Chapter 29

Walking in the garden, I notice how unusually warm it has become. It has been three days since meeting with my generals and the early March air is starting to hold hints of spring coming early. In two more days I will be facing off with my Cabinet and Nobles deciding how we will implement abolishing laws that Juden made in favour of the rich. Taylor and Kolten have been extremely helpful, the three of us with Sky and Arian have come up with a method to implement changes in both the Military and the Palace Guards within the next year that will slowly move towards the police force hopefully in two years time.

I have yet to have any memories pop up, but I am okay with that. Yesterday after having a Baron barge in to my Study demanding I do a DNA test to prove that I am really Princess Allisara Nimair with a crowd of citizens and lesser Nobles was the excuse I needed to have a well loved news crew come in and document the whole process live. After two hours, it was deemed that I am the rightful heir and those that came to cause a scene quickly apologized and pledged their loyalty to the Crown.

"Penny for your thoughts." Jumping in surprise, I find Thorin BlackHawk standing beside me, his greying hair the only indication for his age as he gives me a warm smile. The same smile Sky gives me.

"Sorry, I was just..." I trail off, not knowing what I was doing in the gardens. Today was a hectic day with finalizing the Cabinet meeting that will take place in the Parliament tower north of the Palace and I am not ready to face more scrutiny from these old fools. I need to find ways to being more women to power to have a wider range of support.

"Looking for a break. I notice you come here when you are overwhelmed. You did that as a child too." Thorin finishes turning to stare out at the garden.

"I watched you grow up when I was a new gardener here. Your parents although fair, were blind to the things you put up with because of your cousin. The gardens were your hide away and every time you came here, your brought a smile to everyone's face." He continues, motioning me to follow him as we walk around the large garden some more.

"I have a cousin?" I ask, confused by this news. Thorin nods, giving me a sympathetic smile as we stop in front of a pond. The water held ice around the edges, but the middle had thawed out with the warm weather coming in. It's mesmerizing how the weather can change at the drop of a hat when you least expect it.

"You had a cousin. Your father was an only child, but he had a cousin on his aunt's side. They were close, like brothers, and he cherished his cousin, Prince Philip's, daughter until you came along. His whole family was killed the night of the rebellion fourteen years ago." Shocked by this, I try my hardest to remember them, to remember my cousin and Uncle, but nothing comes. My mind is blank and I sigh, feeling defeated.

"Sky told me about your memory being locked away. When the time is right, you will remember everything." He reassure me, placing his hand on my shoulder gently. I feel a sense of fatherly love from this man and find myself agreeing with his sentiment.

"Is there anyway I can learn more about them?" I ask, feeling like Thorin would be able to give me help in looking for more answers of my past.

"I know there are archives of the Royal Family in the library, try there when you get a chance." He smiles, removing his hand from my shoulder before turning to look down the path we came from.

"Spring is coming and there is a lot of work to do. If you ever need a break, come to the garden and I will teach you how to take care of the roses you love so much." With that, he walks away leaving me in front of the pond and to my own thoughts. I know if I head to the bath on the right it will take me to the Royal Cemetery. I haven't been there since my first day back to the Palace and so much has happened since then, but I am not ready to face my parents graves once more. Deciding on strolling around the gardens until someone comes looking for me, I take in the fresh air and look around, spying signs of life from the little green grass that fights to thrive in the snow, to the buds on trees. Soon this place will be full of life and the bleak Palace I returned to will be the vibrant place I remember living in before my life was destroyed by Juden.

"Alli!" Turning in the direction my voice is being called from, I notice Alice coming towards me, a smile on her face.

"Sky sent me to find you. Apparently there is a Noble waiting for you in your Study." She explains as soon as she reaches me, her brown eyes holding contempt as she talks about this Noble. Feeling like something is wrong, I follow her back into the Palace and through the halls. She explains that a Marquis came to visit, demanding to speak to me at once without a formal invite. Arian was ready to throw him in the dungeons for the night for his rude behavior but Sky came to recognize him and invited him into my Study to wait, sending Alice to find me.

