"Jasmine," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "We finally found you."
Camellia struggled to breathe, caught off guard by his embrace. She wasn't sure how to respond, her mind still reeling from the sudden shift in her reality.
"I... can't breathe," she finally managed to say, her voice muffled against his chest.
He quickly released her, his face a mask of regret. "I'm sorry. I was just overwhelmed by your return. Sister."
sister ? That word echoed in her mind. She remembered the rumors about the Duke's family, about his only son, Kael, who was said to be a kind and compassionate soul.
A pang of guilt struck her. She was a stranger not Ela his true sister, an imposter in this family. But she couldn't tell them the truth. Not yet.
Not until she figured out what was happening, she have to keep Ela's death that would surely make this family shattered in pain she needs to pretend to be Ela.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. "You are...?"
He sat down beside her, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm Kael. Your older brother. Remember..." He paused, his voice losing its confidence, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features. "Of course, you wouldn't remember. It's been so long..."
Camellia felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. "I'm sorry..."
Kael smiled, a sad, comforting smile that seemed to ease the tension in the air. "Nah... It's fine. The important thing now is that you're back. And I know, sooner than later, you will remember."
Ariana and Arthur entered the room, their faces alight with a mixture of relief and curiosity. Ariana peered at Camellia, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Dear, why is your hair white and your eyes purple? I remember you having brown hair and green eyes."
Camellia's heart skipped a beat. She needed an excuse, a reason that would sound believable, at least for now.
Camellia took a deep breath, her voice steady, even though her insides were churning. "My... hair... Ah, yeah... My adopted parents used a permanent transformation magic so I could look like them... But they're already gone..."
She feigned a sad smile, hoping to mask the guilt that was gnawing at her. It was a lie, of course. She hadn't been adopted. But she needs to ease Ela's parents. They deserved the joy of having their daughter back, even if it was a lie.
A wave of sadness swept over the room. Arthur and Ariana exchanged a sympathetic glance. "Poor child," Ariana murmured, " you have such a cruel adopted parents."
Camellia nodded, forcing a smile. "They were..." She couldn't bring herself to speak of the kindness she had received from Ela, the unwavering loyalty, the love that transcended even her parents abandoned her. It was a pain she had to carry alone.
Arthur, ever the practical one, broke the silence. "I think we should let her sleep. She must be tired. Shall we... Darling, if you need anything, just ask the maid, okay?"
Ariana nodded, her gaze fixed on her daughter with an unwavering tenderness. "your right, Arthur."
As Arthur and Ariana exited the room, Kael turned to Camallia, a reassuring smile gracing his features. "Don't worry, sis. I'll visit you later, okay? Sweet dreams, our princess."
He gently closed the door behind him, leaving Camellia alone with her thoughts.
A wave of guilt washed over her. She felt like a fraud, a shadow of the real Jasmine/ Ela, the daughter they believed her to be. She had lied to them, deceived them, and she didn't even know if she could find the truth about her own parents why did they abandoned her.
Camellia woke to the sound of knocking. But it wasn't the door that was being tapped, it was the window. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She grabbed the lamp beside her bed, her body trembling with fear.
Who would be knocking at her window in the middle of the night?
She took a deep breath, trying to quell the terror that was clawing its way up her throat. She knew she had to be brave. She had to know who was outside.
Slowly, she approached the window, her hand still clutching the lamp for support. With a trembling hand, she pulled back the curtain
Camellia's heart hammered in her chest as she pulled back the curtain. A wave of relief washed over her when she saw Nari, her trusted guard and spy, standing just outside the window.
"Nari," Camellia breathed, her hand pressed against her chest, "you almost gave me a heart attack!"
Nari stepped inside, her expression stoic as always. "Your Highness," she said, her voice calm and controlled. "I have completed the task you assigned."
Camellia paced back and forth, her mind racing. "By the way, did you already get the information on what's happening in the Celestial Palace right now?"
Nari bowed slightly. "Yes, Your Highness. The Empress was furious when she learned you were gone. She's launched a confidential search, but she's ordered not to mention your disappearance. It would cause chaos throughout the Celestial Realm."
Camallia smirked. "Well, she's a clever one. But it will take her more than a year to find me, especially since I'm now Jasmine, not Camellia. And no one has ever seen my face, so it'll be easy to blend in. You should continue spying on the palace. Just keep me informed if anything important comes up. And inform Jaden to remain hidden"
Nari nodded, her expression unchanging. "As you command, Your Highness."
Nari vanished back out the window, her movements swift and efficient. Camellia closed the window and sank back into bed, the weight of her grief settling over her. Ela's sacrifice gnawed at her, a constant ache in her heart. But now was not the time for weakness.
She needed strength. She eeds to use this opportunity to find answers to her questions why would her parents abandoned her is she just nothing to them, and to honor Ela's memory, and to protect Ela's family, this is the only thing she can do.
The next morning, Camellia awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. The sun was streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room.
She took a deep breath, trying to push away the darkness that had clung to her dreams.
"It's a new day," she whispered, her voice determined. "It's time to start anew."
She slipped out of bed, her gaze falling upon the moon necklace Ela had given her. It shimmered in the sunlight. The necklace Ela treasured.
Camellia traced the intricate carvings with her finger, her heart filled with a mixture of grief and hope, she remembers what Ela said when they we're kids.
this is the necklace that symbolize my family as long as I have it , my parents would recognize me...
for her she will now have to love Ela's parents for her...
"Ela," she whispered, "I'll take care of them for you. I promise."