Chapter 3 THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE TRUTH

Elena stood in the middle of the royal archive, staring at Alexander.

"Bring my mother here?" she repeated. "You cannot simply order people around and expect everyone to obey."

Alexander turned his golden eyes towards her.

"I'm the king. That is exactly what I expect."

"Then you must be very disappointed when people don't listen."

One of the guards lowered his head, clearly trying to hide his reaction.

Alexander noticed.

"Something amusing, Captain?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Good. Then stop looking amused."

Elena folded her arms. She was beginning to understand why people feared this man. He spoke as if every word he said was a law.

But she wasn't one of his subjects.

At least, she didn't think she was.

"I'm going home," she announced.

"You're staying."

"Watch me leave."

She turned towards the door, but two guards immediately stepped into her path.

Elena stopped.

"You have got to be joking."

Alexander walked towards her, his expression unreadable.

"Until I understand why your name appears in a royal record, you are not leaving this castle."

"My name is Elena Bennett. I don't know anything about your royal family, and I certainly don't care about your throne."

"You may not care about the throne," he replied. "But someone went to considerable trouble to hide your identity. That makes you important."

"Or it means someone made a mistake."

"Royal records do not make mistakes."

"Kings do."

The room became silent.

Alexander studied her for several seconds before turning away.

"Take her to the east guest chambers. Make sure she is comfortable, but do not let her leave the castle."

"I don't need a guard," Elena protested.

"You need several."

He walked out before she could respond.

---

The east guest chamber was larger than Elena's entire house.

There was a huge bed, a fireplace, a sitting area, and windows overlooking the castle gardens. Everything looked expensive, from the curtains to the furniture.

Elena stood by the window, wondering how her ordinary evening had turned into a nightmare involving a king, a mysterious birthmark, and a royal family she had never heard of.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in."

An older woman entered carrying a tray.

She had silver hair, kind eyes, and a calm expression.

"Good evening, miss. I'm Martha. I look after the east chambers."

"Hello. I'm Elena."

"I know."

Martha placed the tray on the table.

"His Majesty asked that you be given something to eat."

Elena looked at the food.

"Did he also ask that I be locked inside?"

Martha hesitated.

"His Majesty can be difficult."

"That's a polite way of describing him."

For the first time, Martha smiled.

Then her eyes fell on Elena's wrist.

The smile disappeared.

"Where did you get that mark?"

Elena looked down.

"It's been there since I was born."

Martha moved closer, her expression changing.

"May I see it?"

Elena hesitated before extending her hand.

Martha stared at the silver crescent.

"Oh, dear."

"What? Do you know what it means?"

Martha quickly stepped back.

"I have been working in this castle for many years. I have seen many things, but I never thought I would see that mark again."

Elena's heart began to beat faster.

"You know something about my family?"

Martha glanced towards the door.

"Not here. The walls in this castle have ears."

Elena frowned.

"Are you saying someone is listening?"

"I'm saying you should be careful about whom you trust."

Before Elena could ask another question, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Martha immediately picked up the empty tray.

"Please eat your dinner, miss."

She walked towards the door.

"Martha!"

The older woman paused.

"Who was my mother before she became Rebecca Bennett?"

Martha looked at her for a long moment.

Then she whispered, "Your mother was once known as Princess Rebecca Valemont."

Elena felt as if the floor had shifted beneath her.

"My mother is a princess?"

Martha opened the door.

"Keep your voice down."

Then she left.

---

In the royal council chamber, Alexander stood before a large table surrounded by the kingdom's most powerful elders.

Nobody had touched the documents placed before them.

"Your Majesty," Elder Marcus began, "we must discuss the girl."

"Then discuss her."

"The Valemont bloodline was destroyed twenty years ago. If that girl is truly the surviving heir, her presence could threaten the kingdom."

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Are you suggesting I should be afraid of a young woman who doesn't even know who she is?"

"I'm suggesting that her existence changes everything."

Another elder leaned forward.

"There is also the matter of your father."

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"My father has nothing to do with this discussion."

"Your father was accused of helping the Valemonts escape. If the accusation was true, then the throne may have been built on a lie."

The room fell silent.

Alexander placed both hands on the table.

"Choose your next words carefully."

Elder Marcus lowered his voice.

"We only want to protect the kingdom."

"No. You want to protect your positions. There is a difference."

He turned towards the captain of the royal guard.

"Find Daniel Bennett's records. Every report, every letter, every witness statement. I want them on my desk before sunrise."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And nobody speaks to the girl without my permission."

The elders exchanged uneasy glances.

Alexander noticed but said nothing.

