Chapter 336: The Truth

Once the queen was gone, Charlotte turned to Natalie. "You can enjoy the hospitality a while longer until my grandma returns."

"What’s wrong with enjoying what’s mine?" Natalie replied as she picked up a red grape and ate it gracefully.

The color almost drained from Charlotte’s face. She quickly composed herself. "Yeah, this breakfast is for you, so enjoy."

Natalie leaned back in her chair, raising a brow at her. "Do I look like I’m talking about this breakfast?"

Charlotte felt a flicker of fear, unsure of what Natalie was implying. She didn’t want her to say it at all, so she quickly changed the topic.

"By the way, I was curious how you managed to get the attention of someone like James Harper," Charlotte said in a mocking tone. "You seem to have mastered the art of seducing rich men."

"Why? Do you want to learn it as well?" Natalie asked.

"I am not like you, a slu—"

"Mind your words, Charlotte, or I might truly make you lose everything you have at the moment," Natalie interrupted.

"I was just—"

"You plan to get Justin Harper’s attention, don’t you?" Natalie said as she leaned forward toward the table, lowering her voice into a whisper. "You might learn a thing or two from me. Trust me, I’m the perfect person to teach you how to seduce Justin."

Charlotte’s eyes widened slightly. "You... have you met Justin as well?"

"What do you think?" Natalie whispered back, her tone suggestive, making Charlotte’s mind race with possibilities.

"You... You seduced both the father and the son?" Charlotte said in shock. "How could you—"

"That’s some talent, isn’t it?" Natalie said with a playful smirk and leaned back in her chair. "You’re welcome to be my disciple."

"You are such a lowly woman," Charlotte snapped.

"And you are such a failure of a woman—one who can only hide behind her family’s support to get close to a man," Natalie countered, eyeing Charlotte up and down. "Looking at you, Justin wouldn’t even spare you a glance. His standards are high."

"I am a princess! Who could be better than me?" Charlotte exclaimed in anger.

"Maybe a princess," Natalie countered.

"W-What are you trying to say?" Charlotte asked angrily.

"Do you want me to spell it out?" Natalie asked. "I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it at the moment."

Charlotte felt her hands turn sweaty. "I... have a call to make. Just you wait," she said, standing up and grabbing her phone as she walked away.

"Tsk, so scared to lose her so-called title," Natalie mumbled as she continued eating fruit.

-----

Meanwhile, inside the queen’s study...

"Your Majesty, we have finally gathered all the information on Ms. Natalie and her mother," the assistant informed.

A man in a suit, standing in front of them, handed a file to the assistant, who then passed it to the queen.

The queen was nervous and asked before even opening the file, "What’s in it?"

The queen’s caretaker, a middle-aged woman named Betty, who had been with her for so long, spoke up. "Your Majesty, why don’t you see it for yourself?"

The queen hummed in response and opened the file. It contained information about Caryn. As she read through it, the queen’s eyes turned teary. "She was said to be in an orphanage just a few months after we lost Carmen."

"Yes, Your Majesty, but there are no childhood pictures of her in this. Only a few pictures from when she was in senior high school and later on in life."

The queen studied the picture of an adult Caryn and murmured, "Doesn’t she look familiar?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Betty replied.

After reading the entire file, the man handed an envelope to the queen.

The queen accepted the sealed envelope and opened it. Pulling out the paper inside, she read the report, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

The DNA report confirmed that she and Natalie were biologically related.

"Betty, she is indeed Carmen’s daughter," the queen murmured.

Betty handed her a tissue and said, "I could tell even without this report, Your Majesty. Natalie resembles you as much as Princess Carmen did. Anyone can see you are related."

"When I met her for the first time, my heart knew she was someone I knew," the queen repeated. "It turns out she is truly my granddaughter."

"Blood ties never lie, Your Majesty," Betty assured her. "Our hearts always know."

The queen could only nod as she struggled to control her tears.

Betty turned to the other two in the room. "Do not let this matter go out. No one should know except us."

The two nodded and left.

"Your Majesty, your granddaughter is waiting for you," Betty reminded her.

The queen nodded. "Call her to my study. I am afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from showing my affection toward her."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The man was dismissed while the assistant went to bring Natalie to the queen’s study.

"Betty, there is no information on who’s Natalie’s father," the Queen said.

"That’s a mystery for now, which only Princess Carmen can solve," Betty replied.

Queen hummed and said, "She remained away for so long but now she sent her daughter here. I am sure there is a reason."

"Maybe she wants to return," Betty suggested.

"I failed to protect her back then, but this time I would protect her and her daughter," the Queen said in a determination, "I won’t be keeping quiet and bear with those who tried to harm her. Back then, I didn’t try to look for her and accepted she is dead despite knowing they showed me her fake dead body. I just wanted her to be away from the harm and keep living. But now, it’s time to bring her back."

-----

When the assistant reached Natalie, Charlotte was already gone. The assistant escorted Natalie to meet the queen.

’Seems like the cat is out of the bag. The hair strand they got from me yesterday and the glass I used to drink, must have done the magic.’

Natalie reached the study where the Queen was waiting for her, sitting in the couch.

The Queen signalled her to sit next to her in the couch.

Natalie did so and heard the Queen. "I thought here would be comfortable to talk instead of outside."

"Wherever your feel fine, Your Majesty," Natalie replied.