Chapter 36

And so, the parliament resumed. At first, everyone was cautious, proceeding at a slow pace, but before long, it reverted to its usual chaotic state. After all, nothing was going to be resolved just because Mary and the others had joined. Although Alicia and Patrick had regained some composure, it wasn't enough to make a decisive difference. This is why Mary couldn't understand why she had been brought here, and she directed a questioning gaze at her mother throughout. Sitting next to her husband, her mother watched the chaos of the parliament with a dignified air, but Mary felt there must be some reason for her being here.

As a lady of the Albert family, she couldn't be unaware of how sacred this parliament was and how grave a sin it was to interrupt its proceedings.

Could it be that Mother really...?

Mary's unease began to grow as the discussion turned to the authenticity of the royal seal. The question of why Alicia had the royal seal and whether it was genuine led to wild speculations, including the idea that Alicia had stolen the seal and was trying to impersonate the royal family. Despite the absurdity of these claims, the parliament was filled with equally disjointed opinions. Mary, however, remained silent, not wanting to blurt out something like, "In the game, it was real!"

Just as she was at a loss for what to do, Caila spoke up, her beautiful voice resonating in the room. "May I speak?"

Everyone, including Mary and Adi, turned their attention to her. Caila stood with a composed and dignified presence, showing no signs of hesitation. Despite this, Mary had a bad feeling.

She recalled that single painting, the sepia-toned scene of the day young Alicia was kidnapped.

Could it be that the fortune-teller who kidnapped Alicia was a relative...? Is Mother about to reveal this...?

The more she thought about it, the more anxious Mary became. She didn't know what her mother was thinking, but if the kidnapper of the princess was from the Albert family and had been hidden until now, the Albert family's fate would be more than just decline. They would all be sent to prison for treason.

"Why she had the royal seal and whether it was genuine, I will explain. Because... I was the one who gave the young princess the seal on that day!"

...

...

"..."

Caila's statement sent a ripple through the room. Even her husband, who had not been informed of this fact, stared at her with wide eyes. But this reaction was understandable, given the shock of the revelation. The kidnapping of the princess and the disappearance of the royal seal—both mysteries were held by a noble lady with authority second only to the royal family. It was impossible not to be surprised.

"I had long suspected the fortune-teller. As a mother with a daughter of the same age, I could sense the hatred in her gaze towards the young princess."

"Mother..."

"Since then, I kept a close watch on the fortune-teller, fearing something might happen to the young princess. And on that day..."

According to Caila, the fortune-teller finally took action. She tried to protect the young princess but fell into the fortune-teller's trap, resulting in the baby being taken. This was the scene depicted in that single painting. At that moment, she thought to give the princess something to prove her identity, and that was the royal seal.

"I was fully aware of the dangers of giving the young princess the royal seal. But I hoped that one day, the mother and daughter might be reunited..."

With that, Caila bowed her head. As a mother with a daughter of the same age, she could empathize with the queen's pain of losing her daughter, which led her to take such a bold action. It was a brave decision, a testament to her maternal instincts.

However, even as the lady of the Albert family, Caila's testimony alone was not enough to settle everything. As the discussion continued, several people began to doubt the truth of her story, and the parliament threatened to return to chaos. Just then...

"Her story is true."

The door burst open, and everyone was stunned, quickly bowing their heads.

A woman with soft golden hair, her eyes fearlessly scanning the room, stood there. She exuded warmth and dignity, a beautiful and lovely figure. The queen, and beside her, the king, who stood with a dignified presence, quietly but with authority, apologized for being late.

Needless to say, they were the rulers of the land, the most noble and revered figures. Mary was taken aback, her eyes widening as she compared the queen to Alicia. They looked so similar, almost identical. It was hard to believe they weren't related. The queen looked like a smaller version of Alicia. What happened to the king's genes? They could have been more prominent...

"Miss, Miss!"

"Adi?"

"What's wrong, you seem dazed."

Mary blinked several times, apparently having been lost in thought due to the dramatic turn of events. When she came to, both the king and queen were already seated.

"I was just spacing out."

"That's not fair. If you're going to space out, take me with you."

"Sure, next time I'll let you know. Even in my daydreams, you're welcome to join."

With this playful exchange, they managed to regain their composure. Now wasn't the time to focus on how similar Alicia and the queen looked. In fact, their resemblance only added to the credibility of Alicia being the princess. Upon closer inspection, she even resembled the king in some ways, like the way he moved and his eyes...

"Miss, are you spacing out again?"

"No, no... I'm fine..."

Adi's voice brought Mary back to reality. She turned her attention to the scene before her, where the king and queen were slowly approaching Alicia, their expressions filled with a parent's love. As their hair gently swayed in unison...

"Mother! Father!"

"Yes, our dear daughter!"

And they embraced each other tightly.