-King Udel-
I had been lied to for the past 18 years. I was sure of it. I just never had proof, not until I finally received the report from my inspectors. All I needed was to hear it from their mouths. Inspectors Oxea and Coneth stood in my office at attention.
"You two retrieved Miss Victoria from the human realm?" I asked.
"Yes, my king." They answered in unison.
"Which one of you conducted the verbal interview?"
"I did, Your Majesty," Oxea replied, "She seemed more comfortable with me."
"So Coneth swept her mind for information?" I clarified.
"Yes, my King." Oxea agreed.
"And what did you learn, Coneth?"
"The girl was born and raised in the human realm." Coneth reported, "She knew nothing of Evania or magic until we arrived."
"And the girl's mother?" I asked standing to look out the windows at my kingdom.
"The girl's mother appeared normal human." Coneth replied, "Never exhibited any magic in front of the girl. She escaped through the barrier before we located them."
"It was congruent with what Miss Victoria told us verbally." Oxea added.
"How did her mother escape?" There was a long silence a they weighed their words, "Well?" I snapped.
"She used an artifact of some sort," Coneth reluctantly replied, "A red gem attached to a gold chain."
"And isn't it standing orders for all inspectors in the human realm to report the sighting of such an object to me directly." I said as I slowly turned to face my inspectors.
"It is, my King, however-" Coneth began to explain before being interrupted by Oxea.
"We were interrupted twice in trying to report this to you, Your Majesty." Oxea informed me. "Once by Professor Zekora as we were departing Pelmora, the other by the head inspector who informed us our orders had changed and it need not be reported."
"Well, seems I'll need a new head inspector," I said, "Did you pursue the mother at all?"
"No, Your Majesty, we were ordered not to." Oxea said.
"I am displeased," I said narrowing my eyes, the pair stood taller, "Assemble a team and begin looking for Victoria's mother. Search the whole human realm. Leave no stone unturned and take orders from no one but me. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." They replied with a bow.
"Good, now go," I turned back to look at my kingdom, " I'm going to Pelmora."
I waited until later in the evening, when I knew Zekora would be returning from dinner. I sat behind her desk, waiting, looking at a picture of her and I taken during our years at Pelmora. When she entered her office, she was taken aback by my presence but quickly composed herself.
"Your Majesty," She said with a bow, "What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the honor?"
"I thought us friends, Zekora." I said, placing the picture so she could see it.
"We are, Your Majesty," She responded, confused, "Since school if that picture isn't lying."
"The picture doesn't lie," I replied, looking at it again, "But you do."
"Excuse me?" She looked even more confused.
"You've lied to me," I repeated, "During every conversation we've ever had over the last 18 years, you've lied to me. Your friend. Your King."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said.
"Malleas." I said.
"What about her?" Zekora replied, her face betraying nothing.
"She is Victoria's mother." I stated standing from the desk.
"We don't know who Victoria's mother is." She responded, her face betraying nothing, "Your inspectors haven't found her."
"Because they were never looking," I informed her, as I began circling her.
"Your head inspector must have not thought it necessary to investigate." Zekora said.
"Considering what they found out about the mother, they should've known better," I told Zekora, "So should you."
"What do I have to do with it?" She asked.
"Considering you intercepted my inspectors while they were here, I think you know," She couldn't muster up a response so I continued, "It also doesn't help your case that my head inspector is a well known member of the Order of Unity. So I'll say again, Malleas is Victoria's mother."
"We don't know who Victoria's mother is." Zekora doubled down.
"Zekora," I applied mental pressure, pushing forcefully on Zekora's mental protection, "I've talked to my inspectors. They told me Victoria's mother escaped through the barrier using a red gem attached to a gold chain. An object we both know very well considering you help me create it. So again, Malleas is Victoria's mother."
"Even if she was, what difference would it make?" Zekora asked through gritted teeth as I continued to pressure her.
"It would make all the difference," I growled, grabbing the front of her shirt, "Malleas ran over 18 years ago. I know what we did the night after my coronation. The timing would make Victoria-"
"Stop!" Zekora shoved me away, "Say nothing more. If it gets said aloud it makes it real."
"Then it is true." I said, pulling back the pressure on Zekora's mind.
"It can't be true," Zekora said, "We have to think about Victoria's safety. The Order of Destruction are already sniffing around and she is no where near ready to face them."
"I can protect her," I assured Zekora, "I'll send troops, spies, whatever and whoever it takes to keep her safe."
"We have no way of knowing who of those you send are parts of Destruction." Zekora argued, "Can't you be happy with the heir and wife you have now?"
"I have not known a moment of happiness since Malleas left that night," I confessed, "I would give up my crown and burn the whole realm to ground if she would return to my side."
Zekora stared at me, a sad look in her eyes. She sighed turning to look out the window.
"Malleas knew the second it happened," She told me, "She found me in the middle of the night. She loved you. She wanted to stay but we knew that the child would be a girl. We had to protect the child, for the future of our realm."
"So you helped her escape," I continued, "And lied to me for 18 years."
"To protect the child of my two greatest friends," She added turning back to face me, "And I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"Please," I asked, "Just this once, as my friend, tell me the truth about Victoria."
"Victoria is your daughter, first born princess and rightful heir to the Varezian throne," She took my hand in hers, "And for her safety, until she is trained well in her magic, no one else can know, especially Victoria."
"Too late for that." A voice came from behind me.
I turned to see the Aivorian Prince standing beside the door, arms crossed. Realization dawned on Zekora and I at what he said as the door flew open to reveal a stunned Victoria standing there, eyes wide.
Time froze. I reached out for my newly discovered daughter in hopes to comfort her. In that instance, she was gone. The hall empty with nothing but her magic fizzing in the air.