The Royal Reckoning

Chapter 1: The 17th Letter

November 6th, a date marked by the annual celebration of my birth, unfolded with a unique blend of joy and emotional reckoning. Little did I know that this day, already charged with the significance of my existence, would harbor a profound revelation that would forever alter my perception of family and identity.

As the candles flickered atop my birthday cake, casting dancing shadows in the dimly lit room, the weight of an unspoken truth loomed large. It was precisely three years ago that the facade of my familial reality began to crumble.

The revelation struck me like a sudden storm, shattering the illusion that had cloaked my adolescence. For fourteen years, I clung to the comforting fiction that I wasn't alone, that I shared a lineage with those who raised me. But destiny, it seemed, had a different narrative in store for me.

With each passing year, the revelation of my true parentage became an annual ritual, delivered through poignant letters left for me by my mother. This bittersweet tradition, a poignant reminder of the duality of my existence, abruptly concluded on my 17th birthday.

Anastasia, a stalwart presence in my life and caretaker since my earliest days, handed me a letter today, the culmination of a year-long anticipation.

As I cradled the letter, sealed with the delicate elegance of daisies, my favorite flower, a sense of vulnerability enveloped me. The seal, a symbol of the love and care invested in every message, bore witness to the emotional weight contained within. Gingerly unfolding the pages, my eyes were met with a photograph capturing the innocence of my birth, a moment frozen in time where my blissful smile belied the complexities that awaited me.

Seated with my coffee, I embarked on the emotional journey laid out in the carefully penned words. Each sentence carried the weight of years of longing, regret, and unspoken love. The prose unfolded like a poignant melody, resonating with the cadence of my heart. As the words danced off the page, I braced myself for the emotional whirlwind that could either cradle me in a comforting embrace or leave me vulnerable to the tempest of conflicting emotions.

My Dearest Elena,

Happy Seventeen!! I can hardly believe how quickly time has flown, and here you stand, a testament to the remarkable person you've become. There's so much I wish I could say to you in person, and my heart aches at the distance that has kept us apart. I've watched over you, unseen, admiring the strength and beauty of the girl who has faced life's challenges with unwavering determination.

Today, on your seventeenth birthday, I feel compelled to share with you a truth that has remained veiled for far too long. I am sorry for my absence, for never being there when you needed guidance and support. As this marks the final time you'll hear from me, I want to lay bare the story you've yearned to uncover throughout your life.

Your future is in the Asheton palace, and for seventeen years, the king, Alexander Asheton has tirelessly been searching for you. I apologize for the pain I've caused you, for orchestrating a narrative that led you to believe otherwise. My real name is Charlotte, not Cher, and I share a complicated history with your father, King Alexander Asheton. We were once deeply in love, but the societal constraints that divided us led to our separation.

Alexander eventually married Viviane O'Brien, my very own best friend. But it wasn't long when I found out I was pregnant with you. Your birth union marked the beginning of a tumultuous series of events. He promised me that he would always be there for me, but as wise people always say, promises are meant to be broken.

The true twist of fate came with your birth. You, my dear, were born as the golden child of the Asheton lineage, adorned with the official Asheton birthmark on your left cheek. Unable to resist the opportunity for retribution, I fled the palace, the place you and I were meant to be. Viviane found out about this and even before Alexander could see your face, she asked me to give myself as a sacrifice for your happy life. I entrusted my sister, Anastasia, for your wellbeing and bright future. She promised to deliver the letters that have been your companions throughout the years. Anastasia, entangled in her own love story with Arthur, the youngest brother of the royal family, may have played a role in keeping you connected to your roots.

As you stand on the precipice of your future, it's time to cast aside the shadows of the past. Embrace the truth of your heritage, acknowledge the complexities of your lineage, and forge ahead into a life that is rightfully yours. This letter serves as my final goodbye, a reluctant farewell as you embark on a journey into the unknown. May the events that unfold in your future bring you joy, fulfillment, and the freedom to chart your own destiny.

With a heavy heart and a wish for your happiness,

-Charlotte/Cher

My heart sank. Not because I got to know the truth, but the struggles mom went through for love. What do people see in love?

I've dated so many guys. I have attached to some of them but not that affectionate that I would destroy my and their entire life they wouldn't be mine.

When love comes at this point of destroying not just one life, but many others, it's not love. Its revenge.

Love is when you give someone the power to destroy you and trust them that they wouldn't.

"Anastasia."

"Yes, my dear?"

"What happened to mom? I know the truth, Anastasia. I know everything about mom."

"She-she-she was stabbed by a knife by Viviane in front of Alexander, while he didn't even say a word."

"Thank You Anastasia. For everything you have done for me. I respect you a lot."

"You're welcome, dear. The entire world it crumbled by the things they do for love. It's time to leave Eleanor. We will leave for Asheton tomorrow morning; I hope you're ready."

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I heard the truth about Cher. The revelation, while unsettling, became a tapestry woven with threads of understanding, forgiveness, and a newfound appreciation for the intricate beauty of my unconventional journey. Today, on my birthday, I not only celebrate the passage of another year but also the layers of my identity, enriched by the complexity of love, loss, and the enduring search for connection. This was going to be the biggest change in my life, a change I wasn't ready to accept.

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