Giselle's POV
"Your sister is gone!"
I roused from my bed instantly, a little disoriented at the sudden movement. Father paced with quick, agitated steps near the foot of my bed.
"W-wait what?" my head was still a hazy mess from sleep and being awakened so suddenly.
"Are you deaf or just playing dumb?" He asked, raising his voice, "I said your sister is gone! She ran away, at night it seems, I don't know how she managed to avoid alerting the guards…"
"Genevieve ran away?" I repeated, in disbelief. My twin sister was many things—spoiled, obnoxious and most times annoying—but she's not one to run away from her problems.
"Yes," Father continued, "She took a few personal items, clothes and shoes, and left a note apologizing for absconding her duties. The stableboy is gone too which means-"
"They eloped," I ran a hand through my messy bed hair, "Genevieve was in love with the stableboy all this time?"
"Don't play daft!" Father snapped, "I know you had been in on it all along."
"What-wh- of course I didn't know about any of this!" I retorted, getting up from my untidy bed.
"You're telling me you had no idea your unmated and betrothed twin sister was frolicking with…with a commoner!"
Of course I knew. I've caught Genevieve sneaking into the stable one too many times and sneaking back out with a ditsy smile and flushed cheeks. I couldn't smell anyone on her, though, since my wolvern instincts weren't as strong as hers or anyone else's in my family. I hadn't said anything because I knew the pressure she was facing as the firstborn daughter of a Duke. Genevieve was betrothed to the heir of Montegnera before she was born, promised in a marriage of alliance since Father was close friends with the royal family and a regular in the Royal Court. I was the second daughter that no one anticipated, a surprise at birth when the Duchess thought she was expecting only one child.
But it still didn't make sense. Genevieve seemed happy with her betrothal to me and though I didn't judge her for seeking pleasure before settling down with her betrothed, she also looked happy after visiting the then Crown Prince before his recent coronation. Even though we weren't as close as we used to be as children, she still shared some parts of her life with me. I've only held a grudge because she was basically the better twin—more beautiful, socially active unlike my introvert self and most importantly, she wasn't a dormant wolf.
A short knock came from outside the door and my mother walked in, a stressed expression marring her delicate features.
"Is my room now a meeting place for God's sake?!" I said, throwing up my hands in frustration.
"Giselle, this is serious," Mom scolded, "Your sister could be hurt right now and you don't seem to care."
"Dad said she left a note so she's fine, probably living her best life away from all this..drama." I answered, slumping back into bed and pulling the soft duvet over my head, "Now if you have nothing else to tell me, I still have two hours left of my beauty sleep."
"You must get ready, Giselle," came my Dad's voice, strangely solemn, "We have no choice, the wedding is tomorrow."
I throw the duvet off of me, sitting up on my bed.
"What do you mean?" I said, a light tremble in my voice, deep down I already knew but refused to believe it. "Dad, what do you mean by that?"
I turned to look at Mom but she looked away, not even sparing a glance.
"You have to take her place, Giselle," my father said with a harsh sigh, "You must marry King Fabio, for our family's sake."
My heart dropped at that sentence. I already knew there was no way I'm escaping this, not when royalty was involved.