the forbidden love with the lost princess

chapter 6-the castle

Fiorella's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the king. She had always heard stories about the royal family, but she never thought she would actually meet them.

Edward nodded, as if he could see the curiosity in her eyes. "Come," he said, gesturing for her to follow him.

Fiorella hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was making a mistake. But something about Edward's kind eyes and gentle manner put her at ease. She took a deep breath and followed him.

As they walked through the winding streets of the city, Fiorella couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. She had never been to the palace before, and she had always been curious about what lay within its walls.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the palace gates. Edward led her through the entrance and into the grand foyer of the palace.

Fiorella's eyes widened as she took in the opulent decorations and the bustling activity of the palace staff. She felt a little overwhelmed, but Edward took her hand and led her through the crowds.

They walked through a series of corridors and finally arrived at a large wooden door. Edward knocked twice, and a voice from the other side called out, "Enter!"

Edward pushed open the door and gestured for Fiorella to enter. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, finding herself in a grand throne room. At the far end of the room, on a raised dais, sat a king and queen. They looked up as Fiorella entered, and their eyes locked onto hers.

Fiorella felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was standing in front of the royal family. She curtsied, trying to remember the etiquette she had learned from her parents.

The king and queen smiled at her, and the king beckoned her forward. "Welcome, young one," he said. "We have been expecting you."

Fiorella's eyes widened in surprise. "You have?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The king nodded, his eyes warm with kindness. "Yes, we have," he said. "You see, we've been searching for a very special person, someone with a unique mark. And I think you might be the one we're looking for."

Fiorella's heart skipped a beat as she realized what the king was talking about. The star-shaped birthmark on her chest. She had always thought it was just a strange coincidence, but now she was beginning to wonder if it was something more.

The queen leaned forward, her eyes shining with excitement. "We've been searching for our daughter, the princess who was taken from us when she was just a baby," she said. "And we think you might be her."

Fiorella's mind reeled as she tried to process what the queen was saying. Could it be true? Was she really the long-lost princess? She felt like she was living in a dream, like everything was happening to someone else.

The king stood up, his movements slow and deliberate. "We need to know for sure," he said. "Will you let us examine the mark on your chest?"

Fiorella hesitated, unsure of what to do. But something about the king's kind eyes and gentle manner put her at ease. She nodded slowly, and the king gestured to one of the court physicians, who stepped forward with a small, ornate box.