The Moonstone Blade : Revenge of the Abused Princess

Revelations

The next three days pass in absolute suspense and the nights are filled with sleepless twisting. Aunt Daphne was expectedly on edge, micromanaging all operations and every possible turn the event could go towards. The day after she had revealed the horrible actions of count Harrison, the special knight squad led by Sir James did find the road. After confirmation, her Aunt had stared long and hard at Ayana and promised that they were really going to have a chat about this later when the mess was sweeped up. 

The entire night of the full moon, Ayana had spent time traversing through her balcony back and forth in an attempt to calm her nerves. 

They had to catch Count Harrison. He was the beginning of the misfortune of Ayana's loved ones. He had to be apprehended, put behind the bars and even killed for all she did care. He just needed to be thrown away as far as possible from Evanti. 

A sigh escaped her lips and she returned back inside her room because the night was frosty cold. Climbing on her bed, she rummaged through her nightstand and found the intricately crafted dagger with the luminous moonstone shining on the hilt. 

The dagger had been a gift from her deceased mother. It was tragic that Ayana remembered nothing of the woman who people claimed loved her more than anything. She was two when her mother had died of a sudden rare disease. She was told that the Queen was quite protective of her and adored her. 

She loved how the moonstone sparkled even in the faint moonlight that had filtered through the curtains in her room. 

Ayana clutched the dagger to her chest, praying for strength to make sure that things do not end the way they had previously. 

Her prayer was answered.

Next morning when she was sauntering in the dining room with Martha and Risa on her sides, exhausted from the lack of sleep for three nights they witnessed some kind of commotion.

“Risa, go and check what is supposed to be the matter.” Martha ordered but then guided Ayana to the dining room. She felt a bit indignant about Martha treating her like a child but reminded herself quickly that Martha did not know. 

She picked on her food, stomach churning with anticipation when Risa returned. 

“The Duchess has asked you to join her in her private study as soon as you may.”

  Ten minutes later Ayana found herself in front of her Aunt’s study, her heart pounding in her ears. This is what she had been preparing for. She almost wished that she had her dagger to clutch to gain mental strength. 

Frederick respectfully opened the door for her. She entered the room with Martha alongside her. Her Aunt must have had a quick breakfast here in her study as Frederick entered together with them and collected the dishes and plates. 

Ayana felt incredibly small at her Aunt’s scrutinizing gaze but as Frederick left with instructions to not let anyone enter. Martha was about to be excused as well when Ayana interrupted, “No, please can she stay here? She needs to hear this too! I-I need her. Please?”

Her Aunt’s eyes immediately softened and Ayana was a little pleased to find that her puppy eyes were still effective. 

“Of course, Martha, please take a seat. I fear this is going to be a long conversation.”

“No, I’m not worthy-” Martha hesitated but Ayana was quick to grab her skirt and make puppy eyes at her. 

“Please, you are a Countess, Martha dear. You are not unworthy to be here with us. And Princess clearly wants you by her side.” Aunt Daphne gestures to the seat on their side and Ayana eagerly nods her head. Martha is quick to follow and then both older women turn their expectant gazes on her.  

“I’m sure you heard what prompted the investigation on Count Harrison, Martha.” At her nod, Aunt Daphne continued, “So, where do we start? Firstly all the accusations Princess made on Count Harrison about child s*****y and trafficking, drugs trafficking, illegal construction and use of state money were proven true.” She then turned to Ayana, “He was apprehended and we found all the evidence we needed. He will be put on trial in the count of Nobles soon and possibly jailed or executed.”

Ayana let out a sigh of relief and found both Aunt Daphne and Martha staring intensely at her.

Aunt Daphne leaned in, “I want to know why know the things you do, Ayana? What are you hiding?”

Ayana swallowed and had to make an effort to control her breathing. She had plenty of time to prepare herself for this, didn’t she? Then why were hands shaking? 

“Princess?” Martha’s loving voice broke her out of the downward spiral her memories had taken her to. The naked concern that both Aunt Daphne and Martha had on their faces reminded Ayana that she was here with two people who loved her to pieces and would always want the best for her. She was not locked in a foreign castle alone and abused with no one but her enemies surrounding her. It gave her the strength that she needed to pull through. 

