The corridor was dimly lit, the flickering torchlight casting uneven shadows along the walls. Natalie moved swiftly, careful not to draw attention, when a quiet rustle behind her caught her attention. A maid, hunched slightly, approached with a small envelope clutched in her hands. Her eyes avoided Natalie's entirely, as if the mere acknowledgment of the princess's presence might have consequences.
"Your majesty…" the maid whispered, voice trembling. "This… came for you."
Natalie reached out, taking the envelope delicately. Her fingers brushed the seal, and a small shiver ran down her spine. The emblem stamped on the wax was unfamiliar yet unsettlingly precise. The handwriting on the front, sharp and deliberate, sent a chill through her chest. She recognized it immediately: Selene. Her twin sister. The one whose presence had always carried a silent venom, the one who despised her with a hatred that never needed words.
Retreating to the privacy of her chambers, Natalie closed the door with a soft click, her heart thumping in her chest. She ran her fingers over the envelope one last time before breaking the seal, unfolding the letter with a mixture of dread and anticipation.
The first lines were as cruel as she had expected. Selene's words cut sharply, each sentence laced with disdain.
"You've managed to worm your way into the palace, but remember this: Mother never truly wanted you. You were an accident of fate, a shadow masquerading as what should have been her rightful daughter. You do not belong to this family, not really."
Natalie's fingers trembled slightly as she continued reading. Each word was a calculated strike, a reminder of the harsh reality she had sensed all her life but had tried to ignore. The letter didn't dwell long on the details of her non-birth family, as if Selene assumed the cruelty alone would be enough to unsettle her.
But it was enough.
Her mind involuntarily flicked back to the conversation with the servant. The servant's cryptic words now merged with Selene's venom, confirming fragments of a truth Natalie had only begun to grasp: she was not a twin, and the people she had always considered her parents were not truly hers. The puzzle pieces were starting to form a picture, dark and incomplete, yet undeniably real.
Selene's words continued, more insidious than before.
"Be wary, for the King is not blind. Should he uncover the truth about your origins, the consequences will be severe. Your carefully constructed place at court could crumble in an instant. Remember, appearances may deceive, but blood does not lie. I suggest you tread carefully, lest the mask you wear fall away."
Natalie's hands clenched the paper, the edges crumpling slightly under her grip. Her pulse raced. The King discovering the truth,that terrifying possibility now felt tangible. She could see it vividly: the Alpha's eyes, sharp and discerning, narrowing in recognition of a deception she hadn't even known how to fully articulate. The very thought made her stomach churn, yet it also ignited a flicker of resolve within her. She could not allow herself to be undone by the cruelty of others, no matter how sharp or precise their words.
She pressed her palm against her chest, trying to steady the rapid beat of her heart. The servant's revelation echoed in her mind: that she would have to uncover the rest herself, that fragments of truth might be all she could find in the moment. It was a daunting realization, yet in the midst of fear and uncertainty, Natalie felt a surge of determination. The court, the King, her family,none of them would define her entirely. She would seek her own truth.
The letter ended with a final, sharp warning.
"Do not be complacent. Every action you take, every secret you guard, has a price. The blood that flows through our veins carries consequences. The King is patient, but even patience has its limits. Tread lightly, for one misstep and the world you cling to could vanish."
Natalie's breath caught in her throat. She folded the letter carefully, then let it fall to the small brazier in her chamber. A flick of her hand sent it into the flames. The paper curled and blackened, smoke curling upward in thin spirals, carrying with it Selene's venomous words.
Yet even as the fire consumed the letter, the words did not fade from her mind. Selene's cruelty, the knowledge of her fractured family, the warning about the King;all replayed relentlessly in her thoughts. Each flicker of flame seemed to echo the sharp edge of the sentences, leaving impressions that could not be easily erased.
Natalie sank into her chair, fingers running over the armrest as she tried to steady herself. She had expected challenges at court, political intrigue, the subtle manipulations of nobles,but the personal sting of her own sister's hatred was something entirely different. It was intimate, direct, and profoundly destabilizing.
And yet, beneath the ache, a spark of defiance kindled. She had survived whispers and subtle attacks before. She had navigated the eyes of nobles who assumed she was weak or inexperienced. She had maneuvered through the treacherous terrain of court politics without faltering. This,Selene's venom,would not break her. It would only remind her of the stakes, sharpen her resolve.
A soft breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of the night gardens below. Natalie inhaled deeply, letting the cool air fill her lungs and clear the tightness in her chest. The King, the court, even her family's duplicity,none of it would define her entirely. She would uncover the rest of the truth herself, piece by piece, no matter how dangerous or painstaking the journey might be.
Her gaze lingered on the fading embers in the brazier. Though Selene's words would replay in her mind for nights to come, Natalie knew that she could not dwell solely on them. The court demanded her attention. The Alpha's scrutiny continued to be sharp, the nobles' eyes unforgiving. Each day was a test, each interaction a measure of her poise and cunning.
Rising from her chair, Natalie let her hands brush over the smooth wooden surface of the desk. Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye, calm and poised, betraying none of the turmoil that churned beneath the surface. She allowed herself a small, fleeting smile, a quiet affirmation that she would endure, and more importantly, that she would take control of what she could.
The letter may have sought to wound, to remind her of where she did not belong, but Natalie would use it instead as a compass. Every warning, every insult, every cruel observation would guide her steps, not define them. She would navigate the court, the Alpha, and the dangers of her past with care, cunning, and an unwavering sense of purpose.
Selene's words had been cruel. They had been sharp. They had reminded Natalie that even within the confines of family, betrayal could linger. And yet, for all the venom and malice, Natalie understood one undeniable truth: she was her own person, and the path to her destiny would be forged by her own hand.
As the night deepened, the palace quieted, and Natalie's chamber became a sanctuary of thought and planning. The letter had been destroyed physically, but the impact lingered,a reminder that some truths, once glimpsed, could never be fully unlearned. And in that lingering shadow, Natalie found the resolve to face the Alpha, the court, and her own fractured family with courage she had not yet fully realized.
---
The letter was ashes in her hand, but the words haunted her. Selene's sharp disdain, the warning about the King, and the fragments of her true origins kept replaying in her mind. Natalie closed her eyes, letting the firelight fade from the walls, and silently vowed that she would uncover every hidden secret herself—no matter how dark or dangerous the path might be.