He had spent years ruling through fear and strength. He trusted very few people, and the council was not among them.

There was something about Elena's arrival that troubled him.

Not because she might be a lost princess.

But because the royal archive had recognized her before he had.

---

Elena had barely touched her dinner when the door opened again.

Alexander entered without knocking.

She looked at him.

"Do kings ever knock?"

"Do guests ever follow instructions?"

"I'm beginning to understand why your castle feels like a prison."

He ignored her comment and noticed the untouched food.

"You should eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"Then at least stop arguing for a moment."

Elena stared at him.

"You came here to ask questions, didn't you?"

"I came to tell you that your mother is on her way."

Her expression changed immediately.

"When will she arrive?"

"Soon."

"Is she safe?"

Alexander paused.

"She is being escorted by my guards."

"That wasn't my question."

His eyes met hers.

"She is safe."

Elena released a breath.

Then she remembered what Martha had told her.

"Alexander, was my mother really a princess?"

His expression changed slightly.

"Who told you that?"

Elena immediately regretted asking.

"So it's true?"

"Answer my question."

"Martha mentioned something about Princess Rebecca Valemont."

Alexander turned towards the door.

"Do not repeat that name to anyone."

"Why?"

"Because there are people in this castle who would do anything to keep the Valemont family buried."

Before Elena could respond, a guard appeared at the entrance.

"Your Majesty, the woman has arrived."

Alexander looked towards Elena.

"Your mother is here."

Elena rushed past him.

---

Rebecca Bennett looked exhausted when she entered the chamber.

Her coat was dusty, and her hair had fallen loosely around her shoulders. But the moment she saw Elena, she hurried forward and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

"Elena!"

"Mum!"

Elena held her mother for several seconds before stepping back.

"What is happening? Why are we here? Why are people calling me a princess?"

Rebecca's eyes moved towards Alexander.

He stood near the fireplace, watching them.

"Leave us alone," Rebecca said.

Alexander didn't move.

"This is my castle."

"And she is my daughter."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Alexander gestured to the guards.

"Wait outside."

The guards left, but Alexander remained.

Rebecca looked directly at him.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Rebecca Bennett."

"That is the name I chose after everything happened."

Alexander's expression became colder.

"Then tell me your real name."

Rebecca closed her eyes briefly.

"Rebecca Valemont."

Elena stared at her mother.

"You knew?"

Rebecca turned towards her.

"I wanted to tell you when you were older."

"I'm old enough now! You let me grow up believing we were an ordinary family."

"We were a family, Elena. That part was never a lie."

"Then why did you hide everything else?"

Rebecca's eyes filled with tears, but she held herself together.

"Because I wanted you to have a life that belonged to you. Not one controlled by this kingdom."

Alexander stepped forward.

"Who helped you escape?"

Rebecca looked at him.

"Your father."

The words seemed to change the atmosphere in the room.

Alexander's face became unreadable.

"My father died twenty years ago."

"I know."

"He was accused of betraying the crown."

"He was not a traitor."

"Then explain why he helped your family disappear."

Rebecca took a slow breath.

"Because the people who attacked the Valemonts were not outsiders. They were members of the royal council."

Alexander stared at her.

"Do you have proof?"

Rebecca looked towards Elena.

"I have something your father left behind."

"What is it?" Elena asked.

Rebecca reached into the inside pocket of her coat and removed a small silver pendant.

Elena recognized it immediately.

It was the same pendant her mother had told her belonged to her father.

Rebecca placed it in Elena's palm.

"Your father gave this to me the night we escaped. He said that when the time came, you would need to return it to the Blackthorn family."

Alexander stepped closer.

"Let me see it."

Rebecca shook her head.

"Not yet."

His eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because your father made me promise that I would only give it to the rightful heir."

Elena looked between them.

"I'm standing right here. Can someone please explain what is inside this pendant?"

Rebecca's fingers trembled as she touched the small silver clasp.

Before she could open it, the pendant began to glow.

The silver crescent on Elena's wrist answered with a faint light.

Alexander immediately stepped back.

For the first time since Elena had met him, his expression showed genuine surprise.

Rebecca whispered, "It has recognized her."

A deep sound echoed through the castle.

The ancient bell rang once.

Then twice.

Alexander looked towards the window.

The bell had not rung since the night his father died.

Rebecca turned pale.

"Oh no."

Elena held the pendant tightly.

"What does that mean?"

Her mother looked at Alexander.

"It means someone knows she has returned."

Alexander's voice dropped.

"Who?"

Rebecca swallowed.

"The person who ordered the Valemont massacre."

And somewhere beyond the castle walls, a horn sounded in the darkness.