chapter 23

In no time,the two had teleported and appeared at the fortified gate sorrounding the palace of the kingdom.

" My Queen,I didn't know that your home was this beautiful." Rizia commended obviously amazed by the architecture used to decorate the place. She was behaving like a fan girl. Sophia knew that the palace of the kingdom was one in a million. Everyone who came here admired the uniqueness of the place. It was no wonder that Rizia was this amazed.

" It was my home not anymore,my home now is where my mate is." Sophia stated with certainty. To her,her home was whenever Raphael was. She was foreign to this place and only remembered because she possessed Sophia's memories of this place.

She did not feel too much attachment.

" Come let's go ahead and meet the Grand duke ." She said her voice emotionless.

Rizia thought that Maybe the queen was excited to meet her father so she followed obediently. It was going to be the first time she meets the Duke of this kingdom and she was excited.

The man was praised for being wise and strategic. His name was known to all the neighbouring kingdoms. He was himself a legend and she was eager to meet the legendary Duke.

Sophia on the other hand had complicated feelings. She didn't know if she was happy to be here but she was definitely happy that her questions will be answered.

" I'll visit my mother's grave first." Sophia announced and took a decor heading towards the ancestral home.

This was where all the members of the royal family were buried.

Entering the ancestral hall, Sophia proceeded to burn incense for the ancestors resting there. It was a tradition observed by anyone who came to visit. The place was eerily quite. It could evoke feelings of fear to anyone coming here for the first place. Even though Sophia had been here before,the current Sophia wasn't the princess of Windsor kingdom but the heiress of a company from another world.

This kind of environment really scared Sophia but she had to go pay respects to the woman who she was curious to figure out.

Following Sophia's memories of this place, she walked to the farthest end of the hall until she approached her mother's grave.

She burned two incense sticks she had carried.

" We meet for the first time." Sophia uttered.

The picture on the tombstone was of a lady who was too beautiful for this world. She was smiling elegantly and was still in her prime years.

" I can see you were a jovial person and very loving. I can feel it through your daughter's memories. it makes me jealous because I think of my own mother who left me while I was still a small baby. I must say that your daughter was very lucky to have parents like you and her father. What makes me baffled is why two strong people gave birth to such a weakling? Forgive me for being rude but your daughter was very weak and shallow minded." Sophia paused and squatted to caress the smiling lady.

" But thanks to her cowardice, I was given a chance to be here and find the love of my life. I can also share the feelings of having a loving family from her memories. I came here to just seek answers to my questions. Since your daughter is now gone,I can pass as your daughter. She run away from her fate but I don't plan on doing the same thing. I am very much determined to see this to the end. I must save my mate and the people from destruction so I need to know the truth. I just hope that I get the answers to my questions soon before the time runs out. I am sure you knew atleast something about the prophecy. Please help me unravel the puzzle. My last question is are you really Julia? If yes,why did you hide it from your daughter? ofcourse I know you can't answer me that since you no longer exist. I just pray that you help me from wherever you are to save the man I love and the people." said Sophia.

The whole conversation was a monologue because the dead don't hear nor respond.

After she finished talking to a tomb she turned and headed out where Rizia was waiting for her.

Walking towards her father's office where she was sure she'll find him, Sophia hadn't taken ten steps before an excited voice called her name loudly.

She immediately stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the source of the voice. A young man her age was approaching her happiness displayed in his smiling face.

" Princess,I didn't know that you were visiting. if I had known I would have come to personally receive you." He said his eyes twinkling.

Rummaging through her memory, Sophia realized this man. He and Sophia grew up together. They were what could be referred to childhood friends. they went to school together, played together and did many childish things together.

"Am sorry for coming unannounced Kael but I had something I wanted to talk to the Duke about." Sophia replied. Kael could feel the change from his childhood friend. He wasn't alien to such changes,it seemed that everything changed now that she got married.

" It's okay,I understand." Kael replied. He was hurt by how easily she forgot about their friendship but he tried to not show it.

Sophia who was observant could feel the dejection in his voice but what could she do? she wasn't the Sophia he knew and she could never force herself to act.

"How have you been " Came a question from Sophia surprising Kael. He thought she didn't care about him anymore but it seemed he was overthinking.

Sophia had decided to salvage the situation by being polite that's why she asked him about himself and her strategy seems like was working. His earlier expression had turned to that of excitement.