Izzy found herself walking down the hallway, back to her room when she bumped into a tall, built figure. She looked up in surprise, about to apologize for her maladroit behavior when she met Treyton’s eyes.
“Isabelle,” he whispered surprised and pulled her into a hug. He left no space for her to escape and embraced her tightly as if making up for the time that he was absent.
“Treyton, I’m so glad you are unharmed,” Izzy said genuinely, returning the hug. They let go of each other and smiled, both of them relieved and thankful that the other was safe.
Izzy felt unsure about the feelings she felt towards Treyton and the one she felt towards Alex. Such dilemma had put her in denial of both of them. How could she love them if she was never allowed to love? There was a slight chance she could be with Treyton but her heart longed for Alex.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. You don’t know how much I missed you,” Treyton sighed, bending down to kiss her cheeks. “I told you that the kiss was good luck.” The easy smile was evident on Treyton’s face and he gave her a grin, the one that she loved seeing. The guilt was almost insufferable.
Annie at first was very disappointed that Alex had chosen to sleep right after his friends left but she made the extra time to herself. She explored his room, seeing everything was normal. She was relieved that there wasn’t any evidence of Izzy’s stay in Alex’s room. Nothing sexual had come between them as Annie had feared.
She sat on Alex’s chair and looked over his desk, seeing the letters exchanged between them still where they were: the dusty corner of his desk. She scowled, wanting to burn them and see if he’d even noticed but she knew the answer to that. He was never interested in her.
Her fingers swept across his desk, trying to imagine him sitting here when her fingers slid over a tome she had not noticed before. It wasn’t a tome but more like a journal. A journal made out of leather.
This interested her as she thought of the possibility that it belonged to Alex. If she could learn something about him that she could persuade him to give her a chance and to inveigle him.
The journal was dusty much to her disappointment but that did not stop her from opening the thin journal. She flipped to a random page and began to read.
Diary,
Today I have ran away from the kingdom with Marge. Henry had another dream that the baby that I have conceived in my womb would kill him. I knew this for a while and knew it would only be time until he would have killed me or my baby.
I regret deeply of leaving Anastasia behind but it had to be done. She would be taken care of by the maids and would be spared from her father’s wraith. Still, I live in fear. Fear that he would come hunt me down and bring me back to him. He is a king after all. For now, only God can see the consequences of my escape but I pray that He will spare me and my child.
-Marissa
The journal shook in Annie’s hands as she read the second paragraph again. Was this a story about her? Was this her mother’s journal? If it was how could it be in Alex’s room?
Anger and confusion rose up in her and she felt tears unconsciously running down her face. She rapidly flipped through a few page which consisted only a couple sentences until she found another longer passage.
Diary,
Everything seems so much better. Marge and I are now servants in King John’s kingdom, a beautiful kingdom at that. I could imagine living here with my unborn child and starting a new life here but I know where my duties lie. I must go back to my people someday although not any time soon. There is still several months before the baby arrives but until then I will be enjoying my new life here.
I have also met King John here and he had treated me very kindly. I think I have won over his favor as he has promoted me to be Alexander’s tutor. I am happy to take care of the young prince and to teach him the way I would with Anastasia: with love and care.
-Marissa
By this time, Annie could not hold back the tears. They fell freely from her eyes and her hands trembled, threatening to drop the journal. This was the reason why the book was here. She had once walked these halls. She had once tucked Alex in when she should have been doing that to her.
The pain she felt then turned into anger and she stopped the tears from showing her weakness. She took a deep breath and felt control of her emotions once again. She flipped through more entries until she came across one almost a year later.
Diary,
I am on the run again back to my kingdom. This time Marge is unable to come with me. The daughter I had given life to is now in the hands of Marge and my blessing on my daughter’s head. I know she will be beautiful even if I was with her for no longer than ten minutes.
Do make everything easier for John, I had faked my own death and ran away. I will miss him dearly as I had learned to love him. I have no regrets of my actions despite my status of a married woman but a forced marriage with Henry was inevitable. My love for John would be last forever.
My time to be united with my daughter, Anastasia will be something I am looking forward to but I am also scared of Henry. I never know what he is up to but I know I am smarter than that.
I have brought a dead infant child with me. Another maid has lost her child just two days before I had my daughter and with a genuine explanation of my identity did the mother finally give me permission. The bloody child will be my evidence and I will be back with Anastasia very soon.
-Marissa
By this time Annie was almost in tears again but she reminded herself that this had taken place over fifteen years ago. This was the past that they could not rewrite so instead, she read further until she met the last entry, lapsed a couple years later.
Diary,
It is Maliki’s seventh birthday and the celebration was beyond amazing. Despite Henry’s distaste for me, I still count it as a blessing to have Maliki in my world. I know Henry only welcomed me back because of the rumors that had been spreading in the kingdom. We lied that I was sick for a year and they were dubious but once they saw my face, their doubts had disappeared.
I am hesitant around Henry now and I know for a fact that he had used me to obtain a son who could rule his kingdom after his death. The dreams are not helping with the situation.
Yesterday, he told me that he had yet another dream. This time our son, Maliki, would make Henry kill me. He was angry as he was frightened in murdering someone. I assured him that his vision would not happen as it had not happened previously. That seemed to settle him down but I know he plans to kill Maliki.
I am planning to run away with Maliki, back to John’s kingdom. I would risk my life again if I could save him. Marge has sent me a letter each year on Isabelle’s birthday, telling me how much she had grown up. John had named her and I adored the name as if I had chosen it myself. Marge tells me that she is beautiful but I want to see her for myself. If I run away I could see my daughter again.
For now it is only a plan but I will entrust this information with Marge. I plan to send this to her in hopes that if all does not go well, that my daughter will know the truth of her birth and the royal blood that runs within her veins.
-Marissa
Annie dropped the journal as soon as she met the last sentence. There was nothing to describe the shock she felt. Knowing everything about her mother. Knowing that Izzy was her sister.
How could it be possible? They did not look so much alike except their own unique beauty but she refused to agree with such blasphemy. The betrayal and hurt stung her deep. All her life, she had gone through hardships that could have been avoided if her mother were there, but it had to be Izzy that ruined that life for her. Bitterness and anger coursed through her veins. She felt unjustified and hurt. She vowed that she would make sure Izzy would be able to feel as much pain she had gone through.
Annie picked up the journal from the ground and brushed the dust off of its cover. It was evident what had happened to her mother after her last entry. She had never made it to King John’s kingdom again. Despite her father’s lies of her mother dying by a sudden disease within two days, she had more trust in the journal than her father’s words. Her father had killed her mother.
The anger she felt then for her father raged like a roaring lion but her dislike for her sister was purer than anything else. She realized what this meant for them.
That Izzy was a princess which meant that Izzy was able to marry Alex. Her Alex. This thought enraged her more and she almost released her anger right then and there but remembered where she was. She was still with Alex in his room with him sleeping deeply.
Then a plan began to form inside her head. Even though her father did such a deed to her mother, she needed her father for the power that he possessed. If her father were to play games, then she would play it also.
A grin formed on Annie’s face. She knew one thing for sure; she was the only one who had read it and she planned to keep it that way.