Chapter 25 - Reconciliaton

A few Days later, I have finally decided what to do. I need to make up my Mind. I can't stay like this forever, lest I really will go crazy. I just need to think back to a few Days ago, what happened there and what happened even before that. I can't let such thoughts control me.

But first, before I do anything rash, I think I will need to reform this Kingdom.

I look at the List of Aristocrats and Nobles that are ruling in this Kingdom. Apparently over 90% of them are corrupt. The rest of them have either engaged with Corruption at least once or had predecessors who were corrupt. I can't let this go on.

Still... how should I do that...

But before I can think further, I hear knocking on my Door.

"Come in." A few seconds later, the Door opens and someone comes in, who I didn't expect to see, Victoria.

"What are you doing here? What do you want from me?" I ask her, in a cold voice.

Victoria shakes her Head. "I think you must have misunderstood something. Whatever you think I have done, I didn't."

"Hah! You really think I would believe that? Do you think I would trust you after all the things you have done to me?"

"NO! Whatever it is, I was not the one to do those things!"

"So, you lying to me was not true? You betraying me was false? YOU KILLING HEIRA IS ALSO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T DO?" I almost want to lash out at her and kill her. But somehow, I have the feeling that I can restrain myself.

"Wh-what do you mean? H-heira got killed? But... why wasn't there any Announcement?" Victoria looks shocked. Genuinely shocked.

Now that I think about it, she is right. Why haven't I announced her death yet. I mean, was I just to busy for that or...

"So you mean to tell me that you didn't kill her?"

She shakes her Head. "No! I would never do that. What do you take me for? Why would I kill my own Family Member?"

"And what about the Times you lied to me? When you betrayed me?"

"I don't understand what you mean! I have never lied to you. And when would I ever have betrayed you?"

"I know that you've lied to me! I heard it directly from my Uncle! He-" Oh no...

"your... uncle?" Victoria looks confused.

"I... I mean.... I...."

"Don't tell me... it was true that he wasn't your Father..."

"I also didn't know! But that doesn't change anything. What does that even matter now?...

Wait a minute... so you really did lie to me! You really aren't the reincarnation of my Aunt!"

"What are you talking about? I have never said anything like this to you!"

"And what about you telling me to cleanse my Soul? What about that? I mean, it apparently didn't work!"

"No! I never even did such a thing. I..."

"SILENCE! Why do you keep lying to me? What have I done to you to deserve this?"

"That is what I should be asking you! Weren't we Friends all the time? Didn't we have a lot of Fun in the last few years? I could never lie to you! Please, I beg you... you need to believe me!" She starts to Cry.

Is she really serious? But... who was that then who told be about all those things. It could only have been her. I am for certain. But... why does my Memory feel so fuzzy. As if... someone has manipulated it. Does it have to do about my Former Self. But isn't that also kind of awkward? Wouldn't that mean that I am my own Aunt? That can't be. Don't tell me... The King lied to me? But... I am officially the Queen now. I heard the calling and-

"Oh no... no no no no no! This can't be! I..." My face has an expression of Shock, I am speechless.

Victoria looks at me with worry. "Lyara!" She runs over to me and hugs me.

I start to cry. "All this time... all this time... I... I'm sorry. I am truly sorry."

Victoria looks at me. "I accept your Apology. But... what happened?"

I shake my Head and put my Hand against my Forehead. I have an immense headache.

"I really can't believe it. I think the King has lied to me. I think he has orchestrated all of this. What if he... No... that..."

"What is it? You can tell me. I am here for you!" Victoria has an expression of worry.

"I... think he let this Kingdom to rot. I believe he let me inherit this Kingdom, full of lies and deceit. I think... I am not even related to him. He probably, at School, manipulated something in my Memories. What even is the truth? I don't know... all these... past few years, ever since I've got here... they are just gone. Or at least I don't think I can recall them. I have the feeling I know what happened but..."

Victoria hugs me harder. She pats my head and I let it all out. I tell her about everything. About what I remember and about what I think got implanted into my Memories as Fake. I also tell her about my Past, as she doesn't seem to know about it.

She looks at me with shock, but also worry and curiosity.

"I didn't know. I genuinely didn't know. I'm so sorry for not noticing. I'm..." Victoria hugs me even more while saying that.

"I think it's okay now. But... there is still one thing I need to check out."

"What is it?" Victoria ask me.

"We need to go into the Room of Heira one last time. We need to finally lay here to rest... or prove my Theory."

"Your... theory?" Victoria looks at me with curiosity.

"Yes... you know... I think that she isn't really dead, rather, something else must have happened."

Victoria nods. "I hope so, I sincerely hope so."

We then, after reconciling a bit more, go over to Heira's room.

As we enter we notice something shocking...

Her body still looks the same. She hasn't decomposed one bit. I don't know if it should be that way, but... she doesn't even smell or anything. It's as if... her Body is still alive.

As we walk closer to her, we notice something.

"She... she is... breathing!" Victoria starts to cry.

"No... that can't be. I thought she... I am... so happy." I have tears in my Eyes, I almost want to cry too. I don't know what happened, but I feel so happy right now. Yet... she isn't awake.

As we ponder what could have happened to her and why she still isn't awake, we hear someone coming into this room.