The Royal Maid And The Lost Kingdom

CHAPTER THIRTY

I never imagined that the past would have such a hold on the king, but it seemed that it was all coming back to haunt him. The past few months have been particularly difficult for the kingdom, with a cloud of uncertainty and mistrust hanging over everything like a dark shadow. Rumors about the king and the things he did in the past had been spreading like wildfire, and it was becoming harder and harder to ignore them.

One of the most talked-about rumors was about a lost kingdom, a neighboring kingdom that had fallen into disarray. People say that the monarchy has dissolved and that there is no longer any ruling body there, no traces of war or any kind of conflict. I had always been curious about these rumors, wondering what happened to the lost kingdom and how it could have fallen into such chaos. One day, I found myself in the company of the Queen, serving her a meal in her private theater. As we ate, I couldn’t help but ask her about the lost kingdom and what really happened.

“Your majesty,” I said, “I couldn’t help but overhear the rumors about the lost kingdom. Is there any truth to them?”

The Queen looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and regret. “I’m afraid so, my dear,” She said. “The lost kingdom was once a prosperous and thriving place, but something happened, and the monarchy fell apart. No one knows what exactly happened, but it was a tragedy for the people who lived there.” I was shocked by this news, and I couldn’t help but wonder what could have caused such a drastic change.

“Why would the monarchy fall apart like that?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

The Queen sighed. “There are many theories, but the truth is that we may never know the full story. Some say it was a power struggle between members of the royal family, others say it was an uprising by the people. But what we do know is that the lost kingdom is a cautionary tale, a reminder of what can happen when we let greed and power take over.”

I thought about this as I finished my meal, pondering the lessons we could learn from the lost kingdom. It was a reminder that no matter how powerful or wealthy we are, we must always remember to treat others with kindness and respect, or we may find ourselves in a similar fate.

As the days went by, the rumors surrounding the lost kingdom continued to spread, and the king’s reluctance to address the issue only fueled the speculation. The people of the kingdom were divided, with some skeptical and others intrigued by the idea of a kingdom that had simply disappeared into thin air. I was among the latter group and often found myself daydreaming about going on an adventure to find the lost kingdom. One day, while serving Prince Edward at the royal table, I couldn’t resist asking him about the lost kingdom. To my surprise, he was more forthcoming than the King had been.

“Edward, what do you know about the lost kingdom?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. He looked up from his meal and regarded me thoughtfully.

“Well, Alice, I have heard the rumors, of course. But I don’t know much more than that,” he said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Why do you think the king hasn’t said anything about it?” I pressed, eager to learn more.

Edward sighed. “I think the king has his reasons for staying quiet. It’s not my place to speculate,” He said, giving me a small smile. Our conversation was cut short when Prince Andrew arrived and took a seat at the table. Edward tensed up, but I was relieved to see that Andrew seemed in a good mood.

“Good evening, Alice,” he said, giving me a warm smile. “And Edward,” He added, nodding at his brother.

“Good evening, Andrew,” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt as I remembered the way I had rejected his advances at the dinner with Prince Andrew. To my surprise, Andrew and Edward were actually getting along, and the three of us enjoyed a pleasant meal together. Andrew even brought up the lost kingdom and I was intrigued to hear his thoughts on the matter.

“I’ve heard that the lost kingdom was actually a powerful and prosperous place,” He said, his eyes shining with excitement. “It’s said that the kingdom was so rich that it attracted the envy of its neighboring kingdoms, who eventually conquered and destroyed it.” Edward nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s one theory, but there’s no concrete evidence to support it,” He said.

As the conversation continued, I found myself caught up in the mystery of the lost kingdom, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing for adventure. Despite my loyalty to the kingdom and Prince Edward, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more out there for me to discover.

Later that night, as I was getting ready for bed, I found myself thinking about the lost kingdom once again. I couldn’t help but wonder what secrets it held and whether I would ever have the chance to explore it for myself. As I lay in bed, my mind raced with thoughts of the lost kingdom. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something special about it, something that could change my life forever.

