Chapter 56
The next day
I got up from the pianoforte's stool and walked out of the music room after three long hours of practice. Today, I had decided to train for a piece that I had already played six years ago during a party in my kingdom, so my father would recognize it when I played it for him tomorrow.
Yesterday, or should I say this very early morning, Thomas had informed me of what would happen in the next few days.
My father would meet King Sebastien tonight and make his appearance at the palace tomorrow. There would be a ball to welcome him, where we would get announced together, and I would be introduced as his daughter. Then, I would get a special moment on the pianoforte to play the piece for him.
To say I was nervous would be an understatement. My identity would be revealed to the whole Court. I just hoped I wouldn't be called a liar, but unfortunately, I knew it would happen. Hopefully, the people of the Court would see the reason behind it. But I was pretty sure they would leave me alone either way, whether thanks to their common sense or because of my 'new' true rank.
I walked to the Grand lounge where most ladies spent their time socializing in the late afternoon, intending to find Michelle. Now that my father was here, I wanted to update her about what had really happened and who I was before I would get announced at the ball. I had kept this secret too long from her already and I didn't want her to learn it at the ball like everyone else.
I found her calmly talking with Lady Carole on a comfy couch in the back of the room. I quickly approached them, and smiled when they looked up with a pleased expression.
"Ah Anna!", Michelle said, "I feel like it's been ages since I last talked to you!"
"Indeed, and I'm here to fix that," I replied, taking a seat beside her.
Lady Carole smiled at me kindly, becoming a bit shy with my presence. She was slightly younger than Michelle and me, nearly eighteen, but she and Michelle got along pretty well and I had had the occasion to talk with her a few times. She had shoulder-length, straight black hair, the prettiest dark brown almond-shaped eyes and a rather introvert nature.
"Hi Lady Anna, how are you?", her quiet voice asked me.
"I'm very good, thank you for asking. I have news for both of you," I informed them. I had no problem revealing my secret to Lady Carole as well.
"Oh, what sort?", Michelle asked with a grin, "Exciting news?"
"I'd like to think so... but you have to promise me not to tell it to anyone else. At least not until the ball tomorrow," I answered, they both nodded and Michelle leaned a bit closer.
"I'm all ears," she said, and Lady Carole also gave me all her attention.
"You remember when I told you about my origins?", I asked, feeling guilty about my lies.
"Yes?"
"They're not true. I had to hide my real identity from everyone because I was considered as dead or disappeared," I explained and watched as Michelle parted her lips in surprise and Lady Carole' eyes widened.
I continued, "Do you know about the king's abdication in the kingdom of Ravenport six years ago?" They nodded. "Well, it was a lie created by the family of Rutherford to cover up the fact that they set a fire to my father's cottage, that lead to his disappearance from the world. The thing is, my father was the king."
"Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying that you're one of the princesses of Ravenport?", Lady Carole questioned, her lips apart in a gasp.
"And that you disappeared because of my supposed family?", Michelle's voice rose an octave higher.
YOU ARE READING
Saving Her Kingdom
Historical Fiction(Complete) I backed against the door, and balled my hand into fists, to keep myself from panicking. "I..." Another step. We were now inches apart and he stood in front of me, his face in the shadows. "Who are you?", he asked, his voice sending shive...
