Chapter 6: A Secret Unveiled
Blair passed through the school corridor. It's been a week since the Ball, and everything seemed to be back to normal.
Everything, and everyone, have gone back to their normal routine. Blair liked it this way. It partially helped her get over the disappointment at the Ball, which she was hopelessly trying to fend off.
But right now, that wasn't her main problem. Blair had to carry a mountain of books to Elaine in the library downstairs.
"Why do I have to do this? Why wouldn't Ms. Marie ask someone else? Or bring them to Elaine herself?" It wasn't the weight of the books that scared her, it was the encounter with Elaine.
Her mind flashed back to 10 minutes earlier.
Ms. Marie, a middle-aged woman, was gathering some books from the teacher's desk. She walked out and forced them on the nearest student she found. Blair.
"Oh, thank God you're here, Blair. Can you please take these books to Elaine in the library? She's supposed to read them before the next lesson, and my back is killing me."
Blair sighed as she came back to reality. Growing up as a peasant had its advantages. You can't walk like a princess, but you can at least carry books without complaining.
Blair giggled to herself and pushed the door open. The library was always her favorite place: Quiet, peaceful and Tessa-free. She enjoyed being here because she knew this was the only place Tessa would never come to.
"Blair!", Elaine greeted her."Ms. Marie must have told you to bring me this. Thank you!"
"Hello, Elaine.", Blair said, without any enthusiasm in her voice. She put the books on the nearest desk and looked around.
It was strange that though she came here everyday, she never noticed how beautiful the paintings on the wall were.
"These paintings are so beautiful.", Blair was fascinated."I've always loved art."
"Do you want to see more?", Elaine asked her.
Blair was intrigued with Elaine's suggestion.
"There's more? Then, yes, of course, please."
She followed Elaine through shelves and shelves of books, until they got into the farthest part of the library, where paintings were hung.
She viewed all paintings there. Some of them depicted nature, with green fields and flowing streams, others showed the villages, the markets, the people,... and of course, the palace. It seemed like every scenery of Gardania was stored in those pictures.
But what drew Blair's attention the most was a painting at the very end of the room. A picture hidden behind the curtains. Out of curiosity, Blair stepped closer and opened the curtains.
She saw a beautiful young woman, with blonde hair flowing over her shoulders that seemed to sparkle like sunshine. Her eyes, blue as the summer sky, enlightened her pale face. And most notably, she was wearing a golden crown.
"Who is she?", Blair asked. "Is she someone from the Royal family? I didn't see her at the Ball."
"She's not just 'someone' from the Royal family. She's the queen of Gardania."
Queen of Gardania? Blair pictured Tessa's mother. No, it couldn't be her.
"She doesn't look like Tessa's mother", Blair commented."Is she... one of her ancestors?"
"What makes you think Queen Cassandra is the rightful queen of this kingdom?" Elaine asked and made a mysterious look on her face."I'll tell you a secret. This woman you see, is queen Miriam. She was overthrown by her cousin some time ago."
Blair listened carefully. This doesn't sound good, she thought.
"Ever since Cassandra got to the throne, the kingdom has been restless. Any hopes of restoring the Queen's powers lie in the hands of her daughter, the lost princess."
"But why are you telling me this? It's not like I can help. This sounds very serious, you should discuss with someone who can solve the problem." Blair had an uneasy feeling that this was what Elaine was keeping from her.
"What if I tell you you're the lost princess? And that you're the one we're looking for..."
Blair stepped back.
"Stop joking, Elaine. I can't be the princess! I'm not her daughter! I know my parents! My Mother is Helen, and my Father is Anthony! Prove to me why I should believe this!"
Elaine contemplated for a while. Then she said, loud and clear.
"The Queen said her daughter has a special birthmark on her left shoulder."
Blair immediately grabbed her shoulder. The birthmark, that was somehow shaped like a flower. It was always carefully hidden under her sleeves. Blair never showed it to anyone, even Audrey and Melody.
With fear and bewilderment, Blair took another step back, then another... Until she ran away from the library as fast as she could.
But there was another thing she didn't know: Someone overheard their conversation. Blair was wrong to assume that Tessa never came there. She was in fact hiding behind a bookshelf nearby. And now the secret is unveiled to both of them.