Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Alice
Warm sunlight hit my face. I opened my eyes.
Strange ceiling. Ornate vines carved into it, crystal chandelier throwing soft light. Soft bed, silk covers, faint rose scent in the air.
Not the palace. Not the forest either...
I shot up—then gasped as pain ripped through my wounds. "Shit—"
The pain snapped me alert. My hand flew to my stomach, panic flooding my voice. "The baby! My baby!"
"Easy." A familiar voice, teasing. "Your baby's fine. He's good." A pause. "I know Sleeping Beauty's always dying to see her handsome prince when she wakes up, but no need to rush."
The baby was okay. Relief washed over me. I turned toward the voice.
Adrian sat in a chair by the bed. His left shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, dark red blood seeping through. His right arm hung in a sling, wrapped in gauze. A long gash cut across his cheek. He looked like hell.
"Your injuries—" I started to get out of bed. His hand pressed my shoulder back down.
"Don't move." Light tone, firm grip. "Compared to you, this is nothing."
"Nothing?" My voice rose. "Your shoulder's still bleeding! And your arm—"
"This?" Adrian glanced at his shoulder, unbothered. "Just caught some witch magic. Looks worse than it is. Doctor said a few days' rest and I'll be fine. You, on the other hand—you lost a lot of blood. Deep wounds in your shoulder and side. If we hadn't gotten to you in time, you might've—"
He stopped. The smile faded slightly. "Anyway. You need rest. So the baby can grow strong."
I stared at him. My mind was still scrambled. Last thing I remembered—Adrian and I, backed up to the cliff edge, the river churning below. Both of us were covered in wounds, no strength left to fight. I thought I'd die there...
"Where are we?" My voice came out raspy, throat burned raw. "How did we—"
"You passed out from blood loss. I was about to jump off the cliff with you—one last shot at survival." Adrian handed me water. "Lucky my men showed up just in time. Beat back those assassins and witches. Then I brought you here. My country."
So this was Adrian's country. The Kingdom of Rhine. My heart pounded. I'd survived. I'd made it through that death trap!
Tears spilled over. I was really... really out. I didn't have to live in pain and fear anymore. My baby could be born safely.
"Alice, relax. You're safe now. Drink some water—doctor's orders. Food's coming too. You're weak. You need to build your strength back up."
I pulled myself together and took the water. My fingers shook. I sipped, throat grateful, then forced the words out. "What about Victoria and—"
"Got away." Adrian shrugged, annoyed. "That woman ran like a damn rabbit. But my men aren't useless—she took at least three sword wounds. Won't be causing trouble anytime soon."
Relief. But the guilt toward Adrian deepened. If not for me, he wouldn't have gotten dragged into this mess.
"I'm sorry..." I looked down, fingers twisting the sheets. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on going to that forest, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, you wouldn't—"
"Whoa, stop." Adrian waved his hand in front of me. "I don't remember anyone dragging me anywhere."
He leaned back, amber eyes warm.
"I chose to help you. Besides..." He paused, smile lingering. "Saving ladies in distress is a knight's duty. Sure, I'm a prince, but playing knight now and then isn't bad."
I looked up at him. My throat felt tight.
"But I..." I bit my lip. "I'm hideous. Abandoned by my own kingdom. I'm not worth you risking—"
"Hideous?" Adrian's eyes went wide, like I'd told the world's worst joke. "Alice, if you're ugly, there's not a beautiful woman left on earth."
I froze. What did he mean?
I lifted my hand reflexively, reaching for the birthmark on my face. The one I'd covered with ink. It wouldn't be—
"The ink's gone." Adrian read my mind. "The doctor washed it off when she cleaned your wounds. You're... you're beautiful now. Really."
His tone carried weight I'd never heard before. My heart slammed against my ribs. Emotions flooded me.
"I..." My voice shook. "I want to see..."
"Of course." Adrian stood, walked to the vanity, picked up a mirror and brought it over. Confusion in his voice. "I'm curious too. Why'd you make yourself look like that on purpose?"
I took the mirror with trembling hands. The face staring back stopped my breath. Smooth pale skin. Delicate features. Green eyes sparkling like jewels in the sunlight. The deep purple birthmark that had covered half my face since birth—gone. Completely gone.
"Is this real?" My fingers traced my face over and over. "It's really gone..."