Entering my study through the already opened, I notice a man sitting in front of my desk facing away from me as Sky leans against the wall beside the window that I usually sit in front of. He smiles at me, his green eyes lighting up as I grow closer and the man sensing the presence of Alice and I stands from his chair. He is an elderly man, his face filled with wrinkles that shows he has lived a long life. His hair is full but completely white and kept neatly on top of his head. His eyes seem familiar, like I have seen them many times before, but I can't place where.

"Little Sara." He calls out, his pale blue eyes filling with tears.

"Do...do you know me?" I ask hesitantly, looking to Sky for answers. He only gives me a smile before I return my gaze to the Marquis before me, realizing I will not get answers from my friend.

"Know you? I was the first one to hold you after your mother and father did." The man explains, taking a step closer to me as tears slide down his face.

"You look so much like her, like my Evelyn. Except your eyes. You have the Nimair eyes." My eyes widen at this confession, the image of the man blurring until a younger version of himself with golden hair that began to grey shinning in the light.

"You're..." I whisper out, feeling my voice catch on the lump in my throat.

"Your grandfather. Yes." He sobs out, reaching for my hand and clasping them in his. Tears fall from my face as memories of this man begins to flood my mind. Of him teaching me how to ride a horse for the first time with my mother yelling at him to be careful, to him holding me in his arms by the fireplace reading a story to me before bed.

"I gave up hope thinking you had died that night but when rumors of you being alive began two weeks ago, I started hoping again." My grandfather begins to explain, pulling me gently into his arms and hugging me tightly to him. I smell the scent of mint and cigars on his clothes, the scent soothing as I close my eyes and picture a hot summer day by a lake, him smoking a cigar while a woman that looks like an older version of my mother hands me a slice of watermelon.

"Then the news mentioned of confirming that day the woman in the Palace was indeed you, it caught my attention. Then I saw you. Your golden curls and violet eyes. I knew instantly it was you Little Sara even before the results confirmed it was you." Little Sara, the nickname he gave me when everyone else called me Alli as a child. Only he and my grandmother were allowed to call me it, no one else.

"Is grandmama here?" I ask, relishing in the warmth of a living family member.

"No, she is back at the estate. She had a function planned but will be arriving tonight to see you." I nod, pulling away to look at my grandfather and seeing the unconditional love in his eyes. For years I thought I was alone, that I had no living relative. But here I am standing in my grandfather, Marguise Everette Blanchard's, arms.

"Have you been told why I was missing?" I ask, wondering just how much he has been told.

"Unfortunately no. I tried to reach out to Juden, but the whole Trilavantas' estate has been placed under house arrest. Sighing, I guide my grandfather to the sitting area, deciding that if he is going to learn the truth about the rebellion fourteen years ago, then it will be because I told him.

"Do you want me to explain what happened fourteen years ago or from how I returned to the Palace?" I ask, Sky giving me a smile before he and Alice leave my Study to give my grandfather and I some privacy.

"From that night fourteen years ago." I nod, accepting this decision from my grandfather and being to explain what Juden did. I left out no detail, watching as grief fills my grandfather's eyes as I mention how my parents were murdered. Anger radiates off of him, but he stays silent as I move on from the rebellion to how I lost my memories and how I lived in the Slums under the name Allison. I left no detail out about my life. How I learned to steal and con people of Nobility. How I would pick locks and break into houses. Most importantly I told him about Liz and Ron and how they took care of me, treating me like a granddaughter for most of my life and how they were there for me when I needed help. This caused him to ask to meet those two and I happily agreed as I wanted my grandparent to meet my adoptive grandparents.

Then I reached the one part I am still not proud of and explain how I ended up in prison. I pause for a moment when Ellisia comes in, brining ice cold water and snacks for us before I continue explaining my life as a prisoner before I take a much needed sip of water.

Finally I explain how Demitrias found me and brought me home, recounting what happened when I took back control of my Palace from Juden and all that has happened until now. When I finally finish explaining everything I am clutching a glass of ice water waiting for my grandfather to speak.

"You have been through so much Little Sara." He whispers out, sounding defeated.

"And I trusted that snake as Regent thinking Juden was a victim as well." Reaching out and placing my hand onto his, I reassure my grandfather that it was not his fault. That I had no memories up until now and even I he knew, Juden would have killed him, grandmama and anyone else part of the Blanchard family.

