Chapter 2: The Bracelet Hidden From the Queen
Prince Adrian read the message three times.
Then he looked toward the guards.
"Who searched the maid's quarters?""
One guard stepped forward.
"Nobody, Your Highness. The envelope was discovered underneath the door when we arrived.""
"Who delivered it?""
"We haven't identified the person.""
Adrian crushed the paper in his fist.
"Lock down the servants' corridor. Search every entrance to this ballroom. Nobody moves without being questioned.""
Elia stood beside the pedestal, her fingers pressed against her apron.
She had never been questioned by a prince before. She had never stood close enough to a queen to see the tiny lines around her eyes. And she had certainly never been accused of being connected to a mystery that had haunted the palace for more than two decades.
"Your Highness," she said quietly, "I need to tell you something.""
Adrian turned.
"Speak.""
"I think someone put that envelope there because of me.""
"Why would you think that?""
"Because I received another message yesterday.""
The queen's head snapped toward her.
"What message?""
Elia hesitated.
She reached into the small pocket of her apron and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this inside my cleaning cart.""
Adrian took it.
The paper was old, yellowed at the edges.
Five words were written across it:
*NEVER LET THEM SEE YOUR HAND.*
There was no signature.
"Why didn't you report this?"" Adrian asked.
"I thought it was a cruel joke.""
"Why would someone send you a warning like that?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you tell anyone?""
"No.""
The prince examined the paper.
Then his eyes moved to the crescent-shaped scar on her palm.
"Does this have anything to do with how you came to live with Mrs. Brooks?""
Elia looked down.
"I was six when she adopted me. Before that, I don't remember much.""
Queen Eleanor stepped closer.
"Do you have any belongings from your childhood?""
"Only a small photograph and a necklace.""
"What kind of necklace?""
Elia hesitated again.
"A silver one. It's usually hidden beneath my uniform.""
The queen's breathing changed.
"May I see it?""
Elia looked at Adrian.
He gave a small nod.
Slowly, Elia reached beneath her collar and brought out a thin chain.
At its end hung a small silver pendant shaped like a star.
Queen Eleanor covered her mouth.
It was not an ordinary star.
Five tiny points surrounded a small empty circle. A delicate royal crest had been engraved on the back.
The queen had once given an identical pendant to a woman she trusted more than anyone.
Her former lady-in-waiting.
The woman who had disappeared on the night the royal child vanished.
"Where did you get that?"" Eleanor whispered.
"It was with me when Mrs. Brooks found me.""
"With you?""
"That's what she told me.""
Adrian looked at his mother.
"Mother, what is happening?""
Eleanor turned away.
"Take us to the royal archive.""
Mr. Whitmore stiffened.
"Your Majesty, the archive has been sealed since the old succession dispute.""
"Then open it.""
"Some of the records were destroyed.""
"Then find the ones that survived.""
Her voice rang across the ballroom.
Even Victoria seemed startled.
The queen faced the maid.
"Elia, you will accompany us.""
Elia swallowed.
"Do I have a choice?""
For a moment, Eleanor looked almost wounded.
Then she answered honestly.
"No. Not until I know whether someone has been using you to reach this family.""
Adrian stepped between them.
"Mother, she's frightened. She hasn't done anything wrong.""
"I'm aware of that.""
"Then don't treat her like a prisoner.""
The queen's eyes narrowed.
"I am trying to protect her.""
Elia looked at both of them.
"Protect me from whom?""
Nobody answered.
Behind the crowd, Lady Victoria quietly reached for Serena's arm.
"We need to talk," she whispered.
Serena didn't move.
"Not here.""
Victoria leaned closer.
"That girl cannot see the second bracelet.""
Serena's expression tightened.
"You said the crystal had been disabled.""
"It was.""
"Then explain what happened.""
Victoria looked toward the pedestal.
"I don't know.""
Serena's fingers dug into her arm.
"You promised me she would never touch it.""
Victoria pulled away.
"Keep your voice down.""
Their conversation was interrupted by Prince Adrian.
"Lady Victoria. Lady Serena. You will both remain at the palace until further notice.""
Victoria lifted her chin.
"On what grounds?""
"On the grounds that neither of you has given me one honest answer since the sculpture reacted.""
Serena smiled thinly.
"Your Highness, you may question us, but remember that our families have served the crown for generations.""
"And apparently someone has been using that privilege to hide a secret.""
The prince turned to the guards.
"Escort them to separate rooms.""
Victoria's smile vanished.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Adrian.""
He stared at her.
"Then I suppose the truth will prove me wrong.""
The royal archive occupied a long chamber behind the palace's northern gallery.
Its ceiling disappeared into shadows above towering shelves of leather-bound ledgers. Golden lamps illuminated rows of locked cabinets, while the air smelled of dust and old parchment.
Queen Eleanor led the way.
Adrian followed with Elia and Mr. Whitmore.
At the far end of the chamber stood a massive wooden cabinet with the royal crest carved into its doors.
The queen touched the crest.
"Open it.""
Mr. Whitmore inserted three keys.
