Chapter 58: Choose wisely

Anaisa froze. The king wanted to know who her parents were, and she had to quickly make a decision about whether to directly lie to him, or tell him the truth and deal with the fallout. Neither seemed a good option at this point.

"....both my parents are dead," She whispered as tears began to fill her eyes.

The king's face softened at her show of grief, not knowing that they weren't tears of sadness.

They were tears of rage at Barnabas, and at her own father, for putting her in the position of introducing herself to the king of their nation as a servant instead of a noble. This was not her place. She should be standing here in finery with head held high, not terrified that she would be found out and executed.

Her resolve to take down her traitorous cousin intensified as she tried not to cower. 

"Were your parents from Foundrel?" The King glanced to one side.