“What I’m about to tell you is absolutely ridiculous. I know you will find it hard to believe but I’m telling you the truth.” Ayana met their eyes confidently, “I am not the ten year old Ayana Ruvesta you think. The truth is, I am Ayana Ruvesta, but sixteen years from the future.”

The silence that followed was deafening. 

Martha looked confused but she could not discern the expression on Aunt Daphne’s face. 

“Your highness, what are y-you-” Martha began but Aunt Daphne interjected

“It makes sense.”

Ayana blinked at her Aunt’s calm reaction. She had believed that she’d need to try harder to convince them about her identity. 

“It does.” Aunt Daphne nodded to herself, “You...have been acting strange. Your sudden maturity and intelligent vocabulary was...disconcerting. And, I saw you reading a book in Palik in the library one day. And I am the one in charge of your education so I am sure that I have never assigned you a tutor for the language of Palik. You...must have learned it from somewhere else. Not many people speak fluent Palik in the country.”

Martha looked uncomfortable but she did nod in the end. “I have to agree with the Duchess here. You have been behaving differently, mature - like she said, since the day you woke up from that nightmare.”

That attracted her Aunt’s attention.

Ayana agreed to their observations. She should not have underestimated her Aunt Daphne. 

Dame Adira was a capable woman in all spheres of life. 

“I am sure you have a lot of questions. But about Count Harrison first, three years from now, his trade did get exposed, not by Evanti family but by the Aristocratic faction. He demanded that the King needs to look into the matters and they accused Evanti of being involved in the trade as well because they were sure that there was no way for this to have been going under your noses undetected for years.” Aunt Daphne narrowed her eyes.

“False evidence was planted and the investigations were corrupt. There was a lot of friction between King and the Duke which caused Uncle to be expelled from the position of Prime minister.”

Martha placed a hand over her mouth, eyes wide and Aunt Daphne looked stunned. “The further investigations proved your and Duke’s innocence but the relationships between King and Duke were so damaged that Uncle refused to return back as Ruvesta’s prime minister. That is why we had to catch Count Harrison as soon as we could. To protect Evanti family from unjust accusations.”

“I see.” Aunt Daphne leaned back, apparently satisfied with her explanation, and took a moment to gather herself when Martha dropped the brick. 

“Why are you here, Princess? And How?”

“Hm, I am curious about that as well. You are twenty-six, right? A lot must have happened.”

Only if you knew.

“About that…” Ayana trailed off, gathering her courage as both Aunt and Martha waited for her patiently. 

“When I was sixteen, the empire of Falistan, beyond Sukh was overtaken by a family called Bekadna. Have you heard of them?”

Aunt Daphne hummed, “I think it was a disgraced noble family of Falistan.”

“Yes, you are right. Falistan was named Bekadna soon after and was ruled by a young man - Varq Alastor Bekadna, a man famous for his ruthlessness and sadistic tendencies. Any place he walked through, he left nothing but destruction in his wake. It was terrifying. He was hungry for everything - more power, more riches, more land and more suffering for people. He conquered Sukh and other neighbouring countries and we were forced to face him. Ruvesta was not prepared for a war at such a massive scale. And if we had gone through a war and lost, he would have razed Ruvesta down to the ground. We had no other choice but to peacefully surrender and sign a peace treaty. I was eighteen, soon to be nineteen back then.” Ayana trembled and took a rattled breath in, “The Aristocratic faction proposed, th-that, I should be...offered to the Emperor - as a sign of commitment-” Ayana closed her eyes to prevent tears from falling and continued, “-from the country as a concubine.” A sharp gasp from Martha made her eyes fly open as her Nanny looked devastated but Aunt Daphne was shaking in rage, an absolutely murderous glint in her eyes. 

“How dare they.” She hissed like an angry cobra, “How dare they. Ayana, tell me your father ordered their tongues to be cut on the spot.” 

Ayana let out the bitter laugh that was trapped inside her chest. She shook her head sadly. “Nothing like that happened Aunt. I was sent to Bekadna on my nineteenth birthday.”

“No! This is-” she screamed, “No! This-This can’t be! There is no way I would sit and let those maggots take you away.”

