"What the heck is wrong with you?" RJ snapped and lightly held my arm. "Why did you talk to my grandfather like that?"
"I just stated the facts, RJ." With force, I pulled my arm back. "Your grandfather speaks with pride, as if everything that comes out of his mouth is true. But how can I trust someone who doesn't even know the simplest information?"
"You even challenged him—"
"He challenged me," I corrected. "Let's just see each other around, RJ. And tell your family to fact-check." I said before I left.
"So that's it? After you learn what you want, you'll just leave?" He looked at me intently.
"No… I'll be back to let Nonno see the diary I was talking about. I'm not using your family's knowledge. I'll be back, not just with the book, but with additional knowledge—things your family can't do: fact-checking."
I wasn't being arrogant, but I hated how much I had relied on their knowledge about Queen Emerald. After learning they didn't even know the most basic things about her, just repeating hearsay without any fact-checking, it infuriated me.
When I got home, thankfully they hadn't arrived yet, so I went straight to my room. I gripped my necklace and sat on the floor.
"Mathra asra devone!" I called, summoning the Mutchesters. It didn't take long; they appeared immediately.
"H-hi again. You said you'd help me, and I read that the Mutchesters know the truth about anything, right?" I asked.
They obediently nodded.
"I will ask several questions, and you'll answer with full honesty." I took a deep breath. "Did Queen Emerald get pregnant?"
They nodded.
"Nonno said his father lived during the time of Queen Emerald. Is that true?" They nodded again. "So that means everything they said is true?"
This time, they didn't nod. Instead, they shook their heads.
"So they lied about some parts?"
They shook their heads again.
What was that supposed to mean? Not everything they said is true—maybe they're just not sure.
"Where is Queen Emerald's child? She was killed, and no one knew what happened to her baby. What happened?"
The letters moved: A-L-I-V-E.
Alive? Probably in their time. Gosh, why did I even ask? That child can't still be alive now. I decided to end our conversation and check the diary again.
"Where did I stop…" I kept scrolling until I found it. I turned the page:
"Harry called off their wedding. We're going to have a child and start our own family. This is the dream. I am very excited and looking forward to it. But something bothers me… Harry hasn't visited me for days now. He only comes when I ask him to. I miss him." –E
"For months I have been carrying our baby… No one knows about my pregnancy, not even my closest friend Drie. I'm afraid everyone might find out. Harry specifically told me not to tell anyone. I heard rumors that my sister is pregnant. Could the father be Harry? He could have told me… I haven't spoken to Savannah ever since she tried to steal Harry from me, especially since I got pregnant." –E
"I am so close to giving birth, and Harry is all eyes on me. I am excited to meet my baby, Amira. That's what I will name you." –E
"I gave birth a few days ago. I woke up expecting my baby or Harry to be waiting for me, but I was wrong. I woke up in a prison with nothing but my diary. What am I doing here? Where's my baby?" –E
"A shocking news that broke me into pieces. The person who asked for my execution was Harry—on the charge of theft, even though I haven't stolen anything. They betrayed me—him and my sister. They planned this behind my back. I have to get out of here. I will not die without getting my revenge." –E
The handwriting on the last part of what I read is unsteady, obliviously the moment she wrote this she is not okay.
As I continued to read her diary, I felt a sting in my heart. Her diary spoke loudly that most of what we learned in school about her was wrong. They said she was a madwoman, that she was ill-tempered. But here she was—just a woman in love. A woman who wanted love, who even when neglected stayed understanding. Why do our textbooks say differently? None of this was ever mentioned. It's as if it was hidden on purpose.
That was the last page I read before I grew sleepy. I let the darkness swallow the heaviness of my eyelids, and I fell asleep.
I woke up to a knock on the door. It was Jad.
"Mary, you're still asleep? Gosh, we're going to be late!" Jad shouted from outside my door.
I looked at the time and nearly jumped. 6 a.m. Why did I sleep so long? And my alarm didn't even ring.
"What should I do? I have to move faster," I said in panic. Suddenly, the book flipped on its own and landed on one page. I looked at it:
"Faster, Maybe Later? If you're running late, use this spell to quicken your pace. Remember, it lasts 5 minutes."
I read it, smiling. A very, very nice spell—perfect for my situation.
"5 minutes, Jad! Wait for me!" I shouted so he would.
"Flasher lighter, like splash 5 taker," I chanted. And there—my movements became ten times faster.
I immediately rushed out. Gosh, my first subject is Computer, and it's on the fourth floor.
"Ms. Quinlan, not late—but still, I got here before you did!" my teacher said.
It's not my fault you got here so early.
"Sorry, Sir…" I muttered before settling down.
After class, I ran to RJ. He was avoiding me.
"RJ, why the hell are you avoiding me?" I asked as I grabbed his wrist just as he tried to pass me.
"Get out of our house, Mary, before we sue you."
I was right in front of their gate. I had one promise—to come back and let Nonno see the diary, just like I said.
"I promised Nonno I'd let him see the Diary of Queen Emerald. I—I have it now," my voice cracked.
"I don't think he still wants to see it."
"At least ask him," I insisted. I was so hard-headed that RJ ended up letting me into their house.
"Why are you back? Didn't you just call our family liars?" Nonno asked, narrowing his eyes at me.
"I have the diary. Do you still want to see it?" That made him stop.
They invited me in, and since I was in a rush, I took out the book and set it in front of them, flipping its pages until it turned into the personal diary.
"Here, look. This is it. It says here that she got pregnant and then was betrayed by her lover and family." I pointed it out to them, but their reaction was full of confusion. "Why? What's wrong?"
"What are you talking about, Mary? There's nothing there but math equations," RJ said.
Huh? It was literally in front of them—I even pointed at it.
"Mary, are you sure you can see it?" Nonno asked.
"Yes. It's literally right there."
"I believe it's only you who can see the diary you're talking about."