Chapter 14: More lies??
[Daniel's POV]
Today was so awkward.
Luckily Ana was busy preparing her speech and wasn't all over me during lunch—thank goodness. That would've made things even messier with Zory hovering around like a bee to honey. I don't mean that in a bad way, she's not the problem. It's just… I'm not who she thinks I am. And it's not my truth to tell.
I had to fake some excuse about catching up with the boys just to get out of sitting next to her. The guilt hit harder when I realized it was her first day at the academy. I left her alone. That wasn't cool. But what was I supposed to do? Sit there until I accidentally blurt out everything?
I need to find Daniella. We need to talk.
Classes finally ended, and we had a resumption assembly out in the main auditorium. The room was all polished marble and glimmering gold trim, huge velvet banners of Eltador hanging from the walls. The royal students sat in long rows, broken up by wings—Real Azul to the left, Real Dorada to the right, and the rest scattered in between.
And my Ana… she walked across the stage like she owned it. The Representante Real. Her voice carried steady and strong as she delivered the speech we both knew she perfected. I couldn't help but want her done already, though—not because I wasn't proud, but because every second dragged out my nerves and I missed her in my arms more.
Then she finished. And just like that—poof. Gone. Like wind. She probably had Representante Real duties to return to.
Still crazy to think people were hating, saying she didn't deserve the role, just because they assumed it should've been my sister up there instead.
Truth is, the system is built on hierarchy. Daniella was supposed to take the role. She probably would've aced it—if her anxiety didn't eat her alive in front of crowds. But I'm lowkey glad Ana's the one up there. She owns that space.
Maybe that's what drove a wedge between them. Could that be why their friendship snapped? I don't know. Daniella never seemed to care before. Not until we started dating. People say it's always messy when your best friend dates your sibling. Guess we proved them right.
Rumors fly like wildfire here—jealousy, scandal, drama. Typical teenage royalty.
Anyway, I've gotta head back to the dorms. Real Azul wing. Daniella's room should be there. From our barely-there interaction earlier, I figured out Zory's housed in that wing too.
I need to find my sister.
I need my identity back.
---
[Danielle's POV]
After Ana gave the speech—we'd worked on it together for days in the Representante Real's office—I clapped quietly from the Real Azul section. It was so surreal, seeing it all come to life. I handled the background planning, of course. The writing, the revisions, the last-minute tweaks. We were so caught up in prepping that we didn't even eat lunch.
I'm just not a crowd person.
Once classes wrapped and the assembly cleared out, I started heading toward the dorms. The marble floors of the palace halls sparkled under the chandelier light as students slowly scattered to their respective wings. The Real Azul wing was quieter, echoing softly with shoes on polished tile.
And then… I saw her.
Zory.
My redhead. My legs started moving faster before my brain could stop them—definitely not very royal of me. But I needed to get close. Close enough to realize we had the perfect height difference. I'm 5'6. She must be around 5'2, judging by where her head reached on my chest. How cute would we look together?
Reminded me of that couple I binge-watch on Eltok every other night.
Wait. Why am I shipping us?
Danielle, snap out of it.
"Hi," I said, tapping her shoulder gently with a playful bounce in my tone. "You are also in Real Azul wing??"
"Ohh yeah," she smiled, "I love blue—royal blue to be precise. I had to."
That made me pause. It reminded me of Ana. We were both in Real Azul back when everything was okay. She moved to Real Dorada not long after she started dating my twin.
"Ohh… cute. My favorite colour is blue too," I said, instantly regretting how awkward I sounded. The conversation hit a weird lull.
"Well, I'll see you around," she added.
I nodded like a fool, then turned and practically bolted into my dorm room.
What was that?
Why was I all jumpy?
I sat down on my bed and sighed. The room was cozy—deep navy sheets, soft lighting, a few posters I'd snuck in under the radar. My hair was straightened, tucked under a cap, and I was wearing one of Daniel's plain black hoodies with navy joggers. No makeup. No curves. I was flat both front and back. No jewelry except my usual band. No wonder people kept mistaking me for him. I wasn't even trying anymore.
Still, I could've at least asked for her room number. Or told her mine. Something. Anything other than ending the conversation so abruptly and weird.
A knock on the door pulled me from my overthinking spiral.
Could it be Zory?
Did she sort of try to find my room number? How cute.
But what if it wasn't her?
I opened the door to find a mirrored version of myself.
Daniel.
We looked practically identical now that I was in casual wear. The only difference was his more styled hair and… maybe the bags under his eyes. He looked stressed.
"Ohh, the mirrored image moves," I joked as I stepped aside to let him in.
"Now is not the time, Ella," he snapped. His voice was tight, heavy with frustration. And he called me Ella, which I hated. He knew that. He was pissed.
"What now?" I asked warily.
"Whatever you're doing with my identity and Zory—just stop it. I don't want to know. I just want it to end. Now."
Then he stormed off.
What just happened?
I hurried after him, boots thudding softly on the dorm corridor floors. He was already a few steps ahead, and I didn't want to draw attention, so I kept my distance.
But before I could catch up, I heard a voice.
"Daniel?"
Zory.
She thinks I'm him. I should probably tell her the truth right now.
But instead…
"Oh hey, hi. How you doing?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
"I'm good..." she replied softly.
Silence.
"I'll get going," she added.
Wait. Stop.
"Can I get your phone number?" I asked quickly—too quickly.
She blinked.
I blinked.
What was I doing?
More lies.