To my daughter…
If you are reading this, then I have hidden you well.
I do not know if morning will come for me .
If I fall, remember this: you were loved before you were born, loved while you lived, and loved beyond death.
—Elda
The room fell silent.
Leo's expression softened.
Leo:
"She wrote that while danger was outside the door." 😐
Kristen : but it's opposite to what l have seen
Searched and reached into the box again.
There was a second note beneath the first one—crumpled, stained dark brown.
Rowan leaned forward.
Rowan:
"That paper looks stressed." 😨
Kristen opened it.
The handwriting was uneven, as if written by trembling hands.
Elda…
They broke through.
I cannot save our daughter.
Our daughter is dead.
I held her in my arms.
I failed you both.
If these words survive, know this before I die
I loved you.
I loved her.
I would choose you both over crown, war, and breath itself.
Forgive me.
—Your husband
Even the rattling shelves stopped.
Kristen lowered the note slowly.
Kristen:
"They letter was from the past…" 😶
Leo nodded.
Leo:
"Queen Elda, her husband, l thought they hated eachother " 😐
Rowan wiped his eyes
Rowan:
"I came here for treasure, not emotional damage." 😭
Kristen folded both letters carefully.
Kristen:
"So their daughter died long ago."
The pendant suddenly flashed brighter.
Golden words burned across
Elda's letter:
The blood of Campbell remains.
Find the heirs.
Break the curse.
The whole room shook.
Kristen : a sudden realisation
( Remembered
Librarian: someone already took the book
Leaving Campbell family no one was asking for book )
turned sharply toward the brothers.
Kristen: Campbell
😑
Leo looked away.
Rowan looked at the ceiling.
Kristen narrowed her eyes.
Kristen:
"What are you hiding?" 😐
Rowan panicked.
Rowan:
"Nothing about royal!" 😭
Kristen:
"…Royal?" 😑
Leo closed his eyes.
Leo:
"You fool." 😐
Kristen stepped forward and grabbed Rowan's wrist.
Rowan:
"AH! Consent!" 😱
She shoved back his sleeve.
On his forearm was a dark crest tattooed into the skin:
A crown over a wolf—the Campbell royal mark.
Silence.
Kristen slowly looked at him.
Kristen:
"…Prince?" 😑
Rowan smiled weakly.
Rowan:
"Second prince, technically." 😭
Kristen immediately grabbed Leo's arm and yanked his sleeve up too.
The same crest was there.
Leo straightened proudly.
Leo:
"Third prince, if we are counting." 😌
Kristen stared at both of them in disgust.
Kristen:
"So I have spent all day with two hidden princes who cried over a lizard." 😑
Rowan:
"It moved with intent!" 😤
Leo:
"It had confidence." 😐
Kristen:
"This bloodline is embarrassing." 😤
Leo folded his arms.
Leo:
"Our elder brother William is first prince."
Rowan nodded.
Rowan:
"He does most of the serious things." 😌
Kristen:
"Clearly someone has to." 😑
Meanwhile… Campbell Palace
Prince William stood in a royal meeting room, surrounded by ministers.
William:
"The border reports can wait. First, why is the budget for chandeliers so high—"
Fainted
To be continued...