Hidden Bonds

Everyone, including both the Professors, screamed, "WHAT!?"

Brunia elucidated, "The three Princesses and Prince Beau were injected with 10 different kinds of drugs that caused memory loss in all of them. Then they were under the impression that I was always the third Princess of the realm. The Queen knew about this, of course, because she was the one who was kind enough to adopt me. I know that this is all perplexing, so I am ready to answer all your questions."

Licha asked, "From where did you get that scarlet heart-shaped box?"

Brunia replied, "You know, Oliver, the royal guard, right? Actually, he's not a royal guard; he's a Prince of the Rathanlandia kingdom who is next in line for his royal position on the throne. We met years ago, a few months before the Queen adopted me."

Professor Heidi questioned, "My students at the church, Michael, Aubrey, Chantel, and Andrew already knew you, I'm aware. How is that so?"

Brunia explained, "When we initially met the King of Granzreich, he claimed that he had seen me in an orphanage before... he's not wrong. I was brought to the Granzreich orphanage at the age of 5. There were teachers and other children there, so I never felt lonely. I met Michael, Aubrey, Chantal, and Andrew there, and we became fast friends and always did everything together. Then one day, Kabir and his family came into the orphanage, invested in it and took over the business. However, everything used to be managed from the headquarters from Rathanlandia. Soon enough, even Kabir became a significant part of our group."

Brunia continued, "But Kabir could never be with us all the time, his father arranged his playdates with us every once a week. So, every Monday, he used to visit the orphanage with his nanny and spend the day with us and return back to his kingdom the next morning. A few months later, the teachers in the institution had nothing left to teach me, so they considered putting up ads in the Granzreich kingdom for adoption. A few days later, the Queen of Vermillion entered the shop, filled out the legal paperwork and adopted me and christened me under the name of Brunia Von Vermillion, the third daughter of the Vermillion family. However, since I couldn't really come to Granzreich anymore. My friends were transferred to the local orphanages in Cumsta. Kabir also regularly visited us there. The Queen appointed a nanny to chauffeur me around town and take me to the orphanage to visit my friends every once a week; the same arrangement as Kabir."

Bruno enquired. "If this was the case, then why did Kabir did you that heart-shaped box?"

Licht teased him, "OOOHHH! Someone is jealous!"

Bruno yelled, "I'm not jealous, okay? I have no reason to feel that way; I'm just curious."

Brunia responded, "There's no need to worry about that now, Bruno. But I'm going to tell you all something, but you mustn't freak out."

Licha scoffed, "I doubt that there is something else that can top the 'I am not your sister' thing."

Brunia revealed, "Kabir was my umm... BOYFRIEND!"

Everybody, except the Professors, yelled in surprise, "WHAT!?"

Licha asked, "Why aren't you expressionless darlings surprised?!"

Both the Professors responded, "We saw it coming, long time ago."

Professor Heine confessed, "In fact, Heidi and I were the ones who proposed that Kabir should be the royal guard as he had some unresolved issues."

Kaira inquired, "What unresolved issues?"

Brunia elucidated, "Kabir and I started dating when we were 12. When I turned 15, the Queen announced that she was resigning from her duties for personal reasons after some time and that she needed to choose a daughter who was fit to replace her and commence pursuing the immense responsibilities of the royal throne. I figured that if I wanted the Queen to choose me, I must work ten times harder than all of you, considering that I'm not her daughter. So, I restricted my visitings to town and abruptly ended my relationship with Kabir as I moved ahead to pursue my dream. Just recently, we talked out and eradicated the misunderstanding. Also, I had to pay back for her adopting me. But trust me, I love you guys a lot, and that was never artificial. I know that you might probably hate me now, but you all should know that I will always love you and there's nothing or nobody that could ever change that."

Everybody looked at one another and then came up with their own response. Licha affirmed, "Look, none of this or whatever happened in your past was your fault, so it is cray-cray to get mad at you for it, but no matter what happens you will always be my Brunie!" She pulled Brunia into a firm embrace as they both cried.

Kaira stated, "Everyone has a mark or two in their past, that person can say otherwise. I will always love my younger sister, who never leaves my back." They both embraced each other for a long moment, and finally pulled away.

The Professors said, "You will always be our apprentice, Princess Brunia. We have spent enough time with you to know that." Brunia hugged both the Professors firmly and soon pulled away.

Licht responded, "I know we didn't really spend a lot of time together, before this, but I think you're pretty great!"

Kai added, "Your hands are so soft... it would be hard to let go of that."

Brunia scoffed, "Kai, it always comes back to soft things with you, right?"

Kai replied, "I'm just kidding, we both have a lot to learn from each other; but if I judge you then I cannot learn whatever life has to teach me.." Brunia smiled and looked over at Bruno, who was pacing up and down.

Brunia asked, "Are you mad at me?"

Bruno answered, "No, it's just that... I'm overwhelmed. I just don't want you to forget about me."

Brunia whispered into his ear, "We are stuck here, might as well want to tell them how we feel about one another?" Bruno nodded with approval and called everyone's attention.

He held Brunia's hand and stammered, "Umm... everyone... this is a little peculiar for me to say umm... umm..."

Licht squealed with delight, "I knew it! YOU TWO ARE TOGETHER, RIGHT!?" When Bruno and Brunia didn't deny it, everyone in the room except Leonhard and Leonora, squealed with delight, even the Professors!

Leonhard asked, "Dearest brother, what do you see in this commoner, anyway!?"

Leonora yelled, "HEY! MY DEAREST SISTER IS JUST AS MUCH OF A PRINCESS THAN ANY OF US GIRLS IN HERE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HER THAT WAY!"

