I followed Ms. Margaret through the solid wood door. Standing in the room was an older gentleman wearing a suit. He looked more like he belonged in an Agatha Christie novel than in this room.
The room, for all intents and purposes was set up as a medical examination room. I could expect a room like this to be found in a hospital, but not in an estate house.
"Ms. Margaret." The man greeted her with a nod.
"Dr. Clark." Ms. Margaret said politely.
"Is this the young lady you told me about?", inquired Dr. Clark.
"Yes. This is Miss Liz.", and under her breath added, "Which I am sure is short for Elizabeth." And cast me a glance.
I ignored the comment, and said, "Nice to meet you, Dr. Clark."
"Nice to meet you as well, Miss."
Then to Ms. Margaret added, "That is all for now, Ms. Margaret."
With a frown, Ms. Margaret said nothing, and silently departed.
At the click of the closing door, Dr. Clark turned his attention back to me and said, "I am informed you believe you may be our missing princess, Ariella de Nova."
"Yes. I believe that may be the case. I am a shifter female of the right age. I have a complicated and shifting past, I do not know my birth parents and I have the birthmark as reported on the news."
"Interesting.", muttered the doctor, "Very interesting."
After a moment of looking lost in thought, he asked me, "Do you know you are not the first young woman who came here claiming to be her?"
For a moment, surprise crossed my features. But I quickly changed my expression back to one of seriousness. The Royal family has tons of money. It should be no shock that greedy people had tried to take advantage of the situation.
But, since they were actively searching this very moment, none of those young ladies had passed their tests.
For whatever reason, I noticed the doctor was smiling at me.
"You realize and are fully aware that you must show me the birthmark, or lack thereof?" he questioned me.
"Yes.", I said with absolute confidence in my voice.
Then, without hesitation, I pulled my thin, long-sleeved shirt up over my head. I clutched the shirt in my right hand and pointed to the tulip-shaped mole with my left hand.
"Hmm. You actually have a mole.", the doctor said as he took a few steps forward. On a closer inspection, he began to laugh. It was a deep and rumbling laugh that pricked at my pride and made me angry.
"What in Heaven's name are you laughing at?", I asked in a grumpy manner.
The doctor wiped at a tear in the corner of his eye and stopped laughing for a moment.
"For many years, since I was a much younger man, I've had my practice here, at the royal family's favourite estate. In those years, I've seen many things, people born, people die, miracles happen. But in all my time I never thought I would see this!"
At that, he began to laugh again.
I huffed an impatient sigh. 'Give me strength!' I thought to myself.
Dr. Clark stifled his laughter again. "Many of those pretenders came here better dressed, with better manners and better poise than you have! I saw through them all, even though Ms. Margaret didn't. Even a blind man could see Ms. Margaret's distain for you…"
"Please!", I cut him off. "Don't just stand there and insult me." I quickly shoved my shirt back on as I spoke. "If I'm not her, then just say so, and I'll leave."
Dr. Clark continued to look amused as he said, "I have no intention of insulting you, though Ms. Margaret did. My dear, I am the last one who would insult or judge you in this household! There is no need to leave in haste. It would be a shame if you left before you meet with your royal parents."
"My…my…what? Are you saying…?"
"Yes, my dear. You are the missing princess."
I didn't say anything. I could hardly believe that what he said was true; that what I suspected all along was true.
'I actually belong to a royal family? Was this doctor telling the truth? All along my name was really Ariella?', so many questions popped into my mind.
"Miss?", Dr. Clark broke me out of my reverie.
"Yes?", I asked him.
"Please follow me back to the Green sitting room. I will have you wait there while I inform the family of your result."
I said nothing, but silently followed the doctor back to the room that Mike still waited in. I saw Mike get to his feet when he saw me.
"Please wait here.", was all Dr. Clark said as he left the room.
"Mike!" I rushed over to him and gave him a hug.
"What was the verdict?", he asked with a smile.
I looked around like there might be cameras or people watching. Seeing nothing to worry me, I whispered into Mike's ear.
"That doctor, that is, Dr. Clark…"
"I know who he is.", whispered Mike.
"Yes. Well, he seems convinced that after seeing the birthmark, I am princess Ariella! I think he went to inform the royal family of it just now."
Mike looked very grave. "I sure hope he is correct.", he said. "It was very foolish of me to come here otherwise."
I could feel the concern show on my face as I looked into Mike's eyes. "I sure hope so too!", I whispered.
Before I could say anything more, the door burst open, and Dr. Clark was suddenly in the room. You could tell by one look that moving quickly didn't agree with his physique. He spent a few minutes catching his breath.
"The family's been informed. The King and Queen will be with you shortly, and the Princes and Princesses have all been asked back home, by royal command."
"So, this really is a big deal.", Mike said looking at me. "The King and Queen are coming in person."
It crossed my mind that I didn't know how to greet them. Should I curtsey? Or was I not expected to? I never met any royalty before. Was I even ready to meet them?
Mike and I both went and sat in chairs next to each other, while Dr. Clark sat in a chair across from us.
Without much hesitation, Dr. Clark and Mike struck up a conversation about bygone days. Not knowing how to contribute at all, I let my mind wander from the conversation.
Time again had a funny quality and each minute felt like an hour.
'How long must I wait like this, anxious and unsure?', I wondered.
I know time had passed, but not how long, when the door opened again. A young man stepped in and announced, "King and Queen de Nova", before retreating back the way he had came.
Then the King and Queen came through the door, both looking well-dressed and elegant. Instantly I felt their eyes on me. The intensity of it made me blush and I felt dizzy. I moved to curtsy, but instead, fell into a dead faint on the floor.