Chapter 7 Second Time

I lowered my head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Vincent asked, "Why are you thanking me? I did nothing!" I looked up, meeting his gaze. "Thank you for reinstating me as a princess. Also, thank you for standing up for me at the wedding." Vincent smiled. "I just couldn't stand injustice. It's not really because of you. Please don't be mistaken, Princess Jasmine." I bowed at him because he called me Princess Jasmine with sincerity. Vincent wiped his hands. "You don't have to stay. Tomorrow is your reinstatement. You should rest!" I thanked him and returned to my storage room. At night, when I was about to sleep, Diana rushed into my room. "Jasmine, put on my clothes and head to my room." I could see that she was anxious, but I needed to know the reason. I asked, "Why?" She said in annoyance, "What do you mean, why? Don't you know what you did last night?" I shook my head. I did not do anything. I looked at Diana looking at me anxiously. I did not understand, but I still obeyed her. I knew if I did not do so, the consequences would be dire. She hurried me to put on her clothes. She reminded me once more, "Remember, don't get yourself exposed. Once the bell chimes, we switch. Also, remember you're me. Don't do anything else that you shouldn't do. Don't forget, that man is mine." I nodded and headed to her room. The room was dimly lit. Vincent was reading by the lamp. His angular facial features were extremely good-looking. I looked at him in a daze. Vincent looked at me standing there. "Diana, what are you doing? It's late. Time for bed." He sounded cold. I came to my senses when I heard him call Diana. I lay in bed while Vincent also put down his book and switched off the lamp. I gently got into bed, and he hugged me. He smelled my neck. "Is it just me or do you seem different compared to during the day?" I panicked a little, but I replied in my best Diana voice, "Is that so? Perhaps I'm a little shyer when I see you at night." Vincent did not doubt what I said. He hugged me silently. I turned around and touched his face. "Vincent, do you like what happened last night?" Vicent said with closed eyes, "Why are you bringing this up suddenly?" I retracted my hands. "Nothing. I'm just asking. If you don't want to talk about it, we don't have to." He held my hand. "Last night was really great. You're docile in this matter. I like it a lot, but it stops there." "Why?" He suddenly opened his eyes. "Because you have a familiar scent. You have the sweetest scent I've ever smelled." I met Vincent's gaze. I knew he was talking about Diana, not me. I frantically looked away and turned over. That person was not me. I was just Diana's substitute. Vincent hugged me from behind, smelling my neck. He seemed to like my scent. I asked, "Are we heading to Houghton soon?" "Hmm," he responded. I held his hand. "I'm a little nervous. I don't know anyone there." He tightened the grip on my hand. "You don't have to be nervous. I'll be there to protect you. No one would dare speak ill of you." Vincent continued. "Your scent during the day is much lighter." I suddenly tensed up. "Maybe you're closer to me during the night and far from me during the day." Vincent did not suspect anything, but I was not willing to let this go. I mustered the courage to ask, "So, do you like the daytime me better or the nighttime me?" Vincent hesitated for a while before replying, "I guess, the nighttime you. You smell very nice. It calms me down." I smiled. If he knew I was Jasmine, would he still like me? Vincent stopped hugging me. He tucked me in under the sheets. "Rest well. Good night." My scent indeed calmed Vincent down. He fell asleep soon after. What he said kept me up all night. I turned around to look at his face sadly. 'Jasmine, snap out of it. He's your brother-in-law. You can't fall for him.' I wanted to touch him, but I knew I was crossing the line, so I retracted my hand. I looked at him and closed my eyes. Those few minutes were the most peaceful moments I ever had. When the bell rang, I opened my eyes to see Vincent soundly asleep. I gently left the room and bumped into Diana who came from downstairs. I was about to turn and leave when Diana pulled me back. "Did you say anything you shouldn't say?" I was stunned for a while. "No." I did not think what I said was considered. Diana let me go and entered her room. I returned to the storage room and fell asleep thinking about Vincent's scent. Early in the morning, Judy, my stepmother's personal servant, woke me up. "Princess Jasmine, wake up." I looked at Judy, who had always been stern with me, treating me strangely with more kindness that day. I immediately got up. "Did I do something wrong, Judy?" Judy smiled. "Princess Jasmine, you're killing me! Today is your reinstatement day. After today, you'll be the Grand Princess of George." I looked at the beautiful clothes next to my bed. I pointed and asked, "Are these for me?" Judy nodded. "Yes, Princess." She looked at the dirty place I was in. "Also, Princess, you can't stay here any longer!" I was about to touch the clothes when I immediately grabbed Judy's arm and looked at her. "Why? Am I not allowed to stay in the castle anymore? Don't banish me! I don't have to be a Princess! I don't want to die!" Judy looked at me strangely and wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes. "My dear Princess, you're the Princess of George. How could they banish you? Your room will be next to Diana's. You also won't need to do any of the chores anymore." I paused for a while before following Judy out of the storage room to the room next to Diana's. Judy led me into the room. It was decorated exactly like Diana's room. Turns out that you could stay in such a nice room when you're a princess. Judy called in servants to clean me up. I lay in the bathtub, enjoying the servants' massage.