The Lost Princess

Liliana's POV I am the third princess, Liliana Ava Marques of Dorach Kingdom, the daughter of King Jake Marques. My father brought me to the palace the day my mother died. I remember my mom on her deathbed when I was just 14 years old. She held my hands and looked at me with a loving smile. She said weakly, "Darling, it's about time you know where you are from." Tears threatened to spill down my face as I sat beside her and nodded. My mom coughed before she began to speak. "I once worked as a maid in the palace when I was young. I was a very beautiful maiden. During my fourth year working in the palace, the King decided to crown Jake as the king. Jake and I were already becoming acquainted before it happened and he promised to marry me." My mother coughed again, then continued with a bitter smile. "Then Jake, after being crowned as king, sent for me. I went to see him and immediately I entered his room, he pulled me into a hug. He said he's happy he can finally marry me and now that he's a king, he'll make me his queen. We slept together for the first time." "Days passed and I found out I was pregnant. I excitedly rushed to Jake to share the good news. I walked toward him ready to surprise him but what he said made me wish the ground would swallow me whole." She coughed again. I patted her hands. "What happened, Mom?" I asked. She smiled weakly. "He told me he was getting married to the Duke's daughter, Delilah. I was so shocked. I was about to question him but he interrupted me, saying it's all for the best and he's sorry. He mentioned something about compensation but I wasn't listening. Just then Delilah walked into his room and started insulting me, calling me names and Jake didn't say a thing. He only asked me to leave the room." "Days later, Delilah moved into the palace and the moment she moved in, life became hell for me. I've been abused several times by her and Jake turned a blind eye to it all. Within weeks, Delilah got married to Jake and they held their coronation. I was so devastated. Things at the palace were taking a huge toll on me so I decided to leave the palace with the help of Jake's father." Her breathing became unstable. She held my hands tight as tears rolled down my eyes. She whispered, "Baby, you are the third princess of Dorach Kingdom, the daughter of King Jake." Just then, the door burst open. Five guards rushed in and a man with a commanding presence walked into the room. The guards bowed slightly as the man looked at my mom, then at me, then back at her again. His eyes widened in realization. He whispered, "Celeste, is that you?" My mom just smiled weakly. "Jake, it's been a really long time." The man — my father — turned to the guards and told them to wait outside. He moved closer to my mom and said in a nostalgic tone, "You are still alive? I'm so sorry. I should have given you an explanation all those years. I'm sorry, Celeste." But my mom just looked at him and said, "Jake, this is Liliana, your daughter." He looked shocked. "W-what? My daughter... you were pregnant for me?" Just then, my mom's breathing became unstable. She whispered her last words, "Jake, if you want to fix your mistakes, please fulfill my dying wish. Protect Liliana and let her return to her roots. She is a princess and always will be." Then my mother stopped breathing. She was dead. I burst into tears. I turned to the man that was supposed to be my father and saw tears rolling down his cheeks. He stood up, looked at me and said, "I promise she'll get a befitting burial." I nodded and told him I would like for her to be buried under a tree in our favorite spot near the cliff. It was late so we decided to wait till the next day. It wasn't fancy, but it was us. It was warm. I remember crying until I couldn't cry anymore. After the burial, the King, my so-called dad, took me to the palace. He introduced me to my grandfather, my stepmother who was the Queen, my stepsisters and my stepbrother. I was so overwhelmed by everything. Then my grandfather called my dad aside to the study. When they left, my stepmother stepped in front of me and slapped me hard. I looked at her, my eyes widened in shock. She just scoffed, "You must be the child of that harlot, right? Your mother couldn't secure her place here so she sent you, this brat, to come here." Before I could say anything, my stepsister, the first princess of Dorach, Princess Mia, who was two years older than...