Glancing up at Lisa, who was shifting restlessly and tapping her feet on the floor, Kandice noted her impatience. It seemed clear that Lisa was not pleased to be there. Returning her attention to the letter, Princess Kandice began to read:
Dear little princess...
A smile crossed her face as she recalled how she used to complain whenever Lady Damaris referred to her as "little." She had grown into a beautiful young lady! Now, however, she yearned for the presence of the woman whose voice she missed dearly.
If you are reading this, it means the inevitable has already come to pass.
Kandice's heart sank at the thought. I have dreaded this day, not because I will cease to exist, but because I must leave you and my darling daughter alone in this cruel world.
The world is harsh, my dear little one. It is far more than you have seen or been led to believe by the cunning Queen Mother...
Kandice paused, a frown creasing her brow as she absorbed the letter's words. Why did it sound so unsettling?
...I know you think she loves and cares for you in her twisted way, but it is a deception. Theodore loves no one but herself and her ambitions. Everything she has done thus far is too good to be true, and I fear she is planning something sinister—something that could bring you harm.
Kandice felt a chill run down her spine. I am ashamed that I do not know the details, but you must heed my warning. You and Lisa must flee the palace and escape far from the royal family. They are devil spawn and would not hesitate to kill you if it suited their needs...
Princess Kandice gasped, her head spinning from the implications written on the old parchment.
I know this is overwhelming, but it is the truth, dear. As much as the queen has brainwashed you, I believe you can feel it. You sense the evil she carries with her. You must leave the palace and get far away before your birthday arrives.
Be careful, and seize this opportunity to live your life.
Yours,
Damaris.
"This cannot be true," Princess Kandice whispered once she had finished reading. There was no way Lady Damaris's words could be accurate, she thought. "The Queen Mother is not plotting anything against me. She cares for me and is always there to protect me when I..."
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Lisa interrupted sharply. "You are calling the woman who loved you like her own child a liar."
"That is not true..."
"Then do enlighten me as to what you mean by your earlier words. Do you truly believe that witch cares for you? How naïve you are," Lisa replied, her voice laced with mockery, causing the princess to frown.
"You are being unkind," Princess Kandice retorted, scowling at her.
"I cannot help it when I am faced with a grown lady so gullible and foolish that she cannot see what is right in front of her," Lisa said, pausing for emphasis. "I understand that you have been sheltered all your life, confined within these walls, unaware of the true world beyond. The real world. Theodore is not your friend, grandmother, or ally."
"She may not be any of those things, but she cares in her own way," Princess Kandice defended, her heart racing.
"If she truly wished to end my life, she had countless opportunities to do so. Why wait until I'm grown and capable of defending myself? Why did she protect me against the king when he sought to cast me out of the palace?" the princess questioned.
"That is because she needs you alive. She has been preserving you for a greater scheme!"
"What plan do you and your mother keep talking about?"Lisa took a deep breath, hoping for patience. She had not sought this involvement; she wished to steer clear of royalty. Yet, for her mother's sake, she found herself risking much to help someone who did not believe her.
"Do you know where the witch has gone?" Lisa asked, arms crossed. Princess Kandice flinched at the term Lisa used. Although she was aware of Theodore's true nature, she preferred to call her the queen-mother, as it felt less intimidating.
"Yes, she has gone to the next kingdom to meet a magician who may be able to lift my curse," the princess replied. Lisa could not help but chuckle softly.
The witch was indeed correct; the princess was rather gullible.
"Nay, dear princess. The witch has gone to the next kingdom to arrange a marriage alliance between you and the prince who is next in line for the throne." Princess Kandice looked even more puzzled at this news.
"Perhaps her design is to see me wed. She is solely concerned for my welfare. Once the curse is broken, I shall be free to marry," Lisa gazed at the beautiful princess in utter astonishment.
She could not determine whether the princess was truly naïve or merely feigning ignorance.
"You do not even believe your own words, no?" Lisa quirked an eyebrow, her eye not leaving the princess.
Though the princess endeavored to maintain her stance, a part of her recognized that Lady Damaris spoke the truth. She was merely attempting to convince herself of her own correctness. The queen-mother truly cared for her.
"Doubt is indeed a treacherous foe. I have risked my very life, outsmarting the guards and sneaking into the forbidden tower, for it was my mother's dying wish that you leave this palace." She inhaled deeply once more, steeling herself for what was to come.
"Such a pity for my mother to squander her time and energy on you, a person who harbors no trust in her. I beg your pardon for the disturbance, my princess." With that, Lisa turned to leave, disappointment weighing heavily upon her.
"Wait," Princess Kandice called, halting Lisa just as her hand touched the doorknob.
"If what you say is true, then why would she seek to marry me while I am still under this curse?" the princess inquired, facing Lisa's back, who had yet to turn around.
Princess Kandice may have been naïve, but she was not foolish. She would be damned to place her faith in the witch over the woman who genuinely loved her.
"Their plan is to see you wed to the prince of the neighboring kingdom. The witch will make you believe that the curse has been lifted."
"Then I shall slay the crown prince of Vallei," the princess murmured, her words barely above a whisper, but they were enough to make Lisa turn back.
She was not foolish!
"But what of the alliance?" Lisa asked, her gaze drifting aimlessly.
"The alliance is naught but a deception," she replied.
"They do not seek to unite with the Valei kingdom, but rather to conquer it," Lisa continued.
"Why would we leave this place? It is our home!" Kandice argued, unable to fathom leaving the castle. She had never envisioned herself departing from the safety of the tower, which felt like a cocoon that shielded her and others from the world outside.
"I must respectfully disagree, my princess, but this place is no true home. You remain blissfully unaware of the suffering that both mother and son have inflicted upon this kingdom."
Indeed, Princess Kandice had little knowledge of the turmoil that surrounded her.
Knowing the king as she did, the prince of Vallei would not be the only foe she would need to vanquish. The king would align her with his rivals, seeking to amass further power. "The witch departed for the neighboring kingdom just yesterday," Lisa continued.
All of this aligned with the king's ominous words during his unexpected visit the other night.
"Just a few days, and you will be prepared. I have indulged you long enough. It is time to repay your debts."
The king was truly a coward and a selfish man.
Kandice sank into deep contemplation. She had never envisioned that her desires would manifest so soon. She had always yearned to step outside, to mingle and converse with girls her age, to discover what the world had to offer.
Yet, amid her dreams, a lingering fear took root.
"Are you not curious?" Lisa inquired, stepping toward the tall window. "What lies beyond these walls? The warmth of the sun upon your skin, the fresh air, the sensation of grass and soil beneath your feet?" Like a dark spirit, Lisa pressed on.
"I... I do not know..." the princess stammered.
"Decide to act with conviction and accept the consequences. No good ever arises from hesitation in this world. Time is of the essence," Lisa urged.
"Where are we going?" Princess Kandice asked in a breathless whisper, prompting a mischievous smile from Lisa.