11: Revelations

I woke up in my comfortable bed. As I have remembered, I fell asleep in the closet.

I took a bath and went to the closet and I was surprised to see it neat and tidy. I went out and I saw Knight Stephen and Knight Maia standing beside my door.

"You made a mess last night, your majesty." Knight Stephen said

"Knight Zairo tidied your closet and carried you to your bed." Knight Maia said

"Where is he now?" I asked

"And you're awake, Princess." A voice said and I turned to see Zairo

"Thank you for fixing my things and... carrying me to my bed last night." I said

"The queen said you should eat your breakfast with her." He said and I nodded

The three of them followed me down the halls and until I reached the dining room.

"Good morning Mother.... and Ezra." I greeted

I sat on the chair opposite to Ezra. I wasn't informed that she'll be visiting again.

"Eat up, Avery. We'll be late for the council meeting." Mother said and I nodded

"Trinity, have you drunk the herbs I gave you? They will help you regain your strength." Mother told Ezra and the latter smiled and nodded

"You're envious again, my Princess." Zairo said through inner voice

'I am not.' I said

"As you say so, my Princess." he said and the connection faded

After eating, I went to the council meeting with Mother and sat beside her.

"Princess Avery, if there is someone who know the different inventions and innovations of Arcadia in this room, it would be you." a council member said

"And why does it matter?" I replied with a slight raise of brow

"Tell us what we need to improve so that we'll beat them at their own department." The highest council said

"Sorry to burst your bubbles but what you are saying is impossible." I voiced out

"How could you degrade your own kingdom? Are you really an Astraeian?" One of them questioned

"I am. However, don't you think we're being fools if we continue the plan of yours? They are famous for being the best at advanced technology, which in fact, we barely put our focus on, and all of a sudden, we'd focus on it because Arcadia had improved it? Isn't it kind of enviousness you're trying to imply?" I asked

"Enviousness?! Is that how you see our way of defending our kingdom in case Arcadia decided to attack us?!" the highest council asked

"If they will attack us, Lord Valdez, but as I have observed in my visit in the kingdom, they are too focusing in their innovation and invention to plan on attacking us." I said

"You do not know that, Princess Avery." The representative of the Ilithiyas said

"Or maybe it is the other way around." I said in disbelief

"Are you starting to doubt your own kingdom, Princess Avery? Are you really going to side up with Arcadia?" the representative of the Lucere Family said

"Let me return the question to you. Do you doubt me? Are you starting to doubt me because I am bursting your bubbles?" I asked mocking

I should not mock them but they are forcing me to do so.

"It is achievable, Princess Avery. If only you will allow us to go – and what spy? Do you want to give the other kingdom a reason to declare war against us? Is that what you want?" I cut what the third council was saying.

There are 12 councils and 5 representatives representing each influential family of each town in Astrae.

"No that is not what we intend to do, Princess Avery." The fourth council said

"Then what to you intend to do, Mister Vega? Did you not consider that it could be the possible outcome of your plan? Think of yourself in their position, what if they send a person to spy here, won't you declare war?" I asked them

"But, Princess, how to you suppose we catch up?" they asked

"Alliance. That eight-letter word never crossed your minds, did it? I want alliance with them not because I want to use them but for us to have peace. Can you see how many people had lost their lives, how many families had been broken? This feud is nothing but a simple tradition as I see it. You are only continuing what our ancestors had started." I said and they all jaw dropped

"I will only attend this meeting, once you or some of you have made up and opened their mind and see things how I see it not how our ancestors made us see it." I said and walked out of the room.

I went to the secret passage in the hallway that helps me hear and see the discussion in the council room.

"There must be something that the late king left so we can contradict the princess." Another council said, if I can recognize him correctly he is Mr. Hilton

"There might be." My mother's Royal adviser said and pulled out a scroll from his desk.

"Princess Clymene Patrice Avery Mae Jillianne is hereby according to my will marry the guy she love after her coronation. I, King Aristotle Thalassa Aether Zephyrus Astraea of the Astrae Kingdom, hereby written in this thy will does not allow my only daughter, the Princess Clymene Patrice Avery Mae Jillianne Harmonica Astrae be arranged to any Prince or son of any influential family." My mother's royal adviser said reading my father's last will

Even at writing his will, he still thought of my wellbeing and sake.

"Love? There is no such thing as love." a council member said

"Isn't you marriage with King Aristotle also an arrange marriage, Queen Katrina?" the highest council asked. How dare he ask my mother that?

My mother and father loved each other.

