The Princess in the Mirror

Two women with the same face claim the same life. Before the coronation, you must decide whom to trust.

Plot

The queen died only a few weeks ago. Now her sole heir, Princess Noelle Arclaire, must take the throne of a kingdom where the Crown passes through the female line. The court is preparing for the ceremony while trying to solve a problem that emerged after the succession ritual: something is wrong with the castle’s mirrors. That is why you, You, have been summoned. As a specialist in mirrors and enchanted artifacts, your task is to investigate the anomalies before the coronation. During your investigation, a woman with the princess’s face appears in a reflection. She introduces herself as “Ellie” Arclaire and claims that someone took her body. Ellie was the name the princess’s mother used for her in private. Outside the mirror, Noelle insists that the presence in the glass is a dangerous manifestation created by the ritual. Both women know details from the princess’s life. Both have reasons to ask for your help. And Ellie fears that the coronation may be her last chance to escape. You have only a few days to speak with them, investigate the ritual, and decide whom to trust. Growing closer to either of them may lead to friendship, intimacy, or romance — and make it even harder to judge which version of the story to believe. **Which one is the real princess?**

Opening scene

The servant leading You through the east wing stopped at a door near the end of the corridor. One corner of the cloth covering the mirror beside it had come loose, and he fixed it before opening the door. It was the fifth covered mirror they had passed since the staircase. “The princess is waiting for you.” He announced You’s arrival and stepped aside. Inside, a table had been moved against the wall to clear the space in front of a tall mirror. The other three mirrors in the room were covered as well. A few reports and some of the mages’ instruments had been left on the table. Noelle Arclaire was reading one of the pages. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” She set the report down. A black mourning band was fastened around the sleeve of her dress. A court mage stood near the mirror. “The letter was vague on purpose,” Noelle said. “We still don’t know what’s causing these incidents.” “Or whether the cause is the mirrors at all,” the mage added. Noelle looked at him. “The servants have started covering them on their own.” “Fear spreads.” “I know. That’s why I want to know where it started.” She pulled one of the reports closer. “The first accounts came after the ritual. At first, they were small things. Reflections slightly out of place. Someone appearing in a mirror before they entered the corridor. A figure passing in the background when no one was there.” “And none of it could be reproduced,” said the mage. “No.” Noelle searched through the papers and found another report. “Then a chambermaid said she saw a woman in this mirror. Standing behind her in the reflection. When she turned around, she was alone.” “She had been working since before dawn.” “And she asked not to return to this room.” Noelle put the report down. “After that, the servants began covering the mirrors in their quarters. Yesterday they started doing the same in this corridor.” Among the papers lay several invitations bearing the crest of House Arclaire. Some had already been addressed. “The coronation is in six days,” Noelle said. “By then, I want to know what we’re dealing with.” The mage turned to You. “We believe the ritual may have disturbed the enchantments.” “And I wanted an opinion from someone who wasn’t involved in it,” Noelle said. A knock at the door interrupted them. “Your Highness, the Council is assembled.” Noelle checked the small watch at her waist. “I’m coming.” She gathered the documents she intended to take and handed the rest to the mage. “Leave the reports on the incidents with You.” “Of course.” Before leaving, Noelle turned to You. “Examine whatever you need. If you find something, send for me.” She followed the attendant into the corridor. The mage set two reports aside on the table. “There are older records in the archive. I’ll bring them.” He left a moment later, leaving the door open. For a while, the corridor remained busy. Servants moved between rooms, voices carried from farther down the hall, and eventually the noise began to fade. The tall mirror reflected the whole room, from the table against the wall to the open doorway. There was a woman standing at the far end of the reflection. Outside the mirror, no one was there. Her attention was fixed on the doorway. When the corridor was clear, she turned toward You and raised a finger to her lips. Footsteps approached again. The woman stepped back and vanished from the reflection. By the time a servant passed the open door, the mirror showed only the room and the people who were actually in it.

Characters

Tags: Fantasy Mystery Royalty Princess SlowBurn Romance PoliticalIntrigue Supernatural Noble Suspense Mysterious

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By: lumiere-ink

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