A Modern Little Princess

Chapter II

Cassie's Pov

"It worked, it really worked," I heard someone mutter, my ears were ringing so loudly I could barely tell. They were somewhere far in the distance, yet somewhere close. A female voice, young and yet panicked. "She's here! I found her!" I heard the voice say, this time their voice altered as they tried to make it sound different, before I heard hurried footsteps as if they ran far from here.

I heard a wail–surprisingly it wasn't me.

I was still trying to breathe, to even open my eyes. I felt soft hands touch my forehead, I flinched and tried to move away. "Shhh, shhh, my sweet baby, momma's here." The female voice said.

Momma? Baby? Excuse me? I wearily opened my eyes. Teary forest green ones met mine.

"Who..?" My voice broke as dizziness swept through me and vision went hazy. I heard another wail and someone ordering another around. Before I was picked up, by strong arms and whisked away. My brain coated in a hazy blanket, my body thrashing. It's as if I'm possessed.

This had to be a dream, surely. No other explanation. That or the book held a demon and I'm a goner. I felt my body seize up again before it all went black.

—

Queen Ophelia 

She's alive.

Not dead, not at all. After all these years... my heart shudders as I let out another quiet sob as I clutch her hand as she lays sedated in her hospital bed. I would never let her out of my sight again.

"Has my husband been informed? And Thaddeus?" I asked the next nurse that came to check my daughter's vitals.

She nodded, "they should be down–"

She wasn't able to finish that sentence when the door was slammed open. My husband–King Aurelius–and my son Prince Thaddeus. "She's alive." I confirmed for them. My husband rushed to my other side taking her hand and clutching onto it like I was; like it was a lifeline.

"How?-" He whispered.

My hands trembled as I thought back to earlier this morning.

I was in my study, going through papers. Something about a party this and a dinner that. I hated the idea of going to any of those. I'd rather be here, with–

"Mother?"

My heart stopped at that word. I banged this way and that as I clumsily left my study.

"Lilliana? Baby?" I called out towards the sound of the voice, my voice just barely above a whisper. A few of my guards followed me confused, mostly concerned. "My daughter," I said quickly, this time a little louder, my heart going a million miles an hour. "Find her. Now." They dispersed.

I searched and searched, and yet to no avail. I grabbed every single person alike and told them to search as well. The looks I was getting, I ignored them. The mutters of someone asking to try to find the King to reel me in, or a healer cause I was 'sick'. I wasn't though I swear. She was out here. Yes. She was out here. I just knew it. It was a mothers instinct.

"She's here! I found her!" I heard someone finally shout as I was in a different part of the garden. A wail of... I didn't know what escaped me as I ran. Dodging guards who insisted I stopped, that it all was in my head. I'd make them pay later surely for trying to keep me away from my daughter.

And that's when I saw her, she was by a bench next to the fountain and I ran as fast as I could before I ungracefully collapsed right before her and scooped her in my arms. She was twitching and shaking. I couldn't stop another wail escaping my throat. She was here. Actually. "Shhh, shhh, my sweet baby girl, momma's here." I told her. I could see the pain and confusion etched on her face. I rubbed her forehead gently. As if to wash it all away. Before quickly I called for my head guard–my brother-in-law–to come over, who was white as a ghost. "Take her," I urged. "Careful now." I say as he gently takes her.

And now we were here.

"It's-It's a miracle." I tell him quietly, before turning to my son. "What's wrong with you?" I ask him quietly. "Your sister is alive, Thaddeus."

He shakes his head. "How could you possibly know it's her?" His voice barely whisper.

I felt anger surge through me, but I tried to suppress it. "Look at her Thaddeus, she's your sister. It's clear as day."

"That's bloody it," he said, running his calloused hand through his brown hair. "It's been years, but she's barely changed."

"Thaddeus," this time it was Aurelius. "We're all in shock, and she's probably gone through a lot for her, even if she looks..." I glared at the both of them, how dare they question that it wasn't her for a second?

"Both of you out," I grit out quietly as Lilliana thrashes in her sleep. "You're disturbing her, today's been one and a half and I'd appreciate it if you both leave until she's better."

Aurelius' eyes dim in a bitter way, but slowly takes Thaddeus with him. "She's my daughter too," was all I heard him say before he was out the door.

I roll my eyes and brush a few strands of her chocolaty black hair out her face. She's alive.

—

Prince Thaddeus Pov

She isn't alive.

It wasn't her, it couldn't be. "Dad, you can't be serious. It's not her, it can't be." He looks up at me from the paperwork he immersed himself in.

"Drop it Thaddeus." Was all he said adjusting his glass as he read over another paper. "Sister or not, your mother thinks she is and so that's that."

"So we're supposed to let this girl, this stranger, into our home? Our lives?"

"I said enough Thaddeus," he snaps. "It's been a long day for all of us, your mother has gone through enough and if she sees her daughter in that maiden then so be it."

I met his glare with my own before storming out his study, he didn't try to stop me. I eventually made it to the garden, the path I took as memorable as the back of my hand. I needed to clear my head.

I walked deeper and deeper in the garden. Till I made it to the garden, her garden most importantly. The real her. She loved it here, I could still even hear her small voice in the wind. She'd love the flowers and the butterflies, always spending hours here.

I sat down under the willow tree. Is it really you? I wonder.

No, it's not. Something told me.

Yes it is. Hope tried to convince me.

I put my face in my hands. Would it be so bad to believe it was her even if it wasn't? The thought turned in my stomach and I let out a breath.

"I just need to find out who she is," I tell myself. Then I could decide.

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Update done and done, sorry its short. The story will pick up now and it should be longer from now on. And sorry for the late update. Was at my grandmas most of the day today. Anyway as always have a good day/night.