DEAR MR STRANGER 13 Chapter 13

Though Lucia wanted to marry the prince, always dreamt of better lifestyle. With the aim of having a luxurious life she married Ashton in the greed of money. But didn't expected that Ashton wouldn't even see her !

He turned her down on the first night & the next day he didn't came neither him nor his parents. Only her maid servants attended her with food & other necessities. She pa.s.sed these days watching outside through the window high up which opened into a garden beautiful in true sense. She praised it's beauty by singing sitting along the window with legs close to chest and arms folded around, eyes focused down onto the flowers. Though she was a princess ( a duplicate one of course ) and married to the only son of king Drakos she wasn't allowed to go out , to wander along the corridors nor any far. King and queen knew that their son doesn't like her and left her on the first night but they wanted to keep their daughter in law happy as their HAPPY marriage was the only solution to end this war. So they planned to settle the things themselves.

The door creaked and a maid servant entered bowed and made her aware of her presence.

"Your highness, the king & queen is looking forward for you in the dining hall."

"Oh ok I'm coming."

With a strange sensation in heart she dashed towards mirror, looked & a.n.a.lysed her condition and sighed. She'd see her own true self but wondered how real princess Helena would look !

Followed the maid servant towards the hall, pa.s.sing through various corridors and stairs she reached the ground floor, turned to the right was dining hall. Finely decorated with portraits of ancestors and ancient paintings which presented the historical background. Walls painted in sky blue tainted with white at certain distances. A long table was in between the hall with variety of food items, candles and flowers settled in vases at certain distances. Fine cutlery was presented in front of every chair with napkins on side. The full wall window was lightening up the room with sun rays. Which were falling on the half of table cloth. The king was sitting on the master chair with queen on right and prince on left.

"Come here honey."

The queen called with a sweet tone.

"Yes. Yes come & join us."

The king added.

But the prince kept his gaze onto his plate & stood up, was about to leave when the king mocked.

"Would you mind have a look upon your bride !"

Lucia disguised as Helena reached the chair beside the queen when Ashton looked up.

A sweet tingling feeling crawled in his body when he saw his sweetheart as his BRIDE !

"How stupid I was ! But why didn't she stopped me that night ?"

He murmured to himself.

With a lot of questions that were rising in his mind he suppressed those thoughts. And kept staring at Helena. As he sat down again.

Ashton didn't knew what to say so kept quiet but the king understood that he liked princess. After all she was a beauty who could resist.

They all chatted for an hour when the king & queen headed to the garden  and Helena left for her chamber when Ashton ran after her and they stopped stopped at door steps.

"Saavi stop !"

He shouted.

Lucia stopped and was about to turn when Ashton grabbed her from shoulders & hugged. He squeezed her into himself. With a confusing heart Lucia hugged him back.

Maybe she succeeded in making her place in Princes' heart !

She was happy but then her castle of expectations crashed.

"Saavi you.....you're my wife ! I....I just can't imagine that you're here. We're together. Oh heavens I'm grateful !"

Ashton was speaking and Lucia was searching for his eyes__what was he saying ?

Her thoughts flashed back where her father told her  the scenario of proposal & told her to marry the prince.

What ?

Ashton was in love with real princess Helena  aka Saavi !

And he mistook her for Saavi !

Oh heavens what I've done !

If only I'd knew that Saavi was real princess & Ashton loves her I'd never said yes.

Oh father you've made me commit a sin !

If only I'd knew I was a replacement not the actual bride !

She didn't knew who was the real princess but at that moment her heart sank in despair. What she'd done !

Her memory flashed upon the potion her father made her to drink__that....that was for creating an illusion !

She looked back in Ashtons' eyes where she'd clearly saw love for her__ love for the person whose face she was having.

All was a lie.

Deceit.

Nothing was true.

All was an illusion !

She smiled at Ashton. And went into her room locked from inside, hid her face in hands & helplessly cried.

Days were becoming normal__ she was becoming normal. Ashton was giving her time, took her to the ground, chatted with her all night, a round along the castle, remembering the old days memory. Ashton s.h.i.+fted her to his room though living under same roof they never shared intimacy. Ashton knew she didn't remember anything of their past because of that magical potion so he tried to make her recall those.

Lucia kept on listening to him but she didn't showed any interest. She used to respond with short sentences & talk less. Ashtons' suspicion was rising day by day __by her behaviour, her talk & her ways. Somehow he wasn't able to feel that bond. If anyone who lost his/her memory wouldn't change her ways or nature. Something was fishy !

Lucia wanted to tell him that she wasn't the person he was looking. But if she did the war will began again on the basis of deceit and everything will be ruined. She kept quiet.

Quiet and then became silent. All day alone__ but her inner ocean was not calm. She was feeling guilty & wanted to tell everything. Wanted to confess her sin !

She wrote to her father in human world Mr. Elmer and with the help of a Phoenix she teleported that letter to human realm. Amd waited for answer.

Meanwhile in human Realm :

Saavi was going to school as usual. Pa.s.sing from the bridge she headed towards the lane. She was happy that her father Mr. Elmer was now staying with her whole time. He started managing his business from home. And used to spend much of his time with her.

Poor girl didn't knew that he was keeping an eye on her in order that no one will find about her being the real princess of Rosalind realm.

But fate had other plans !

Mr. Valos was in the human world that day for some sort of business work. And he saw Saavi pa.s.sing through the lane.

At first he thought she was here with Prince Ashton to meet Mr. Elmer. As master Valos was aware of everything & was happy that the young prince was married to the girl he loved.

But then his mind clicked on her cycle and uniform.

What was happening ?

He followed her silently and watched her entering the school. Something wasn't right. He summoned his phoenix and send him to Wizardry kingdom to look for princess Helena.

He came back and Master Valos closed his eyes and connected a bond with that phoenix in order to see what it had seen.

Princess Helena was there too talking with prince Ashton !

What on the Earth was happening  ?

Master Valos decided to rush to king Drakos but restrained. What if the princess there in the kingdom wasn't the real one the war will broke again. After thinking he read some verses opened a magic portal and teleported himself to the Rosalind kingdom __to king Salvatore for answers.

Wizardry kingdom:

Lucia was in the dressing room when the Phoenix appeared with a letter in it's beak at the window.

Ashton rose from bed and took it. Put aside on the bed and laid again. He was deep in his thoughts when his eyes met with the name to whom the letter was addressed.

"My dear daughter Lucia"

He quickly tore off the seal of letter and read.

Dear daughter,

I know you feel guilty of cheating Saavi. But my dear Lucia if you'll accept this mistake in front of Ashton he'll immediately throw you out of his life. I've dreamt of your happiness with him and I pray for you to by happy. Please my daughter endure this pain amd hide it in yourself as you're now the princess Helena and the wife of Prince Ashton.

Your father,

MR. ELMER

Ashton tore off the letter in rage, clenched his fists and broke the window gla.s.s in a punch.

Where is my Saavi ?

Was the only thought in his mind !

And definitely he was going to search her.

But he understood that this girl Lucia wasn't guilty as she was in pain herself.  It was Mr. Elmer who was responsible and perhaps someone else too for making this plan & creating this magical illusion.