Chapter 4

While my assigned chaperone was away for lunch, I slipped past the security detail and made my way straight to Luna's private wing.

Mary had lied. Emerson wasn't with Luna.

Inside, only Luna and a poised, elegant woman were speaking in hushed, intense tones.

"Mom, please don't cry," Luna said soothingly. "As long as I hold my position here, it doesn't matter how much Dad indulges Madeline. She will never outshine you."

The woman looked utterly defeated. "I just can't stand it. I raised Samuel as my own for sixteen years, and now he's drawn back to his birth mother! Your father dotes on her, and even the boy I brought up is pulling away."

"Mom!" Luna insisted firmly. "As long as Samuel wants to be the legitimate heir to the Chancellor's family, and as long as I'm the Queen here, he has to show you respect. Am I not enough? Why let the rest trouble you?"

Looking at the lady's face, a realization struck me. I didn't need Emerson to find my mother. Evelyn. She was right here.

Evelyn wept for a long while before Luna's comforting words finally steadied her, and she took her leave.

I followed at a distance, waiting until we had crossed the gardens and reached the palace gatehouse before stepping forward to block her path.

She looked startled, her eyes wary and uncertain. "Who are you?"

Suddenly, I was at a loss. How did one even begin such an introduction?

That I was truly your daughter? The one you handed to Father the moment I was born?

Would she even believe me?

Pressing my lips together, I reached for the keepsake locket I wore close to my heart.

But Evelyn recoiled, her voice trembling. "What are you doing? Do you have a weapon? This is the royal palace. Don't you dare try anything!"

Just as I tried to speak, a sharp voice cut through from behind. "Restrain her!"

It was Luna's head maid, Mary.

Estate security swarmed in, pinning my arms behind my back in an instant.

"Thank goodness the Queen sent me to bring you some nourishments," Mary blurted out. "This is the girl the King picked up from the streets just a few days ago.

"She's got a grudge against the Queen, and I bet she came here today just to cause trouble and upset the Queen."

"No, that's not it!" I tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come.

Evelyn just shot me a look of utter disgust. "Street trash like you is despicable! Who knows where you really came from?

"Maybe you were even planted here to... to entrap a powerful man. Luna should be warned about you."

I stood there, dumbfounded, my prepared speech stuck in my throat.

Luna hurried over. "Mom, are you okay?"

Evelyn shook her head. "She might have something hidden. A blade, perhaps."

Looking alarmed, Luna ordered the guards, "Search her."

Still visibly shaken, Evelyn added, "Luna, darling, you really must have this disgraceful creature dealt with before she causes real trouble."

As a guard reached for me, I struggled. "Get back! It's not a weapon!"

Emerson arrived swiftly. "What's going on here?"

Luna immediately launched into a heavily edited version of events, making everything sound far more sinister.

Seizing the moment of distraction, I clutched the locket through my blouse and edged back, every instinct on high alert.

Emerson seemed taken aback by my defensive posture. His voice softened. "Bella, come here. What do you have there? Will you show us?"

"It's not a knife," I said, pulling out the tarnished silver locket on its chain. I made sure Evelyn could see the intricate floral engraving on its front, a forget-me-not vine. "It's just a locket. My father gave it to me."

Evelyn glanced at it, her expression still full of contempt. "If it's just a trinket, why accost me? For all I know, it could contain poison! Are you trying to harm me?"

I stared, stunned. "Why would I want to hurt you?"

Luna let out a cold laugh. "You've been nursing a grudge against me. So now you target my mother out of spite? That's twisted."

Emerson's brow furrowed.

Ignoring him, I locked eyes with Evelyn. "Evelyn," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Don't you recognize this? At all?"

She stared at me, now startled and deeply suspicious. "How do you know my name? What is that thing? Why should I recognize it?"

My fingers tightened around the cool metal, feeling the last fragile shred of hope inside me dissolve.

I had been right about her identity, but she genuinely held no memory of the locket's design.

Emerson's voice turned sharp. "Bella, what are you talking about?"

Luna sneered. "That locket is obviously suspicious. Guards, confiscate it."

Outnumbered and overpowered, I knew I couldn't fight them all.

My gaze found Emerson's, my voice shaking. "Emerson, you don't believe me either?"

Luna spoke first, her tone commanding. "Bella, if you have nothing to hide, just hand it over. It will be examined, and if it's harmless, you'll get it back."

Emerson gave a slow nod. "Luna comes from an old family. She's fair. Bella, do as she says. Let's clear this up."