The Crystal Chose a Maid

Nobody moved.

The royal crest shimmered inside the crystal, suspended beneath Elia's palm like a golden secret that had waited years to be discovered.

It was a circle surrounded by seven stars.

At its center sat a small silver swan with its wings spread wide.

Queen Eleanor stared at it.

Her knees nearly gave way.

"Your Majesty!"" Adrian rushed toward her.

But Eleanor raised one hand.

"Don't touch me.""

Her voice was barely recognizable.

She looked at the crest again.

Then at Elia.

"Where did you get that hand?""

Elia stared at her own fingers.

"Your Majesty?""

"Your hand. Did someone tell you what it was?""

"No, Your Majesty.""

"Did your mother?""

The word struck Elia harder than the queen could have known.

She swallowed.

"Mara wasn't my real mother. She raised me.""

Eleanor closed her eyes.

"Where did she find you?""

"At a chapel, ma'am. That's what she told me.""

"Which chapel?""

"I don't know. I was too young to remember.""

The queen stepped closer.

"How old were you?""

Elia hesitated.

"I was told I was only a few months old.""

A shiver passed through Eleanor.

Nineteen years.

Nineteen years since the night the royal nursery had burned.

Nineteen years since the princess had disappeared.

Nineteen years since the palace had buried an empty cradle and declared its youngest royal child dead.

But Eleanor said none of this aloud.

Not yet.

Because standing between her and the maid was Lord Malcolm Voss, the royal chancellor.

He had served the palace for almost four decades. His gray hair was neatly combed, his black coat immaculate, and his expression was one of practiced concern.

He stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I strongly advise that we end this spectacle immediately.""

Adrian turned toward him.

"Did you not see what happened?""

"I saw an extraordinary reaction from an ancient object. That does not establish the girl's identity.""

"The crystal responded to her!""

"Crystals can react to heat, pressure, and certain minerals.""

A few guests exchanged uncertain glances.

Elia slowly removed her hand.

The golden light faded.

The royal crest remained visible for one final second before disappearing into the transparent stone.

Lord Voss looked relieved.

"Exactly," he said.

"Whatever happened, we must not allow rumors to spread before the matter is properly investigated.""

Queen Eleanor's eyes narrowed.

"What exactly are you afraid the rumors will reveal, Chancellor?""

Voss bowed slightly.

"I fear that the kingdom will mistake a miracle for a legitimate claim to the throne.""

A heavy silence followed.

Adrian took a step toward him.

"She has made no claim.""

"Not yet.""

"Enough," Eleanor said.

Her voice rang through the ballroom.

Then she turned toward the guests.

"The ceremony is suspended. No one will speak of what happened here until I give permission.""

Duke Ashbourne cleared his throat.

"Your Majesty, with respect, Lady Victoria was invited here under the understanding that the ceremony would establish the next royal guardian.""

Eleanor looked at him.

"And the crystal made its decision.""

Victoria's face twisted.

"Your Majesty, surely you aren't suggesting that this kitchen girl has some claim that I do not?""

The queen's expression turned cold.

"I suggest nothing, Lady Victoria. I am simply observing what happened.""

Serena stepped in front of her friend.

"She doesn't even have a family name!""

Adrian glanced at Serena.

"Neither does the crystal require one.""

"Your Highness," Victoria said, her voice shaking, "I have spent my entire life preparing for this.""

"And the crystal rejected you.""

Victoria flinched as though he had struck her.

For the first time that evening, her eyes filled with tears.

But her humiliation quickly hardened into anger.

"Then perhaps the crystal is broken.""

No one answered.

The queen looked at the guards.

"Clear the ballroom.""

The guards obeyed.

Within minutes, noble families began filing through the enormous doors. Their whispers followed them like smoke.

Some stared at Elia with fear.

Others with fascination.

A few bowed their heads as they passed the pedestal.

Elia wished she could crawl beneath the marble floor.

She had wanted only to understand the strange pull she felt toward the crystal.

Now the entire palace knew her face.

When the last guests had nearly disappeared, Lord Voss approached her.

"Come with me, girl.""

Elia stepped back.

"I... I was told to remain here, sir.""

"I am the chancellor. You will do as I say.""

Adrian moved between them.

"She goes with the queen.""

Voss's eyebrows lifted.

"Your Highness, the girl should be placed under investigation.""

"She has done nothing wrong.""

"That remains to be determined.""

The chancellor's gaze moved to Elia's hand.

There was something unpleasant in his expression now.

Not surprise.

Not confusion.

Recognition.

Then it disappeared.

"Very well," he murmured.

