The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 14: The Secret Identity

Chapter 14: The Secret Identity

After the strategic planning, Queen Amara requested the members of the royal family to gather in the Queen’s Pavilion.

Her servant escorted King Solomon, Crown Prince Stefan, Gavin, and Alaric.

The moment they arrived, all the ladies of the royal family, including Thalia were already inside, except for Princess Eve.

Alaric frowned when he didn’t see Eve.

’Where is my wife? Don’t tell me they exclude her again.’ A cold glint flashed through his eyes.

"What’s going on here?" King Solomon asked while approaching the Queen.

"Have a seat first, my King." Queen Amara gestured for everyone to sit down.

Gavin sat next to Princess Aliyah while Crown Prince Stefan accompanied his wife, Crown Princess Diana.

Alaric darted his gaze between the vacant seat next to Princess Alessandra and Princess Thalia.

"General Alaric, come here!" Thalia offered the vacant seat beside her.

Alaric had no choice but to join her.

As everyone settled down, Queen Amara and Thalia exchanged meaningful glances with one another.

The whole script was set and the paid actors and actresses were ready.

Queen Amara and Thalia came up with a perfect story– Eve ran away with her lover. They encountered the bandits along the way. And she died while eloping with him.

"Let her in!" Queen Amara ordered her attendant.

Soon, a female servant from the Lotus Pavilion entered, bowing her head as she greeted the members of the royal family.

The crease on Alaric’s forehead deepened when he saw one of her wife’s servants. He had a nagging feeling about this.

’What happened? Is this related to my wife?’

"Speak! Tell us what you know. Where is Princess Eve?" Queen Amara’s authoritative voice echoed in the hall.

The servant quickly dropped to her knees, not daring to lift her head.

"Forgive me, your highness. I failed to stop my mistress. She eloped with a guy. Many had seen them running away together toward the Moonshade Grove Forest."

The hall was engulfed with a deafening silence after she spoke.

Alaric clenched his fist, gripping his sword tightly, his expression turning grim. He instinctively glanced at Gavin who also looked surprised by the shocking news.

"Are you certain it’s my wife?" Alaric spoke in his deep cold voice, intimidating the servant. He looked as if he was ready to kill someone right now.

"Y-Yes, sire." She stuttered because of nervousness.

King Solomon was also displeased by this incident. He suddenly rose up, slamming his hands on the table.

If this was true, he couldn’t tolerate his daughter’s infidelity. She needed to be punished. Her action would disgrace the royal family’s reputation.

"Mobilize the royal guards, NOW! They have to find Princess Eve and bring her back to the palace as soon as possible!" King Solomon gave his firm command.

Meanwhile, Alaric also stood up. "Your Majesty, I’ll look for my wife and bring her back."

He was about to leave when suddenly two royal guards entered, dragging a man.

"Who is that?" King Solomon asked in annoyance.

The man hastily knelt in front of everyone. He rubbed his palms together as he begged, "Your Majesty! Please help us. Save my princess. It’s my fault. She was taken by the bandits!"

"Are you her secret lover?" Queen Amara asked, eyeing him meaningfully. ’This paid actor is good.’

He bowed his head again, his face almost kissing the floor. "Yes. I am. Please forgive me, your Majesty. I love Princess Eve... and we want to be together."

The other princesses gasped in disbelief.

"Sigh. Our youngest sister will only bring shame to our royal family." Princess Aliyah snorted. "It’s best if she’s gone."

"Princess Aliyah! Mind your words!" Queen Amara reprimanded her.

On the other hand, Alaric cast one last glare at the man before he stormed out of the Queen’s Pavilion. He took his horse and headed to the Moonshade Grove Forest.

He couldn’t understand why he still chose to rescue Princess Eve from those bandits even though she betrayed him again. His body just moved on its own.

Perhaps, he just wanted to seek an answer from her. What was he lacking as a man? Why would she choose another man over him?

When Alaric left, Queen Amara and Princess Thalia met each other gaze once more, a triumphant smile tugging on their lips.

Even after her death, Eve would be branded as a princess with no morals. Her scandal would spread in the entire kingdom.

***

Meanwhile, in the forest, Annie succeeded in protecting Eve. She used her own body to shield her from the arrow.

"Eve, stand up. Let’s keep going!" Annie assisted her to stand up.

She nodded, giving her an apologetic look. If she hadn’t tripped on her foot, they would have widened the distance between themselves and their pursuer.

But Annie just kept encouraging her. Eve’s safety was her top priority. She ignored the pain in her back, blood seeping from her wound.

They could only go deeper into the forest. Returning to the palace was not an option because she overheard the conversation between Thalia and the queen.

The Queen’s men were stationed at the palace entrance, making sure that Eve wouldn’t be able to come back.

"My lady, can you hear it? There is a waterfall nearby. We should jump there and hide!"

Eve could only trust Annie so she would do anything she would say as long as they were together.

As they heard the fast-approaching footsteps, Annie and Eve jumped into the falls. They stayed underwater for a long moment, waiting for their pursuer to change their paths.

When Annie was sure the bandits had left, they immediately swam to the surface and emerged from the water.

"Are you okay, my lady? Aren’t you hurt?"

Eve nodded in response.

Annie heaved a sigh of relief. Then she looked at her with complicated emotions on her face.

Annie felt her body getting numb and cold. She was weak and she could no longer walk.

’I am running out of time. I need to tell her the secret.’

"My Lady..." she softly called out, cupping her face. "I think this is the right time to tell you the truth."

Eve stared into her eyes, with a questioning look.

"It’s about your mother’s identity. The truth is... she is not a slave. Your mother is..."