37 jealousy

Princess Margaret from the past:

"I hate him!" The words burst from me, raw and unfiltered. Never in a million years did I think Erox, my Erox, could hurt me the way this doppelganger has. This man, with my best friend's face and name, is a complete stranger.

He flashes that charming smile at everyone, but never at me. He whispers sweet nothings to others, but around me, it's like I'm the enemy. And don't even get me started on how he constantly talks about this "M," short for Margaret, the same name as me.

Whenever he talks about this girl, who I believe is my reincarnated soul from this era, his eyes light up like a flower basking in the morning sun. But why does he never look at me like that? We share the same face, the same name. Why does he treat me like this?

Ugh! I'd never be interested in a man like him anyway, so why should I care if he doesn't treat me the same as everyone else?

I almost cried after our conversation. His harsh words still sting. If I weren't so embarrassed to show my tears, I'd be a sobbing mess right now. He was so rude, yet he's chatting away like he didn't just pick on a princess a few minutes ago.

"Hey, my lady, are you alright? You seem upset. I can see it on your face. Is it because of your lines, or perhaps that man over there?"

I turn my gaze back to where Erox is standing, talking to my guard. Beside him, a woman approaches, and his face lights up instantly as he notices her.

Here we go again. His smile never falters as he talks to her, a smile that would vanish in a blink if I were the one standing there.

"Your boyfriend seems to be quite the charmer with all the ladies here. He's a bit distracting, to be honest. Is he with you just to show off how he flirts?"

My knuckles clench in frustration. I know the truth of our situation, but to everyone else, we're a couple, and this kind of behavior is a huge deal. He shouldn't be so blatant about flirting with others.

"You know, Margaret, if I were your boyfriend, I wouldn't even glance at another girl. You're enough for me. You're perfect. And even if your boyfriend is a good-looking guy, he shouldn't treat you like that."

Ezekiel's words perfectly echo my thoughts.

But I lack the courage to say anything to Erox. Honestly, what am I to him? Just a girl he's babysitting, since I'm completely lost in this world. Right now, he's the only one I can turn to, whether I like it or not.

"Don't stress about it too much. Need some help with your lines? I know you're still recovering, so I get it if you're not feeling like yourself. You're not usually this quiet, though. You light up the room when the cameras are rolling. Don't worry, you'll be back to your usual self in no time."

I let out a weary sigh. How can I be my "usual self" when I'm pretty sure I'm not even myself? How can I live up to her standards when I'm not actually her? The real Margaret, the one everyone knows, will be back when we switch. The question is, when will that happen? If they knew it wasn't the real Margaret, they wouldn't be so encouraging. They don't know that this isn't the girl everyone knows in this world.

"If you were delivering the news, try to talk like you're telling a story to a friend. Like what you saw or did. You have friends, right? Think about how you gossip with them. Then apply that to the camera when we start.”

I force a smile. Ezekiel makes everything easier for me. I take a deep breath, trying to remember how I used to chat with my best friend, Erox, back when I had news or an accomplishment to share.

"Okay, I got this," I say, managing a smile for Ezekiel as he pats my head reassuringly.

I memorize my lines, and when the cameras roll, I try to act normal. I pretend I'm just talking to Erox, like he's right in front of me, and this is just another day at the palace.

"Cut! We're done!" the director calls out, beaming. I did it! My first instinct is to turn to Ezekiel and thank him.

"So, are you going to treat me to lunch for being such a great help?" Ezekiel asks, a charming grin spreading across his face. He's handsome, too, though not quite as striking as Erox, but he has a certain charisma that's hard to ignore. Plus, he's friendly. I think one lunch wouldn't hurt, right?

I'm about to respond when Erox cuts in.

"No one's treating her to lunch as long as I'm standing here beside her. You know she has a boyfriend, right? So stop flirting with my girl and get lost, man.”

"Seriously? You're claiming this girl is yours while you're flirting with other women in broad daylight, right in front of her? Aren't you ashamed of yourself? You're literally insulting this beautiful woman you know."

Erox grabs Ezekiel's collar, ready to unleash a punch on the poor guy.

"Enough, Erox. Ezekiel is right. Go back to those women and smile all you want. Leave me alone to have lunch with my coworker. Besides, I owe him for helping me earlier. Unlike you, who's doing nothing but complaining and comparing me to others."

I turn my back on them, grab Ezekiel's arm, and pull him away, escaping the scene I've created.

I know I shouldn't have, but I was so hurt. It felt like one more push, and I would have completely broken down.

I don't understand why I feel this way, but seeing Erox flirting with other girls feels like a giant hand squeezing my heart, making it hard to breathe.