The irony is not lost on me.

"Your majesty, please understand he most likely perished in battle." I say to her. "No man I know is so resilient as to survive the circumstances he was last seen in."

"No man YOU know." She replies sternly. "Don't forget you have only been hired after he dissapeared. You do not know what he was... Is capable of."

I turn around, my senses sharp from a lifetime of training, to yell "Can't you see the princess is grieving!? Leave her in peace!"

A man who was watching us fell out of a tree and ran off. "All of you..." Two others up and leave as well.

"This charade is exhausting" I say, turning back to her.

"You know why we have to do this." She insists.

"I do." I don't want my abusive parents, barely royalty themselves, to receive any of the royal treasure, so if I want to marry the love of my life, I would have to do it as someone else.

Playing dead was my only option.

"I do, darling."

The irony is not lost on me.