Hera POV

"The procession will be stopped. We'll go back to the palace since it's the closest place. There's a doctor waiting. I will carry you because you're still in shock."

Suddenly he picked me up and walked me to the car.

I could feel his burly arms wrapped around my body. The arms that once held me in sleep when we were stuck outside the dorm came back too late.

"It's safe, take your shield off me," I said.

He gave me a sharp look while tightening his jaw. "I won't let the same mess happen again. That shield will protect you until we enter the palace. If you are wounded again, your father will kill me."

I took a deep breath as he pressed on the bullet wound on my arm. It hurts but I can't tell.

He led me into a room where the doctor was waiting.

It happened very quickly as he ripped the sleeves off my dress.

"What are you doing!" I snapped.

"You can't be treated while in a dress like this. I'm your husband, so it's better for me to rip your clothes off than someone else.” He also takes off his robe. “Please treat her, Doc."

I thought he's going to come out, but instead he's watching and sitting in the bed.

"Excuse me, Your Highness, may I ask you to come out while I treat Princess Hera? Without less respect, of course."

"The doctor is right, he will be focused while treating me. Besides, I think you should settle other matters now. I saw the royal advisor in front of this room before coming here."

He sighed. His face looked troubled. "Please treat her gently," he said before finally leaving this room.

Finally, I could breathe freely.

I quickly checked the wound on my arm. It hadn't healed completely and luckily there was blood covering it so the healing progress wasn't too noticeable.

"Let me introduce myself, princess. I am doctor Graham. I was ordered by Your Majesty King Andromeda to treat you. I was warned not to let Prince Alexander know of your abilities. So from this day forward I will be your personal doctor."

The doctor removed the bullet from my arm and the wound closed quickly. But afterward he still bandaged my arm for disguise.

"You must pretend to look in pain if the Prince touches..."

"I know. Thank you. You can go out now."

"The King told me one more thing."

I raised my right hand to interrupt him. "Have mom and dad returned to Raven?"

"That's right, princess. The King and Queen returned to accompany Princess Marry."

Now I'm all alone. I have no one here but myself.

"Princess Hera," the doctor said again. He took out a box from his large suitcase. He placed it on the bed and opened it.

"This is a medicine that can make anyone who takes it sleep within ten seconds. I can't help anything, this is all I can do. You can use the medicine wisely, princess."

I was pensive for a moment while looking at the item.

"You want me to give this drug to Alexander? What's your goal? You must know something, I can tell."

The doctor looked sad. "I believe in you, princess. I was also very surprised when I heard the news when I arrived at the kingdom. I didn't believe you did. You're our beloved princess, honorable and educated. You would never harm your sister just because of a man."

I turned my face away. I couldn't believe that someone still believed me.

"Do you have anything else to say, Princess?"

"Thank you, doctor. You may leave now. If Prince Alexander asks about my condition, just tell him that I'm in shock and need to rest."

"Sure, I'll pass it on."

After he left, I looked down deeply.

It wasn't long before Alexander walked in, closing the golden door behind him.

He didn't come straight to me, but stared at me for a long time.

"The doctor has treated me well. I believe the wound will heal quickly," I said to break the ice.

"I know," he replied.

He started walking towards me.

"He said you need to rest. So we're going to Haersley. We'll stay at Hopeshire Castle because this isn't the place to rest."

"We are the Duke and Duchess of Haersley now. We'll be taking care of the territory and tomorrow I have another agenda. So we should return today as well. You can sleep in the car. Once you've recovered, you'll attend royal classes in Traiton. For your education at Orchid Academy, there will be teachers coming to the castle to teach you about the education your sister received at Petunia Academy. Some subjects will be changed to suit your position. However, I don't want others to realize that you are Marry, not Hera. And all the agenda of our wedding will be postponed until you recover."

I guess this is the real Alexander. Firm, authoritarian, but unfortunately easy to fool.

"But I still feel weak."

"But you can walk on your own, right?"

"Of course I can," I said loudly.

When I was only a few feet away, I dropped myself.

I had to convince Alexander that I was Marry. And Marry was physically weaker than me and she was very spoiled.

"You said you could walk by yourself. But look at you. You're causing others trouble."

I looked at him with teary eyes made up. "Sorry. I'm so sorry for always giving you trouble, Alexander."

He sighed and carried me again. "You're so cry baby. You're weak. You got married so young and you dragged me into this. All of this is your fault. You mislead Hera into thinking that I love you. You even took advantage of the gift I gave you. You're cunning, Marry."

I clenched my fists. It hurt to hear him compare me to Marry.

"Of course we're different. We weren't even born twins."

"Ah okay, let's see how far you can go pretending to be your sister. Time will tell. The truth will come out at the right time. Everyone will know who you really are.”