{Make Sacrifices To Keep Her Safe}
The next morning, a commotion outside the castle announced a new arrival.
A pristine carriage pulled up to the gates, causing everyone to pause. From within, a beautiful lady stepped out with a young girl.
"Who is that?" Anastasia asked Gabriella.
"That is Princess Rose, the stepsister of the Emperor," Gabriella replied.
"I didn't know she was so beautiful up close," Luna exclaimed, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"People say Princess Rose is so precious to her brothers. They killed every man that just glanced at her," Gabriella whispered conspiratorially.
"How did she have her child, then?" Luna asked.
"She finally talked some sense into them. She told them she loved the man, and after so many months of convincing both brothers, they finally agreed," Gabriella explained.
"But he died fighting for his country, leaving her alone to care for their one-year-old at the time," another lady added.
Anastasia watched as Rose walked gracefully inside, head held high, the embodiment of beauty and power.
As the ladies returned to their magic lesson, Rose swept into the throne room, jumping on Azriel in a rare display of familial affection.
"Big bro! I've missed you!" Rose exclaimed.
"You still haven't grown up," Azriel said, though a flicker of a smile touched his stern lips.
"Don't tell me you didn't miss me," Rose challenged, rolling her eyes. Azriel gently pushed her away.
"Where is my favorite niece?" Azriel asked.
"I'm here, uncle," the young girl replied.
"Adeline, come over and give your uncle a hug," Azriel said, twirling her around once she complied.
Charles walked in, a mock look of disappointment on his face. "I guess I missed the grand reunion."
Adeline ran to Charles and hugged him. "I miss you. You know you're my favorite uncle," she whispered in his ear.
"I heard that," Azriel yelled softly.
"I hope you've settled into your castle," Charles said with Adeline in his arm.
"Yes. It was like I never left. By the way, why did I see a lot of girls outside?" Rose asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Azriel is searching for a wife," Charles stated flatly.
"Like that? Aren't you going to fall in love with a woman before you marry her? You just want women to fight for you?" Rose demanded, her disapproval evident.
"Love takes time; this is easier," Azriel said simply.
"That's sick. Anyway, why am I here?" Rose asked, taking a seat close to Azriel.
"I didn't send for you," Azriel said.
"I did," Charles interjected.
"I'm listening."
"Well, Azriel is lovestruck," Charles said.
"Wait, I wouldn't call it lovestruck," Azriel quickly corrected.
"He just heard a girl's voice and now he can't get her out of his head. His demons have finally accepted a lady, but she's nowhere to be found. It's almost like she's a ghost," Charles explained, the intrigue of the matter clear on his face.
"There's no such thing as ghosts," Azriel muttered dismissively.
"Why am I dragged into this?" Rose asked.
"I've searched everywhere, but there's no one by that name," Charles reiterated the problem.
"You want me to find a girl who may or may not be real?" Rose asked, looking between her brothers.
"Both of you act like I don't exist, trying to scheme this plan of yours," Azriel complained.
"So, sis, what do you say? Would you help your helpless big brother?" Charles asked, ignoring Azriel.
"I'll try. What's her name?" Rose asked, looking past Charles to Azriel.
"Anastasia," Azriel replied.
"Have you fallen for her?" Adeline asked, her young voice cutting through the tension.
"No," Azriel replied, perhaps a little too quickly.
"You're a liar, Uncle," Adeline stated plainly.
"Hmm... I'll see what I can do," Rose said, the challenge in her eyes.
"Uncle, I want to go to my room," Adeline said, eager to escape the grown-ups' drama.
Two weeks passed. Rose had become awfully close to Luna, but Adeline, disliking Luna's scheming nature, kept her distance, often sitting with Charles during meals to avoid the political maneuvering.
One afternoon, Adeline went for a walk and saw a lady sitting by herself with a letter in her hand, trembling in fear.
"What's the matter?" Adeline asked. Anastasia looked up at the little girl, quickly wiping her tears.
"Nothing," Anastasia replied.
"You're lying," Adeline said, her powers of perception as keen as her mother's.
"I'm not lying," Anastasia said with a bright, fake smile.
"I have powers that tell me when a person lies," Adeline revealed.