“You didn’t. We had a wretched voting conference for this. The only houses who fought for me...were the houses of Evanti, Ednaq, Vivianak, Circaly, Miller and Lissen.” She gave an acknowledging nod towards her Martha who was silently crying.

“What about the princes? Their worth is quite much.”

“Brother Richard was...neutral.”

“What about his highness Marcus?”

Martha was gripping the edge of the table so hard that her knuckles turned white. Ayana was really sad to disappoint her.

“Marcus was eagerly on board with the idea.” Her answer prompted Aunt Daphne to bury her head into her palms. 

“He said it was my duty as the royal daughter to put our family and country first. He said I had to make sacrifices to ensure the safety of everyone I loved.”

“That wretched child!” Daphne screamed, banging her fist on the table. 

“Saddest part?” Ayana continued, “My sacrifice did not do any good. It simply delayed the inevitable.”

 “W-what do you mean?” Aunt Daphne was staring at her in horror, almost afraid to hear the answers. 

“Exactly what you are expecting. Emperor Bekadna plundered our people, stole from them, imposed taxes to the point where the royal treasury had to be drained to stop his authorities from murdering people just because they were unable to pay the money. Our crops were destroyed and people were enslaved. All of this was happening at the same time as I was married to him as his concubine and forced to join his harem.” 

She choked on her next words, pressing the heel on her palm on her watering eyes furiously. “I-I was r-raped.” She let out a broken sob. “I was starved and beaten and humiliated. Repeatedly.” 

Both the older woman looked aghast and disturbed and terrified to the point where they were rendered speechless. And Ayana could not blame them. Hearing everything she had gone through her twenty six years of life must be beyond haunting to hear her ten year old self speak. She is sure that she must have scarred them for their entire life.

“After Brother Richard heard of my mistreatment and witnessed the havoc Bekadna was wrecking on our people, he launched a war against Bekadna. To free Ruvesta and me from his clutches.”

“War started when I was twenty four and continued for two years. Duke Ednaq and Marquis Vivianak supported his cause. The war abruptly ended when brother was fatally injured and was taken away to the Palace to repercute and the Aristocratic faction backstabbed Ednaq and Vivianak. Brother was murdered soon after and we lost the war.” 

She closed her eyes as the painful memory flashed inside her head. 

“I was dragged by my hair like a ragdoll inside the palace which was once my own home and the Emperor forced me to watch as he cut off father’s and brother’s heads.”

Martha was openly sobbing now and Ayana leaned forward to grasp her hand and offered her a reassuring smile. 

“It was bad but I was lucky enough to meet Ryan.”

They looked confused for a second before recognition dawned on Daphne’s face.

“Ryan? As in Ryan Lucas Ednaq? Heir to Duke Ednaq?”

“Yes, he assumed the position of Duke after Duke died in a carriage accident. I think I was fifteen back then. We were close friends.”

The silence urged her to continue.

“Ryan was captured by the enemy. That bastard Emperor promised me that Ryan would suffer a lifetime of intense torture.”

“Oh god, no!”

“He gave me a choice. Either I let Ryan suffer the hell and worse or...I-I spare him from this fate by...killing him with own two hands.”

Aunt Daphne stood up from her seat, hazel eyes reflecting terror. 

“You...killed him? Did you not?”

It took every bit of strength in her being to not break down like the pathetic b***h she was. 

“I did.” She answered brokenly. The quiet that followed made her want the Earth to swallow her whole. Aunt Daphne swallowed audibly. 

“What happened next, Ayana? What did you do?”

She wanted to curl up somewhere and hide rather than answer this question. 

“I realized. H-He had no intentions of stopping till he made sure there was nothing left in me to live. And I couldn’t let him do that to me. If I wanted to die, I wanted it to be my own decision. He gave me a blunt sword to kill Ryan. so, instead, I stabbed Ryan with a poisoned dagger and then-” She ducked her head, letting her silver tresses hide her face, “-I killed myself.”

It was not long before she was enveloped in the arms of her two most beloved people and for the first time she let her tears freely fall. Years of pain and hurt wracked her small body with sobs as she buried herself in their warm and loving and comforting embraces. 

She had been so strong for so long but now it felt as if there was a massive weight lifted off her chest and it overwhelmed her broken self. She cried and cried and did know not when she fell asleep. 

All she knew was that it was warm.