The Other Side of the Mask

"Yeah! I heard they're gonna start the Trials of Fantasy too!"

Gossiping nobles in a hallway of a fancy school was not my style at all.

"Wow! I'm so glad I'm born in this era!"

I sigh. Nobles are so pampered and it makes me angry. Why did I even end up here? A couple of days ago…

"Students, listen up! I've got great news! So, the test from yesterday was sent from the Mayor of our province."

Everyone silenced and looked at our teacher, befuddled.

"The results are out and the student who scored the best can go to the school for nobles under his name. Surprisingly, the winner is in our class!"

The teacher had pranced around like she was in a dream.

" And it's…QiLing!"

Everyone looked at me, I had stared at the teacher, dumb folded. My friends around me were the first to respond.

" Omg! Congratulations!"

Everyone was crowding me and the teacher was still in "lalaland".

I sighed, since I didn't want to be caught in that mess of things.

Afterschool, I rode the horse carriage to Mayor Chun's mansion in the Capital. I walked through the doors and was surprised by his appearance at the door to welcome me.

" Hello Mayor Chun, you have summoned me?"

"I'd like to talk about the Trials of Fantasy since as my 'relative' you will 'need' to attend."

He led me down the hall to his office. Just remembering that sight sickens me. He sat in his fancy velvet chair and gestured to the seat across from him. I sat and was regretfully amazed by all the treasures in his office.

" As you have probably heard from the nobles, Prince Fu will be holding his Trials of Fantasy in a couple of days and all in the nobles' school must attend."

How pampered! I thought in disgust. People like the royals and the mayor will never know the harshness of us civilians. Mayor Chun smiles slyly. I glance at him warily.

" As you probably have guessed, I wouldn't have done this for free. We nobles always trade so therefore, I would like you to become Queen.", he commands.

Then smirking, he said, "You will then follow my orders and promote me into the castle as a royal."

Then he leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "After that, we will have him murdered, and since no one else can replace the seat as ruler, you will. And so you will follow my orders, understand?"

He glared down at me as if to say, "You have no choice in this."

He then strolled away before I had a chance to protest.

I was horrified that day, stripped of my innocent life. I'm going to be an assassin and the person I will kill is the one and only Prince of this Kingdom? I was scared out of my wits, I still am.