LIAR

Queen Alzena clutched the letter from King Alex tightly, her heart beating like a trapped bird. The parchment felt rough in her hands, the words carved on it stirring up a storm of anxiety within her.

Queen Alzena took a deep breath. How could she tell the truth? How could she admit that Princess Katy, the jewel of her heart, lay unconscious on her bed that would not let up? Fear gripped her heart. If King Alex knew the truth, war might be inevitable. King Alex loved Katy very much, and his anger would be fierce if he found out his daughter was seriously ill.

In Princess Katy's room, Prince Cyrill and Prince Enver stood with worried expressions. They watched their mother read the letter with an expression that was hard to read. Both of them felt something strange, a secret aura that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end.

"Mother," Cyrill greeted carefully. "A letter from King Alex?"