Celine's breath came in short, shallow gasps. The throne room suddenly felt smaller, the walls closing in as the king's words echoed in her ears.
Proof… They had proof.
Her hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to bolt from this suffocating place and never look back. But she couldn't move. She could only stare at the king and queen, their unreadable gazes pinning her in place.
A door at the side of the hall opened, and an elderly man in flowing robes stepped forward. His silver hair was neatly combed back, his sharp eyes glinting behind thin spectacles.
"This is Lord Edric, the royal advisor," the queen said, her voice steady.
Celine barely spared him a glance. Her heart was still hammering in her chest, her mind desperate to refute everything that had just been said.
Lord Edric bowed slightly before speaking. "We have long sought our lost princess, Your Highness, and after years of searching, we finally found you." His voice was calm, assured, as if this was nothing more than a lesson being taught to a child. "If you require proof, then let us provide it."
He extended his hand, and a servant hurried forward, carrying a silver goblet filled with a deep crimson liquid.
Celine's stomach twisted. "What is that?"
"A bloodline verification elixir," Edric explained. "A few drops of your blood mixed with this potion will confirm your lineage."
Celine's mouth went dry. 'Blood magic.' She had heard whispers of it in Ravenshire, though it had always been described as something sacred… and dangerous.
The king's gaze never wavered. "You will take the test now."
Celine almost laughed at the command in his tone. It was the same voice the villagers used when ordering a servant to bring them ale. As if she had no choice in the matter.
And maybe… she didn't.
She could feel every eye in the room locked on her. The guards. The advisors. The servants who had stopped pretending not to eavesdrop. No matter how much she wanted to scream that this was a mistake, something in her gut told her that this moment… this test… would decide everything.
Her fate had been taken from her once before. Was she really going to let others dictate it again?
Before she could talk herself out of it, she stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Lord Edric gave a small nod before pulling out a ceremonial dagger, its blade gleaming under the golden light. Without hesitation, he made a shallow cut along her palm.
Celine inhaled sharply at the sting, watching as a single drop of blood welled up before falling into the goblet.
The reaction was immediate.
The moment her blood touched the liquid, the entire goblet glowed. A pulse of golden light spread outward, illuminating the throne room. Gasps rippled through the gathered nobles.
Celine froze.
No. No, no, no. This wasn't supposed to happen.
The light faded, but the room remained heavy with silence. Even without anyone saying a word, she knew.
She knew.
She was really the lost princess.
Her throat tightened as she looked up, locking eyes with the queen.
There was something there now, something Celine had never seen in her before… Was it relief? Hope? A mother's longing?
It didn't matter.
It couldn't matter.
Because the next words spoken shattered any illusion that this was a joyful reunion.
The king leaned forward. "Now that your identity is confirmed, we can proceed with the main reason for your return."
"Your return serves a greater purpose."
Celine blinked, still reeling from the blood test. "What?"
"You will restore the royal bloodline's legitimacy. The council has questioned our rule ever since Lady Rose was revealed to be an imposter. With you here, that issue is resolved."
Her blood ran cold.
"That's why you brought me back?" she whispered. "To fix a political problem?"
Queen Helena's eyes flickered with a hint of impatience. "The kingdom stands on the precipice of war. Our allies waver, and enemies gather strength. To secure our position, we must form a powerful alliance."
King Alaric leaned forward. "You are to marry King Damian Blackwood of the Lycans. This union will solidify our alliance and ensure the safety of our people."
Shock coursed through Celine. "Marry?
Queen Helena lifted her chin. " Yes, to fulfill your duty to this kingdom, you are to be wed to the Lycan King, Damian Blackwood."
The words slammed into her harder than the revelation of her birth.
Her blood ran cold.
The queen spoke, her voice gentler but just as firm. "This is not a decision made lightly, Celine. The union between our kingdom and the Lycans has long been…"
"I don't care what it has been," Celine cut in, her voice rising. "You're telling me that you brought me here, not because I'm your daughter, but because you need me to marry some stranger?"
A muscle ticked in the king's jaw. "He is not just some stranger. He the Lycan King and
this is not about personal feelings. It's about duty."
Her hands clenched into fists. "And what if I refuse?"
The king exhaled slowly, as if speaking to a stubborn child. . "You misunderstand your position. Rejecting this marriage would not only endanger the kingdom but also mark you as a traitor."
She swallowed hard, forcing her voice to remain steady. "You expect me to just… sacrifice my life for this?..."No.You don't get to act like this is normal. I just found out that my entire life was a lie, and now you're throwing me into another one?"
...
Celine's breathing quickened. "You don't care about me. You care about what I can do for you. About how useful I am to your plans."
The queen's gaze softened. "I know this is sudden, but…"
Before she could finish, the grand doors burst open once more.
A tall, elegant girl strode in, her golden gown trailing behind her. She had dark hair woven into an intricate braid and eyes filled with disdain.
Lady Rose.
Celine didn't need an introduction to know who she was.
The imposter princess.
"So," Rose said, stopping a few feet away. "The lost princess finally arrives."
There was no warmth in her voice. No remorse. Just annoyance.
Celine straightened her back. "And you must be the fraud."
Rose's eyes flared with fury, but before she could speak, a sharp laugh echoed through the chamber.
"Well, she certainly has a tongue on her."
A woman stepped out from the shadows, her emerald gown shimmering under the torchlight. Her honey-blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder, and her sharp green eyes swept over Celine with open disdain.
Lady Selene Graves.
One of the kingdom's most powerful noblewomen. And, according to rumors, deeply obsessed with Prince Damian the heir to the Lycan throne.
"You don't look like much of a princess," Selene said coolly. "More like a commoner pretending to be one."
Celine smirked, refusing to let her see any weakness. "And you don't look like much of one, but here we are."
A few nearby nobles gasped. Rose smirked in amusement.
Selene's expression darkened.
King Alaric raised a hand, silencing the room. "Enough."
He turned his gaze back to Celine. "You will be given chambers in the eastern wing. Tomorrow, you begin your training."
"Training?" Celine asked.
Helena nodded. "You must learn our ways. Your time among the commoners has made you… unrefined."
Celine exhaled through her nose. "And if I..."
"No excuse," Alaric said simply. "Because you are bound by blood and fate."
Celine clenched her fists, rage simmering beneath her skin.
She had thought coming here would answer her questions. Instead, she had been given new ones.
One thing was clear, she was not here as a daughter. She was here as a tool.