Lost Royalty by Kaitlyn Barnett (ap literature book list txt) 📖

what I tried to do. He only disciplines the guard, harshly. He's a different man around them. I'm a bit glad, I have doubts about him doing anything with me like my Mother. Perfect, according to plan, if possible.

I tried my best to seem like my normal self, always cheerful with any suspicions about the basement at all. Mother seemed to agree with my totally normal self unless she can play the faking game like me. I think she may not even have a clue.

The Crushah lesson was not happening today because Evelyn wasn't "feeling it." I know exactly what her intentions are. I feel really bad and I know remorse is going to come and grow on me. I just feel that secrets can't be kept from a future Queen. I grew even more nervous at the thought of this. Risky.

***

That night, my Mother and Father left with the Guard Captain. I think it was to talk to someone in another part of Iprellis, but I'm unsure. What great timing!

I called for Evelyn a few minutes after my family left the Palace on rare occasion. She wouldn't respond, perhaps she was running from me? I felt a bit sad at the thought. I had to do what I had to do though. It's what is best for me.

After about five minutes of trying to find Evelyn, I saw a Patrol Guard that patrols when the royalty is gone. He has never gotten orders about me not being able to do things, so he is an easy obstacle.

"Have you seen our dear Maid Evelyn?" I said loud to get his attention. He turned around in his silver armor. I could hear the armor make noise as he turned around. He looked at me for a second.

"I believe she is in her room, Princess Lyrosa."

I nodded and thanked him before speed walking across the Palace. I was out of breath when I got to her door. I caught my breath for a second and right as I was about to open her door, she opened it, slightly jumping at the startling sight of me.

Now is my chance.

I let out a sigh and clear my throat. I opened my mouth, but my facial expression turned worried. Her look. Her expression. It looked more scared than ever.

"Uh, yes, Miss Lyrosa?" Said she, addressing me formally.

I can't do this.

"You don't have to address me formally, Evelyn," I said, taking her hands to show my friendliness. The remorse started growing on me for some reason.

She said nothing,

"I..."

"Yes, you what, I have to go by commands," Evelyn said, acting like I'm the Queen.

"I want you to tell me why you're acting like this." I managed to spit out in a soft tone. She looked at me for a second, her worried expression going away slightly. She looked at the floor.

"I cannot tell you that." She said in her normal tone of speaking to me.

"Why not? Why can't you tell me things? You secretly do things for me so-"

"Your Mother threatened to kick me out of the Palace!"

"What? Why?" I asked immediately, holding her hands tighter.

"She thought I was to tell you about the basement."

I look down at the floor, letting her hands go and looking at the floor. I nod.

"Thank you for telling me."

***

That night, I was sitting on my bed, in a trance looking at my bedsheets. I never thought my Mother would ever threaten people, especially those who are a resident of the Palace. Especially to just kick out Evelyn for false things?

I felt angry. I felt remorse. Sadness.

Suddenly, I felt something in me. A longing for the light from the basement. I quit my trance the second I felt it. Why?

I decided that I should go to the basement alone. I swallowed and left my room, taking off my heels to make sure I don't make any noise and grow the suspicion further. If I get caught, I'll have to be myself. Confess that it was me who wanted this, not Evelyn. I may be a higher class, but I can't be like how I wanted to be this morning. My heart is better than that.

I slowly close the door behind me, quietly. I tip-toe downstairs and I took a right to the hall. I took the final flight of stairs that would lead me to the basement. At the bottom of these stairs, I looked around. Nobody was there. I didn't feel like it, at least.

Walking down, quietly, I could see the basement light on from the distance with the door open. That's a bit odd, what if someone was in there?

My heart started to pound fast as I told myself: It's too far to go back now.

I mustered up enough courage. I walked to the basement door which was open. I saw the light up close. It's shimmering gold color. I could sense something from it. The more I looked at it, the less it blinded me. I can sense a bad feeling coming from here. Now I have to go downstairs into this eerie place.

I look down to the basement staircase, there were so many stairs that I couldn't see the bottom. It now felt like my duty. I bit my tongue slightly. I stepped down. One step.

I stepped down again. Two steps into the secret basement.

Three. Four. Five.

I kept walking down, the deeper I went down, the more I wanted to go back up but at the same time go down. My heart was pounding off nervousness faster than ever. I started walking down the stairs faster. Faster. FASTER.

Running down, I could see the floor. It was a gray brick type floor. I started slowing my pace as it was now pitch black except for the floor. Just a few more steps and the basement is revealed.

Right as I was about to be able to see the inside, I felt someone grab my arm from behind.

I turn around immediately in fear. I felt heavy pain on my arm.

It was Mother!

