Kitanna
Chapter 28: DO GHOSTS EXIST?

Chapter 28: DO GHOSTS EXIST?

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: ROUND AND ROUND ~ HEIZE)

"Ki...Ki... Princess Kitanna," when the words left Larel’s lips, Almaria first turned to glare at her son’s wife, but Larel’s face was too serious to be joking about seeing Kitanna. She slowly looked in the direction everyone was focused on.

There stood the presumed dead princess, standing amidst the crowd with a smile on her face. Almaria lost her footing but did not fall. She tried to hold herself. Her heart raced with fear coursing through her veins. Her hands turned white with fear; it was as if her world was spinning or she was trapped in a nightmare.

The queen dowager knew it was not a nightmare when the figure started walking towards the podium where the royals were standing.

"S...st...stop that imposter!" Almaria’s voice trembled as she moved backward in fear.

Khelan stood there, looking confused. Was he seeing ghosts now? Had the heavens decided to punish him? These thoughts raced through his mind, but the problem was that he was not the only one seeing Kitanna; everyone was just as shocked as he was.

"Kit?" he whispered when the princess got very close to him

Kitanna stood in front of her family with tears in her eyes. "Khelan, it’s me," she reached out to hold her brother’s hands, but Khelan moved to hide behind his mother, who, in turn, pushed him aside

Larel was the only one brave enough to hold the princess. She took her hands and felt her. She was warm and full of life. Larel joyfully hugged Kitanna tightly. "I knew it; you are not one to leave this world. I missed you, Princess Kitanna. We all did," Larel held her tightly.

"I am glad you are very okay, My Queen," Kitanna hugged the young queen back with the same energy.

Larel finally let go of the princess, then she turned to look at the king. "Khelan, it’s your sister, it’s Kitanna. Come and hold her," she encouraged her husband.

Khelan started walking towards the duo, but his steps were slow, as if he were ready to bolt at any moment. When he was almost close to Kitanna, he felt his mother drag him back, stopping him from getting any closer.

"Larel, what is this madness? Have you decided to ruin the image of the royal family? Why would you bring an imposter on such a sacred day to act as the dead princess? Do you have no respect for the deceased?" Almaria gained her stance as she spoke harshly to Larel, ignoring Kitanna who was beside her.

Khelan turned to look at his mother, then at his wife. The person standing there looked exactly like his sister, and he had heard her speak; it was definitely Kitanna in every aspect. But he had seen her body being burnt after the funeral, so he wasn’t sure what to believe anymore.

The commoners who came to pray for rain were too stunned to speak. They watched the drama unfold in the royal family. Whispers started passing in the crowd, with some believing it was the princess in the flesh and blood, sent back by the heavenly king with the rain. Others believed it was an imposter, as the queen dowager had said, while others were not sure what to believe.

Some of the court officials ran out of the place the moment they saw the princess climb to the podium, fearing that her ghost had come to punish the royal family.

Almaria tightened her grip on her sides. The person standing there was definitely Kitanna, her eyes still had that wildness and her smile still held the pure evil. But she needed to stop people from believing that the princess came back to life, that way she can contain situation later. The queen dowager concluded in her head.

Mubera stood on the side, watching how the queen dowager would handle this situation. It was obvious the woman was caught unawares, and Mubera decided to watch how everything played out.

Nix, who had been standing behind Almaria all along, watched the dramatic entrance the princess made. He had asked her before if she had a grand entry surprise for the queen dowager, so was this it? Nix had a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips but didn’t smile. His blue eyes gazed at the queen dowager, and he saw how her legs were starting to wobble, even though she was trying to stand her ground.

Nix raised his eyes to look at the queen dowager’s aide, Man-uel. Just like the queen dowager, Man-uel looked stunned, like a rat about to be devoured, but he had to stand with his mistress no matter what.

"I am not lying. I did not arrange for anyone to show up acting as the princess. I am surprised as everyone, but it’s Princess Kitanna standing here, alive and well," Larel managed to speak up. She was not going to allow the queen dowager to have her way this time.

"I know my daughter well enough, and that person standing there right now is a stranger," Almaria confirmed, causing even more murmurs and chaos in the crowd.

Mubera shook her head in disappointment. Was this the only thing the queen dowager was capable of doing? If so, it was game over for her because Kitanna was back. She decided to watch how everything would end.

Kitanna, who was still standing beside Larel, did not stop smiling. It was that eerie smile of hers that made Almaria very uncomfortable and scared. It was very obvious that her mother was panicking.

Khelan removed his futou, his fingers weaving through his hair in frustration. It was obvious that the person standing there was his only sister, but his mother was saying otherwise, and he did not know what to do.

"Prove to me that you are Kit. Where did we used to hide if we wanted to skip the Confucius class?" Khelan asked. It was a hideout that only both of them knew; even their mother had no knowledge of it. So, if this person was really Kitanna, she would know.

"Our late father’s closet, because nobody ever goes there," Kitanna replied with a smile.

"Kit!" Khelan released himself from his mother’s clutch as he hugged his dearest sister closely. "I missed you, Kit!" He sobbed silently.

When Khelan released her from the hug, Kitanna raised her eyes to look at her mother. "Mother, I am surprised you do not remember me when it was you who I missed the most."

Almaria did not believe the words she just heard. Had Kitanna just called her mother? And she missed her? Was this some type of hidden threat? She searched her mind for answers.

Kitanna let go of Khelan and Larel, slowly walking toward Almaria. She threw her arms around her mother’s neck. "Mother, I was so scared," Kitanna whimpered as she hugged her.

Almaria decided to play along. She raised her hands and hugged the princess back.

The murmuring in the crowd increased as they watched mother and daughter embrace each other.