Larissa had an ingrained gift. She could look a person in the eye and instantly know what that person wanted. Her gut feeling had yet to let her down and that same feeling was telling her that the woman sitting opposite to her King in a red sundress and vintage pearls was lying straight to his face.

She help a handkerchief to her face, wiping away at her crocodile tears as she narrated the tale of how she found out only last night that she was pregnant with the King's child and that she needs his support in raising it.

However, much to her relief, King Vincent of Geraldine didn't seem convinced either. He observed the woman quietly; his eyes intense and the fair Miss Sophia Curzon squirmed under the scrutiny, although she covered it well by wiping her pretentious tears.

"Sophia, you've had a long journey and we are yet to know how many months old the foetus is." Vincent folded his hands on the table in front of him. "My guards will escort you to the guest room. Please, freshen up, have something to eat and rest awhile. Maybe then we can discuss any future plans?"

"Oh! Yes!" Sophia jumped at the offer and then tried to cover it up with a mild, "I do need rest for the baby."

"Of course," Vincent's eyes met Larissa's briefly and she could already guess what his orders were going to be. "My guards will see you settled."

Larissa opened the doors for Miss Sophia as she exited the King's study and ordered one of the guards outside to escort their guest to one of the spare guestrooms that were always kept ready for unexpected visitors. King Vincent never found himself short on female company.

While Miss Sophia was being led to her temporary accommodation, Larissa also took the opportunity to call upon one of her trusted maids and ordered them to get a sample of her blood while Miss Sophia took a deep slumber. If she wanted to play dirty, fine. Larissa could do better.

When she returned to the King's study, she closed the door behind her, making sure that no one overheard them. Not that the palace employee were loose tongued, they were all men and women of honour and have yet to betray them, but that doesn't mean no one will.

"Have a seat, Larissa." Vincent sighed when Larissa stayed by the door. "There's no one here but you and me."

"Do you believe her?" Larissa went straight to the point, as was her nature. Vincent was yet to find another person who had the same no-bullshit attitude that she had. Even his twin sister wasn't as attentive even though she'd been taught politics and statecraft since she was an infant.

"No. But we did share a bed about four months ago, when I went to Paris on a holiday." Vincent confirmed. "We had an affair for two weeks before I had to come back home and I lost all contact with her."

Larissa rolled her eyes at her King. She knew he could do better that the lame 'lost-contact' excuse he was giving her. Vincent Synclair was a playboy with a capital P and he didn't plan to stop anytime soon. The kingdom needed a Queen and Vincent desperately needed a wife who could straighten him out and make him fall head over heels in love with her. And yet, here they were, talking about one of his mistresses who might very well be pregnant with his baby and that too, not for the very first time. Being a King came with a lot of baggage.

"Let's be real, shall we?" She countered instead. "You lose contact with all women you've ever dated within a month of meeting them. But this one was desperate enough to try and trap you in. She came here exactly four months after you dumped her, convenient, don't you think? Even if she really were pregnant, the baby might not be yours and testing for DNA could hamper her child's health. Which means she can trap you for not only getting her pregnant but also trying to harm her child so that she miscarries. What a lovely scandal that would be, wouldn't it?"

"Rissa, I wanted help, not a lecture on my upcoming downfall." Vincent snapped at her before realizing his mistake and offering her an apologetic smile.

"I know," Larissa smirked. "But I liked seeing you get all worked up." She shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, I've ordered Ayu to get a sample of her blood to test if she's really pregnant or not. We'll move forward with the next plan once the test results get here."

"And how do you plan to get the blood sample this time?" Vincent asked wearily. His advisor and security detail had a way of doing things that he didn't always approve of. He would've put her on milder duties but it would've been a waste of her skills. Larissa was highly efficient and she didn't want any other post than the one she had now. And Vincent wanted her to be comfortable, to not feel like an outsider, but most of all, he wanted her happy.

"I don't." She said simply. "That task belongs to Ayu and I trust her to get her work done. And if I judged Miss Sophia correctly, she loves shiny things. She kept eyeing you broach with open intent, although she might have pretended to wipe away her waterproof mascara. She came armed but I'm sure she wouldn't be able to resist the charm of fondling a few casual pieces of art lying around her room."

"You and Ayu are a menace." Vincent shook his head but said no more on the topic; because as much as he didn't approve of their methods, they have saved him from quite a lot of royal scandals.

"Go on then," he waved her away with his hand as one might shoo away a fly, but it was just a way of lightening the mood for both of them. "You're duty is done for today and I don't have anywhere to be for the rest of the day nor do I have any luncheon to attend. But I do have a charity event to attend this evening for the Children's Education for All fundraiser and you'll be attending as my plus one."

Larissa frowned. "I'd rather go as your security detail. And what about your twin? Can't you take her as a plus one?"

"Vasselie already has a date and you have the eyes of a Hawke and valuable background details on all those who'll be attending." Vincent fixed her with a stare. "Just think that you're going as my advisor, if you're worried about going as my sister. You've been to events with me before and no one has ever made a scandal out of it."

"Half-sister," Larissa reminded Vincent of their real relationship. "And I follow you around everywhere, it's my job."

"It didn't have to be."

"I chose my own path Vincent and I refused to be the cause of a royal scandal and tarnish your name." Larissa couldn't bring herself to be a cause of shame for the man who had taken her in and raised her with the best of his abilities when their father had passed away. King Constantine hadn't been known for his fidelity to his wife, who committed suicide at an early age, but she couldn't let her brother suffer because of their father's mistakes. "You're a good man and an excellent King. You don't deserve this."

"Neither do you." Vincent countered. "Now go, take the day off, get some well-deserved rest and chose a pretty gown. I want you to enjoy tonight's event and not just stand in some dark corner and brood."

Larissa groaned but she got up from her seat with and muttered a reluctant agreement before heading out of the room, slamming the door shut on Vincent's face purposely. No one in the castle would question her; they all knew who she really was even if she didn't want to accept it herself.

But for now, he'd let her live her life on her own terms, something that the Royalty isn't always allowed to do. And God forbid, she already has a lot taken from her. He couldn't take away the last thing holding her together. Her freedom.

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Hey guys! New story!

I know that I just keep writing new ones and don't finish the old ones but trust me, I'll finish them all...eventually. For now, enjoy this brand new story about two Royal families and the bastard daughter stuck in between! Hope you like it, it's a bit of a Mills and Boon style book though.

So please like and vote and comment and follow! And Enjoy!

Lovage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!