~~ Hey everyone, it's Rae! The book, "The Complete Guide to a Memorable Twentieth Century" is completely fictional, and anything sharing its name is purely coincidental. The same applies to "TheNow." Enjoy the chapter!
Hadrian and Cara walked away from the queen's chambers defeated. Her answer had been confusing, and unhelpful.
"What is this riddle even supposed to mean?!" Cara shouted angrily.
"Let's say it again, and see if it makes any more sense." Hadrian suggested.
"I am not capable of helping you find the answer you seek. I am much to attached to a man at his peak. You must speak to another. Hadrian knows, he is after all your brother. Continue your journey, I've said too much now. The answer will come, don't ask me again how," Cara recited.
"That still makes no sense!" She complained.
"Let's go step by step. 'I am not capable of helping you find the answer you seek' obviously means she can't tell us what we're looking for... What about the next sentence?" Hadrian furrowed his brow as he and walked Cara to the library.
"I think 'I am much to attached too a man at his peak' is referring to someone of high power. It must be my -"
Hadrian cut Cara off, "That must mean she can't tell us because she knows she'd be betraying your father!"
"Probably," agreed Cara, "The next line 'you must speak to another' must be referring to another man, I wonder who?" Cara pondered the potential men... "Well there's all the palace staff, other kings-" she muttered quietly.
"Other kings! That must be it!" Hadrian exclaimed. "Right after that line, she said my name. My father is a king. He has many allies, I am just not sure he would help you..." Hadrian trailed off.
"The next part I don't understand," Cara paused, "What did she mean, about you being my brother?" Cara asked as they reached the library.
Hadrian opened the door, "I suppose she meant brother-in-law," He answered, stepping into the library and pulling out a chair for Cara.
"I'm not sure about that. 'Continue your journey, I've said too much now' sounds a bit strange if she were referring to brother-in-law. Everyone knows we will be in-laws! Do you think she could have possibly meant that..." Cara trailed off.
"-That we are actually siblings?" Hadrian supplied, "That may be what she meant. You see, last week my father called me and talked for nearly an hour about some story. He spoke of two fish unable to communicate; they fell in love but couldn't speak. It confused me then, but I realize now the characters in it were supposed to represent my father - our father I should say, and your mother." Hadrian frowned.
"Wait- last weak I heard my father telling him he told you too much! Does this mean we are actually siblings?" What may have been joyous news for some, proved awkward for Cara and Hadrian.
"I'm sorry Cara, I'm so sorry you had to find out this way," Hadrian sighed.
"Me too, but you can still ask your father for help, right? There is no way I am going to willingly marry whatever hell my father shoves at me," Cara looked pleadingly at Hadrian.
"I hate to say this, but I feel very uncomfortable asking my father for help after learning about our relationship. If I am not able to contact the -" Hadrian was cut off by a crashing sound.
"What was that!?" Cara shouted.
"I'm not sure, probably a staff member dropped something, it's nothing." Hadrian answered.
YOU ARE READING
The Kalixian Chronicles: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors
Fiksi RemajaIn the kingdom of Kalixia, there lives a princess named Cara Ellin with less than a year to live. In an attempt to learn more about herself and her family, she uncovers some palace secrets that she was never meant to know.
