Sophia's mind reeled as she stared at Prince Henry, her brain struggling to process the words. "What do you mean, I'm a member of the royal family?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Prince Henry took a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers. "You, Sophia, are the daughter of the King's long-lost sister, Princess Elizabeth. She was the Queen's own sister, and the rightful heir to the throne."
Sophia's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. The Queen's hatred, the palace guards' suspicious behavior, the strange dreams she had been having...
"It can't be," Sophia whispered, shaking her head.
But Prince Henry's expression was deadly serious. "It's true, Sophia. I've seen the documents, the proof. You're the true heir to the throne, and the Queen has been trying to keep you quiet all along."
The room seemed to spin around Sophia, and she felt Alexander's steady hand on her shoulder, grounding her.
"This changes everything," Alexander said, his voice low and urgent. "The kingdom is already on the brink of chaos, and if this gets out, it'll be civil war."
Prince Henry's jaw was set. "I know. That's why we need to keep this quiet, for now. We can't let the Queen use this to her advantage."
Sophia's mind was racing, her heart pounding in her chest. She was a member of the royal family, and the Queen had been trying to silence her.
As they spoke, the door to the room burst open, and a palace guard strode in, his face pale.
"Your Majesty, there's trouble," he said, his eyes darting to Sophia. "The Queen has escaped, and she's rallying her supporters. They're demanding that Sophia be handed over to her, and they're threatening to take matters into their own hands."
Prince Henry's face was grim. "It's started," he said, his voice low. "The palace is divided, and the kingdom is on the brink of war."
To be continued...
New Plot:
- Sophia's true identity is revealed, and the palace is thrown into chaos
- Prince Henry and Sophia must navigate the treacherous world of royal politics to keep her safe
- The Queen's supporters are rallying, and the kingdom teeters on the brink of civil war