LOVE IN THE SHADOWS OF TIME l LINGORM

CHAPTER 11

LingLing returned to Aon’s house, her mind swirling with confusion.

The palace tour had been overwhelming, but what weighed most heavily on her was the revelation about Orm.

Princess Kornnaphat, the third princess of Aveloria.

It was a shock that had left her speechless in the moment, but now, as she walked through the familiar paths leading back to the village, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of betrayal.

How could Orm have kept this from her?

Upon reaching Aon’s house, LingLing was greeted by the familiar warmth of home, but it didn’t ease her heart.

Aon was sitting by the fire, his hands clasped together, looking up as LingLing stepped inside.

His gaze softened when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes. Pohn, busy with preparing dinner, glanced over his shoulder, a smile tugging at her lips.

“LingLing,” Pohn said warmly, “how was your visit? Did everything go well at the palace?”

“Did you see the king?” Aon asked, his voice gentle but knowing.

LingLing hesitated, her eyes lowering to the floor as she took off her cloak.

The calm demeanor she usually wore had faltered.

She couldn’t just lie about it. She needed to tell them what had happened, the truth she had uncovered, even if it tore at her heart.

“Yes. I’ve seen enough,” she murmured, sitting down.

“I’ve learned something... about Orm. Or rather, I should say, Princess Kornnaphat.”

Aon and Pohn exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them.

They had suspected this truth for some time, though they hadn’t voiced it.

Aon’s eyes, ever perceptive, did not betray any surprise. Instead, his gaze softened. “You found out about her, didn’t you?”

LingLing looked up at him sharply. “You knew?”
And you didn’t tell me?”

Aon cleared his throat and slowly stood up, wiping his hands on his shirt before walking toward LingLing.

“LingLing,” he started carefully, “I’ve known for some time that Orm was not just a commoner.

She’s come to our village several times, but we quickly realized that she was no ordinary woman.

She’s always been protective of our village, and her kindness... Well, we knew it was because of her royal blood.

But she never spoke of it, and we respected her desire for privacy.

She helped people, did what she could for those in need.

She didn’t want anyone to know her identity. She wanted to be just... Orm.

I respected that, so I never pried.”

LingLing absorbed this, her chest tightening.
She had never suspected that Aon and Pohn had known the truth.

They had accepted Orm without question, and yet LingLing had felt betrayed when she learned the truth herself.

LingLing leaned back in her chair, her hands resting in her lap.

“But why would she keep it a secret from me? I thought we had become friends.

We spent time together, we laughed. Now... now I find out she’s royalty.”
Her voice trembled with the hurt she hadn’t been able to express until now.