The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella and Romeo) novel Chapter 1504

"Let's get this show on the road!" Eugene announced as he activated the stopwatch app on his phone.

Serena felt like she was caught between a rock and a hard place. All she had to do was drag out the game for two minutes. Even if she lost a piece or two, she could just play it off as a headache-induced slip; no harm done.

Arabella, seeing Serena make her move, casually picked up a checker and dropped it nearby without much thought.

Serena pondered her next move, trying to keep a distance from Arabella. The further away, the harder it would be for Arabella to corner her.

"Lindsay, is she really Queena's protege? She's taking forever just to make one move."

"She isn't just stalling, is she?"

"She doesn't seem very skilled at chess."

"Remember she had a headache." Lindsay made a shushing gesture toward the others and whispered, "You all insisted on this match. Give her a moment to think, for heaven's sake. Keep it down, or she'll hear us and it'll throw her off."

"Right, I almost forgot about her headache," The onlookers fell silent once more, only to start murmuring among themselves again after a short while.

"Her moves are all over the place."

"Could this be some newfangled strategy?"

"I'm starting to think so. Maybe Queena taught her this style to confuse her opponents?"

Arabella played her pieces with a nonchalant air. One minute ticked by. Despite Serena's scattered approach, Arabella began to close in.

The crowd watched in stunned silence as the black pieces dwindled on the board, devoured by Arabella.

On the entire board, Serena was left with only two lonely black checkers.

And Arabella, representing the white side, was clearly the victor.