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That's true. My time with Bella has given me an exhilarating sense of freedom. Her untamed spirit and joy for life are such a contrast to my regimented mother.
"And the whole kingdom is swept up by the story of the prince who fell in love with a beautiful cowgirl from America," Janice tells the crowd with a flourish. "I'm sure for you all it's a fascinating story. But I've always hated sequels."
I approach my mother much in the same way I would walk up to a thrashing horse. "Calm down, mother. I think you've had a little too much to drink. We'll get you some water and a place to sit."
"Don't treat me like some common nothing," she snaps at me. "I am a Duchess of Solvaria! But I could have been queen. Did I ever tell you that?"
I try humoring her to see if that settles her down. "No. I never knew that."
She laughs bitterly. "There's a lot you've never known. That no one here was ever supposed to know. So how about I give you a special engagement present?"
Janice straightens up, her eyes dark and joyless.
"How about for the first time in your life you get the truth?"
Isabella shoves her way past my family members. "Alex!"
She takes hold of my hands and looks into my eyes. I can see a strange sense of fear taking hold of her. "Just have them take her away, Alex. Please."
"Of course you want me taken away," Janice says. "You have no qualms about breaking up the royal family. Like mother, like daughter."
I glare at her. "Leave Lily out of this."
"Oh, yes, I would hate to besmirch the good name of Lily Sanchez. Or should I say, Lily Adams?"
The murmurs from the crowd grow louder and more scandalized. Janice calls out to them. "That's right, the rumors were always true. The King wanted to marry a commoner. A dirt-poor gutter rat."
I throw out an arm to hold Bella back from charging at her.
Janice points at her. "She ruined everything, that vile American. I was set to marry the King, then Francis fell in love with her. I married Ronaldi instead when Francis left for America. And when he came back, knocked-up mistress in tow, it wouldn’t be a scandal if I was the one who had a baby."
“Don’t insult the name of my father,” I tell her. “Prince Ronaldi was a good man. He doesn’t deserve to be impugned.”
“Prince Ronaldi was a good man. But your father is not.” As what she says sinks in and the pain is clear on my face, her grin widens in proportion. “King Francis and his cheap American. You were only redeemed because of me. Because I insisted Ronaldi take you in and pretend you were mine. Instead of being queen, I got the remnants left behind from the King’s little love affair. I love you. I always loved you. And you don’t appreciate it. Just like your father. Doesn’t appreciate what’s in front of him.”
The guards finally arrive. Janice continues shouting while they attempt to drag her away.
"I lost my chance to be queen because your mother needed to ensnare a crown prince! Oh, I’m sure that one wasn’t planned. Too bad it didn’t work out for her.”
The murmurs stop. There’s a disturbing, sickening silence.
I stare at Janice's smug, self-satisfied face. "What did you say?"
"Lily Adams. Your mother. Fled in disgrace. It’s a wonder your father – your real father, that is. Not Ronaldi, may he rest in peace – didn’t carry the stench of the scandal with him," she explains.
Things start to swiftly fall into place. The King's affection for me and our resemblance. My claim to the throne. Growing up with the four boys as my brothers. My mother’s and father’s distance. It was because they were my aunt and uncle.
My entire life was a lie.
I reel back, struggling to keep my footing. I feel a rush of hot embarrassment as the court's murmurs and gasps echo in my ears. My heart is pounding so hard that my chest hurts.
"Take her away," I call out to the guards.
Janice screams at me while being escorted out of the room. “You’ll regret this! You don’t know what you’re doing!"
I had spent my life thinking I was royalty. Now, I was just the product of a scandal. The reality of it hurts more than any physical pain I've ever felt.
Isabella puts a hand on my shoulder. Her face is sullen. Her expression tells me everything I need to know. And what she said earlier when Janice started speaking, like she knew what she was about to say next.