"Yes. It is and he doesn't want the same fate for his daughter." my mother said

What? But they said – Of course, they wouldn't tell the kid me that it's only an arranged marriage. Stupid me.

"So, you think letting her visit kingdoms will help?" A council member asked

"My daughter, the Princess is the only successor by blood. My husband has no siblings and nephew nor niece from their bloodline. You have no other choice but accept Princess Avery's decisions." My mother said which made me confused

Ezra is my cousin with Aunt Elizabeth, I don't understand. I know that there's a hearsay that she's adopted but that can't be true.

"Lady Ezra, she could be the successor. After all, she is Duchess Elizabeth's daughter, she is also an Astraeian Heiress.," another council member said

It'll be all right for me if Ezra becomes the successor, Aunt Elizabeth is older than my father anyway and she's also a couple years older than me. As to how I see it, the council favours her more, more like they prefer to have her as their Queen than me.

"Lady Trinity Ezra is an adopted illegitimate child. She is the illegitimate child of the Queen Katrina. Duchess Elizabeth only adopted her." My mother's adviser said which made me stop and hold on the wall for support.

I found out too many information and it is too much to take in.

Ezra…

Trinity Ezra Astrae...

The cousin I've treated like a sister for years is actually my sister, my half-sister.

She's 2 years older than me, why didn't I suspect that I only met her when I was already four.

"Therefore, since Princess Avery is the sole heiress we have no choice but accept her decision of allegiance with Arcadia." Mother said as if she's surrendering

"Your Highness, Arcadia had been our enemy for thousands of millennia." a council member reasoned out

"I know but my daughter should be followed we can't risk It." My mother said

Risk what? Why do they have to follow me? What are they so afraid of?

I felt my hands freezing.

"Pam, are you alright?" Zai asked

'Yes I am.' I answered through inner voice and turned off my bracelet

"So the Princess inherited the curse?" the highest council asked

Curse? What curse?

Mother nodded and said, "This meeting is adjourned." and stood up then exited

I went to the throne room and waited for mother.

I need to hear the truth from her. I need to have the peace of my mind for once.

"Trinity!" I called the girl whom I've once considered cousin.

"Avery? Why did you call me Trinity?" she asked with confusion written in her face

"Isn't it your name too?" I asked

"Well, I guess." She said then I saw mother walking toward us.

"Mother, let's talk." I said and we went to the room behind the throne room

"What should we talk about, Avery?" She asked

"Aren't you supposed to tell me something?" I asked and looked at the two of them

"I don't understand you, Avery. I need to go." Ezra said

"No, stay here, Trinity Ezra. I guess you also need to hear this then." I said and she sat down

"Go straight to the point, Avery." Mother said

"Who is Ezra, Mother?" I asked holding back my tears

I don't know why I asked that even though I know the answer.

"Avery, I am your cousin." Ezra said confusedly

"Ezra is your cousin." Mother said

"No, Mother. Who really is Ezra, who is she? Who really are Trinity Ezra's parents?" I asked trying hard not to choke the words

"Avery," Mother warned me while Ezra looked at me as if she was confused

"Is it that they never told you that you are adopted?" I asked Ezra and tears fell from my eyes when I saw surprise in her face

"H-how d-did?" She asked and it proved my theory. She knew.

I leaned to the chair I am sitting on.

"Avery, this is enough. This matter is private and must not be talked in unprotected places." Mother said

"Isn't this room soundproof? Or is it you don't want me to know?" I asked and choked some words because I was starting to cry

"Avery, yes I am adopted but trust me I treated you like a cousin, no more of a sister." Ezra said

"You really should." I said and mother seemed to have sensed that I have known it.

"Avery, you –Yes, Mother. I eavesdropped on the council meeting after I left." I said cutting what she was saying

"If I didn't do that I would've never known I have a sister. I have a half-sister adopted by my aunt and I'd treated as cousin whom I considered like a sister for 13 long years. Mother, how could you? How could you make me a fool all those years?" I asked spitting every word like poisonous venom that I don't want to take in

"Avery, it was for your own sake." Mother said

"My sake? Or Ezra's? You did that to protect her not me!" I said and stood up

"You do not raise your voice on your Queen." Mother said and slapped me

"I just did, and you what? That Queen won't rule any longer. You can't even arrange me to guys who would control me." I said and left the room.

I ran to my room and locked it.

How could my mother do such things?

She was my role model when I was younger. All along, I idolized the wrong person.

I buried my head in my pillows and soon fell asleep.