Adeline rushed out of the cell after Niklaus told her that if she wanted any more information, she must bring him more letters first.
She was frustrated with him, tired of constantly doing this dance. But she must know more. Know more about her mother, about the reasons for her lying to Adeline. Adeline needed to know everything. Even if she did not like whatever she found.
Adeline called on one of the guards roaming the halls and told him to gather her mother's trunk from the basement. It held mementos from her mother's life. Countless letters, photos, paintings, poems, and plenty of books.
"Would you like me to bring the second trunk up as well, Your Majesty?" the guard asked before leaving Adeline.
She turned to look at him. "There is another?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It has been there for years,"
Adeline narrowed her eyes in confusion and simply nodded at the man. He bowed before walking away.
"Deliver it to my room, sir!" she shouted after him.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said back.
Adeline turned on her heels, picked up her dress, and headed to her room. She walked with light feet, the rest of the way to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her and leaned her head against it, taking a deep breath in. She closed her eyes and pondered everything. Everything that Niklaus had told her, everything she knew, and everything she was to know very soon.
Adeline could not say she was not nervous to receive the crates. She did not know what the other crate was but feared it slightly. Maybe it was just more of her mother's things.
Adeline sat down at her vanity and combed her hair, watching herself in the mirror. She stared blankly at her face, looking at her eyes and her skin.
Soon after she was finished combing her hair, she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," Adeline said, still watching herself in the mirror. The door opened and the guard that went to fetch the crates stepped in. He carried one of the crates and another guard walked in with the second. They both grunted as they set them on the floor beside Adeline. She glanced at the old wooden crates on the floor and then back to the guards.
"Off with you," she said, dismissing them with her hand. Adeline watched the guards scuttle out of the door.
She left her seat at the vanity and kneeled beside the boxes. She looked at the first one, the one she had seen before. Then to the other, the one she had never seen. Adeline lifted her hand to the first box and wiped the dust from the top. She looked at the name on the lid. Isabelle. Adeline smiled faintly. She reached for the second box to wipe the dust off of it as well.
She swiped her hand, knocking the dust off. Underneath the dust and dirt was a name. Selene. Adeline tipped her head to the side, confusion taking over any other emotion. She decided she would open that one first, for she had not seen it before and was curious as to what was inside.
Adeline grunted as she opened the lid to the crate that was crusted with dust and dirt. It cracked open and revealed numerous things. Selene's paintings, letters, journals, and drawings. Adeline noticed something peculiar about one of the paintings. She pulled it out from underneath a piece of paper and studied it.
She noticed that it was a family portrait. Adeline noticed Selene, then she noticed the three other people in the painting. Isabelle and Adeline's grandmother and grandfather. Adeline froze and dragged her fingers across the rough, dried paint. If her mother was in the same portrait as Selene that could only mean that they were family. Immediate family.
Adeline put the painting aside and sifted through the other papers and paintings. She found a paper that intrigued her. Selene's Journal. Adeline opened the journal's dry, flaky paper and began reading.
Day one
My mother told me I should journal my thoughts to make me a better writer. We will see. I suppose I will write about my days and how they were or what happened. I don't really know exactly what to say. I will first tell you about my life up until this point. I am a Princess of Astrean and the twin sister of Princess Isabelle. Our mother's name is Adelpha and our father's name is Luke. They are amazing rulers and parents, nobody in the kingdom can doubt that. Mother is trying to decide who she wants to rule the kingdom. Me or my sister. I don't believe it to be a competition, but I think Isabelle believes it is. She keeps doing things to make mother happy. Making her food, cleaning her room, walking the dogs, and cleaning the horses. I think she somehow believes that this will prove to mother that she is the better Queen. And in all honesty, I do not believe that I would be much of a better Queen than she. I know she would be a better Queen. But thinking or even knowing that does not make me want it any less. But I have not been buttering up my mother and trying to make her like me more, Isabelle has. Isa and I are almost best friends. We have been since we were little. And there is nothing I hate more than competition. Especially with my sister. And this decision that mother will make could break us. I do not wish to be a burden or to fall apart from my sister, but my mother is soon to make us. I think that sometimes we do crazy things to win. But I am not like that. I do not cheat. Mother used to tell us as children that if we ever did something bad that she would send us to the Land of the Banished. To scare us. I was never really scared of that place. I think they should have called it 'The Land of the Misunderstood' because nobody there really, truly deserved to be banished. The people there ranged from people who killed kings to people who were accused of stealing a farmer's beans. It's silly really. To banish people who have done bad instead of teaching them good. If you ask me, I believe that it should be its own kingdom. Ruled by the people. I would enjoy that. I know that if I was not a peasant there, I would rule. I know that I would be an amazing ruler of this kingdom but I would be an even better ruler of the Kingdom of the Banished. Because I understand them. I understand not being wanted or loved. For my entire life, I have always come second to Isabelle. And I know that until I am Queen that it will remain that way. But I will not compete with my sister for the throne. I will earn it. Earn it. I will not beg, I will not do anything that I would not do if it were not for the throne. The crown seems heavier than the throne. But the throne does not sit on your head.
