Chapter 2: The Princess Who Had Been Erased
The ballroom descended into chaos.
Noblemen shouted questions. Ladies hurried toward the exits. Guards formed a protective circle around the pedestal.
But Elia barely heard any of it.
She stared at the words glowing beneath the crystal.
The throne was taken by blood that was not royal.
"What does that mean?"" she whispered.
Queen Eleanor squeezed her hand.
"I don't know yet.""
Duke Ashbourne stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this ceremony must be stopped immediately.""
Eleanor turned toward him.
"On whose authority?""
"On the authority of the crown's security and the dignity of this kingdom. We cannot allow a servant to make claims of royal identity based on a necklace and a children's song.""
Victoria nodded eagerly.
"Father is right. This is outrageous.""
Elia looked at them.
"I never claimed to be a princess.""
Victoria gave a bitter laugh.
"You didn't have to. You simply walked into the middle of a royal ceremony and decided the entire kingdom should look at you.""
"I was asked to sing.""
"By the queen, not by the crystal.""
Victoria turned toward Eleanor.
"Your Majesty, I understand that you are emotional, but surely you cannot believe this girl is your daughter.""
The queen's expression hardened.
"Be careful, Lady Victoria.""
Victoria lowered her head.
"Forgive me. I am only protecting your reputation.""
"No. You're protecting your expectations.""
A few nobles exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Duke Ashbourne's jaw tightened.
"Your Majesty, my family has supported this kingdom for generations. My daughter has spent years preparing to serve the royal house. Surely you will not discard everything because of an ancient piece of jewelry.""
Eleanor looked at him for a long moment.
"Your daughter failed to awaken the crystal.""
"That does not make this girl a princess!""
"Neither does your family's ambition make Lady Victoria one.""
The duke's face darkened.
Adrian stepped between them.
"Enough. Nobody is leaving until we understand what has happened.""
He turned toward the captain of the royal guard.
"Captain Marcus, seal the ballroom.""
"At once, Your Highness.""
The guards closed the great doors.
Elia flinched when the heavy locks dropped into place.
She had never been in a room where so many powerful people were looking at her as though she were dangerous.
Queen Eleanor noticed.
"You're safe, Elia.""
The maid looked at her.
"Am I?""
The question struck the queen harder than any accusation.
"Yes," she whispered.
"I promise.""
But Elia could not bring herself to believe it.
For eighteen years, she had lived as a servant. She had washed floors, carried coal, scrubbed kitchen pots, and learned to apologize whenever someone stepped on her foot.
Now a queen was calling her daughter.
It felt like waking from a dream.
And she was afraid that if she opened her eyes, everything would disappear.
A royal physician arrived fifteen minutes later.
Dr. Thomas Bell was an elderly man with silver spectacles and a leather medical case. He bowed to Eleanor before examining Elia.
"Your Majesty, I understand there has been an unusual development.""
"An extraordinary one," Eleanor replied.
She showed him the pendant.
Dr. Bell's hands began to tremble.
"Where did you find this?""
"It was given to me by my foster mother.""
The physician stared at her.
"Your Majesty, this is the pendant made for the princess.""
Adrian moved closer.
"You're certain?""
"I helped design the original engraving myself.""
The physician opened his case and removed a small silver instrument.
"I would like to examine the girl's blood. If Her Majesty permits.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary.""
Elia looked uncertain.
"Will it hurt?""
"Only a little," Dr. Bell assured her.
He pricked her fingertip and collected a small drop of blood.
Then he opened a narrow compartment in his medical case.
Inside was a sealed glass vial containing a dark red liquid.
Adrian frowned.
"What is that?""
"A preserved sample from the royal nursery.""
The physician carefully mixed a drop of Elia's blood with the liquid.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the mixture turned a deep shade of violet.
Dr. Bell inhaled sharply.
He repeated the test.
The same color appeared.
"My God.""
Eleanor gripped the edge of the table.
"What is it?""
"The blood markers match the preserved royal sample.""
Duke Ashbourne laughed sharply.
"That proves nothing. Samples can be contaminated.""
Dr. Bell turned toward him.
"I have served this family for forty-two years, Your Grace. I know how to perform a bloodline examination.""
"Then perform another.""
"I intend to.""
He collected a second sample.
