"What are you saying, Dylan?!" Heather asked, glancing at Lilith, concerned. She could sense tears brimming in her eyes. "Are you pulling our leg?"

"No, I would never joke in such a circumstance. Lil, you've got to trust me on this." Dylan turned towards Lilith, placing his strong arms gently on her shoulders. He looked her in the eyes and asked, "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do... I just can't understand-" Lilith waved her arms about frantically, trying to comprehend the situation. Dylan paused her thoughts midway and spoke softly.

"Yesterday, I couldn't see her face properly as she donned a mask. But when she turned, I caught a flash of a fancy hair clip, peacock blue, with intricate silver embellishments. It was as if the moon specifically guided its sheen on it so that I would notice it. Today, I saw the same, the very same peacock blue hair clip clasping her hair."

He paused to let it sink in and continued, "Coincidence? I think not."

"But Dylan, what if there were plenty of the same hair clip sold in the shops? I mean, probably, the conspirator and Queen Catherine bought it from the same place! It can hardly be considered as a clue," Ethan frowned.

"No, that's too far fetched considering Mom always wore customized, handcrafted pieces. She insists on having rare articles of jewellery," Lilith dismissed the claim. "But if it really was Mom, how couldn't I recognize her voice?" Her voice quivered with uncertainty. She threw her hands in despair.

"A part of you would've realized who it was, without Dylan telling. But another part of you finds it hard to accept the bitter truth." Ethan rubbed her back gently. "I know this must be hard for you. We're all here for you, no matter what."

"Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. I just... just need to think through all of this. I'll take a stroll in the garden."

She noticed Heather pushing her chair back to get up, and added, "Alone, if you guys don't mind," before pushing open the double doors of the dining room and sped across the hallway to the garden.

She felt tears streaking down her face. Her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.

My mom? Really?

She shook the thoughts off her head and sat on the white garden bench, beside the waterfall. When she was younger, her dad would play with her near the waterfall.

Her mom never really played with her, as she kept herself busy with court affairs. However, she kept a watchful eye on Lilith, lest she'd wander away. She smiled rarely but when she did, it was genuine.

Happy thoughts filled her mind as she brushed aside the shocking revelations that tore her heart.

She cupped her hands in the marble water fountain and splashed water on her face.

But somehow, the thought of her mother conspiring to kill the man she loved most, her father, sent shivers down her spine.

She walked aimlessly in the garden. Out of nowhere, she heard the melodious tune of a flute.

Such a poetic, mellow, ethereal tune...

She was mesmerized by its enchanting rhythm.

She paused for a moment, trying to figure out where it was coming from. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move, rustling the bushes. The rhythm was coming closer to her. It came from the woods near the edge of the garden.

Much as she wanted to follow the tune, she was afraid of doing so, as it was known for being home to many wild creatures and legends of hunters who never returned home after their daring adventures.

But the tune kept calling her. A part of her wanted to run into the woods, devoid of any stress. She walked cautiously, taking in her surroundings.

"Hello? Anybody there?" She walked for a little longer, going deeper into the forest, passing by gigantic trees and little streams until the music stopped abruptly. Lilith stood there, hands on her hips, waiting for someone to pop out of the bushes.

"Great! Now I don't even know where I am!" she fumed, looking around for a way back, realising she's in the midst of thick woods, with no means of escape.

"Hey there I'm-" spoke a voice from behind her.

"What the-" she gasped, retreating a few steps and almost stumbling on a rock.

"Careful!"

"Who are you?" She studied the pixie-like person from head to toe. She was lavender-hued with deep blue smooth hair let down over her shoulders decorated by a beautiful flower crown. Her seashell necklace gave off a faint glow. She had bright sparkly eyes that looked at Lilith warmly.

"I'm Astrel, and I believe you called me."

"I did?"

"I think so. I got a distress signal from someone in the palace garden and-"

"Yeah, that was me," Lilith replied sheepishly.

"So it is you who called."

"I don't understand. I came here to find out who was playing a captivating melody on their flute," Lilith replied, confused.

"Why, thank you! That was me. You see, all people go through various challenges in life, and with it comes sorrow, tension, and distress. But very few cases are truly meaningful. The rest of them go as easily as they come. It has more to do with power, prestige, and greed, than with family and relationships."

She shook her head and continued, "Those kinds of problems are not meant for me to deal with. They have to find a solution on their own. But yours,"—she placed her hand gently on Lilith's shoulder— "requires a little guidance. So tell me, my dear, what is disturbing your inner peace?"

Lilith, though hesitant at first to reveal her troubles to a total stranger, ultimately confided in Astrel and told her everything, without missing a detail.

With each new piece of information, her face became graver. Finally, she nodded her head and turned to look at her bronze sceptre encrusted with an orange crystal. A flame of energy passed from her eyes to the crystal.

Lilith felt vulnerable and uneasy, all of a sudden. She didn't even know what compelled her to confide in Astrel in the first place.

What if she's also a part of the conspirators? Why did I even tell her all of this?

Her mind kept drifting from one thought to another. After some time, Astrel looked at Lilith tenderly.
"Dear, I want you to think hard about what I am about to tell you. In my crystal, I find a little puzzle. Solve the puzzle, and you may be able to find a solution to your problem."

"Really?"

"Hopefully. Now listen carefully to this...

Accept your past without regrets,
Handle your present with confidence,
And face your future without fear...."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, it has a really basic meaning so..." Astrel shrugged.

"I mean, what do I have to find from this... quote? puzzle?"

"I think it may have relevance to your life."

"Which part? The past, present, or future?"

"It could be anything. I suggest you go line by line. Start with accepting your past."

"Well, there's nothing much to say about my past," Lilith shrugged nonchalantly. "We can move forward-"

"Is all as it seems to be, Lilith?"

With a twinkle in Astrel's eyes and a challenging smile, she walked deep into the woods, leaving Lilith deep in her thoughts.

~Author's note

What do you think the puzzle has in store for Lilith? Is her past truly what she thinks it is?

As always, I'm forever grateful to you for reading my story and being part of my writing journey. Your suggestions and feedback have definitely helped in improvising on my work. Do feel free to comment your views. If you enjoyed the story so far, please drop a ⭐, it motivates me to write more:)

Happy Reading!