Amelia, the king's twin sister, burst into the grand hall, her fiery red hair a halo around her head, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and longing. Jenny, who had been lost in thought, her fingers tracing the faded image of a knight in Jenevieve's journal, felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Amelia's presence was like a storm, unpredictable and powerful, yet there was a vulnerability beneath her fiery exterior that Jenny couldn't help but sense.
"You!" Amelia exclaimed, her voice like a whip crack, her eyes fixated on Jenny. "You, the one who dares to tread in Jenevieve's footsteps, who wears her shadow as a cloak. You are a trespasser, an imposter!"
Jenny, taken aback by the woman's outburst, stood her ground. "I am not an imposter, Amelia," she retorted, her voice steady despite the fear that was rising within her. "I am Jenny, Jenevieve's descendant, and I am simply trying to understand her story." "You understand nothing!" Amelia spat, her eyes flashing. "Jenevieve was more than just a story, she was a flame, a spirit that burned bright, and you, with your soft hands and gentle ways, will never know the depths of her fire."
Jenny's anger flared. "You presume to judge me, Amelia, yet you know nothing of Jenevieve's life. You were a princess, shielded from the world, while she fought for her kingdom, for what she believed in. You have no right to claim ownership over her memory."
"Ownership?" Amelia laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "Do you think I would have chosen to be locked away, bound to a life of gilded cages and empty promises, if I had a choice? Do you think I wouldn't have given anything to be her, to fight beside her, to share her fire? You may be her descendant, but you will never understand the depths of my longing for her, the love that burned within me and still burns today."
A silence fell between them, thick with unspoken words, raw emotions swirling in the air. Jenny, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and curiosity, found herself drawn to Amelia, to the pain and longing etched on her face. She knew, with a certainty that surprised her, that Amelia was not simply fuelled by jealousy; she was consumed by a love that had been denied, a love that still burned fiercely.
The king, entering the hall at that moment, saw the tension between the women. He recognized the fire in Amelia's eyes, a fire he had seen in the past, directed at Jenevieve, a love that had been a secret, a forbidden desire. He approached Amelia, his eyes filled with both concern and a strange, almost unsettling warmth.
"Amelia, my dear sister," he said, his voice soothing. "You know that Jenny means no disrespect. She is simply here to learn about our history."
Amelia turned to the king, her gaze softening. "History," she murmured, the word laced with a bittersweet ache. "History is a cruel mistress, brother. She remembers only the victors, the ones who rewrite the narrative, who erase the truth to suit their own agendas."
The king, unable to meet her gaze, turned away. He knew the truth of her words, the guilt of his own actions, the way he had chosen power over love, sacrificing Jenevieve's memory for his own ambition. He saw Jenny looking at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and distrust. He could see the shadows of Jenevieve in her, the strength, the defiance, the unwavering spirit.
Amelia, sensing the king's turmoil, turned to Jenny. "Perhaps," she said, her voice softer now, "you can learn from her, not just her story, but her courage, her unwavering spirit. Jenevieve never bowed to anyone, even when they tried to erase her from the world. Perhaps you, too, can find the strength to defy the shadows that try to consume you."
The king, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, knew that Amelia's words held a deeper meaning, a warning to Jenny, a reminder that she was stepping into a world of shadows, a world where secrets could be dangerous, and truths could be lost. The king, still haunted by his past, knew that he couldn't protect Jenny from the secrets that lay hidden in the depths of his kingdom, secrets that were about to be unearthed, secrets that would forever change the course of their lives.
YOU ARE READING
Erased by time
Fantasya modern day women realises that one of her ancestors held such a big secret that it could reshape the history books as we know it
