"Shhh... Be quiet, we'll be heard..."
Camellia whispered, her hand covering her maid Ela's mouth.
They were hidden behind the colossal Moon Tree, its silver trunk and golden leaves casting a shimmering glow on the Celestial Garden.
They pressed themselves against the rough bark, trying to blend into the ethereal landscape.
"But Your Highness," Ela murmured, "Your grandmother, the Empress, will find you no matter what. What could a Celestial Empress not find? Why don't you just let yourself be engaged to the Constellation Prince? He might not be as bad as the rumors say…"
Camellia rolled her eyes, but her voice remained hushed. "Stop talking nonsense. The rumors say he's ruthless. I don't want to marry a violent man. I have goals, Ela. I want to investigate what happened to my parents... and find your parents, using that necklace they left you."
The sound of approaching footsteps sent shivers down their spines.
They huddled deeper into the tree's shadow as the Celestial Guards marched past, their silver armor glinting in the moonlight.
"Find the Princess," the leader commanded. "She's just around here somewhere."
Suddenly, a branch snapped beneath Ela's weight. The guards turned toward the sound.
Camellia and Ela didn't hesitate. They sprinted away, their hands intertwined. As they ran, Ela let go of Celest's hand.
She was pale, her voice trembling.
"Your Highness, take this..."
With a trembling hand, Ela fastened a necklace around Camellia's neck.
It was a delicate silver chain adorned with moon, intertwined in a beautiful embrace.
"What are you doing?" Camellia gasped. "They're coming!"
Ela's eyes were filled with an unyielding determination.
She drew upon her power, creating a swirling portal in the air.
"Your Highness, you've been so kind to me since we were children," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You always said we both had no parents, so we would always be there for each other. Thank you… Your Highness. I want to protect you until the end. Live well, Your Highness."
Ela pushed Camellia through the portal. Camellia could only watch in horror as the guards' swords slashed down upon Ela's fragile form.
Ela smiled at her, her eyes full of love, before the portal sealed shut, cutting off any hope of rescue.
"We better report this to the Empress," one of the guards muttered, their faces grim.
Camellia materialized in a swirling vortex of colors and light, her world suddenly chaotic.
A cold wind whipped through her hair, and the scent of pine filled her senses.
She stumbled through the portal, landing with a thud in the middle of a dirt road.
Before she could regain her bearings, she felt a bone-jarring impact.
The world spun, and darkness swallowed her whole.
She woke to the sounds of hushed whispers and concerned voices.
A blurry figure leaned over her, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes a deep, calming blue.
"Dear, are you alright? How are you feeling?" The woman's voice was soft and worried, a melody that somehow calmed Camellia's racing heart.
Camellia blinked, trying to focus on the woman's face. "Who are you? Where... am I?" She sat up, the woman gently supporting her.
"You're here at the Duke's residence, dear," the woman said gently.
A tall man with black hair and piercing green eyes appeared at the bedside, his expression a mixture of concern and relief.
"We are your parents, dear. I am Duke Arthur of the Celestial Realm, and she is your mother, Ariana."
Celest stared at them, speechless.
Then, Duke Arthur enveloped her in a warm embrace.
Ariana joined them, her tears falling onto Camellia's hair.
"Oh, my daughter, you suffered too much," Ariana cried, her voice choked with emotion.
Camellia looked down at herself, confused. "Me... your daughter? How?"
Ariana smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's because of your necklace, dear. We recognized you. that necklace is made by your grandfather moon necklace."
Camellia remembered the moon necklace, Ela give her before she died . Her heart sank.
Camellia wanted to explain everything, to tell them about Ela, her loyal friend and the only family she'd ever known.
But the words caught in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to tell them about Ela's sacrifice, the pain that had ripped through her own heart.
It was too much for them to bear. And she knew that Ela wouldn't want them to suffer, not for her.
Is this why she give me the necklace, so I could disguise for the meantime and ofcourse for her I will ease her family's worry
"I am... your... daughter," Camellia finally whispered, her voice trembling.
She threw her arms around her newfound parents, burying her face in Ariana's shoulder, letting the tears she'd held back for so long cascade down her cheeks.
It was a physical act, a need to feel the warmth of their love, a desperate attempt to fill the void that Ela's absence had left in her life.
"It's alright, my dear. We are here now, and we won't let anything happen to you again. Jasmine," Ariana reassured her, her voice gentle and soothing.
She stroked Camellia's hair, offering a solace that Camellia had never known.
Camellia wiped her tears, clinging to the comfort of their embrace. "Mom... Dad..."
She breathed the words, allowing the unfamiliar but deeply cherished titles to roll off her tongue.
The weight of her past was a heavy burden, but the love and acceptance she felt from these strangers, these people who claimed to be her parents, offered a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Ariana beamed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yes, dear, that's it. Call us like that again."
Duke Arthur, his eyes filled with tenderness, stood up, his hand gently resting on Ariana's back.
"I think we should let her sleep. She must be tired. Darling, if she needs anything, just ask the maid, okay?"
"Of course, Arthur," Ariana replied, her voice laced with the warmth of a long-lasting love.
Camellia nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Yes... Father."
As her parents left the room, closing the door behind them, a figure she hadn't noticed before stepped into the room.
A young man, his hair the color of rich chocolate, his green eyes mirroring the verdant forest outside, his expression a mix of longing and concern.
He knelt beside her, his arms enveloping her in a tight hug. who is this young man?