I'd known it was fading. But seeing it completely erased—unbelievable.
Tears fell freely. Relief. Joy I couldn't name.
"So," Adrian sat across from me, hands folded under his chin. "Why'd you do it? Paint yourself with ink like that?"
I took a deep breath. Wiped my tears.
"Because I really was hideous." My voice still caught. "That birthmark was there from the day I was born. Everyone said it was a curse. That I was a monster the Goddess abandoned."
I looked at myself in the mirror. So beautiful now. Nothing like before. My voice softened. "The birthmark... only started fading recently. I don't know why. Maybe the Goddess finally saw my suffering."
Adrian was quiet for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was gentler. A statement, not a question. "Your life in that kingdom wasn't good."
I nodded. "Growing up, that birthmark made me a target. Everyone mocked me. Hated me. Even my parents thought I was a disgrace to the family."
I paused. "When the birthmark started fading, I didn't dare tell anyone. They would've said I used dark magic..."
"Alice." Adrian cut me off. Those amber eyes locked onto mine, complex emotions flickering through them.
He hesitated, then spoke slowly. "Have you ever questioned... your identity?"
I froze. "What do you mean?"
"A massive birthmark from birth." Adrian leaned forward. "Then it suddenly disappears. Powerful abilities awakening. That day—you were trying to use that power, weren't you? Didn't you ever think maybe it wasn't a coincidence?"
My heart raced. I could barely speak. "You mean..."
"The first time I met you, I felt this strange connection.
" Adrian's voice quickened. "It was odd.
My wolf kept pushing me to get close to you.
That's why I wanted to help. Why I wanted to get you out.
At first, I thought it was just attraction.
But after bringing you back here, I realized... it was something in the blood."
He moved to my bedside, gently taking my hand. "Combined with everything you just told me, I'm certain... Alice, you are my sister."
Time stopped. My eyes went wide, staring at Adrian.
"What? I'm... your sister? That's impossible!"
"You're the lost princess of Rhine." Adrian's voice dropped.
"Twenty-some years ago, not long after you were born, our country erupted in witch-led chaos.
You were the princess with the strongest magical gift the royal family had ever seen.
The White Witches wanted your power. They staged a coup and tried to kidnap you during the turmoil.
To protect you, Father and Mother sealed your power.
Made you seem ordinary. Less than ordinary. So the witches couldn't find you."
My breathing came fast. My heart hammered.
"The seal didn't just suppress your power—it changed your appearance.
The birthmark was a side effect." Adrian continued.
"Father and Mother had their most trusted guard take you away.
Hide you somewhere safe. But he was attacked on the road.
He died protecting you, got you to the border of werewolf territory, then...
he was gone. Maybe that's when your current family found you. "
"Father and Mother never stopped searching. All these years."
My hands clenched the sheets, knuckles white. When I spoke again, my voice broke. "So... I'm not some family disgrace? Not cursed?"
"Of course not. Father and Mother love you." Adrian's eyes softened further. He touched my hair gently. "I'm sorry it took this long to find you. If I'd found you sooner, you wouldn't have suffered so much."
Tears streamed down my face. I was terrified this was a dream. That I'd wake up and still be Alice, hated by everyone. "Adrian, you're not lying, right? This is real? I'm... I'm not an abandoned monster..."
Adrian's eyes reddened too. He pulled me into a gentle embrace, voice equally thick. "Welcome home, sister. Or should I say—Princess Arianna."
I sobbed in Adrian's arms. All the pain, all the humiliation—I let it pour out. Those people who mocked me, who hated me... they weren't my real family.
My real family. My real brother. Right here.
"Can I..." I choked out. "Can I meet them?"
Adrian nodded hard. "They've been waiting outside. Since the moment you woke up. They didn't want to scare you, so they stayed out there."
My eyes went to the door. Two shadowy figures outside. More tears fell. My parents?
Since I was small, I'd envied Victoria. She had all her parents' love. Everything beautiful. I got the storage room. Had to work like the servants. Only when Cedric and I got bound by the Goddess did I get a real room. And that lasted three days.
Now Adrian was saying my real parents loved me... Would they be like the loving parents I'd seen? Something I'd never experienced. The thought filled me with longing. I wanted to meet them.
Adrian wiped my tears, then stood and opened the door. "Father, Mother. Alice wants to see you."
