The queen kept her smile, but inside, she was nervous to talk about what was in her heart.
"Yesterday, you told that your mother taught you how to make that particular perfu," the queen began. "It made curious about your mother. How is she? I heard she has just returned after a long ti."
"She is doing well after being treated for her sickness a few months ago," Natalie answered honestly.
"Sickness? What happened to her?"
Natalie explained, and the queen asked again, "Is she fully recovered now?"
"Almost. Soon, she will be able to go anywhere."
"Good. I would like to et her as well," the queen said.
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
The queen observed Natalie for a while before asking again, "Has your mother ever ntioned Belvorn?"
"Yes," Natalie replied.
"What did she say?" the queen asked, not expecting the next reply from Natalie.
"That she is the Princess of Belvorn—Princess Carn—and that I am the next princess," Natalie said straightforwardly.
The queen was left speechless. She had been carefully approaching the subject, yet this girl had said it all outright.
A wave of relief washed over the queen as her eyes turned teary once more. "I am glad you know... I was wondering how to bring it up to you."
"It’s alright, Your Majesty. By now, I’m so used to uncovering shocking things about myself even now and then," Natalie replied calmly, as if it were not a big deal.
"Why didn’t you co to directly before and tell ?" the queen asked.
"I believe the truth will find its way on its own, and perhaps, if I had co to you, you might not have believed ," Natalie replied.
The queen couldn’t deny the fact.
"So the reason Carn sent you here..."
"Is to be recognized by you," Natalie replied. "Also, to teach a lesson to those who tried to harm both of us over the years."
The queen’s expression saddened. "I thought that if I distanced her from royalty, she would be safe, but it seems I was wrong..."
"Can I ask you sothing?" Natalie said.
"Please, go ahead."
"Since you knew my mother wasn’t dead, why didn’t you bring her here at least after she had grown up?"
"When she was lost, one of my most trusted people went after her, assuring he would protect her. After that, I couldn’t keep contact with him, or the enemies would have discovered them. Years later, when I tried searching for them again, the man I had sent was dead, and I had no clue where Carn was. My people searched everywhere but reached a dead end. I didn’t even know what she looked like after so many years. I could only hope that if she were still alive, she would return on her own."
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.
"Your Majesty, do you know who those enemies are?" Natalie asked.
"The closest ones are always the ones to harm you," the queen said, wiping her tears but not naming nas.
"My mother was doing fine all these years, but when you started looking for her again, the enemies were alerted and tried to harm her. That’s why she had to fake her death," Natalie added.
"It was all my fault for not protecting her..."
"I can tell my mother doesn’t bla you," Natalie said. "But once she is back, I can assure you she will take revenge on those who hard her, regardless of who they are or how much Your Majesty cherishes them."
The queen understood the implications and said, "Maybe it is ti for them to pay for what they did."
Natalie humd and said, "Now, it’s ti for to leave, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself."
"Won’t you call Grandma?" the queen asked.
"Once Princess Carn calls you her mother, I will call you whatever you want to," Natalie replied.
The queen could see that, despite her youth, Natalie was resolute and goal-oriented. She couldn’t be swayed easily. "I will wait for that day when you call grandma."
Natalie nodded and then heard the queen again. "You are coming to the last event of the evening, right?" she asked with a hopeful gaze. "I wish for you to be there."
"I will be there," Natalie assured her and left.
Once she was gone, the queen turned to Betty. "Tonight, I am going to declare her as a princess."
"Y-Your Majesty, won’t that be too hasty?"
"I have found them, and I can protect them now," the queen replied. "By telling the entire world that this is the real princess, no one would dare to harm her or Carn. In fact, this is the best way to protect them."
"You didn’t tell her," Betty noted.
"She wouldn’t agree," the queen said. "I won’t miss this chance. I don’t know if she will return anyti soon once she is gone. Carn never returned all these years, but if her daughter is here, it will bring her back to . They are my rightful heirs."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Betty replied. "I can’t wait to see you finally reunited with your family."
The queen humd in agreent, and for the first ti in years, her usually calm yet sad eyes glead with newfound brightness.
"Your Majesty, I can tell Princess Carn has raised her daughter really well," Betty said. "She is tough and truly carries the blood of a warrior from the royal family."
"True. Even I am amazed at how strong and confident she is at such a young age," the queen said. "The life she led with the Fords all these years must have shaped her into the person she is today."
"Are you going to punish the Fords for how they treated our princess?" Betty asked.
"No need to dirty our hands. If they do anything, Natalie is more than capable of handling them herself."
"True, Your Majesty."
The queen called for her assistant and instructed her, "Do whatever you can, but bring information on the man Natalie has married."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The assistant left.
"You want to et that man?" Betty asked. "I believe the man our princess has chosen must be soone good."
"I want to believe that as well, but I can’t be at ease until I et him in person. I don’t know the man my daughter carried a child for, but I won’t make the sa mistake with my granddaughter."
"You are right, Your Majesty."
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