“I’ll see us through, I promise.” Those are the last words ever spoken to me by my lover.

My name is Arsinia. I am a citizen of the Empire of LaRoma, and lady-in-waiting to Princess Alina of said empire. I also happen to be a criminal charged with murder, to which I cannot say I’m either innocent or guilty.

Back to the part about my love. Prince Hector of Spanestil is a handsome and charming man. We met a few years back while I was visiting his country. My father worked as a groundskeeper to his summer palace. It was there that I first laid eyes on him. It was love at first sight, for me at least. For him, it took a little convincing. At first he ignored me as if I were nothing more than peasant scum. Alas, I must say I was. So I hatched a plan to win him over. It may have taken a deal with an otherwise newbie thief, but I found myself a beautiful dress to wear to his ball. After hours of primping and perfecting, I found myself looking as gorgeous as any Great Spanestilian lady. At last, I snuck into his party and…I wasn’t caught! I knew my disguise was amazing, but I did still have my doubts. Finally, my moment had come. In a daze after pulling off this marvelous feat, I felt my heart surge with confidence. Before long, I was dancing with the prince himself! And dancing again, and again, and again! It was then that I knew he was quite taken with me. See, Spanestilian custom is that you only dance with a person once or twice at a ball, unless you happen to be married to the person. So I knew he was very fond of me when he broke the custom to dance with me. After hours of pure excitement, Hector led me to the balcony. There, we talked and I found that it was more than looks that had me crushing on such a man. He was oh so charming! and very, very smart. I was enraptured at every word he spoke, and intent on gazing deep into those chocolate eyes. After many long minutes of talking about everything and nothing, the impossible happened! He kissed me!!! On the lips! It was the best, and first kiss I had ever received. I knew I couldn’t hide my identity from him forever though, so before he left, I found myself forced to confess. He didn’t take it well. But after one look into my eyes, he confessed that he liked me much more than he should, and promised to keep seeing me. So he did. We kept at our affair for months! Each day I spent with him I grew closer and closer to him. One day, I finally realized the truth: I loved him. I was in love with an amazing guy, and I knew he loved me back! The day that I realized that, I composed a poem. I’m no poet, so I shall not share here the exact words, but it was a confession of love that came straight from my heart. Here is where I made the mistake. I was so giddy after composing the poem, that when I left my room later that day, I forgot to tuck it away. And so that is how it happened to fall into the hands of my jealous sister. Once she laid eyes on the thing, it was game over. She immediately took it to the king, and the days following are a blur. It was a lot of arguing, fighting, tears, and it ended in my banishment. How I clung to his final words, knowing that one day we’d get our wish to marry. I was wrong. Upon my return to LaRoma, I was arrested after the untimely death of my sister, almost executed, saved by a princess, and employed by that same princess. Things were finally looking up for me. However, yesterdayI found out the news. My love, Prince Hector, is engaged to my employer, Princess Alina! And he is in the same building as me right now. I cannot believe it! On impulse, I make a terrible, rash, decision. It is the only way. If he isn’t going to love me, he isn’t going to love anyone. That is the last thought before a pick up the bottle of poison and pour it onto the prince’s breakfast.