Chapter 38
Mariana
“Alpha Joseph,” one of the security guards said, cautiously approaching him. “We are going to have to ask you to leave as well.”
He didn’t argue like I expected him to; he gave me a long look once again before turning away and following the others out of the exhibit.
I could still feel everyone’s eyes on me as I turned back towards the runway to hide in the back. My eyes got a glimpse of my father that stood a distance away. He was with my brother, David, and they were both staring at me with concern.
I told them some of what I went through when I was married to Joseph. But this was the first time they were witnessing how cruel I’d been treated. My father looked anything but happy. I turned away from him and went back behind the stage where I finally felt like I could breathe.
To be honest, I wanted to cry. But there were too many people around me that I couldn’t bring myself to do so. I didn’t want to show them that kind of weakness; especially considering the show wasn’t done yet. I still had more dresses to model, and I didn’t want to ruin my makeup.
My father wanted to have a family dinner at the palace that I couldn’t refuse to attend. As a princess, it was part of my duty along with my brothers. Plus, it was nice getting together as a family, even if it was for a short while. We were all so busy with our day–to–day activities and jobs.
My father was the king and ruled the kingdom, Peter worked as a scientist for the hospitals, David worked as the Central bank CEO, and Joff worked closely with the grammar warriors and kept the kingdom safe. Then there was me who worked as an artist and fashion designer, but I also managed the main branch of David’s bank and helped Peter with his scientific research and breakthroughs. With the amount of work we do, I’m surprised we had any time at all to have proper meals.
I was thankful for Laura, my handmaiden because she always had meals cooked for me during the day and she never let me go hungry.
“We need to discuss important matters,” my father said after our meals were placed in front of us. We all looked at him, quietly, and waited for him to continue. He looked over at me, there was concern in his eyes. “I don’t like the way you’ve been treated by those people.”
“Yeah, they were awful to you,” David muttered, shoving steak into his mouth. “Have you seen the news? They’ve been spreading terrible rumors about you.”
I was aware and I was trying not to let it bother me. I knew Ella was close to a couple of people that worked for the Media, so it didn’t surprise me that she was talking to them about me.
“It doesn’t bother me,” I told them, trying to sound confident. “I can handle it.”
“I don’t doubt that,” my father said, meeting my eyes. “You are a very capable and strong woman. I am so proud of everything you’re accomplishing and setting out to do.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “But you are still my daughter, and I don’t like how you are being slandered.”
“I know,” I told him softly.
“Which is why I want to reveal your true identity, to get them to stop.”
I shot a look at him; I couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. I went by my stage name “Anna” for a long time. Even before I married Joseph, I used Anna as a stage name for my artwork. I even used Anna when I went to school because I didn’t want special treatment from my classmates and teachers. I’ve been doing so well at hiding my identity for most of my life.
The thought of revealing myself was something I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want people to like me because I was the princess. I wanted them to like me for my work.
“No,” I told him, shaking my head. “I don’t want them to know my identity. It won’t do any good.”
“Nonsense,” my father said firmly. “I don’t want my daughter to be spoken to in such an ill manner. Once they know your identity, it’ll stop.”
“You don’t know that,” I argued. “These people are ruthless. They don’t care who I am.”