"Is that so?" Anastasia muttered, a flicker of genuine interest in her eyes.
"May I join you?" Adeline asked.
"Sure," Anastasia replied. Adeline sat beside her quietly.
"Why are you here? Are you lost?" Anastasia asked.
"You don't know who I am?" Adeline asked, surprised. Anastasia tilted her head, a hand on her chin.
"I don't think so. Are you here with your mom? Or dad?"
"I'm here to see my uncle," Adeline replied.
"Your uncle... Is your uncle one of the knights?" Anastasia asked, genuinely curious.
Adeline stared at Anastasia, safe around her in a way she wasn't around anyone else in this palace.
"What is your name?" Adeline asked.
"My name is Guinevere. You?" Anastasia said.
"I'm Adeline," she replied.
"Nice to meet you, Adeline. Why are you here by yourself?" Anastasia asked.
"I wanted to explore the castle. You know, it's not every time you get to be in a castle," Adeline said.
"I know what you mean. It still feels like a dream to me. Each morning I wake up and walk around the castle, there's this constant reminder that I don't belong," Anastasia said, her guard dropping.
"Why are you here, Guinevere?" Adeline asked.
"I'm a contestant... Honestly, I don't want to be here, but there's this constant pressure... If I don't do it... I'll... I don't want this," Anastasia said, sobbing silently.
"Why don't you leave the competition? I mean, if you aren't happy here, why stay?" Adeline asked.
"It's not that easy. If I leave, I might not... I might not..." Anastasia couldn't get the word out of her mouth.
"What would happen, Guinevere?" Adeline asked, genuinely concerned
"They'll kill me... If I stay here, I might die as well... I'm torn between two destinies; either way, I lose my life," Anastasia said.
"I might help you," Adeline said simply.
"How?" Anastasia asked with a slight chuckle.
"I might ask my uncle for help, he might be willing to help you," Adeline suggested.
"No... No, please... Don't involve anyone in this. This is my mess, my cross," Anastasia pleaded.
"You don't have to carry this cross on your own, especially when it involves you losing your life," Adeline said.
"Please, this should be kept between us. Please, I don't want anyone to get involved. Please," Anastasia begged.
"Alright, you have my word," Adeline said quietly.
Anastasia went to her room, cursing herself for blurting everything out to a child. What happens if she tells someone?
"But this constant threat from home is keeping me off balance," Anastasia said to herself.
In the dining room that evening, everyone was seated for dinner. Rose had invited Luna to sit nearby, while Adeline sat close to Charles to avoid Luna's machinations.
"Adeline, how has your stay here been?" Azriel asked.
Adeline sighed. "I dread every minute here..." Adeline was cut off by her mother.
"Adeline, what is the matter with you? Do you have to ruin such a beautiful dinner?" Rose asked sharply.
"Let me talk!" Adeline demanded. She calmly continued.
"Until today, when I met someone who piqued my interest."
"Who could this be?" Luna asked with a fake smile, assuming the praise was for her.
"A beautiful lady, who even looks beautiful while crying. Her smile could blind even the angels in heaven," Adeline said, her eyes shining with genuine admiration.
"Please, Adeline, stop with the praise and say who she is," Charles urged, intrigued.
"Her name is Guinevere. She was crying today. She seemed afraid of someone, because I caught her with a letter. She kept... Nevermind,"
Adeline stopped herself, remembering her promise to keep the secret.
"Maybe she just did that to draw your attention," Luna suggested dismissively.
"She didn't do it to get anyone's attention. If anything, she didn't want anyone to see her. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Adeline defended the mysterious girl fiercely.
"That's new; you have never spoken highly of anyone, Adeline. Is there more to this story?" Rose asked, her investigative instincts kicking in.
Adeline turned to Azriel, her young face serious, ready to unknowingly connect the emperor to the ghost girl he so desperately sought, a bond forged in pain and the promise of protection.
"Uncle, can I ask a favor?" Adeline's voice was barely above a whisper, though it cut through the polite murmurs of the dinner table.
She ignored her mother's sharp glance and addressed Azriel, her small frame radiating a fierce intensity.