The result was identical.
Dr. Bell removed his spectacles.
"Your Majesty...""
"Say it.""
"The girl is almost certainly your biological daughter.""
Eleanor began to cry.
This time, she did not try to hide it.
She approached Elia and slowly knelt before her.
The sight stunned everyone.
The queen of Valoria was kneeling before a girl in a faded gray uniform.
"My little star," she whispered.
Elia stared at her.
"Please don't...""
"Don't what?""
"Don't call me that unless you're certain.""
Eleanor reached for her hands.
"I have been certain in my heart for eighteen years.""
Elia's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you find me?""
The question was simple.
But Eleanor had no answer.
She remembered the endless searches. The abandoned villages. The interrogations.
The servants dismissed. The rumors silenced.
She remembered a palace minister telling her that her daughter had died.
And she remembered believing him because she had been too broken to fight.
"I tried," she whispered.
"Then why was I washing dishes while everyone here believed I was dead?""
Eleanor bowed her head.
"I failed you.""
Elia pulled her hands away.
The queen did not stop her.
Across the room, Victoria looked as though someone had struck her.
"No," she whispered.
Serena touched her shoulder.
"Victoria...""
"No. This cannot be happening.""
Duke Ashbourne moved closer to his daughter.
"Calm yourself.""
Victoria looked at him.
"You told me the crystal would choose me.""
His expression tightened.
"Not here.""
"You told me I was descended from the old royal bloodline!""
"Victoria.""
"You promised me I would marry Adrian and become queen!""
Several nobles turned toward them.
Adrian's face became cold.
"Explain yourself, Duke.""
Ashbourne straightened his coat.
"My daughter is upset. She has suffered a public humiliation. I will not entertain accusations made in the middle of an emotional crisis.""
Victoria looked at Elia.
Her voice dropped.
"She has taken everything.""
Elia shook her head.
"I don't even know what I'm supposed to have.""
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Exactly. You have no idea what this palace does to people who stand in the way of its future.""
The guards immediately stepped closer.
Adrian moved toward Victoria.
"Was that a threat?""
"No, Your Highness.""
"Then I suggest you choose your next words carefully.""
Duke Ashbourne interrupted.
"This has gone far enough. I demand a private meeting with the queen.""
Eleanor stood.
"You will receive nothing until I know why the Crystal Hand has revealed that the throne was taken by someone outside the royal bloodline.""
For the first time, Ashbourne looked frightened.
Only for a second.
But Elia saw it.
And so did Adrian.
The prince turned toward his mother.
"We need to move Elia somewhere secure.""
"Agreed.""
Adrian looked at the captain.
"Take her to the eastern royal apartments. Place two guards outside every entrance.""
Mrs. Hargrove suddenly stepped forward.
"Your Highness, forgive me, but the girl has no understanding of royal etiquette. She cannot simply be moved into the royal apartments.""
Adrian stared at her.
"She is the queen's daughter.""
The housekeeper went pale.
"I only meant—"
"You have spent years ordering her around. I suggest you become very careful about how you address her from this moment forward.""
Elia looked at Mrs. Hargrove.
The woman who had once made her kneel to scrub spilled wine from a nobleman's shoes was now avoiding her eyes.
But Elia felt no satisfaction.
She only felt tired.
As the guards escorted her toward the ballroom doors, Queen Eleanor followed.
"Elia?""
She turned.
"Yes, Your Majesty?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"May I ask you something?""
"Of course.""
"Did Mara leave anything else? Any letters? Documents? Something that might explain where you came from?""
Elia thought of the small wooden box beneath her bed.
"There was a letter.""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"What did it say?""
"I never opened it.""
"Why?""
Elia lowered her eyes.
"Because Mara told me I should only read it when someone from the palace came looking for me.""
The queen went completely still.
"And when did she say that?""
"On the night she died.""
Elia swallowed.
"She told me there was something I needed to know about the people who took me away.""
Eleanor felt the blood drain from her face.
"Who took you away?""
Elia looked at her.
"Mara said she didn't find me by accident.""
Then she reached into her uniform and removed a folded piece of paper.
It had been tucked inside her apron pocket for three years.
May you like
On the front, in Mara's uneven handwriting, were five words.
*FOR THE DAUGHTER OF ELEANOR.*