Leonhard inquired, "You still consider her as your most beloved sister? Even after considering what happened?"

Leonora replied, "She has picked me up when I've fallen, she has made me laugh whenever I was sad. She even pampered me whenever I didn't ask for it. I respect her so much! Her past can never change that for me! The times that we have shared together mean to much to me to neglect! This is a judgment I am making for myself as a candidate for the royal throne. I believe that both Professors have made that lesson very clear!"

Brunia pulled her dearest little sister into a warm embrace, and Leonhard apologized for his behavior.

Leonhard questioned, "Brunia, is there any chance that you remember anything before you started a new chapter of your life in the orphanage or even your real name?"

Suddenly a voice called out from above, "I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED, WHITE LILY!" Everyone turned around to see the same evil spirit wandering behind them.

The apparition spoke, "I shall answer the question WHITE LILY! Brunia is actually not her maiden name at all! I am her father! Her name was Ayesha something!"

Bruno asked, "So you're saying that my girlfriend's name is Ayesha Haroon Khan!?"

The spirit continued in anger, "NO! AND SHE WILL NEVER BE!"

Leonora yelled, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, MALARKEY!"

The apparition questioned, "Do you know someone's pain of being sterile for the rest of their lives?

Licht asked in curiosity, "If you are sterile, then how on earth do you have two twins and a daughter?"

The sprit yelled, "Isn't it obvious!? MY WIFE CHEATED ON ME AND HAD----"

Professor Heine spoke loudly, this interrupting him, by saying, "OKAY! OKAY! WE UNDERSTAND, SIR!

Leonhard screamed, "I don't comprehend any of this?! What did your wife do?"

The spirit, however, continued, "She had sex with another man! I could never be their father, I was raising someone else's children! I came to know that I was sterile after the twins were born and when Ayesha was only 3 years old. And so, I killed them! But this woman right here is alive only because of that KING OF GRANZREICH!"

Kai inquired, "Wait... you mean to say that our father was involved in this?!"

The apparition narrated, "I sent my men to assassinate the twins when my wife went out for work, I assumed that Ayesha wasn't home at the time and had gone to pre-school. The twin boys were in their playroom, playing with the newly expensive toys that I purchased for them. I sent my men in the room, and they accomplished the task of killing the twins quickly. I was going to get away with this and attempt to assassinate the eldest daughter as well. Until I whirled around to see Ayesha standing right behind me! She was the only witness against me for her brothers' assassination. She suddenly lifted up the nearby closet with her power of the mind and dumped it on me, and I was severely injured. My men chased behind her and somehow managed to shoot Ayesha with a medication whose primary purpose was to make her dose off while I snatched her powers. But this moron had called on the police while I was preoccupied while killing the twins, and the commotion merely increased when King Granzreich himself showed up there with the rest of the police! The powers had been stored in a capsule that was in my pocket the whole time, and the police force didn't even ask me back for it! So I got to keep them all for myself. But there was no point in living with it since that stupid capsule wouldn't open. So I committed suicide while I was jailed for assassinating the twins. While the King of Granzreich assigned Ayesha into the most prestigious orphanage in Granzreich and the rest of her life story was narrated by Ayesha herself. But today, as a spirit, that power has bestowed upon me!"

Brunia inquired, "I don't get this! If you were so greedy for my powers and wanted to kill me for all these years, then why was the safe password my birthday?!"

The apparition answered, "Hey! There was once a time when I genuinely loved you, and I thought that you were my daughter. But as a matter of fact, it was easier to lure you in here than I anticipated. THEN NOW WITH THESE POWERS OF YOURS THAT I POSSESS, YOU SHALL DIE, PRINCESS BRUNIA VON VERMILLION!!!!! AND THAT'S NOT ALL, ONE OF YOU SHALL DIE ALONG WITH WITH HER!! And in case you're wondering why is that, the legend states that the person who the true heir of the powers loves the most in this world possesses the secret abilities too, which is unlocked and triggered only the power of love. So Ayesha, I see that the person whom you love the most in this world is still in this room, eh? As I shall aim at you, the power will be struck at the person whom you most treasure in this world! PRINCESS BRUNIA VON VERMILLION AND PRINCESS LEONORA VON VERMILLION SHALL DIE TOGETHER!"

The apparition swished a mix of golden, white and light in the air and aimed it to struck at Brunia for her to crumble to death. But before anyone knew it, Leonhard blocked the way and instead got crushed and fainted on the ground! However, even Leonora got struck, but she surprisingly remained unaffected.

Brunia rushed over to Leonora and asked in worry after pulling her into a firm embrace, "OH MY GOD! MY BABY SISTER, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"

Leonora responded huffingly, "I'm fine, but however, where's Leonhard?" Everyone turned around to see the Prince succumbed on the ground! Everyone huddled around to see if he was alright, and suddenly, the whole atmosphere was filled with pain and grief.

Brunia got angry and started screeching at the top of her voice, "YOU FIRST KILL MY TWIN BROTHERS AN NOW YOU KILL MY DEAREST BROTHER LEONHARD!? I WILL SHOW YOU, MISTER!"

The spirit was so afraid to face Brunia's anger; and was surprised that his magic didn't work that it suddenly disappeared forever!

Licha commented, "That's one coward ghost! Well... I couldn't blame him for getting scared of Brunie!"

Bruno yelled, "FORGET THE GHOST! WE NEED TO GET LEONHARD TO THE DOCTOR!" Leonhard was taken to the palace doctor while the King and Queen were out of town for inviting royal from other nations for the royal ball. While the doctor was examining him, his brothers and the Vermillion sisters could only hope for his well-being. Only God knew the answer to his destiny.