The Lost Princess
779 Words
Luna Nightshade was not merely a future queen.
She was the lost Princess of the Northern Kingdom.
The guard's words echoed through the courtyard.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Luna felt her stomach tighten.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Not yet.
In her previous life, the list had remained hidden for years.
By the time anyone discovered it, she was already Damien's queen.
But now?
Someone had stolen it.
And if her enemies obtained those names...
Everything would change.
Lucien studied her carefully.
His sharp eyes missed nothing.
Especially not the brief flash of panic on Luna's face.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"How many names were on the list?" he asked the guard.
"Twenty-three, my Lord."
Lucien nodded.
"And who knows it was stolen?"
"Only the royal treasury and the High Council."
"Good."
The guard looked confused.
Good?
The kingdom's greatest secret had just been stolen.
How could that be good?
But Lucien simply waved him away.
"Double the guards and say nothing to the press."
"Yes, my Lord."
The guard hurried off.
Luna released a slow breath.
Maybe it wasn't too late.
Maybe the damage could still be contained.
Then Lucien turned toward her.
His silver eyes seemed unusually thoughtful.
"You're worried."
Luna forced a smile.
"Anyone would be."
"No."
His gaze sharpened.
"Most people wouldn't care."
A chill ran down her spine.
Was he testing her?
Trying to see if she knew something?
Luna quickly looked away.
"Perhaps I simply dislike thieves."
Lucien chuckled.
The sound sent shivers through several nearby servants.
The Shadow Alpha rarely laughed.
Yet Luna seemed to amuse him constantly.
Later that evening, Luna was shown to a luxurious guest suite inside the fortress.
The room was larger than her entire wing at Damien's palace.
A roaring fireplace filled the space with warmth.
Yet she couldn't relax.
Her mind was racing.
The stolen list changed everything.
If Seraphina discovered Luna's true identity...
The woman would stop at nothing to eliminate her.
Luna walked toward the balcony.
The moon hung high above the mountains.
Beautiful.
Silent.
Dangerous.
Just like fate itself.
Then suddenly—
A familiar pain shot through her head.
Luna gasped.
Memories flashed before her eyes.
Images.
Voices.
Fragments of the future.
No.
Not the future.
The past.
Her previous life.
She saw herself standing before a burning castle.
She saw soldiers covered in blood.
She saw Lucien.
Injured.
Dying.
And then—
She heard a voice.
A woman's voice.
"Protect the princess."
Luna stumbled backward.
Her breathing became uneven.
The vision vanished.
Leaving only silence behind.
A knock sounded at the door.
Luna quickly composed herself.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A maid entered carrying tea.
"My Lady."
Luna nodded politely.
The maid placed the tray on a nearby table.
Then paused.
Something seemed strange.
Very strange.
The maid looked nervous.
Almost frightened.
"Luna?"
The maid whispered.
Luna froze.
Nobody here should know her first name.
The maid slowly lifted her head.
And Luna's eyes widened.
The woman's appearance seemed ordinary.
But the eyes.
She recognized those eyes.
From her previous life.
The woman dropped to one knee.
"My Princess."
The teacup slipped from Luna's fingers.
It shattered against the floor.
"What did you call me?"
The maid lowered her head.
"My Princess."
Luna's heart pounded violently.
This couldn't be happening.
Not yet.
Not this early.
In her previous life, she had never met this woman.
Not until years later.
The maid reached inside her sleeve.
Luna instantly stepped back.
Ready to fight.
Instead, the woman produced a silver pendant.
A pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
The royal symbol of the Northern Kingdom.
Luna's blood ran cold.
The maid looked up.
Tears filled her eyes.
"We've been searching for you for eighteen years."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The room suddenly felt too small.
Too hot.
Too dangerous.
The maid continued.
"Your mother is alive."
Luna froze.
Her world stopped.
Her mother?
Alive?
That was impossible.
She had died years ago.
Everyone knew that.
The maid shook her head.
"No."
As though reading Luna's thoughts.
"The Queen never died."
Luna staggered backward.
Her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
If that was true...
Then everything she knew was a lie.
Everything.
At that exact moment, far away in the capital...
Seraphina sat inside her chambers.
A masked man knelt before her.
The stolen list rested in his hands.
Seraphina smiled.
A slow.
Cruel.
Victorious smile.
Then she found the name she was looking for.
And her smile widened.
Luna Nightshade.
Below it were four words.
Heir to the Northern Throne.
Seraphina's eyes glittered with excitement.
"Oh, Luna..."
She laughed softly.
"Now I know exactly how to destroy you."
To Be Continued...
- Writer
