Chapter 9: The Truth About My Birth
Nobody spoke after Victor’s words.
You were the target.
The sentence stayed in the air.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
I looked at Daniel.
His face had changed.
The calm royal mask was gone.
The man standing beside me was no longer hiding behind patience.
He was angry.
“Explain.””
Victor looked around.
“I think Claire deserves to know.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“No games.””
Victor smiled.
“You still think you control this room.””
The guards moved closer.
But Victor didn’t look afraid.
Because he knew something.
Something that gave him confidence.
My mother whispered:
“Claire, please don’t listen to him.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
She looked at me.
“Because every person here has been protecting something.””
That sentence hurt.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Everyone was still keeping pieces from me.
Michael looked at me.
“Isabella discovered a secret.””
“What secret?””
He looked at Alexander.
“A secret about the royal succession.””
The room became silent.
Daniel frowned.
“What does Claire have to do with that?””
Michael answered:
“Everything.””
I felt my stomach drop.
Daniel looked at him.
“Be careful.””
“I am being careful.””
Michael pointed at the old photograph.
“Isabella discovered that Claire was the rightful heir.””
I stared.
“No.””
The word came out immediately.
I didn’t want it.
I didn’t want another impossible truth.
I was tired of secrets.
Tired of people looking at me like I was something valuable instead of a person.
“I’m not an heir.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Claire…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t want this.””
Alexander stepped forward.
“You were never supposed to carry this burden.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Then why did everyone put it on me?””
Nobody answered.
Because there was no answer.
Michael opened the wooden box again.
He removed a small sealed envelope.
“This was Isabella’s final message.””
My mother closed her eyes.
“I begged her not to write it.””
I looked at her.
“You knew?””
She nodded.
“I knew she was leaving clues.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her voice broke.
“Because I was afraid someone would come back.””
I looked at Daniel.
“And they did.””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
Michael handed me the envelope.
My name was written across the front.
Claire.
Only Claire.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a single page.
The handwriting was elegant.
Different from mine.
Different from my mother’s.
My hands shook as I read.
*My dearest Claire,*
*If you are reading this, then they failed to keep you hidden.*
I stopped.
My eyes filled.
*I wanted you to grow up as a normal girl. I wanted you to know love before responsibility.*
I swallowed.
*Never let anyone convince you that your worth comes from a crown, a name, or a bloodline.*
The room disappeared.
For a moment, it was only me and a mother I never got to know.
Then I reached the final lines.
And my hands froze.
*But there is one thing you must know. The person who betrayed me was not a stranger.*
My breathing stopped.
I read the next sentence.
Again.
And again.
Because I couldn’t believe it.
*The person who destroyed our family was someone you called family.*
Slowly, I lowered the letter.
Everyone watched me.
Daniel noticed my expression.
“Claire?””
I looked toward my mother.
Then toward Victor.
Then toward Alexander.
And finally…
I looked at the person standing closest to me.
The person who had cried for me.
The person who had raised me.
The person I had trusted my entire life.
My voice barely came out.
“Mom…”
May you like
She looked up.
“Why did Isabella write your name?””