"I know I promised her I wouldn't interfere and there's a lot I want to tell you, but my oath compels me not to. But Uncle, I want you to help me protect her. She's handling a lot of things. She seems drained; she kept telling me she was fine, but it was all a lie."
A heavy, oppressive silence fell over the dining hall. Azriel set his cutlery down with a faint clink, his silver eyes fixed on his niece.
"What you ask is impossible," he replied, his voice a cold monotone, the mask of the unfeeling Emperor firmly in place.
"It's not impossible, Uncle, please... Please help me protect her. I'd sacrifice anything to keep her safe," Adeline pleaded, a tear tracking down her cheek.
Luna, ever so desperate for attention and always eager to poison the well, chimed in with a saccharine tone.
"How can you sacrifice anything for someone you just met? She could be lying."
Adeline slammed her hands hard against the table in anger, the sound echoing like a gunshot. Her face was red with fury.
"I have had enough of you! This is a family matter, you have no right to speak when royal families are discussing. You are invited as a guest. DO NOT OVERSTEP!"
"Adeline, relax, I'll do as you've requested," Azriel said, his voice surprisingly gentle, a promise made and sealed in the silence "Sit down and have dinner."
"I've lost my appetite, there's a leach here. It's disgusting." Adeline pushed her chair back and stormed out of the room, leaving a fuming Luna in her wake.
As the days blended into weeks, Anastasia and Adeline became fast friends. Anastasia, living under the alias 'Guinevere,' still had no idea of Adeline's true identity, finding comfort in the child's genuine affection.
That fragile sanctuary shattered in an instant when a maid approached them in the garden.
"Your Highness, your mother sends for you," the maid said, curtsying deeply.
"Your Highness?" Anastasia muttered, all the blood draining from her face. Adeline knew her lie had just unraveled.
"You're royalty?" Anastasia finally asked, stepping back, the distance between them growing with every word.
"I can explain. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you," Adeline said, stepping forward.
"All this time you said you were the daughter of Zain... You... Are... Who are you?"
"I am Adeline, niece of the Emperor."
The world tilted on its axis for Anastasia. The Emperor's niece. Which meant she must have told him everything.
The haunted voice, the smell of danger, the magnetic pull—it all led back to the Emperor, Azriel. He must know her name, her true name, Anastasia. It was only a matter of time before he sent for her, sealing her fate.
"Guinevere," Adeline whispered. "Does this change everything?"
"No," Anastasia lied, but Adeline saw the fear that tightened her shoulders and the step back she took.
"I have to go now... I have to do something," Anastasia said, turning to flee.
"Guinevere, wait!" Adeline called out, running after her, ignoring the maid's summons.
She grabbed Anastasia's hand, stopping her flight. "Why are you running?"
"Nothing," Anastasia replied, refusing to make eye contact.
"Why won't you look at me?" Adeline pressed.
"Nothing."
"Do you hate me now you know who I truly am?" Adeline asked, genuine tears falling from her eyes.
"I thought you were different. Others would be happy to know I'm related to the Emperor, but you look at me in disgust."
Anastasia wanted to explain, to scream that she wasn't disgusting, that her fear wasn't of Adeline, but of the powerful man who owned this castle and the dark destiny he represented.
"I'm not like everyone," Anastasia managed to say.
Adeline finally let go of Anastasia's hand, the sting of rejection evident on her young face. "I hate you," Adeline said, turning and running away.
Anastasia went to her room, her hands trembling as she packed her meager belongings, consumed by panic.
Hannah entered the room, noticed the luggage, and immediately grew alarmed.
"Anastasia, where are you going?" Hannah asked.
"I've messed up... It's only a matter of time before..." Anastasia's fingers traced her own throat, a dark premonition of what awaited her if she stayed.
"Tell me everything that happened," Hannah demanded.
Anastasia explained the whole encounter, her fear driving the frantic story.
"That doesn't mean she told him, you might be overreacting," Hannah said, the only voice of reason in the rising tide of paranoia.
"Maybe you're right," Anastasia said with a sigh, the immediate terror fading slightly.
"Now go back and arrange the clothes back where they belong," Hannah instructed, watching her friend carefully, unaware that Adeline's plea had already set the Emperor's dark obsession in motion, and Anastasia was already caught in a web she couldn't escape.