Page 43 of Emerald Queen
Onika called for her commander.
“Commander Fritz,” Onika greeted him at the doorway, “I would like you to ensure no one disturbs me. I need some time to understand what I am reading and do not want to be bothered.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Onika locked her door, sealing the outside world from her. Crawling into her bed, she pulled the journal into her lap. Opening the book to where she left off, she read it again.
October 12th
My past has come back to destroy us. Stephanie informed me that her baby is my child. The news devastated Phillip. He died of a broken heart. I didn’t realize that was a thing until now. Emmalyn tells me it was my past and she doesn’t hold it against me, but I can see the hurt in her eyes. She is round with our own daughter and dealing with the news that I fathered another child.
Stephanie has agreed this needs to be kept between the three of us. It could destroy the kingdom if it got out. I just don’t know how she will ever look at me the same. How am I to look at Sarifena and never tell her I am her father.
Onika continued reading, shocked at the lies that had been held close to the chest all these years.
December 14th
My past is still haunting me. My philandering ways got me into this mess. Do I even tell Emmalyn or keep this secret? I can’t look at myself anymore. She begged me to stay quiet. Insisting it would destroy her marriage and mine. But it happened in the past… It shouldn’t matter.
What did he mean? Onika furrowed her brow. She thought Emmalyn knew about Stephanie and the baby. Why would he struggle with whether to tell her?
Onika flipped the page. Maybe there was something else he had been hiding.
March 21st
She is beautiful. My daughter, Emersyn. Her hair is as black as mine and her eyes… they’re deep brown. When I see her face all I can do is feel happiness. Happiness I do not deserve. How can I hold this tiny bundle in my arms, yet pretend my other daughters do not exist? I am amazed no one has figured it out. Even at their young age, they look alike.
Emmalyn knows it is killing me. She swears she holds no grudges and thinks I should force the others to allow me a chance at getting to know them. But they refuse. Saying their life will not be ruined to pacify mine. So, I sit here, holding my daughter – wishing she would have the chance to know her sisters.
Onika pressed the journal to her chest.
Sisters.
Emersyn had sisters – not a sister… but sisters, plural.
Onika opened the book once again. She needed to see if there was something that could help her find the other sibling. King Virid had to write it down, he’d written everything else down, why not that.
The next several entries were about Emersyn. He loved her, there was no doubt in the journal entries. He talked about how much she was growing and changing. About how much he longed for her to know her siblings and how he hated to look at himself for the lies he was carrying around.
Onika flipped the page.
March 23rd
Today Emersyn turned two. We invited the other kingdoms to mend the tension between us. It was the first time I’d been around my other daughters. Seeing the girls all play together made my heart happy and hurt all at the same time.
Sarifena has the same black hair and brown eyes. She is just as spunky as Emersyn. And even though they are a year apart, I can see the resemblance. I think the Amethyst king, Charles, suspects something. I can see him looking at the girls and at me. It’s hard not to notice they do not look like their fathers – instead, they look like me.
Everything was going perfect, until it wasn’t.
Charles pulled me aside and said he wasn’t dumb, but he wouldn’t be the one to spill the secret. He suspected his sister had been involved with two men, he just didn’t expect it to be me.
It was hard to watch them leave. Emersyn cried. It’s almost as though she knows they are her sisters.
Stephanie promised to bring Sarifena around more. She could see the connection the girls had made. Emmalyn and she have become somewhat of friends in spite of everything. I just wish… one day the three girls will know the truth.
Secrets have a way of coming out.
Not even the darkness can hide it forever.
