The Forgotten Luna (Adessa)
Chapter 83

LADESSA.

"But I think you are the missing royalty," Danielle added.

"Why?"

"This mark on your back. It looks exactly like the one that..." She paused, and when I tilted my head to look at her, her eyes widened, and her face turned red. "Like the one that? Like the one that someone has?" My brows furrowed.

The King told me in passing that the birth marks on the backs of the royalties were not public knowledge. But maybe workers in the palace knew this thing. "Never mind." She replied. "We should rinse off your body."

"Have you seen a mark like this?" I asked as I stood up, pointing to the red mark on my hip bone.

She swallowed, and her face was turning more red. I already assumed many things.

"From my father?" I teased her, and she immediately shook her head.

"No. Of course not."

"So... from one of my brothers?" I leaned closer, enjoying the blush on her face. Despite the discomfort on her face, I could say this was the only thing that felt natural in my fairytale life at the moment.

"No, ma'am," she replied, but she refused to look at me as she helped me rinse off the soap from my body.

"Well, I thought you could have seen them walking around without shirts, especially if they shifted into their wolves."

"Yes, that..." She added curtly and didn't say more.

I wanted to tease her, but she looked uncomfortable already, so I let it go.

We remained quiet until I was done with my bath. Danielle then assisted me into a silk sleeping dress before putting a silk robe on me.

It didn't take long before two women came and took my measurements. They didn't talk so much and were just listing down numbers. Then they were gone, letting me know my dress would be here on time tomorrow. Despite the luxury all around me, I couldn't stop thinking about Kael. I had to find a way to talk to him.

"Are they nice?" I asked Danielle when we were alone again, and she was brushing my hair.

"Who, my lady?"

"My brothers."

"Some are. Some are..." She hissed softly. "I'm not allowed to voice my opinions of them."

"I'm not officially the Princess of Absalom. We can still gossip like commoners." I whispered to her, and she giggled. "There are five princes. Two are married. The three youngest are unmarried." She began. "The oldest is the nicest." "And the most cruel?"

"The youngest. He is not cruel or ruthless, but he is... a real elite."

"A snob." I blurted out. "And the most handsome?"

"All of them."

"No. There must be one that looks more than the other. Spill it out."

"The third one."

"Oh, he's unmarried." I winked at her through the vanity mirror in front of us, and her eyes widened.

I must admit that at the beginning, I was trying to get to Danielle's good side so I could lure her to help me find Kael but I wouldn't deny I

enjoyed teasing and making honet

blush. She was probably a year or two older than me, but in the short time I spent with her, I was getting more comfortable in her presence.

"So.. was he a good kisser?"

She gasped and stopped brushing my hair. She looked at me dumbfounded. "That's like blasphemy. You cannot just kiss a prince."

"Unless he kissed you first."

She was still trying to find her words when a knock came to the door, and it opened before any of us could let them in.

I stood up and tied the rope of my robe tightly. Danielle moved fast and grabbed a woman's indoor coat from somewhere and placed it over me.

The King was the only one to enter, but he waited until I was ready before walking toward me with a faster stride. I was so taken aback by how fast he was walking that I started to step back.

But he was quick, and the next thing I knew, he grabbed me and wrapped me around his arms. He was hugging me tightly while my eyes widened. I looked at Daniele as she moved toward the far end of the room.

"I've been looking for you all your life, my child. You have no idea how I long for this moment." The warmth in his voice made my shoulders relax.

I closed my eyes, but my hands

remained on my sides. I couldn't

deny there was familiarity in his warmth, But the fear was also there.

I

I still didn't know what the future looked like if I were his daughter. And I honestly had no idea how to be cared for by a father.

He pulled away from me and held my shoulders at arm's length. "I knew you were my child the moment

I saw you. Tell me, Adessa, what

color is your hair? Is it black like mine or golden brown like your mother's?"

"Golden brown."

"Will it be okay if we color your hair back to its original color one of these days? I'm sure you look more beautiful with it."

I nodded before asking. "Did the result come back? Am I really your daughter?"

"Yes. Princess Adessa of Absalom. I also have a DNA record of your mother."

"So, this Adelaine, is she my mother?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Who is she?"

His hands left my shoulders before he let out a sigh. "We will talk about her some other time. For now, I want you to rest. Tomorrow, you will join me for breakfast."

I nodded my head, and he pressed a kiss on my forehead. I didn't expect that, and even if it felt strange, I could not deny something kept warming inside me.

"Goodnight, my child. Make yourself comfortable. I have stationed two guards outside your door to keep you safe."

I just nodded my head. All hope of sneaking out had gone out the window.

I watched him walk toward the door, but before he reached it, I walked forward toward him.

"Father..." I was still not comfortable with this word, but I better take advantage of it.

He turned his head, and the smile on his face made me feel guilty. I called him Father because I wanted something. "Is Kael still in the palace?"

"Yes, he is. We've invited him for breakfast tomorrow."

My chest puffed as a smile slowly crept on my face at the thought of sitting next to him, only for my smile to vanish right away.

"And so are all the attendees for the Moonlight Ball. I ordered a breakfast banquet in your honor." He turned around completely, facing me as he continued.

"A banquet? For me? A big one?"

"They will have the honor of meeting the only Princess of Absalom before anyone else. I will also order a decree to start the application for the Royal Games tomorrow." "Royal Games?" My brows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. What is it?"

"You will understand it tomorrow. Don't think about it. Rest and prepare yourself for your breakfast," he said, and then he left, leaving me staring at the closed door.

I saw movements in my side peripherals, and my sight fell on Danielle, who had her hand clamped over her mouth. And by the look of it, the Royal Games sounded like bad news.