Festivia was hiding in the library. No one would bother her here... they were all too busy getting ready for the coronation. She buried her face in her book stubbornly. It was fine, she was fine. What did it matter no one wanted to spend time with her?
After a few seconds of the clock just ticking, Festivia put down her book. Looking up, she glanced around the dark library, the only light her small candle.
"Glossy?" she called.
At first, there was no response. She sighed, slumping against the bookcase. But then, he materialized. Sir Glossaryck of Terms floated out into the light. He had pushed his night cap over his head, and he looked tired.
"Honestly, Princess. It's too late for this."
"I have to know."
"Know what?"
Festivia's fingers twitched. He knew. He saw the future and past... he knew what she wanted. Glossaryck stared at her expectantly, his face cryptic.
"Tell me about my mother... Eclipsa, the Queen of Darkness. And my father. Did he suffer when Globgor ate him?"
His eyes searched hers. Slowly, he scratched his chin through his long white beard, his gaze turning towards the ceiling.
"I'm not sure. I don't really like interfering with you and the High Commissions' affairs."
"Excuse me? Isn't the High Commission like... your children, or whatever?"
"Yes, but if I told them what to do, would that not make me the ruler of Mewni? I'm meant to guide the ruler, not be it."
"I'm not asking you to tell them to tell me," Festivia growled, "why can't you just tell me yourself?"
"You will not like what you hear."
Festivia faltered. Her gaze turned down as she tucked her knees under her chin. Raised by the High Commission, she'd wanted to know everything about her parents, Eclipsa and King Shastacan. They never told her.
With her mother gone, she would be inheriting the throne when she received the wand tomorrow. Everything about her childhood had been sped up, her education and learning how to rule the only thing she had ever known. Festivia's brow furrowed as she glared at Glossaryck.
"Tomorrow, I will turn fourteen and inherit the throne. I am your queen... and I command you to tell me about Eclipsa."
There were a few tense seconds until Glossaryck shrugged nonchalantly.
"What do you wish to know?"
Festivia blinked. She wasn't expecting him to be so cooperative.
"Did Eclipsa... love me?"
"Eclipsa didn't even know you existed."
What was that supposed to mean? Tears welled in Festivia's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away.
"What do you mean? Are you saying she didn't care about me?! She couldn't have... if she left Father for a monster..."
"No. I mean, she wasn't aware of your existence. All she knew was that her real daughter had been taken by the Commission... ripped right from her arms."
"Her... real daughter?"
"My Queen, I have no sides. I hold only truth. If we continue, there is no going back."
Festivia's mind raced. She played with the hem of her dress worriedly. After a few seconds, she nodded.
"Tell me everything."
"Very well, m'lady... quite simply put, you are not the heir to the throne."
She froze, even her mindless fiddling stopping. How was that possible? She'd spent fourteen years preparing to be queen... this had to be a lie.
"But I am! I'm the Queen!"
"Not by blood. Queen Eclipsa had a daughter named Meteora... but she was not seen fit enough to rule the kingdom. One night, my children manged to kidnap their daughter. Eclipsa and Globgor came back to Mewni to find her, but alas. It went horribly wrong. When they found out she was not there, Globgor ate Shastacan and that was the crime the Commission needed to crystalize them both. You, my dear, are Meteora's replacement. A peasant girl meant to be the royal child Eclipsa and Shastacan never had."
Festivia felt sick. She scanned Glossaryck. There was nothing joking about his demeanor... nothing playful... and she knew him... he never lied. All the feelings, all the resentment she'd been holding pounded against her head. Festivia's lip trembled... no, her whole body was trembling.
"But... no... I... if I'm not the queen... who... who am I?"
"Pie folk."
Pie folk? PIE FOLK?! She had lived her whole life suffering her peoples' hatred, mistrust, heard whispers about how she would be evil just like her mother... she'd given up playing and having fun for books and lessons... to find out she was of the PIE FOLK?! Anger spotted her mind as she practically leaped to her feet.
"Where's Meteora? The crown shouldn't even be mine!"
Glossaryck held up his hands.
"Hold on, now. Festivia. She doesn't even know she's a princess."
"Well then it's her lucky day," Festivia growled, grabbing Glossaryck's hand.
As she dragged him through the air, he could hear her mumbling to herself.
"I never wanted to be raised by the High Commission, I never asked to be queen, everything in my life is a goddamn lie."
"Festivia," Glossaryck sighed, "she has no training to inherit the throne. You think you're hated? She was so despised that no one on the Commission wanted to keep her."
Festivia paused at that. She looked at Glossayrck, slowly releasing him and folding her arms.
"So, what? That's it? I just... become the queen? Live out my life in the castle walls? Never doing anything?"
Her mentor smiled warmly, take her hand into his.
"Don't tell her her true lineage... but do you truly wish to meet her?"
The young queen looked down at Glossayck incredulously.
"You'd help me do that?"
"Even better, I'll take you to her myself."
