My last gift to you

Eva's POV

"I saw the scars," She said, her voice low. Too low. She stalked towards Cecilia.

That was why she had been so quiet. In between thinking about Rosé, the feeling I have towards Cecilia and Lisa and the biggest plot twist of my life, I had completely forgotten about The scars inflicted on me. And the large scar that resembled Rosé's that no one seemed to be able to see. I looked at Cecilia and what I saw broke my heart as expected. She was still chewing on her nail, most especially the nail of the middle finger on the right. I noticed that the rest of her fingers had no more nails for her to chew on. She must have been doing it for a while. Her face looked haggard and there were dark circles under her eyes. She must have not slept the whole night.

"Answer me," The queen's voice rose.

"My... my.... daughter... did not do anything," She stuttered blood as sipped from the cut she made with her teeth. Her eyes traveled randomly around the room, trying to avoid looking into the queen's. "I did..."

My eyes widened with realization. She was going to confess? I raised my voice before she could complete her sentence. "I inflicted them on myself."

The whole room went quiet and they turned to look at me. All had the same expression; astonishment.

"What?" Martha spoke first. "Your neighbor said that..."

I interrupted her. "Laura?" I asked. "That little girl." I sounded more disparaging than I wanted to. Only Laura would tell them something.

"Yes," The queen said, finding her tongue. She walked closer to me and reached her hand. "You don't need to cover up for her wrongdoings any longer, I am here now."

I shook her hand away, revolted. "Where were you before?" I challenged.

I could see the hurt form on her face. It was a direct hit to her ego.

"Now, you answer me," I told her. "How did you not notice that you lost a child for twenty years,"

Then her eyes darkened and she raised her chin very slightly. The lack of regret that she was now exhibiting made my lips quiver. She was not the same person that looked up at me in the window.

I was finally able to register what I felt toward her. I felt anger, frustration and utter hatred. 'they are horrible people..." Rosé's words set a fire within me. They were indeed horrible, they even abandoned their children. I looked at Cecilia and at Lisa who was still so stunned that she could not move a muscle. For a time in my life along with Thomas, they were all that I had and even if our relationship had been destroyed beyond repair, I still had to save them. I reminded myself that I was doing this for Thomas. Lisa was indoctrinated and I would not be able to forgive myself if I saw her lose her mother and suffer. Thomas might not be able to do so either. His kind soul would have wanted to give her a chance.

"Tell me," I moved closer to her. "Mother." I drew out the words, mocking her.

"You are talking to the queen!" Martha lashed out. "Watch your mouth."

I was not even looking at her, I had my eyes on the queen. My birth mother. In her eyes was blankness that held no emotion. She was studying me like scientists studied animals during their experiments.

"Lower your..." Martha tried butting in again but the queen raised her hand to silence her. She kept her mouth shut and looked down at the floor.

This was between me and her. "When the only father I had ever known dies, would that not be enough to impact me?" I challenged. "And so I cut and whip myself." I shrugged, trying my best to sound convincing and nonchalant at the same time.

"And where was she during all of this?" She cocked a brow.

"She was by my side as well mourning the loss of her husband." I heard Cecilia sob loudly in the background and fall to her knees. She needed to keep her voice because she still had a lot to explain.

Lisa stomped off and left her mother, a sobbing mess on the ground. I turned and went to her side and held her. Stroking her back while I held her. I knew she was only crying to convince the queen of my story but why was she shuddering so much in my arms. Why had she cried in my room yesterday?

During all this time the queen was quiet. "Alright," she said. "I must have thought wrong." I looked up at her. She still had suspicion inscribed on her face. "I apologize."

"Thank you, my queen," Cecilia said, suddenly bowing to her. I had to hold myself back from cringing.

"You shall be rewarded," She promised. "For your hard work, raising my daughter."

"I am eternally grateful," She replied, her head still glued to the floor.

"No need for all of this," The queen smiled but it did not reach her eyes. "We are family."

Peasants and royals cannot be family. Some of the books I read made it clear that there was a very clear distinction. We were vermin in their eyes. While the peasants saw them as gods as Cecilia saw the queen right at this moment.

"Eva," The queen said. "You do know what this means?"

"Yes," I said.

"Do you consent that I take you back with me?"

I almost scoffed. She was making it seem like I had some type of choice as if I could decline. Her ambience told me that if I refused, I would pay. "Yes, my queen," I said politely.

"That is good," She said. I was glad she was not making me call her 'mum'.

"May I ask you for a favour?"

"Yes, anything."

"I want to say my final goodbyes," I replied. "To my fami... to them, alone."