Day two
Last night before I slept, Isabelle came into my room. She seemed scared. And it was obvious that she had been crying. She asked me to stay with her that night and allow her to talk with me. Of course, I did. She sat on my bed and cried. I continued to ask her what was troubling her, but she did not say. She did not say anything, as matter of a fact. She stayed silent, except for her crying. She told me nothing, which was odd because she told me everything. The one thing she did say, multiple times, only later in the night, was 'sorry'. Over and over, apologizing for something that I knew not of. And still know not of. She has not talked to me since, though it is only dawn. But when she does see me, I pray she tells me what she was rambling on about. Nothing had happened to me, I had not been hurt or betrayed, so I am quite confused as to what she has to be sorry about. Maybe it was something that had not come. It is almost breakfast so I suppose I will continue writing when I am through.
***
When Adeline reached the end of the paper, she paused before flipping to the next. Her mother was her rival's twin sister and she had no idea. Adeline felt ashamed and stupid that she had not seen this before. But before she jumped to any further conclusions she flipped the page and began reading once more.
Day two
I wrote that I would write after breakfast, but I was quite busy with lessons. I had dancing lessons and then math and I was quite too tired to stay up and write all of my thoughts for the day. I suppose I will try to remember everything from yesterday. After lessons, I had supper with my family. Mother, father, and Isa. It is quite rare to have the entire family together for supper so it was nice. But Isa still has not told me why exactly she ran into my room crying and saying I'm sorry over and over. She did, however, tell me that she would tell me tonight. I have been thinking up possibilities all day. What could have possibly happened that warranted a future Queen falling at the feet of her nobody sister? Strange girl, my sister. She continues to flatter mother and make her little trinkets. Mother has begun bringing in suitors for her. Not for me, of course. Suitors do not want me. Only because I am not as pretty. Or smart. Never mind that I wish not for suitors anyways. They are pesky things. I would rather fall for love, not for wealth or success. I have nothing more I wish to say, so I will be back after Isa tells me what she wishes to tell me.
***
This is still day two. But I wish to write this before I fall asleep. There is no chance I will forget it, but I do not wish to sleep with this on my mind. Isa came into my room just a short bit ago and she looked guilty. I did not even think of any possibility in which my sister could be so torn up about something. She sat slowly on the edge of my bed and I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was holding tears back. I sat up on my bed and simply watched as she nervously prepared herself for whatever she was gearing to say. Isa breathed deeply as she looked at the ceiling. "Just say it, Isa," I told her. She looked at me and exhaled a breath she was holding.
"I am with child," she blurted it out almost offensively. There is one thing that I have not told you about the twins of our world. When twins are born, they are cursed by the Gods for the burden that the mother will have to carry when she chooses a Queen. This curse is never to be broken by anyone or anything. When one of the twins is with child the other is cursed with the same fate. So if Isa is with child, so am I. When she told me I simply froze. I knew not what to say to her. So the only thing I asked her was, "Who?"
She looked away from me before answering. "Theo," I scoffed. "You cannot be serious, Isa. He is not of royal blood! Mother will not hand over the crown to you for this betrayal,"
For the rest of the night, Isa begged and begged me not to tell mother. And of course, I did not. We are twins, connected by blood, and that would be a betrayal to her and myself. When I told her that I would keep her secret, she kissed my forehead and thanked me countless times. But she failed to acknowledge the fact that I was too with child. Further proof that she only cares about herself. It does not bother me as much as one would think. I do not mind her selfishness, for someday it will get in her way and she will lose the crown she so deeply desires for.
Day three
It is day three of writing and I do not know how many days of being with child. It is a horrid feeling, truly. I never wanted to be a mother. It was never for me. It is monstrous and gross. But what's done is done. I cannot change what is already set in stone. I still have not received an apology from Isa however. Which only makes me angrier, but I will simmer and move on eventually. Today will be fairly normal, lessons, eating, sleeping, and writing. Isa told me she wishes to keep the child a secret until she is the queen so mother did not know of her sin. I once-
The doors burst open as the ink on Selene's feather made a blot of ink on her paper.
"What is the meaning of this?" she shouted, guards, rushing through the door.
"You have been accused of treason, your grace!" one of the guards shouted.
"What?!" Selene shouted as one of the guards pulled her off of her bed. She shouted at them, demanding who ordered this and who accused her. As they dragged her downstairs she shouted for her family, but nobody came. She remained alone now and she believed she would for the rest of her life.