She said nothing, her nails digging into my arm.

"Mother! Let me go!"

She dug them even harder to my arm and forced me to go back up the stairs. Tears started forming in my eyes from fear and pain.

Once we got back up the stairs and out of the basement, I stared at the light one last time, before Mother slammed the door.

"Room." Mother said, in the angriest yet soft tone I have ever heard.

"Wait, Mother, please let me-"

"ROOM."

She let go of my arm, as I saw her nail marks drew a slight bit of blood, nothing life-threatening.

I stared at her like Evelyn did with me earlier. It was scary.

She pointed to the staircase leading to the second floor, her face scrunched up so much from anger. I gritted my teeth and ran up the stairs, crying quietly.

That night, I cried myself to sleep as my heart wouldn't stop beating hard all night. Evelyn is now going to be punished and now I know Mother's insincerity about being truly nice. Mother must not trust me either. I felt the longing of the light in me, but I didn't dare move. I heard Mother wouldn't be back until tomorrow!

I was so angry and sad that I could burst. Why am I now finding out these things? Why? Why? Why-

My thoughts interrupted me as I could hear Mother yelling at someone in the hallway. She must be screaming if I could hear her!

I ran and put my ear against the door, scared.

That was when I heard her screaming in Crushah.

 

Chapter Four: Major Revelations

 

I listened closely to every word said.

"Uriyu grayul njiha di bariva tyrguar raio vyroa!" And you had to be stupid enough to not answer her.

"Nyurti gahaa jyurtia yurei cystari di mapji solpe haaga jiyu!" She almost found out about the basement!

"Miu Kayaa Cysara-" Miss Queen Cysara.

"Oum. Di hyua griiha iaaryu maui zeru zera poiu ouhaa yusro na viroa reiutnamla!" No. She could have found out about the prisoners down in the basement you know.

Wait. Prisoners? I never swear, but what the hell? What does she mean?

"Oyuri goyeu naabi hyura mayliuar zera poyurtn mliru yaatae oyai kayaa, Yi, jaisyu weiqu liora cypina?!" Maybe I will kick you out because I, the Queen said so and I will devour this city myself.

I stared shaking. Prisoners? Devouring the city? Kicking Evelyn out?

Tears formed in my eyes once again. This must be a bad translation on my end. There's no way my Mother-

"Yui tryan hyeeri poyutns Lyrosa baaci yagyara gyuri yi twuri saal jun firu wytia!" You know that Lyrosa will never rule, she will be a slave like all the others!

I grabbed my heart to my chest. I tried not to make any noise, even though I know she probably wouldn't hear me. My whole body was shaking.

"Oiytru, yui di rayuod cyqui haagal naaturi kopo griiha qwuia naabaar lasi Lyrosa haagyung bicru ipona taan!" Lastly, you know that Lyrosa is going to find out once everyone becomes evil. I will kill you if you tell.

No. No. No. I ran to my bed, burying my face into my pillow. I tried to block out her voice but I could faintly hear:

"I...souls...mine...rule...prisoners...evil..."

I looked up at the door as I finally reached my last mark in Crushah:

"You're fully aware that my own Mother made me evil. Maybe I will start with you. Maybe you will become a prisoner along with the future slaves of Iprellis. I will put my evil magic into their bodies. I will reign supreme forever. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? YOU BETTER WATCH LYROSA! HOW COULD YOU TELL HER I WOULD THREATEN YOU?"

I felt my own body shutting down. I felt all the tears on Earth flow down my face. This is a nightmare. I know my Crushah is wrong. It has to be. It simply has to be. I heard my Mother screaming more and Evelyn saying "Yes, Queen Cysara." All I could do was listen. I had to listen-

***

My eyes open slowly, seeing that I am in my bed like I always am. I sit up after a few seconds and look around the room. I was unusually cold. I got up and grabbed my robe made of silk and silver on my way out. I slipped it on and went downstairs to the dining table. Only my Father was there, eating alone. From what he is eating from his plate, I believe it is lunchtime.

"Father? Where is everybody?" I asked. Father looked up at me.

"Evelyn is out running errands, the most of the Guards are patrolling around the city, and your Mother..." He trailed off.

"I believe she is all the way on the third floor." He said. I nodded and sat down at the table.

Then, it suddenly hit me. I remember what my Mother said last night about her mother forcing evil magic into her and my Mother wanting to make this city full of slaves with evil. She also wanted me to be too, as I'll never be Queen. She threatened Evelyn even harder.

"C-Can I be excused? I don't feel like eating right now." I asked in a slight fearful tone. He didn't seem to understand the tone thankfully as I saw him nod. I ran to the nearest bathroom across the way. I shut the door behind me and vomited in