Unveiling Truth

The air in the Smith household had never been heavy with warmth, but now it was suffocating. The knight's words echoed in Celine's mind as silence stretched around them.

Margaret's mouth hung open slightly, her usual sharp tongue momentarily stunned. Henry, who barely acknowledged Celine most days, suddenly looked like he had swallowed something bitter.

Margaret's eyes darted to Henry, then back to the knight. "Surely there must be a mistake. Celine is just a simple girl from Ravenshire… why would the royal family want anything to do with her?"

The knight ignored her, he didn't even spare Margaret a glance. His focus remained solely on Celine.

"Gather your things. We leave now."

Celine let out a nervous laugh. "I don't understand."

Margaret stepped forward, panic in her face. "She belongs here! You can't just…"

The knight's gaze flickered to her. "She was never yours to keep."

The words sent a chill down Celine's spine. Margaret's face twisted with fear, but before she could speak, Henry's voice cut through.

"She should go."

Silence.

Margaret gaped. "What?"

Henry didn't look at her. "If the royal family wants her, let them have her."

Celine's breath caught. That was it? No fight? No hesitation?

She straightened, lifted her chin, and stepped forward. The night air wrapped around her as the heavy doors slammed shut behind her.

She didn't look back.

The carriage rocked slightly as it moved, but Celine barely noticed. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, the thin, faded material feeling even rougher than usual against her skin. She had never been one to fuss over her appearance… not when she spent most of her time scrubbing floors or running errands through muddy streets, but at that moment, sitting across from a royal knight dressed in full armor, she had never felt more… small.

Her reflection in the small carriage window did little to reassure her. A girl with pale skin and tired blue eyes stared back, her dark curls tumbling past her shoulders in a tangled mess. The journey had loosened a few strands from the already weak ribbon that held them back, making her look even more unkempt. She swallowed hard, tearing her gaze away.

It didn't matter how she looked… it wasn't like this was some grand event for her benefit. No, she had been summoned. Taken from the only home she had ever known without an explanation, forced into a carriage without a moment to prepare. The weight of it all pressed against her chest, an unsettling tightness that only grew stronger with each passing second.

Her eyes flickered to the knight sitting stiffly across from her. He had barely spoken since they left Ravenshire, offering only the most basic of responses when she had attempted to pry information out of him.

She tried again. "Are you sure there wasn't some sort of mistake?"

Silence.

She sighed, shifting in her seat. "Look, if you're trying to scare me, it's working. You can just say you don't know anything instead of sitting there like a…"

"A what?" His deep voice cut through the air, sharp and controlled. His eyes, cold and unreadable, finally met hers.

Celine hesitated, then lifted her chin. "Like a statue. A very grouchy statue."

For a moment, there was nothing. Then, to her absolute surprise, the corner of his lips twitched. Not a smile… not even close… but enough for her to catch it before he turned his gaze away.

Encouraged, she leaned forward slightly. "Come on, you must have some idea why the royal family wants to see me."

"It is not my place to question orders."

"That sounds like a fancy way of saying you don't know anything."

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Celine huffed, leaning back again. "Great. I'm being kidnapped by a man who doesn't even know why."

The knight let out a slow breath, but still… no response.

It was infuriating.

She crossed her arms, staring out the window again. The further they traveled, the less familiar the landscape became. The trees grew taller, the air richer, the very ground beneath them seemed different… as if she had stepped into another world. A world she had no business being in.

The feeling only grew stronger as the castle finally came into view.

Celine's breath caught in her throat. She had seen illustrations before, heard stories of its grandeur, but nothing could have prepared her for the sheer size of it. Towers stretched high into the sky, stone walls lined with banners displaying the royal crest fluttered in the wind, guards stood at attention in gleaming armor. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale… but there was no warmth to It. No feeling of welcome. Only power… cold and unwavering.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her seat as the carriage rolled to a stop.

The knight stood, opening the door before turning to her. "Step down."

Celine hesitated for only a moment before obeying, her legs unsteady as she stepped onto the stone pathway leading toward the massive entrance. Her worn boots felt out of place against the pristine ground. Everything about her felt out of place.

Servants paused to glance at her. Guards exchanged looks. Whispers followed her as she was led forward, each murmur curling around her like invisible hands, reminding her that she did not belong here.

She didn't have to hear them clearly to know what they were saying.

She didn't look like a noble. She didn't carry herself like one.

And yet, they were staring at her like she was someone.

Celine forced herself to keep her head high, her heart hammering against her ribs as she followed the knight into the castle. The inside was just as overwhelming as the outside, marble floors that gleamed beneath the golden chandeliers, towering pillars carved with intricate designs, the air heavy with the scent of something expensive.

And at the very center of it all… sat the king and queen.

Her steps faltered.

The knight did not stop. "Kneel before the king and queen."

Celine's body locked up.

Kneel?

For them?

She turned to glare at the knight, but his expression remained unchanged. He wasn't asking.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she slowly lowered herself onto one knee, her hands curling into fists at her sides. She didn't know why, but something about this moment made her stomach twist.

Silence stretched across the throne room.

Then, finally, a voice broke it.

"…Rise."

It was the queen.

Celine lifted her head, her breath catching as her gaze met the woman's for the first time.

And suddenly, everything stopped.

For a fleeting second, she felt something she could not explain. A strange familiarity, a pull deep within her bones, an echo of something that had been lost long ago.

The queen's eyes…

They were the same color as hers.

Blue… but not just any blue. A specific shade, a depth that she had never seen in anyone else before.

Her heart pounded.

The queen's lips parted slightly as if she had noticed it too. But the moment passed, her expression hardening once more.

The king spoke next. "Do you know why you're here?"

Celine forced herself to stand, straightening her shoulders even though her legs felt weak. "No. But I'd really love to find out."

A flicker of something crossed the king's face, something annoyingly close to amusement but it vanished almost instantly. He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze never leaving hers.

"You are here because you are not who you believe yourself to be."

Celine's blood ran cold.

"What…?"

The queen's voice was softer, but no less firm. "You were taken from us as an infant. Stolen by a midwife who sought to replace you with another. You were never meant to live among commoners. You are our daughter… the lost princess of this kingdom."

The words slammed into her like a wave, knocking the very air from her lungs.

She stared at them, waiting for the punchline. The joke. The explanation.

Nothing came.

She let out a sharp, nervous laugh. "That's ridiculous."

The king's expression did not change. "And yet, it is the truth."

Celine shook her head, taking a step back. "No. No, this, this is insane. I'm not a princess. I'm nobody."

The queen's gaze softened. "You are not nobody. You are our daughter, Celine."

Something about the way she said her name sent a shiver down her spine.

But still, it wasn't enough.

It couldn't be.

She took another step back, her breath quickening. "You're wrong."

The king exhaled slowly, as if he had expected this reaction. "There is proof. You will see it for yourself."

Celine's heart pounded.

She didn't know what terrified her more…

The idea that they were lying…

Or the idea that they weren't.