This time I saw them clearly. A middle-aged man in a dark blue robe, blond hair like Adrian's, temples graying. Eyes locked on me, full of excitement and uncertainty.
The woman beside him wore a moonlight-white dress. Still beautiful, fine lines at her eyes. Eyes almost identical to mine. When she saw me, tears instantly spilled over.
Were these my parents? I could barely breathe.
"Arianna..." She covered her mouth, trembling, eyes brimming with emotion. Could barely form words. "My daughter..."
Father strode in, then stopped a few steps away. Like he was afraid to come closer.
"Let me see you," he whispered, his voice gentle and tentative. "Let me take a good look at you..."
He raised his hand, trembling as he touched my cheek.
"Your eyes are just like your mother's..." His voice shook. "And your hair..."
"Twenty-three years..." Mother couldn't hold back anymore. She threw her arms around me, tears rolling down. "Twenty-three years. My baby. I finally found you."
Her embrace was warm. Soft. Jasmine-scented. Full of care and love.
"I'm sorry." Her body shook. "This is our fault. We didn't protect you. You suffered so much alone..."
"No." I choked out, tears soaking her dress. "It's not your fault. I know you've always loved me. That's enough."
Father reached out too, pulling us both into his arms. His palm was broad and warm, carrying a father's unique strength.
"Welcome home, Arianna." His voice was low and gentle. "Welcome home, my daughter."
We held each other for a long time. My first time feeling a parent's love. I didn't want to let go.
"Alright, alright." Adrian's voice broke in, teasing. "Keep squeezing her like that and you'll hurt my sister. Doctor said she needs rest."
Mother finally released me, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Father stepped back, but his eyes never left me.
"Yes, yes." Mother nodded quickly. "You need rest. The doctor said you're very weak. And... and the baby..."
I thought she'd demand to know whose child it was. But she didn't ask anything. Just said gently, "We'll take care of you. This time, no one will hurt you. And the baby—he's royal blood too. Have him safely. We'll raise him together. He'll have the best care here."
I nodded at her gentle gaze, wearing the most genuine, relaxed smile I'd had since my rebirth.
The days that followed, Mother brought me supplements she made herself every day. The doctor said I was weak, needed rest and nutrition, especially carrying a child.
That tiny life had survived.
Every morning, Mother walked with me in the gardens. Rhine was warmer than Hilphia. Flowers and greenery everywhere. The air always carried a light floral scent.
Mother wanted me to change my name back to Arianna. But I was used to Alice. They didn't push.
Adrian—my brother—visited every day, too. Chatted with me, told me about everything that had happened in the kingdom over the years.
The peaceful days flew by. Two months passed in a blink. I'd fully adjusted to this life. No more mockery. My family loved me deeply. It made me happy. It felt unreal.
Every time I woke up, I was afraid. Afraid this was just a dying dream. But it was all so real.
That afternoon, I was reading in my room when my lady-in-waiting Lia rushed in.
"Your Highness!" Her face was flushed with excitement. "Have you heard? A king is coming with his delegation for a state visit!"
I set down my book, puzzled. "A state visit?"
"Yes!" Lia's eyes sparkled. "They say this king is incredibly brave! Undefeated on the battlefield! And extremely handsome—so many noble ladies want to marry him!"
My fingers tightened. I thought of Cedric... No! I shouldn't think of him. He was probably married to Victoria by now. He'd wanted me gone badly enough.
I shook my head, trying to clear both their names from my mind.
"Your Highness, do you want to attend the ceremony?" Lia looked at me hopefully. "It's rare to see such a powerful king! Maybe you'll be captivated by him!"
"No need," I said softly. "I'm not interested."
"But—" Lia looked disappointed.
"Wait, Lia." Something occurred to me. "Why the sudden visit? Is something happening?"
Lia's expression turned serious.
"I heard it's about the White Witches." She lowered her voice. "Lately, they've been active in every kingdom. They want to overthrow werewolf rule and seize power. This king wants to form an alliance with us against them."
White Witches. My heart skipped at the mention. My hand went to my stomach. Those people who'd tried to destroy me. Who'd nearly killed my baby...
"I changed my mind." I stood immediately. "I'm attending the ceremony."
I knew about the White Witches. Maybe... maybe I could provide intelligence. Help them fight those witches.