COMPLICATION

"It came as a shock to me. Should I hide this? Should I tell them? Many thoughts flew through my head... It was hopeless; my sister, Isabella, already knows, and I doubt she would keep her mouth shut.

I thought it was best for me to get back to Isabella, and very fast. Quickly, I opened the door to sneak out and back to her, but everything was just at bad timing. Mother and Sister Flora were passing by. As I saw them, I jumped back in... "Angel! Come here, my dear." Stupid me made a sound, and Mother noticed.

"Angel, kindly come. I want to tell you something, then you can go back," I thought to myself, 'oh!! How will I escape this?'

"Yes, Mother!! I would be there in a jiffy!!" I prayed that it would work.

"Okay, drop by my room when done, dear." It was relieving; it worked. Now it's up to Isa.

Steadily and swiftly, I ran back to the shower room, and luckily for me, she was still there. "Hey!! Isa," she replied saying, "Hey Ann."

I looked at how big of a mouth runner she could be, but I'm sure if I pester around her enough, she would have no choice but to give in.

"My dear sister Isabella, can we have a chat?"

She didn't say a word.

"Angel, you are with the mark, what do you want to chat about?! Besides, I'm sure, according to you, the very words I would hear is 'I don't know how it got there' or something,"

"But sincerely, I don't know how it got there."

"EXACTLY!!"

*Sigh!* I left her for a bit. We showered up fully, and when she was about to leave, I had to call her back. I don't know if this appearing on my back is good or bad, but it is surely bad for me. Tsk! Me, being Queen? What a cruel world would want that for me. Pathetic. I will be so bad at it. I don't even have the mind to do that. Flora, Sister Flora would be mad at me for stealing her birthright... So, this is a definite no. I can't let this get out to the people of the castle.

"Isabella, you already know what I want to talk to you about. Can't you just hear me out, your twin?"

"Hmmm... Okay, I will hear you out. What's your excuse for getting the mark on why Sister Flora is still alive and well, and also not missing? Besides, it isn't coronation day. So tell me, Ann, why do you have the mark?" She was just straight and forward with what she wanted to hear.

But I didn't know why I got the mark then. "To be sincere Isa, I don't know. Why are you finding it hard to believe your twin sister?" I replied in hope that she doesn't do anything rash. Like I said before, she can be complicated sometimes and sometimes causing unnecessary issues.

"Okay! Now I believe you. What do you now want from me?"

"Well... The thing is..."

"Just spill it, Ann."

"Can you keep this a secret between you and me?"

"I don't see a reason why I should or you should either. Like you just said now, you do not know how it got to your back... OR DO YOU?"

"I thought you said you believed me, Isa! Well, the reason I don't want this to get out is that I won't get a reason to back up the fact that I truly have the mark when another person finds out."

"And what are you imposing by that?" Isa asked.

"I want to find out for myself first. Would need your help too, and I don't want to cause any issues for anyone because if they do find out now, it will probably cause trouble, especially between me and Sister Flora."

"Somehow that's true, and you have gotten a way to get me involved so I have no choice but to help you."

"YEEE!!! Thanks a thousand bunch Isa," I smiled.

"Don't let it get into you. 'Yeah, I know.'

"Okay, can I leave now?" she asked.

"Of course, best sister ever," I started.

As she moved, I quickly jumped on her as a sign of happiness. She was uneasy for a while, but she loosened up. We held hands and went to her room.

Oh, I almost forgot, this caused the moment that made me want to read more. It was getting late, I had to go meet Mother. I and Isa had some chats, and it was like nothing happened. I took an excuse as I left for Mother's room.

*Knock Knock*

"Come in, Sunlight."

I entered to see my mum fit prepared on her bed.

"You knew it was me?"

"How wouldn't I?"

"You didn't see me, so I assumed."

"Well, let's just say, I know my kids quite well."

We had a little chat, and then she asked, "Have you been feeling any weird today?"

Me being guilty and all and started stammering, "Me... Why would... Me?! Mother I haven't been... I haven't been feeling anyhow lately Mother." Sweaty me stood up and started walking towards the door.

"Don't leave Sunlight, I want to check something."

