. There were even talks of them getting married by the time Sara turned twenty.
The king told Sara none too kindly that she was not to tell anyone about the body-double plot. But Firmin would just have to be an exception—Hermine was going to live as Sara, after all. Even if she wanted to keep it a secret, Firmin would realize the truth the second he saw Hermine’s face.
Sara needed to tell him as soon as possible so he could break up with her.
Firmin seems quite popular, even among the knights… I’m sure he’ll find a good girl in no time after we break up.
Sara felt guilty that Firmin had shown a fallen aristocrat like her such kindness for so long. Sara had been happiest simply holding his hand, talking with him in the garden, or accepting his kisses on her cheek. Without Firmin or his parents, Sara might never have recovered after the death of her parents.
Sara looked down at her itinerary and sighed.
Firmin was out on a military campaign with the knights, and he would return at the end of this month. But even when he came back, it would be quite difficult for Sara to go see him, as she was already living full-time as Princess Hermine.
Maybe I could leave a letter for him with Hermine, if she wouldn’t mind…
She had often talked to Hermine about Firmin, and Hermine had always told her, “If he’s special to you, I’d love to meet him!”
The estate where Hermine was recuperating was in the capital city, so it wouldn’t be impossible for her to secretly pass a letter to Firmin. Even though Hermine was the princess, Sara would have to order her around like she was an ordinary aristocrat… But she was sure that Hermine would gladly do this for her.
“Firmin… I’m really sorry,” Sara muttered, taking out writing tools from her desk drawer.
How would he react? Would he even feel a little sad?
No—Sara was sure he would be sad. But she was also sure that, in the end, he would accept Sara’s decision and wish her well, perhaps even say, “I’ll pray for your safety.”
That was what Sara believed at the time.