"But I hope Your Majesty understands the danger of keeping an unknown girl so close to the throne.""

Eleanor met his eyes.

"I understand more than you think.""

Voss bowed and withdrew.

The queen waited until he was gone before turning toward the guards.

"Take Lady Elia to my private chambers. No one is to enter without my permission.""

Elia's eyes widened.

"Your Majesty, I have duties.""

"Not tonight.""

"But Mrs. Hargrove—"

"Will answer to me.""

The queen's voice softened.

"Please, child. Come with me.""

The queen's private chambers were far quieter than the ballroom.

Heavy curtains covered the windows. A fire burned in the marble fireplace, and the scent of lavender lingered in the air.

A small portrait stood above the mantel.

It showed Queen Eleanor as a younger woman, smiling beside the late King Edmund.

Between them stood Prince Adrian as a child.

But Elia noticed something unusual.

The painting included a fourth person.

A baby held in Eleanor's arms.

The child's face was partly hidden beneath a white blanket.

Elia looked away.

"Sit down," the queen said.

Elia lowered herself onto the edge of a velvet chair.

Adrian remained by the window.

His expression was guarded.

"Mother, you should rest.""

"I have rested for nineteen years," Eleanor replied.

The prince looked at her.

She ignored him and sat opposite Elia.

"Tell me about Mara.""

Elia relaxed slightly.

"She was kind, Your Majesty.""

"How did she die?""

"She became ill. She was sick for a long time.""

"I'm sorry.""

Elia nodded.

"She was a seamstress. She worked in a small village near the northern road. I helped her mend clothes and deliver them.""

"Did she ever tell you anything about your birth?""

"Only that she found me during a storm.""

"Was there anything with you?""

Elia hesitated.

Then she reached beneath her uniform and pulled out a small silver pendant.

It hung from a thin chain.

The pendant was shaped like a swan with folded wings.

Eleanor stopped breathing.

Adrian noticed.

"Mother?""

The queen reached toward it.

"May I?""

Elia unclasped the chain and placed it in her palm.

The queen turned it over.

On its underside were seven tiny stars.

Her fingers began to tremble.

"Where did you say Mara found you?""

"At a chapel.""

"Did she give you this?""

"Yes. She said it was around my neck when she found me.""

Eleanor held the pendant against her chest.

A tear dropped onto the silver swan.

Adrian approached.

"What is it?""

The queen didn't answer.

She turned the pendant so he could see the markings.

The prince's expression changed.

"I've seen that crest before.""

"Where?"" Elia asked.

Adrian looked toward the portrait.

"On the old royal nursery doors.""

Elia glanced between them.

"Why would I have something from the royal nursery?""

Nobody answered immediately.

The fire crackled.

Eleanor finally returned the pendant.

"Elia, I need you to answer something honestly.""

"Yes, Your Majesty.""

"Have you ever dreamed of a woman singing to you?""

Elia stared at her.

"Yes.""

"What did she sing?""

Elia lowered her gaze.

"The same lullaby I heard in the ballroom.""

The queen pressed her lips together.

"Do you remember the words?""

Elia hesitated.

Then she began softly.

"Sleep beneath the silver moon, little swan, the dawn comes soon...""

Eleanor covered her mouth.

For nineteen years, she had sung those words to an empty nursery.

The song had belonged to only two people.

Her and the child she had lost.

Adrian approached his mother.

"Mother, what is going on?""

Eleanor looked at him.

"Not here.""

"Why not?""

"Because the walls have ears.""

Elia's stomach tightened.

"Your Majesty, am I in trouble?""

The queen quickly took her hand.

"No, child.""

Her fingers closed around Elia's rough, work-worn palm.

"You have never been in trouble for being who you are.""

Elia looked confused.

But before she could ask more, a servant knocked.

"Your Majesty?""

Eleanor released Elia's hand.

"Enter.""

A young footman stepped inside, holding a folded piece of parchment.

"An urgent message from Lord Voss.""

The queen's expression darkened.

"Read it.""

The footman opened the letter.

"By order of the royal chancellor, all objects removed from the palace during the nursery fire nineteen years ago must be returned to the royal archives for inspection.""

Adrian frowned.

"That is an old order.""

"Yes, Your Highness.""

"Why send it now?""

The servant swallowed.

"There is a second instruction, sir.""

He looked at Elia.

"The maid known as Elia is to be transferred to the chancellor's custody before dawn.""

Elia's blood turned cold.

The queen rose.

"Absolutely not.""

"Your Majesty," the footman whispered, "Lord Voss says it is an order authorized by the Regency Council.""