"Oh really, Mother, what... What do you? You want to check." "Just come, I don't bite. You should know, or do I look terrifying? *Roar*" Her roaring made me laugh. Well, that's my funny mother for you. I always loved her presence...

It eased me up, and I came closer. "Okay, Mother, what do you want to check?" She replied, saying, "Show me your back."

"EHH!!!"

"But Mother, why do you wish to check my back? I am perfectly okay; everything is fine. I don't have any issue with you checking my back, though!!"

"My beautiful sunshine, there is no need for you to be nervous. I just need to check something, I assure you, dear," she replied so calmly.

I was very nervous to the core, sweating all around. I didn't even know what I should do next; little was even reaching for the door. An excuse could save me, but I knew my mother could already see the apprehension in me. Then she said, "I just really want to check your back; that's all. I want to see if it has appeared. I'm not sure if it would appear, but there's no harm in checking. Don't be startled, Ann."

"Mother, what do you mean by if it has appeared? 'Cause I don't understand."

"Okay, let me just tell you. The Mark that disappeared from your sister's back might appear on yours since you are supposed to be the next in line."

It came to my realization that my mother knew about the Mark all along. "Wait, Mother, are you telling me that the mark that I have been hiding is not that... Is not something I should be hiding or..."

"Are you telling me that you have gotten the Mark already?"

"Mother Please don't be annoyed, but Isabella saw it when we were having our bath, and I got to know about it too. But I don't know how it got there. Mother, please don't be angry at me or Isa; she's not involved in any of this."

"My dear Sunshine, you need to calm down. There is nothing wrong. This is just something that I guessed would have happened. It is not as if it is your fault that Mark left your sister, but a good thing is that it came to you, meaning it will stay in our blood. On the other hand, we have your sister who has trained her whole life for this and always wanted her remaining days as a queen. So, we need to find a way to get the mark back to her, or else you will have to be the next Queen."

"But quick question, Mother. I still don't understand how you came about knowing that I had the Mark. I was planning on hiding it, maybe my whole life, to be very honest."

*laughs* "Don't be silly, Sunshine," she said as she stood up and came closer to me. "Being queen is awesome, and as for your question, oh... okay. You remember the last time I called you when you were about to have your bath? I wanted to alert you that there are possibilities of the Mark appearing on your body since it's left your sister's."

"Mother, I still don't get it. Weren't we taught that the mark can only go back to the lower offspring only if the person who was unworthy or pronounced... If the person is said... said to be, De..ad, but Sister Flora is not missing and not dead, so I don't get why the Mark would come to me."

"Imperial Moko and not 'STUFF', my dear. This is just a case of instincts and assumption. We know that in other cases like being worthy or pronounced missing, the Mark goes to the junior, so it was safe to assume it will come to you, Sunshine."

"Just like I said earlier, this is the point that made me want to read more, as to not want to make a mockery of myself anymore."

"I feel so bad now. This was just a normal occurrence, and I got Isa and me worked up about it. A clueless person like me can't hold no nation, talk less of an entire realm. That damn insane for me, Mum."

"Isa was right all along; it was nothing to hide from people. Dumdum Ann, dummy Angel," that put some thoughts into me. If I want to become the best royal mage ever, I will have to be smart. And for me to be smart, I need to know things and not be fooled by my ridiculous thoughts.

"Sunshine, it is and was not your fault. Anyone in your shoes would not have known, so I wouldn't judge you, dear. Besides, it's what you were taught. Technically, you acted the exact way I would have to if I were in your shoes."

"Yes, Mother, I know it is what we thought, but logically, what you said was right. Dumdum Angela..."

"Don't say that, dear. Everyone makes missteps. Now, as for the Mark, may I see it now?"

"You don't have to ask again, Mother!" I turned to my back, and she unzipped my dress and revealed the Imperial Moko, which lay centralized at the spinal cord zone of my back right here, the mark was a red dragon with a large 5 pointed crown around it (Showing Anon the point on my back).

"How come I have never noticed this IMPERIAL MOKO MARK thing on you before?"

"That's because she has only told you how she got the mark and not the whole story leading to why Little Miss Angela here ran away and hides it."

"RAN AWAY?!!"