The Forgotten Princess

Chapter 469  A Sister that I do not Recognize (1)

Richard and I walked down the hall and into a drawing room. Not only the exterior but also the interior was of a minimalist design. You cannot see any lavish design in any of the furniture inside.

"Please take a seat while waiting for lady of the house." The butler said. "I will prepare some snack and refreshments so if I may excuse myself?"

"Of course." I replied.

I was looking around feeling a bit nervouse with this inevitable meeting with my sister, Veronica.

"You need not worry to much sister." Richard gave me a comforting pat on the hand. "Sister Veronica has already changed a lot. She is not the old Veronica where she belittles people below her. She had also had been quite lately, which is rather concerning."

"That is so unlike her." I replied.

The Veronica I know had a fiery spirit and always speaks what is in her mind. She may have a bad attitude towards those below her, but her firey spirit is one of her good traits. She was a woman who woild not let others belittle her. Even though I have been on the receiving end of her bullying before, I also admired how bright she shines before compared to me who was living in the shadows all my childhood.

The door opens and a maid enters. She is followed by another maid that is escorting Veronica.

When I saw her, I could not believe how different she looks from her old self. I cannot see the colorful and lively first princess of the old Alvannian kingdom any longer. What I was seeing now was a weak and frail Veronica. It was like all the colors have been drained out of her. Not only that, she looked quite sickly. She has lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw her.

"Sister Veronica." Richard stood up to help her walk to the sofa and settle her comfortably.

"Thank you , grand duke ." Veronica replied with a hoarse voice. She gave him a weak smile.

"Sister, how many times would I tell you not to call me so formally?" Richard said. "I am your little brother, and you can call me informally anytime." He said with a sad tone.

"How could I call my husbands superior informally while others are here." Veronica replied with a weak smile looking at the maids standing by at the side.

"Then promise me that you will call me by my name like you used to when it is just us." Richard said in a hushed tone whom only us in the newr vicinity could hear.

"As you wish." Veronica replied.

"I came with her majesty, the empress." Richard started talking formally to me as well since he was reprimanded by Veronica to show off courtesy while others are looking.

"It has been a while, Marquise." I greeted.

After the founding of the empire, my husband and I have given the title of Marquis to Veronica's husband who was just a simple royal knight due to his contributions in the war. He was awarded with a suitable plot of land to govern and this small humble estate in the outskirts of the capital.

"I greet your majesty the empress, the moon of the Alyster Empire." Veronica bowed her head in greeting. "Please excuse me for the lack of courtesy since I cannot stand up on my own and give you a proper greeting."

"No need to go any further, Veronica." I raised my hand. "Please remain seated."

"Thank you, your majesty." Veronica replied.

I looked at her face and I cannot see the past hostility that she always wears in front of me. It was gone, as if she is not the Veronica I has once knew.

"I have heard that you have poor health." I said. "I have brought some herbs and medicines that couls help your health improve. They are from a close and reliable person that also took care of my health. I hope these could help improving your health."

Anatalia had been very helpful when she was working in the capital of the empire as my personal physician. But when she was sent to help with the restoration of Atlantia, she had left many of her notes and journals about herbs and medicines to her apprentices.

"Thank you very much, your majesty." Veronica replied. "I will humbly accept this gift with your good grace."

The door opened and the butler came in with hot tea and snacks.

"Please enjoy the refreshments while you chat." The bulter said.

Us three siblings talked about mundane things. It was like a normal chat with one of my vassals talking about politics and stuff.

Veronica was really not talking to much, as if talking for a lengthy period was also taking a toll on her frails body. At the end I cannot standby and watch any longer.

"Richard…" I called his attention.

"Yes, sister?" Richard was now talking to me informally again since the maids and butler was a bit far from us.

"I would like to talk to Veronica alone, if that is possible?" I looked at Veronica for permission.

"Hmm, if that is what her majesty wills." Veronica replied, her formal tone did not disappear even with the maids and butler was in a distance.

"Then I would humbly excuse myself." Richard said and stood up.

Richard walked towards the maids and butler and also conveyed my request. They bowed their heads to us and then exited the drawing room.

The room fell silent and Veronica and I were alone. If it was in the past I would have shriveled on fear, but now it is different. I am the one with power and she has to bow in my presence. I can say that the tables have been turned.

"Do you have something you wish to tell me, your majesty." Veronica asked.

Veronica has maintained her calm. Her demeanor did not change and she was still like a lifeless doll.

"I thought you would revert back to your old self once we are alone." I said truthfully.

"Your majesty…" Veronica said with a heavy sigh. "I do not have anything left. All the ones that loved me are gone. They left me all alone. I am nothing but a chunk of flesh, left living the rest of my life with no one."

I can hear the melancholy in her voice. She believes it herself, that she was all alone in this world.

"My mother who loved me dearly, I know that she is gone." Veronica said with a matter of fact. "The emperor would not have left her alive, knowing how obsessed he is about you.

"My sister Elizabeth…" Veronica continued. "…met her end in Jennovia. I heard she used her own body to shield you in an attack. It was something I never would have thought she would have done. It was just later when I realized that shr must have felt regret over you and saw that giving her life could atone for her past mistakes."

"I on the other hand…" Veronica said with a sad expression. "… I am a coward. I have despised you when we were little. You who was born from the love of your parents, while me and my siblings were born for the thirst of power. Father might have fooled others about not having any affection towards you, but I knew. I knew that he loves you deeply since he tries hard in making others see that he does not favor you. My younger self was jealous of you."

"But what about now?" I asked. "Do you still despise me, Veronica?" I asked with an assertive tone.

Veronica looked at me with lifeless eyes. I can see that the fire that was once burning brightly before had now gone out.

"No, your majesty." Veronica shook her head. "That feeling is now gone within me. I now know my place and have accepted my faith."

"I know that I am left to live by the emperor since I am married to one of his most trusted vassals." Veronica continued. "This is my prison now. I am also a coward that cannot end my own life to follow my mother and sister."

"Is that all you have to say?" I am starting to feel irritated with her self loathing. It was like all of her misfortunes, she was blaming it all because of me.

Veronica was silent for a moment before she spoke again while looking into my eyes.

"I am sorry, Alicia." Veronica said with some spark on her eyes. It was the first time Insaw some flicker from her lifeless expression. "I know I have sinned against you. I would like to say that we were still young back then and were both immature, but what I did has been done and cannot be taken back."

Veronica was starting to shed tears. She then mustered the strength to get up but after a few steps she tripped and fell in front of me. I was startled and was about to help her up, but she spoke before I could help her.

"Please kill me!" Veronica who was kneeling in front of me shouted. I was shocked with her reauest.