the Abandoned Building…
The letter read:
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.
For once, even Rowan had nothing ridiculous to say.
Leo's expression softened as he stared at the letter.
Leo (quietly 😐): "She wrote that while danger was waiting outside the door…"
Kristen frowned.
Kristen: "But… this is the opposite of what I've read about her."
She glanced at the first letter again, confusion spreading across her face.
Kristen: "Everything I've heard says Queen Elda was cruel. That she killed people, forced the King to marry her, and cared about nothing except herself."
She reached into the box again.
Beneath the first letter lay another note, crumpled and stained dark brown.
Rowan leaned forward.
Rowan: "That paper looks stressed." 😨
Kristen gave him a deadly look.
Kristen: "One more word, and you'll be joining it."
Rowan immediately sat straight.
Rowan: "Understood." 😶
Kristen carefully unfolded the second letter.
The handwriting was uneven, as though the writer's hands had been trembling.
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
The shelves stopped rattling.
Even the cold wind disappeared.
Kristen slowly lowered the letter.
Kristen (whispering 😶): "These letters… they're from the past."
Leo nodded solemnly.
Leo: "Queen Elda and her husband… I thought they hated each other."
Rowan rubbed his eyes.
Rowan: "I came here looking for treasure, not emotional damage!" 😭
Kristen carefully folded both letters.
Kristen: "So their daughter died long ago…"
Suddenly, the pendant flashed brighter.
Golden words appeared across Elda's letter, glowing as though they had been burned into the paper.
THE BLOOD OF CAMPBELL REMAINS.
FIND THE HEIRS.
BREAK THE CURSE.
The entire room shook violently.
Rowan grabbed Leo.
Rowan: "WHY DOES EVERY CURSED OBJECT HAVE A PERSONAL PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE?!" 😱
Kristen stared at the glowing words.
Then, suddenly, she remembered something.
The librarian's words echoed in her mind.
Librarian: "Someone already took that book…"
Kristen's eyes widened.
Nobody had been searching for Queen Elda's book except her.
Except…
The Campbell family.
She turned sharply towards the brothers.
Kristen: "Campbell." 😑
Leo immediately looked away.
Rowan became fascinated by the ceiling.
Kristen narrowed her eyes.
Kristen: "What are you hiding?"
Rowan (panicking 😭): "NOTHING ABOUT ROYAL MATTERS!"
Silence.
Kristen slowly turned towards him.
Kristen: "…Royal?" 😑
Leo closed his eyes.
Leo: "You fool." 😐
Kristen grabbed Rowan's wrist.
Rowan: "AH! CONSENT!" 😱
Kristen: "STOP SHOUTING!"
She pushed back his sleeve.
On his forearm was a dark crest: a crown above a wolf.
The royal mark of the Campbell family.
Kristen stared at it.
Kristen: "…Prince?"
Rowan smiled weakly.
Rowan: "Second prince, technically." 😭
Kristen immediately grabbed Leo's arm and pulled up his sleeve.
The same crest.
Leo straightened proudly.
Leo: "Third prince, if we're counting." 😌
Kristen stared at both of them in absolute disgust.
Kristen: "So I've spent the entire 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 the first prince."
Rowan nodded.
Rowan: "He handles most of the serious things."
Kristen: "Clearly, someone has to." 😑
---
Meanwhile… Campbell Palace 👑
Prince William stood in the royal meeting room, surrounded by ministers and officials.
William: "The border reports can wait. First, why is the budget for chandeliers so high?"
A minister nervously raised his hand.
Minister: "Your Highness, the royal family requested imported crystal chandeliers."
William stared at him.
William: "For every room?"
Minister: "Every room, Your Highness."
William slowly closed his eyes.
William: "I need new ministers."
Suddenly, a royal messenger rushed into the room.
Messenger: "YOUR HIGHNESS! URGENT NEWS!"
William turned.
William: "What happened?"
Messenger: "The second and third princes are missing!"
William froze.
William: "…"
Messenger: "They haven't returned since yesterday!"
William's expression went completely blank.
Then—
THUD!
The first prince fainted.
The ministers screamed.
Minister: "CALL THE ROYAL PHYSICIAN!"
Another Minister: "SOMEONE BRING WATER!"
And somewhere in an abandoned building, two princes were arguing about a lizard while a girl held the secret that could destroy their family's curse.
The Campbell royal family was officially having a terrible day. 😂👑
To be continued....