The Wrong Princess

6.

Zelena sat in the library as suddenly Cora entered the room. The red head was still very mad at her mother. "what do you want?" She asked annoyed and looked into Cora's brown eyes.

"Don't use that tone with me. Where is Robin? Why aren't you with him?" She asked her daughter. She sensed that Robin and Zelena weren't interested in each other and she needed to talk some sense into Zelena before the wedding.

Zelena rolled her eyes. "What does it matter to you? I'm not going to marry Robin. We don't love each other." She pointed out and stood up, ready to leave the room but Cora grabbed her arm.

"Not so fast. You will marry him. It doesn't matter if you love him or not. I didn't love your father either when we got married. But I learned to love him." She explained to her daughter and sighed deeply. This was the first time she had mentioned Zelena's father ever since Zelena learned the truth.

"My father? Who was he? What happened to him?" She asked curiously and turned back to look at her mother. Now she wanted to know exactly who her father was.

Cora sighed and sat down with Zelena. "His name was Henry. He was a young prince. We didn't love each other at first but after we got married we quickly fell for each other. He was a very kind man and he was very happy when I got pregnant. " she explained to her and stroked Zelena's hair slightly.

Zelena listened to her carefully and looked at her. "What happened to him?" She asked curiously.

Cora took a shaky breath. "He fell in battle. I was seven months pregnant with you. That's when I decided to switch you and Regina. I wanted you to have a better life. I couldn't have given you the love and the riches Leopold and Eva could. I wanted you to be queen when I couldn't be one. " she told her and hugged Zelena.

Zelena felt for the first time since Cora told her the truth that Cora genuinely loved her and really only wanted the best for her. But still she needed to be stopped. She couldn't let Regina rot away in that tower.

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Robin had spent the night in the tower with Regina and smiled as he woke up with her in his arms. "Good morning " He said happily and kissed her head gently.

"Good morning. Shall I make us some breakfast?" She asked as she sat up in bed and turned to look at him.

Robin looked at her. She was so beautiful and he really didn't want to leave but he knew he couldn't stay. "I need to go back to the castle. I'm really sorry. But tomorrow we can definitely have breakfast together." He said softly and kissed her carefully before getting out of bed.

Regina sighed sadly but nodded. "I understand. Does that mean you will be back tonight?" She asked hopefully and wrapped the blanket tighter around herself to stay warm.

Robin nodded as he got dressed. "Of course I will. I will count the hours " He told her and when he was dressed he kissed her again.

Regina smiled and also quickly got dressed before walking over to the window to let her hair down for him.

The young prince kissed her one last time before he climbed down. He waved before getting on his horse and rode off towards the castle.

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When Robin arrived back at the castle Cora watched him closely and decided to follow him next time he left the castle to find out exactly who the other girl was the prince seemed to love. She needed to make sure they would go through with the wedding and cronation.

After Robin entered the castle, Cora went to the stables and got on her horse, riding to the tower. When she arrived she tied her horse to a tree and walked over to the tower. "Regina! Let down your hair!" She called out and waited for Regina to let her hair down for her.

Regina quickly let her hair down when she heard her mother and flinched as her mother pulled her hair. She wondered why her mother always pulled her hair. Robin never did that. "Hello, Mother." The young brunette said softly and helped Cora in when she reached the top.

"Hello, my dear." Cora said and gave her a short hug before pulling off her cloak and sitting down by the fire place. She looked around the room and noticed something was different but she couldn't quite place it. "How has your morning been?" She asked and looked at Regina as her tea was served to her.

Regina poured the tea into her mother's tea cup carefully. "It was fine. You know, nothing interesting ever happens here. How was your morning? How is Zelena?" She asked curiously as she put the tea pot down and sat beside her mother.

Cora looked closely at Regina. Something was different. She seemed happy, almost glowing even. Usually Regina was very timid and sad. "My morning was fine. The preparations for the wedding are coming along nicely. Zelena is very well. I'm sure she will join me to visit you tomorrow. " She explained to her and slightly played with Regina's long braid.

Regina nodded and frowned at the mention of the wedding. Was Zelena the one Robin was engaged to? "That sounds nice." She said softly and looked at the fire.

Cora nodded. Something was definitely off with Regina. "And what have you been up to?" She asked curiously.

"Nothing really. Just done some drawing. " she answered softly, hoping her mother wouldn't ask her any more questions.

"Oh alright " Cora answered. She had to find out what was going on with Regina. There was definitely something off and she needed to find out what.

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Zelena had tea with her father and Snow in the meantime. She hadn't really spoken to either of them ever since she found out. She just didn't feel right about all of this. She needed to get a rope to free Regina and then she would tell everyong what Cora did even if it meant that she would lose her family.

"You are awfully quiet lately. Is everything alright, sweetheart?" Leopold asked and looked at Zelena.

"Yes, father. Everything is fine. Don't worry. " she answered softly and gave him a fake smile.