As the guards reached the bottom of the stairs with Selene in their hands she heard a familiar voice call from down the hall.
"Bring her to the throne room," Adelpha commanded. Selene's eyes widened, full of a mix of relief and fear. She was relieved that her mother was there but feared her calmness as her daughter was being dragged down the stairs.
The guards nodded and carried Selene into the throne room and threw her to the floor in front of her mother's throne. Selene grunted as she pulled herself off the floor.
"Selene, have you any idea as to why you have been charged with treason?" Adelpha asked from the throne. Selene panted, taken aback by her mother's belief.
"No, mother! I swear I-"
"You will address me as your Majesty, child," Adelpha demanded.
Selene's head fell as she tried to think of how to explain she was innocent.
"You have been charged with treason for the attempted murder of your future Queen," her mother said, reaching for Isa's hand. At that moment, seeing her mother hold her sister's hand as they both watched her kneel at their feet, Selene wanted to kill them both. But she had nothing to do with any attempted murder.
Adelpha saw the confusion on Selene's face and rolled her eyes. "A dagger with Princess Isabelle's name carved into it was found under your bed,"
In all of the kingdoms, when someone wishes to murder another, they will carve their target's name into a dagger.
"What? I do not know of this dagger! I swear my life on it!" Selene shouted.
"Your life means nothing when you have targeted your future queen!" Adelpha shouted as she stood from her throne angrily. Isa looked at her mother and whispered something to her. Adelpha sat down and calmed herself.
"The weapon was found under your bed with her name in it. That act is punishable by death," her mother smiled wickedly, as if talking about killing her daughter made her happy. Selene sobbed once, closing her eyes.
"But," her mother said, walking down from her dais. She reached Selene and lifted her chin. "You are still a princess so I will show you mercy," Adelpha looked at the guards standing on either side of Selene. "Take her to the Land of the Banished,"
"No, no. Mother please!" Selene shouted as the guards grabbed her arms. "I swear I did not do it!"
"I have shown you mercy child, do not give me the chance to take it back," Adelpha said as Selene was dragged out of the throne room.
"Isa! Please!" Selene shouted, locking eyes with her sister. Isabelle looked away and diverted her gaze to the wall beside her.
As Selene was dragged out of the castle she thought of one thing: how can I make the Land of the Banished my new home?
***
Day four
It is day four of this journal and it is day one in the Land of the Banished. It is not as bad as one would think. The people are nicer to the people banished than the visitors. By visitors, I mean the people that visit their family members that were banished. It is much harder being a family of one that is banished than it is to be banished. But the people of this land are flesh and bone just as any royal is. The royal families tend to think of themselves as higher than everyone when in reality they are no better than the muck on my boots. And until they realize that, we will forever live in constant fear and sorrow for the pain our rulers have caused us. I watched my mother remain flint-eyed as she banished me from my kingdom. And I watched my sister stand idly by as I was dragged mercilessly on the marble we once played on. But, tomorrow is a new day.
Day five
Today, I will speak in front of the people of the Banished. I will represent them. And today, I will propose an idea. An idea that I am not quite sure will be a success. I will offer the proposition to title this land as a Kingdom. Though, it will not be up to me. It will be up to the surrounding four kingdoms. They will vote and if the majority votes are in favor, then the Land of the Banished will be a kingdom. And I will be its queen. It might be one step down, or a few, from being Queen of Astrean, but it is still Queen. It is better than being a peasant of Astrean. Astrean seems like a beautiful utopia, filled with treats and beautiful rulers. But really, it is far from it. It might appear beautiful on the outside, but some things happen within the walls of Astrean that cannot even be imagined. Any livestock that farmers or workers obtain, must give the palace sixty percent. That leaves less than half of the livestock for the people who are starving. When I was a princess, I would quite frequently sneak food from the palace and give them back to the peasants. They were grateful, of course, but I never did it for fame or to look good, like my sister would. I did it for them. Because they had no one to fight for them, or keep them safe.
Day six
Yesterday, I had the honor of becoming Queen of Veraxin, the Kingdom of the Banished. We sent word to the other kingdoms and they all responded with utmost quickness. All except one. Astrean failed to respond, but we still had a majority of aye's so it does not matter. That is all I have to write for today, but my castle is being built and it will be done soon. So that is something to look forward to.
***
Adeline looked at the letter, frozen and dumbfounded. She could not believe that her mother was the one behind all of this. Her mother was the villain. And at that moment Adeline understood why Illia tried to kill her. She had done to Illia what her mother had done to Selene.
Adeline had one question after she read the beginning journal entries. If the curse of the twins is true, why was Illia not with child?