"What is important now grandfather is that I am here, that I am alive and bringing justice for those who died because of Juden." I reassure him, placing my glass onto the coffee table and leaning into my grandfather's arm. He sighs, agreeing with me that knowing I am alive and well is the best thing for our family.

"If there is anything I and your grandmama can do to help, let me know." He states, the two of us watching the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.

"There is one thing. Tomorrow is a Cabinet meeting to reform and abolish many laws. I could use your help with this and any help from those that support you." Finally feeling like I have found a life line in this messy life of mine; I find myself feeling like another weight is lifted off my shoulders. I knew the Blanchard family was a long standing Noble family in Nimairene. That their weight in politics could sway the favour of many. Knowing that I am the granddaughter of this family makes me happy because it means I am one step closer to undoing what Juden Trilavantas and his supported did to my Kingdom.

"What ever it is Little Sara, I will help. I promise you that." Hearing my grandfather make this promise, I pull away from him and make my way to my desk. Pulling the binder from one of the drawers meant for tomorrow, I bring it to where he patiently waits. Explaining my plan for tomorrow, I allow my grandfather to riffle through it as I show the laws I want to abolish and ones that need modifications.

"Sounds like you have a solid plan." A voice calls from the door, causing me to jump in surprise. No one is allowed into my Study without strict permission but there in the doorway stands an elderly woman with bright blue eyes and raven black hair streaked with white.

"Darling you made it!" My grandfather call out cheerfully as he places the binder onto the table before standing to his feet and greeting the woman. An image of her in my mind comes back, the day she handed me watermelon by the lake. Grandfather hugs the woman, placing a quick kiss on her lips before he guides her to where I sit. Nervous, I stand and take in the woman, my grandmama, and sheepishly hold my hand out for her. With surprising strength, she pulls me into her arms holding me tight.

"Welcome home Little Sara." She mumbles, her voice breaking. Closing my eyes, I hug her back as sobs rip through me. I cry in her arms like I was a little girl again, letting all the loneliness and pain I have felt for fourteen years out. My grandmama, Lillian Blanchard, holds me tight, telling me to let it all out and so I do. I cry for the little me who was stolen from her home. For the little me whose parents were killed too soon when she needed them the most. For the little me who had her memories taken to protect her.

I cry for the years spent in the Slums fighting to survive every day and wondering if that day would be my last. For the long tiring week I have had since being brought home and working to reclaim what is rightfully mine. I cry until I can no longer cry and I come to realize that I am sitting on the floor laying in my grandmama's lap as she runs her fingers through my hair soothing.

"Feel better?" She asks as I slowly sit up, my grandfather taking out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from my face.

"Yes and no." Letting out a sigh, I rest my head on her shoulder and take in her floral perfume -a mix of roses and vanilla- before looking around to see Sky sitting on the arm chair watching me with a worry filled face.

"You knew they were still alive." I question, getting a small nod from him.

"I told them about you the day you imprisoned Juden but they asked me not to say anything until one- you were confirmed to be you or two- you remembered them. They lost so much already and I couldn't hurt them because you would hurt me if I did." He explains, reaching out and taking my hand. I smile, accepting his answer knowing Sky would never lie to me.

"Thank you." Squeezing his hand I let a comfortable silence settle between us. I thought about pushing the Cabinet meeting to tomorrow and even voiced this thought to everyone, but my grandfather tells me to keep the schedule. The faster we change everything, the faster Nimairene grows.

Ellisia comes in announcing dinner is prepared and that a room was set just for us. With the help of Sky, I rise from the ground and watch as he helps my grandmama up. I will have to discus my plans for him with my grandfather as Sky will need a backer for what I have planned in the future.

With Ellisia and Adam guiding the way, we leave my Study and make our way to a room just down the hall, my grandmama refusing to let go of my hand until we are seated at the small dining table. Before dinner begins, Ellisia announces a room was prepared for my grandparents in my wing of the Palace and then leaves us. Our dinner is spent with my grandparents telling me about my aunts and uncle and how they are waiting for when I am ready to meet them. How some of my cousins have gone into the military working their way up the ranks while others have married and started families. When the night is late, Sky and I show them to their room which is directly beside mine before we bid goodnight.

Sleep comes easily, my heart full of happiness and love and for once I look forward to the future.