The Truth
1014 Words
I didn't tell Lucy about the dream.
I didn't know why.
She was my best friend.
The person I told everything to.
But every time I opened my mouth, something stopped me.
Maybe because I was scared she'd think I was losing my mind.
Or maybe because a tiny part of me knew there were questions I needed to answer myself first.
I spent the entire morning staring at the necklace.
It looked ordinary again.
But I knew better.
I remembered my mother.
I remembered my father.
And I remembered a palace I'd never been to.
At least...
not in this life.
“Lisa?”
I looked up.
Lucy stood in front of me, staring.
“You've been staring at that necklace for ten minutes.”
I quickly pulled it beneath my shirt.
“I'm fine.”
“You've said that every day this week.”
“I am.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Did something happen at the event?”
“No.”
“Did Devon say something to you?”
My heart skipped.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because you keep looking like someone stole your brain whenever his name comes up.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Maybe he did.”
Lucy smiled.
“See? I knew it.”
I shook my head.
She sat beside me.
“So?”
“Nothing.”
“Lisa.”
“Lucy.”
She sighed.
“Fine. Keep your secrets.”
I looked at her.
For some reason, those words made me uncomfortable.
I stood.
“I need to go somewhere.”
“Where?”
“I don't know yet.”
---
Three hours later, I found Devon.
I didn't know how I knew where to find him.
Maybe it was instinct.
Maybe it was because I'd spent the last few days thinking about him.
Either way, when I saw him standing outside a quiet building, my heart immediately began racing.
He looked at me.
He wasn't surprised.
“You came.”
I frowned.
“You knew I would?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like you expected me?”
He didn't answer.
I walked closer.
“You owe me answers.”
“I know.”
“Who are you?”
He glanced around before looking back at me.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
He hesitated.
“Somewhere safe.”
I shook my head.
“No. You're going to tell me now.”
Devon stared into my eyes for a moment.
Then he sighed.
“Your necklace isn't just a necklace.”
I waited.
“It belonged to your family.”
“My family?”
“Your real family.”
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?”
“You were never an orphan because your parents abandoned you.”
I stared at him.
“Then why was I in an orphanage?”
“Because someone was trying to keep you alive.”
My throat tightened.
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Everything went silent.
Devon's voice softened.
“Her name was Amara.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“And my father?”
“Alexander.”
I took a step backwards.
Those names.
The names from my dream.
“You know them?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He looked away.
“Because your parents belonged to a kingdom.”
I let out a nervous laugh.
“A kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“Devon, stop.”
“Lisa, listen to me.”
“No.”
“You are connected to Elaria.”
I stared at him.
“What is Elaria?”
“A kingdom hidden from the ordinary world.”
I shook my head.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“Then why should I believe you?”
He reached toward my necklace but stopped before touching it.
“Because that seal belongs to the royal family.”
I looked down at the necklace.
“The royal family?”
Devon's voice became quieter.
“You are the lost heir of Elaria.”
I couldn't breathe.
“No.”
“Lisa—”
“No.”
I backed away.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Then he told me everything he knew.
About Elaria.
About my parents.
About the night the royal family disappeared.
About the betrayal that tore the kingdom apart.
About how I had been hidden from the people hunting my family.
And about the people who were still looking for me.
I listened.
I didn't interrupt.
I couldn't.
Every word seemed to pull another piece of my dream into place.
The palace.
My mother.
My father.
The broken crown.
The necklace.
None of it had been a dream.
It had been a memory.
When Devon finally stopped, I looked at him.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
He stepped closer.
“Stay alive.”
I laughed bitterly.
“That's your advice?”
“For now.”
I looked into his eyes.
“Why are you helping me?”
His expression softened.
“Because someone should.”
For some reason, that hurt more than anything else.
---
When I returned home, Lucy was waiting.
She immediately stood.
“Where have you been?”
“Out.”
“With Devon?”
I froze.
“How did you know?”
She shrugged.
“You've been thinking about him nonstop.”
I dropped my bag.
She came closer.
“Lisa, what happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
She frowned.
“You can tell me anything.”
I looked at her.
I almost told her.
Almost.
But something inside me whispered:
Not yet.
“I know.”
I forced a smile.
“But I'm tired.”
Lucy studied me for a moment.
Then she nodded.
“Okay.”
She didn't push again.
But as I walked toward my room, I touched my necklace.
For the first time, I knew what it was.
A royal seal.
And apparently...
so was I.
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