The cabinet clicked.
Inside were documents arranged in small silver boxes.
Adrian removed the first folder.
"Birth records. Twenty-two years ago.""
He turned the pages.
"Princesses, princes, royal attendants...""
Then he stopped.
One sheet had been torn from the center of the folder.
"Someone removed a page.""
Mr. Whitmore leaned forward.
"That's impossible. The archive was sealed.""
"Someone knew what they were looking for," Adrian replied.
The queen pulled a second folder from the cabinet.
It contained a medical report.
She read silently, her eyes moving faster as the words became clear.
"What does it say?"" Adrian asked.
Eleanor sat down.
"It records the birth of a female child. Healthy. No complications. The physician noted a crescent-shaped mark on the right palm.""
Elia felt her knees weaken.
"Your Majesty...""
The queen continued reading.
"Twenty-two years ago, the child was reported missing after an electrical fire in the east nursery.""
Adrian frowned.
"Mother, you told me that the child died.""
"I was told that.""
"By whom?""
The queen stared at the document.
"By the palace physician. By the captain of the guard. By the woman who was supposed to be watching the nursery.""
"Who was she?""
Eleanor looked at Mr. Whitmore.
He slowly removed a separate document from the folder.
A name appeared at the bottom.
*MARIAN VALE — ROYAL LADY-IN-WAITING.*
Elia's pendant suddenly felt heavier against her chest.
She looked at the name again.
"Did you say Marian?""
The queen turned.
"You recognize that name?""
Elia nodded.
"Mrs. Brooks used to say it sometimes when she thought I was asleep.""
Adrian stepped closer.
"What exactly did she say?""
"She said someone named Marian had brought me to her.""
"Did she explain why?""
"No. She always changed the subject.""
The queen closed her eyes.
"Marian was my closest companion.""
A silence followed.
"She disappeared the same night my child vanished," Eleanor continued.
"We searched the kingdom for her. No trace was ever found.""
Elia touched the pendant.
"Could she have been the person who brought me to Mrs. Brooks?""
"Possibly.""
"Was she a good person?""
The queen struggled to answer.
"She was the most loyal woman I had ever known.""
Adrian examined the report.
"Then why did she disappear?""
Mr. Whitmore removed another folded sheet from the bottom of the cabinet.
"Your Majesty, there's a note attached to the physician's report.""
He handed it over.
The queen unfolded it.
Her face hardened.
"What is it?"" Adrian asked.
Eleanor read the note aloud.
"'The infant was not lost. She was removed under orders from the Crown. Her survival must remain unknown until the crystal recognizes her.''"
Nobody moved.
Adrian turned slowly toward his mother.
"Under orders from the Crown?""
Eleanor stared at the paper.
"I never gave such an order.""
"Then who did?""
The queen's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Someone used my authority.""
Elia stepped backward.
"Your Majesty, I think I should leave.""
Adrian turned toward her.
"Elia—"
"I don't belong in this.""
"Nobody is asking you to decide that right now.""
"But people are getting frightened because of me. Someone is sending threats. Your queen looks at me like she knows something I don't.""
Elia's eyes filled.
"I came here to earn enough money to pay my rent. I didn't come here to become part of a royal nightmare.""
Queen Eleanor approached her.
"Child, I know.""
"No, Your Majesty. You don't.""
The words escaped before Elia could stop them.
For a second, the queen seemed to lose her composure completely.
Adrian looked between them.
Then a loud crash came from the cabinet.
Mr. Whitmore turned.
A small wooden panel had fallen from the back of the shelf.
Behind it was an envelope sealed with black wax.
The royal crest had been stamped across the front.
Adrian lifted it.
"There's a date.""
He examined the handwriting.
"Twenty-two years ago. The night the child disappeared.""
Eleanor moved closer.
"Open it.""
Inside was a single photograph.
The picture showed a young woman standing outside the east nursery, holding a newborn baby wrapped in white cloth.
The woman's face was unmistakable.
Marian Vale.
But there was something else.
On the woman's wrist was a silver bracelet with five tiny stars.
Elia stared at the photograph.
The queen's hand trembled.
"That is the bracelet from the pedestal.""
Adrian turned the picture over.
There was a message written on the back.
*THE QUEEN MUST NEVER KNOW THAT THE CHILD LEFT THE PALACE ALONE.*
Elia looked at the photograph again.
"Alone?""
Then Mr. Whitmore noticed another detail.
In the background, partly hidden behind the nursery door, stood a second woman.
Her blonde hair was arranged in an elegant royal updo.
The woman was younger, but the face was familiar.
Lady Victoria.
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Why was Victoria in the nursery that night?""
Before anyone could answer, the archive doors slammed shut.
A key turned from the outside.
Then a woman's voice came through the heavy wood.
"Your Majesty, I suggest you stop reading.""
Queen Eleanor went rigid.
She knew that voice.
It belonged to Lady Victoria.
May you like
And the next words made Adrian reach for his ceremonial sword.
"Because the person who ordered the child removed is still alive.""
