The king's hardened look was impossible to ignore, his disbelief emanating from every line on his face. Queen Emelda, too, wore a bewildered expression as she absorbed the newfound information.
Both of them had mistakenly believed that Anna was merely a commoner from Ardel, unaware of her true lineage.
The tension in the room was palpable as the king curiously addressed the princess.
"Are you truly the daughter of King Adhemar and his queen?" His voice carried a hint of curiosity, grappling with the unexpected revelation.
Anna replied nervously as her eyes darted to the faces of the king and queen, "Actually, the king is my father, but the queen is not my mother. She's my stepmother."
Her words hung in the air, waiting to be processed by the bewildered monarch.
