Chapter Seven - Is Mari a real enemy?

**Ailenna**

Avoiding conflicts is a rule for everyone who lives in this castle. That's happens when you live under the eyes of the King, and a simple conflict can end in a Royal trial. This made all of us, from an early age, learn to find our own corners of peace - the place we escape to when something distresses us... Or when we needed to talk about secrets.

My mother, for example, uses the east sewing room - one that no one use often and offers her the peace she needs. Dad always takes refuge in the royal library, in a dark, dusty corner that keeps most visitors away. My refuge is the royal garden. However, the garden is not where I am now.

Since she was a cute little girl, Marienne has taken refuge in the castle's hot baths. The bathtubs are small craters, in the basement of the castle, which are always filled with hot water. The place is like a big sauna. The entire east wing of the castle was built over this natural bathing cave and everyone can use it. There are those who say that its waters are magical.

In winter, the craters are crowded. But in the summer, rarely anyone goes down to bathe. That's because the whole place became hotter than usual and, with the sun outside shining bright, most people choose to relax on the beach.

So it was easy to find Mari, resting in the most hidden crater. This was her “favorite crater”. I would always find her there when we were kids and Dad would fight with her. Now, however, I wonder if the reason she is there is because of me and this stupid competition for the throne.

- You took a long time - Mari complains, opening her eyes and smiling - I'm coming here every day hoping to find you.

- Sorry, Ma. I tried to come, but things are complicated up there - I put my towel on the stone bench and enter the crater - Wow, I missed that.

- I hope "that" is me - she jokes.

- Of course I missed you, silly - I go to her and we hug - Damn, your hug is still the best.

Mari laughs and we sit side by side, the hot water covering us up to our shoulders. Many people believe that Mari and I don't get along. This is the biggest lie of the century. We are good friends, even though we are not best friends. But we really like each other.

This stupid competition is what made us start pretending. We realized early on that being close friends in public caused a lot of gossip. Then, slowly, we stopped openly showing our friendship. Of course, the years abroad and growing up with studying at a different schools, helped to maintain a certain distance between the two of us as well.

- Things are different now - Mari says, after a few minutes of silence.

- Too much - I agree - Before, coming to the castle was a preview of what was to come. Now? I feel like I'm killing a lion a day.

- Goddesses, yes - Mari sighs - I don't even recognize myself anymore. I'm feeling strange things, you know? I look in the mirror and wonder if this isn't breaking something in me.

I reflect on her words. I know what that feeling is like - I freaked out when I realized my feelings for Nikco. I felt jealous of Mari. I didn't think Mari would be feeling the same. After all, of the two of us, she is the one who most adapted to the idea of competition, the throne and, above all, of marrying Nikco.

She had been in love with him for... Goddesses, she has loved him forever!

- I know how you feel - I close my eyes, embarrassed to admit it - I've been jealous of you these last few days.

- And me from you! - she laughs - It's normal, little sister. Don't feel guilty about it.

- Shit - I laugh - Who would have thought that a man would be capable of doing so much damage?

-Lenna, please - Mari scoffs - He's a man. Obviously he could cause damage!

I laugh out loud. Mari is right. I missed her and her light, easy sense of humor. That's why Nico is attracted to her: besides being beautiful and a perfect Sorah, Mari is also a person you would love to be around, because she is so funny, kind and intelligent. We may not pursue the same hobbies or studies, but that doesn't make her unprepared or superficial.

Since the prince's arrival, I had been forgetting about it. How much I love her and how special she is. Almost, Mari, in my eyes, had already started to become the competition. I can't let this happen inside me. Mari is my little sister, she will always be.

- How are things with your mother? - I ask, worried.

- I hate to admit it, but she's a mess - Mari sighs and closes her eyes - She's gotten better, you know? Back to therapy and everything. So, the closer it got to the prince's reception ball, the more she started to freak out again. The queen and she don't stop talking and planning and discussing... Anyway, she's back to square one.

Mari's mother, Roseanne, was a troubled person. I hated her since I was a teenager, when she humiliated me in front of the Queen for no reason. Add that to the fact that her constantly fights with my mother, my father and Mari. I can't stand this woman!

But that's something I can't say out loud, right in her daughter's face.

- I'm sorry, Ma - I hold my sister's hand - Anything, call me, okay? I will always be here for you.

- And I will always be there for you, sis - she looks at me and smiles - Now tell me: is Nikco a good kisser?

- You're the one who should know that - I laugh out loud.

- What? Damn, I swore you were already having sex around the castle.

- Sorry to disappoint you, but the last time someone wanted to have sex with me was four months ago.

- Well, I had sex two weeks ago, so I can't complain.

- Stella?

- Always her, right? - Mari sighs - Goddesses, that woman drives me crazy. We don't go a day without fighting, but leave us alone for three seconds and we'll be naked before you could blink.

I laugh, because I know it's true. Stella is my childhood best friend. She and Mari have always "hated" each other. They fought for my attention and... More. the second we became teenagers, the two of them started hooking up. Sporadic kisses turned into sex sessions until I was sure they would be caught by the castle's staff.

Luckily for them, no one knows about their relationship. Which is good, considering Mari could be the next queen and Stella is engaged to a Soreh who is very close to the King.

- Do you love her, Ma?

- Not how you imagine - Mari whispers - But when I close my eyes and imagine my future, it's Nikco who I see myself with. I always loved him. He came first.

- I understand.

- And you? - she smiles - You have your own love stories to tell. None of them still steal your sighs?

- None of them dared to compete with Nikco for me - I shrug - I fell in love, but nothing big. In recent years, I thought I was born to live alone.

- Until you met Nikco again.

- Exactly - I admit - We have chemistry. I just wonder if chemistry is the only thing that's enough to hold a relationship like ours together.

- I hope the sex is good. Because if he chooses you, you will have an enemy as a mother-in-law - Mari says seriously - The King would never treat me badly, but the Queen would treat you like trash just for fun.

- I hate...

- Don't finish that sentence, girl. If the walls have ears, you will have a date with the gallows.

- Damn it.

- The delights of living in the castle - Mari laughs - Now enough talking about men and crowns... I want to know everything about the presentation of your master's degree in Berlin!

And, just like that, we are just what we love to be. Sisters.