I wondered if the kingdom held any answers to the questions I had about my past. I was an orphan and had no memories of my parents or my childhood. I was told that I was found at the doorstep of the orphanage I grew up in, with no information about who left me there or why.

What was it that made them make the decision to drop me off? Were they poor? Were they being chased? Were they running from someone or something? Or do they just don’t want me at all and that was the best way to dispose of me without killing me? Growing up on the streets was tough. I had to fend for myself from a young age, and I learned how to steal to survive. It was a hard life, but it taught me how to be tough and resourceful. Despite everything I had been through, I still held onto hope and a thirst for adventure.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a knock on the door. It was Edward, looking as handsome as ever in his royal robes. He asked if he could come in and talk, and I obliged, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.

“Alice, I couldn’t stop thinking about you after our conversation earlier tonight,” He said, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. “I would like to know more about your childhood if you don’t mind.”

I took a deep breath and told him about growing up in the orphanage and the hardships I faced on the streets. I shared with him the memories I had of surviving on my own and how I learned to steal to make ends meet. I also told him about the mystery surrounding my birth and the lack of information I had about my past.

“That must have been incredibly difficult,” Edward said, looking at me with a mix of sadness and admiration. “You’re incredibly strong, Alice. I have no doubt that you would have made it anywhere in life, even if you never met me.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Edward and I sat and talked, I was able to feel a growing connection between us. He listened to me intently as I opened up to him about my past, and I was grateful for his understanding and compassion.

“I was brought up in an orphanage, Edward,” I said, “and I was told that I was left at their doorstep as a baby.”

“That must have been so hard for you,” He said sympathetically.

“It was,” I replied. “But I learned to survive on the streets, to fend for myself. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to be strong.” I concluded, maybe it was the air tonight but he felt more soft and gentle to look at. Or maybe he had already started to trust me who knows but Edward told me about his struggles.

“I was so trusting,” He said. “I thought that everyone was good, just like me. But one experience changed me, made me more guarded.” I was curious as to which experience changed him but I knew well to respect the other person’s decisions, if he wants to tell me then he would without me asking him.

We talked, sharing stories and secrets, and I couldn’t help but feel that our connection was growing stronger with each passing moment. The conversation was deep and meaningful, and I felt like I had finally found someone who truly understood me like I understood him. Although I still have a lot of holes in the past and in my memory that needed filling but I was more than grateful to have met him, now thinking back to that day when I went out to steal his necklace it just does not seem so bad again. It was a blessing in disguise, with a lot of patience and peeling.

“I never knew someone like you, Alice,” Edward said. “I feel like I can trust you like you really get me.”

“I do,” I said, smiling. “I feel the same way about you.”

As the hours passed by, we continued to talk, sharing our thoughts and feelings. I felt like I was finally able to be completely open and honest with someone, and it was a feeling that I cherished deeply. Our conversation continued, and we moved on to other topics, discussing everything from our favorite books and hobbies to our plans and aspirations. Edward then looked at me in a serious manner as if there was something he wanted to reveal to me.

“You know Alice, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” He said still looking a bit nervous, I looked at him with interest.

“What is it?” I asked him softly as to not make him retract his decision to tell me whatever it was.

“I used to be a very different person, a long time ago,” He said. “When I was just 8 years old, I was kidnapped by a group of bandits. They held me for ransom, and my family paid for it, but the experience changed me. I used to be so trusting and kind, but now I’m always cautious and on guard.”

I gasped, “That’s terrible, Edward. I had no idea.”

“Yes, and that’s why I’ve always kept it a secret,” He said. “I didn’t want people to know that I was vulnerable, that I could be taken advantage of. But with you, I feel like I can be myself. I trust you, Alice.”

I smiled, “I’m honored, Edward. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.”

We talked for a while longer, discussing the events that had shaped our lives and how they had impacted us. It was a night I would never forget, and a bond that would only continue to grow stronger.