"We have not come from Meria, your father sent us here. He sent us to bring you home." The woman bowed lightly and looked up at Ella, her posture respectful but unwavering. "We are your escorts to Wintershold, Princess Melissa of the nosferatu."
"My father?" Ella echoed, confusion knitting her brows together. "John Morrell?"
"No, my lady… err, your highness," Maria corrected herself carefully as she took a cautious step forward, measuring Ella's reaction like one would approach a coiled blade. "Your father, the Kaiser. King of the nosferatu… Kaiser Stefan."
Ella blinked slowly, her long lashes fluttering as if trying to shake the words into something that made sense. Her mind splintered into questions, each more confusing than the last. Maria knew all along? Not just about her but about everything, her identity, and her lineage? How? And she had said nothing nothing all this time? Not even once?
