Chapter 70 - My mother's diary

Sarah.

“Jovita, my girl. Lunch is ready and everyone is waiting for you.” Aunt Rachel came to invite me.

“Aunt Rachel, I know you were really close to my mother. I don't have any memories of my parents. I just have an old photograph. Can you tell me more about my parents?” I asked.

“Of course dear, I'll tell you everything I know. I will also take you to their room. It's still kept intact. But before that let's go and have lunch. Grace has already gone to invite your friend Mr Raymond.” She said,

“I have to make a phone call. It won't take long. It's really important.” I said and Aunt Rachel left me alone.

I did have to make a phone call to The Raymond mansion but most importantly I have to prepare myself to read their minds. It's not going to be that easy to read the minds of so many people without being noticed. I first called Teddy and told him that I would be back in a few days. When I finally finished my preparations, I went out. One of the maids was waiting outside to show me the way to the dining area.

I followed her quietly until we reached the stairs. There was an elevator nearby the stairs but the maid started to walk down the stairs.

“The dining room is on the ground floor right?” I asked from behind.

“Yes, your highness.” She stopped walking and turned towards me and said without looking up.

“Then why are we taking the stairs? We can go in the elevator.” I asked.

“Your highness, it's a rule followed in the palace from the time of King Charles. No one in the palace is allowed to use the elevator before and after the meals. It's been believed that climbing and walking down the stairs is a good exercise to help food digestion.” She replied.

That's a really good tradition my father had started. I'm actually impressed that they are still following the tradition my father started. The black magic failed to destroy the good things my father had left behind. I really have a lot to learn about my parents. They have already set an example and it's going to be really hard to be like them.

By the time I reached the dining area, everyone was already seated. I searched for Milano and as expected he is sitting with Grace. Or I should say she is purposely sitting next to him. If she could, she would have sat on his lap. I walked towards the empty chair next to him but Aunt Rachel stopped me.

“Princess Jovita, your chair has been waiting for you for the last 22 years.”

She said pointing towards the chair where the head of the family sits. This chair was different from all the other chairs. This one must be where my father used to sit. The chairs might have been replaced by the new ones but still, it's the same position.

“Aunt Rachel, I am not that great that I deserve to sit in that chair. I don't want to sit there just because I am King Charles’ daughter. I am not here to take over my father. I came to meet my relatives. Now I at least know that I do have someone to say as my people.” I politely refused and walked towards the empty chair.

“Don't think that with your cheap emotional drama, you will be accepted as Princess Jovita Coleman. We need proof and for that, Dr. Hemlock will be here soon.” Aunt Charlotte, my father's sister said,

“Why do you need another proof Charlotte? Mr Buchanan has already shown us her DNA reports.” Aunt Rachel said.

“I am not denying it. I just want an authoritative proof and we have to answer our people. We can't just show some random girl as Princess Jovita. We have to show them valid proof.” Aunt Charlotte said,

“No one who knows her mother Janet will deny that she is her daughter. Just hug her and you will realize that she is the same Jo baby you used to love more than your own children.”

I saw a glimpse of wetness in Aunt Charlotte's eyes. Her children's eyes were still on me and it didn't have any emotion of hate or anger. It was like they were trying to find their little cousin in me. The only eyes I could see the hatred was in Grace’s. I could understand why she hated me. But I can't do anything about it. After all she is the one trying to seduce my mate.

During lunch I carefully studied each one sitting at the dining table. Most of them are under magical influence. Aunt Charlotte's husband William doesn't have any traces of any magical bindings. Aunt Charlotte and her children are still under magical influence. The best part is that none of them dislike me.

The whole lunch went in silence. I really miss the Raymond mansion. It's my home and I got a family for the first time in that house. This is my real family but still they feel like strangers. After lunch everyone went their own ways. Milano wanted to talk to me but I told him to go with Grace. I need to keep Grace away or else she might be a hindrance in my way.

“Milo, just tell her that you want to go for a walk in the garden. She won't be able to do anything there in the presence of so many guards.” I told him through the mind link.

He agreed and left, with Grace trailing behind. Aunt Rachel then took me for a tour of the palace. But I wasn't interested in anything else other than those related to my parents. Finally she took me to my parents' room. The moment I stepped inside the room, I felt my mother's presence. I could smell her or was it my father's smell?

“Aunt Rachel, can I spend some time in this room alone?” I asked.

“My dear, this is your palace. You don't need permission to go anywhere in this palace. Just ask anyone around if you need anything.”

She left me in the room. I first took a good look at everything in the room. Then I began to search for something that would guide me. Everything was neatly arranged in the closet. My father's suits were so arranged like someone used them daily. Aunt Rachel definitely makes the servants clean every nook and corner of this room.

After searching everywhere I was about to give up when I saw a metal box on the bottom corner of my mother's closet. The box was made of silver but it had no opening. When I took it in my hand it seemed just like a silver block. But why does my mother have a silver block? Curiosity overpowered me, and I took the box and walked toward the couch and sat on it. I kept the box on the small table in the front. Then I carefully checked all the sides but it still seems to be a block. What if the box opens with some sort of magic?

With that thought I kept my hand on the box and closed my eyes. It was like someone was telling me the chants in my ear. I just repeated it and when I opened my eyes the block had an opening. Carefully I opened it and found small diaries. There were three diaries each having a year written on the cover.

Carefully I opened the first one. I read through the lines and it was like I was living my mother's day in this palace. The diary started on the day of her wedding. She has clearly mentioned why she kept her identity as a witch a secret. It was my father's suggestion. He wanted his family to accept my mother as a human and when the time comes they will tell everyone.

In between the pages, some photographs were kept which included her wedding photo. As I went on reading, I came to know about the whole Coleman family. It had everything, all the emotions she had gone through. Then came the portion where she found out that she is pregnant with me. That day father and mother had their first fight. Both were so happy to have me. Father asked my mother's permission to mark her but she refused. She told him that she didn't want to become more powerful than him. If he marks her she will become a hybrid and will have more powers than her husband. She also wanted to give me the right to choose my path. She wanted to give me a normal life as a human until I reached the age of eight. At last father had to agree with mother.

By the time I finished reading all those three diaries, I had got a vague idea of the person behind everything. But the picture is not yet clear. It can be anyone. It's just that they know magic. I kept the diaries back and locked the silver box and kept it back in the closet. I was about to leave the room, when a servant came and informed me that Mr Buchanan was here.

“Ask him to wait.”

I told the maid and walked towards my room. I have to tell Milano what I have found. I tried to connect to him and he said,

“Sarah, please save me from this bitch.”

“I will try to save you.” I said,

I have to talk to someone because I need genuine advice. The only face that came to my mind is Mary. I quickly dialed her number and told her everything. When I told her that Mr Buchanan was waiting for me she asked me to do something really weird.

“Sarah, don't tell him anything. You can't believe him or anyone else.Try to read his mind and if you find something fishy, take him to a room where it will be just you two. Then do as I say. You will get all the information from him without his knowledge. It's a type of hypnosis and I am sure you will be able to do it. Just remember that you can't trust anyone. Just call me if you need my help.” Mary's words made sense.

I walked out of the room confidently with two targets. Target number one is Grace. I have to save my mate and for that Grace should rest. I went straight to the balcony from where I could see the garden. There on the bench under a tree, Grace is trying to kiss Milano. Just a flick of my fingers and Grace began to back away from Milano. As I planned, she ran back to the palace obviously in search of a washroom. Poor thing is going to spend the rest of the day in the toilet.

My next target is waiting for me in the living area. I felt confident after speaking to Mary. I am definitely going to get all the answers.