THE PAST 2
As Stella slowly regained consciousness, she heard a gentle voice whispering, "My child, get up." The voice was warm and familiar, and Stella's heart stirred in response. As she opened her eyes, she saw a man and a lady dressed in white, their faces etched with love and concern.
But as she gazed deeper, Stella saw something that made her heart skip a beat - she saw herself in them. The resemblance was unmistakable, and Stella's mind reeled in shock.
The man and lady rushed to her side, their eyes brimming with tears. Stella's own eyes welled up as she embraced them, whispering, "Dad... Mom?"
The three of them held each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces. The man, the king, stroked Stella's hair, comforting her, "Don't cry, my child. Don't cry."
In that moment, Stella knew she had found her true parents, the ones she had been searching for her entire life. The connection was palpable, and Stella felt a sense of belonging she had never known before.
The king's voice trembled with emotion as he spoke, "Oh, Stella, my dear daughter, I'm so sorry you're fighting this battle. You don't deserve to go through all this. I was blinded by trust, and I failed to see the truth. But I have faith in you, Stella. I know you can bring peace back to Reichtum, just as it has always been."
He paused, his eyes welling up with tears, "You are the light of our kingdom, Stella. Your bravery and selflessness are qualities that I, as your father, should have recognized and nurtured. I was wrong to doubt you, and I ask for your forgiveness."
Stella's heart swelled with love and understanding as she listened to her father's words. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and knew that he spoke from the heart. With a gentle smile, she replied, "Father, I forgive you. I know you love me, and I love you too. Together, we can bring peace back to Reichtum."
The king's face lit up with hope, and he embraced Stella tightly, "Thank you, my daughter. Thank you for your forgiveness and your courage. I promise to stand by your side and support you
But my time has passed, and I failed," the king said, his voice heavy with regret. "Everything is up to you now, Stella. Yes, Stella, we both failed as parents," the queen added, her eyes filled with tears. "We could not raise you, and now you have to fight this battle. But I know you can do it, Stella. You're strong."
The king's body shook with sobs as he continued, "I wish I had the guts to have made that decision. I wish I had been brave enough to protect our kingdom, to protect you."
The queen placed a gentle hand on the king's arm, "We don't have much time left, dear. I'll tell you about the past, Stella. I'll tell you everything."
Stella's heart ached as she watched her parents, seeing the pain and sorrow etched on their faces. She knew that she had to be strong, not just for herself, but for them, for her kingdom. With a determined nod, she said, "Tell me, Mother. Tell me everything."
The king's voice cracked as he continued, "Reichtum has always been successful, rich in every way. But I've always had a thirst for adventure. So, I ventured outside Reichtum with my brother. We thought Reichtum was the only place in the world, but as we explored, I discovered a vast world beyond our borders. It dawned on me that we were disconnected from the rest of the world."
He paused, collecting his thoughts, "I realized that our isolation was not only physical but also emotional. We had become so focused on our own prosperity that we neglected the needs and struggles of others. I wanted to change that, to connect with the world beyond our kingdom."
The queen's eyes filled with tears as she added, "But our desire for adventure and connection was misinterpreted by those who sought to divide us. They fueled our own fears and doubts, driving a wedge between us and the world we wanted to embrace."
Stella listened intently, her heart heavy with the weight of her parents' words. She began to understand the complexities of their past and the burdens they had carried. With a determined spirit, she vowed to learn from their mistakes and forge a new path, one that would reunite Reichtum with the world beyond.
So, I encountered an adventurer, and I wanted to share the riches of Reichtum with them, hoping they would reciprocate and share their own knowledge and experiences with us. But my brother fiercely opposed this idea, and began to secretly conspire against me. He saw the adventurer as a threat, and feared that sharing our wealth and knowledge would diminish our power."
The king's voice filled with regret, "I was naive and too trusting. I didn't realize my brother's true intentions until it was too late.
He paused, his eyes clouding over, "That's when everything went wrong. My brother's conspiracy led to a great betrayal,
The queen's gentle touch on the king's arm seemed to anchor him in the present, and he continued,
My trusted advisor warned me that my brother was conspiring against me, but I refused to believe it. I thought my brother would never betray me, and I trusted him implicitly. But now I realize I was blind to his true intentions."
The king's voice cracked with regret, "I should have taken action, but I did nothing. And then, my brother went behind my back and killed the adventurer. When I found out, I was consumed by grief and shock."
He paused, his eyes filled with pain, "But when I confronted my brother, he denied any involvement in the adventurer's death. He lied to my face, and I was too naive to see through his deception."
The queen's gentle touch on the king's arm seemed to anchor him in the present, and he continued, "But I know the truth now. My brother's betrayal and deceit have caused irreparable harm to our kingdom and our family. I can only hope that you, Stella, will be able to restore what has been lost and bring peace back to Reichtum."
"My brother's betrayal knew no bounds. He conspired with the council members to overthrow me, and before I even knew what was happening, it was too late. They agreed to make him king, but only on the condition that he would not harm me or your mother. But your uncle had no intention of keeping his word. He sent soldiers after us, and we were forced to flee for our lives."
The king's voice cracked with emotion, "That's when we took you to the jungle, Stella. We knew it was the only place where you would be safe. We hoped that you would find your way back home one day, and now that you have, I'm so proud of the strong and brave woman you've become."
Tears streamed down the queen's face as she added, "We wished we could have been alive to see you grow up, but your uncle's soldiers brutally killed us. They thought they could erase our legacy, but they were wrong. You are our legacy, Stella, and we charge you with restoring our honor and reclaiming your rightful place as the ruler of Reichtum."
The king's voice faded away, but his words lingered in the air, filling Stella with a sense of purpose and determination. She knew that she had a long and difficult journey ahead of her, but she was ready to face whatever challenges came her way.
You must go now, Stella. There is much more to being a queen than you know. When you return, go to my hideout in the jungle. You'll find my sword there, and with it, the power to reclaim your rightful place as the ruler of Reichtum."
Stella looked confused, "But Father, I don't know where your hideout is."
The king smiled and rubbed her head, "You do, my daughter. You just don't remember yet. Trust me, you'll find it."
As the king's words faded away, Stella felt a strange sensation wash over her. Suddenly, she knew everything the king knew, and the queen's memories flooded her mind as well.
The queen stepped forward, her eyes shining with tears, "Always keep your amulet with you, Stella. It will protect you and guide you on your journey."
With that, the king and queen vanished, leaving Stella alone in the darkness. But she was not afraid, for she knew that she had inherited their strength, wisdom, and courage. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead, armed with the power of her ancestors and the determination to restore her family's honor.