Imposter

“That's not Ceilear,” Karl pointed out casually.

“How do you know?” Carvin asked, giving the man a suspicious look.

Karl smiled, a smug look that suited his face all too well, sheerly from its overuse. He launched into his explanation with fervor, gaining the attention of Nre and the others, as well as the frowns from the fairy coalition.

“Ceilear always bites her thumbnail when she's nervous, as she would be now, being thrust before her mother and father hoping they would recognize her.”

“But we'd always—” Nre started to say, but Karl put up a hand in her direction.

“She worries,” he said flatly. “If you'd spent more time with her before she became the singing harp of Ladyra, you would know that.”

“How do you—” Carvin began, suspicious look now much more pronounced on his face.

“Can I finish my explanation before we start discussion the seemingly ever-present issues with my character?” Karl asked, a little sharply. Both royals glared, but didn't say anything else.

“Ceilear bites her thumbnail when she's nervous,” Karl said again, looking at the blonde beauty in front of him who was now idly chewing on her nail. “And this vixen started as soon as I said something. Examine the nail, however, and you'll find it almost untouched. This woman has been twisting her fingers – apparently her nervous habit. Also, Ceilear always sits primly and properly, as this woman does, with the exception of her feet. I don't believe I've ever seen her ankles uncrossed. Furthermore, this woman's attention easily contradicts what would be Ceilear's reaction; desperate looks, not only to her parents, but also to her brother, whom she would recognize immediately as being among the guardsmen.”

Having decided at some point during his monologue that it would be grander to take to his feet, Karl now regained his seat with a flourish.

Inspiration: Wondering if people might recognize each other by little habits instead of faces. The characters are a set from my original series, and while this may or may not actually make it into any of my stories, it was nonetheless amusing to write. Karl is one of my favorites.