Page 106 of Façade

I melted in the warm comfort of his embrace. The security of his arms eased my fears, so that when footsteps sounded in the corridor outside, I was ready.

The door opened and Silas entered, followed by…my breath caught. Mother, Father. At the sight of me they stopped short. By the shock widening their eyes, Silas hadn’t told them whom they were meeting, undoubtedly in case my presence within the palace was overheard.

Mother released a startled gasp. “Evelyn.”

The affection cradling my name was nearly my undoing, but anxiety held me back. For a long moment we simply stared at one another—them with deep concern, me with a hunger to quench all the longings brought by our separation. They looked much the same as when I’d left while also appearing as if they’d aged several years, weariness from the burden brought by their deceit and our separation.

Mother stirred first, as if to embrace me…before pausing with a pained uncertainty, as if nothing had been more difficult than resisting the impulse to take me into her arms. This evidence of her love offered the first drop of healing upon my heart with the promise of many more to come.

With a wavering breath I pulled out of Ryland’s arms to tentatively step forward. “I’m the true crown princess of Estoria.”

At my words, Mother couldn’t be held back any longer. With a strangled sob she bridged the distance separating us and seized me in a suffocating embrace.

“Oh, Evelyn.” She burrowed herself against my shoulder and released her tears. Father wrapped his arms around the both of us and together we stood reunited as a family, a feeling so complete it was almost as if our lengthy separation had never happened.

Mother’s muttered words were nearly incoherent midst her sobs. “I will never forgive myself, nor will I ever forget your pain when we lied and claimed….oh.” Her arms tightened around me before quite suddenly she pulled away to tenderly cradle my face, desperation widening her glassy gaze. “The day we told you that you weren’t ours destroyed me, but not near as much as when you told us our lie explained why you thought yourself a disaster as a princess. Dear, you are not and have never been a disaster.”

The words seemed to burst from her, as if our exchange had haunted her the entire length of our separation and she’d yearned to seize hold of the first opportunity to reassure my aching heart. Her reassurances soothed the afflicted injury, even as the scars lingered.

Thankfully much of the wound had healed the more I’d overcome my doubts and grown in my capabilities; by accepting and loving myself, I’d been able to rise in my potential as the true princess and finally heal.

I accepted her apology with a nod, but the gesture wasn’t near enough to ease their worry. “We didn’t mean to hurt you,” Father hastened to explain. “We thought it was the best course to protect you after we received a prophecy—“

For so long I’d frantically sought an explanation to explain my parents’ treatment of me…but I no longer needed it. “It’s alright, I already know.”

His eyes bulged. “You do?” His gaze flickered to Silas, but before he could accuse him of sharing the information he’d been ordered to remain silent about, I hastened to explain.

“I witnessed it all in the Hall of Prophecies at the magical monastery.”

Father rested a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Even if you saw what transpired, please allow us to make it abundantly clear how much we love you, how proud we are of you, and how much pain we endured in sending you away. We truly only did it because we felt it the best choice to protect you, the agony of losing you far more unendurable than the horrible lie we were forced to give.”

Mother stroked my hair. “We truly love you, dear. So much.”

Their words acted as another healing balm for my aching heart. “I know. I love you, too.”

Mother wiped the last of her tears before taking my hands to hold them gently between hers. “Tell us everything that’s transpired since we were forced to send you away. Have you been alright? We’ve been so worried.” Her voice broke even as her protective hold tightened.

There was so much to share, but my girlish eagerness for my parents’ approval made one particularly pressing. “My powers finally arrived.”

Upon my silent command, I cradled magic within my palm. Mother clasped her hands in delight, and pride filled Father’s expression. “Because you are a true Estorian royal.”

I finally knew that to be true. The tender way they looked at me was no different than when I was growing up. Midst my struggles to find my place, their love and belief in me had remained constant; the only difference now was I finally believed in myself. Perhaps that had been what had previously hindered my powers, and taking my place as the “Estorian Princess” to marry Ryland had been the key that allowed them to finally awaken.

I yearned to bask in our sweet reunion forever, but there was so much more I needed to tell my parents—about my marriage to and eventual falling in love with Ryland, the assassination attempts, and most of all my growth—but with the lingering danger, time was of the essence.

Mother’s gentle touch returned to my hair. “As happy and relieved as we are to see you looking so well, I’m afraid our reunion came too soon; the threat against you hasn’t yet passed.”

“I know, but there’s another matter I must attend to: I need to speak with the decoy.”

Mother bit her lip. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea; she’s still searching for the threat the prophecy spoke of.” Upon noticing my horror, she hastened to explain. “I know you’re thinking the very thing that’s haunted me ever since our decision, and I truly feel sick we forced another in danger in your place. Our only consolation is that she was already sentenced to die.” Even with her offered explanation, she still seemed unsure whether that fact had been enough to justify their drastic actions.

I swallowed the revulsion choking my throat. “Has there been any progress in her investigations?”

Father heaved a weary sigh. “So she claims, yet she continues to withhold anything conclusive. I doubt you’d gain much information from speaking with her.”

“My purpose is to discuss another matter.”

My parents hesitated before Father nodded. “As the crown princess, you have every right to speak with the woman who took your place.” He glanced at Silas, a silent order to retrieve her, which he promptly obeyed.

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