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The drive to the palace felt like an eternity. Today I would figure out my identity once and for all. Either that would happen, or I would end up having no clue as to who I was.

"Hey, don't worry about it too much," Kevin said, taking in my anxious mood. He slowed down his speed.

I chewed on my already chewed down cuticles and he reached across to take my hand. "You won't have any fingers left if you keep doing that."

"I'm just so nervous," I sighed.

We were nearing the palace now. There was no sign of Ashton when we walked inside and made our way upstairs. There was no sign of the king or queen either. We went to a room on the second floor and Kevin nodded as he let go of my hand. I gave him a small smile and he gave me a reassuring hug.

I exhaled and walked inside to face the music. Ashton was sitting on a couch, leafing through some papers. He looked up as I entered and I nervously went around to where he was.

"Hey."

My voice was barely a whisper and I wondered if I was more nervous than I felt.

He nodded at me and then typed something on the laptop in front of him. I hesitantly sat down beside him and peered at the papers.

"Is that it?"

"No. I asked them to bring the results up now."

He went back to his papers and I tried to resist the urge to chew my nails again. I clasped my hands tightly together in my lap. Either way this turned out, I would feel sad. Hopefully both of us wouldn't have to be.

After eight painstaking minutes of silence, there was a knock on the door. Ashton and I looked up immediately.

"Come in," he ordered.

"Your highness," the man bowed. "Here are the results of the investigation you requested."

He handed Ashton two envelopes and left the room.

"I had the bracelet dusted for prints," he informed me as he sat down again.

"My fingerprints?"

"No, mine."

I rolled my eyes at his attitude. "What would that accomplish?"

"We have Elizabeth's fingerprints, so I had them compare hers to yours."

"Which is which?" I asked, glancing at the envelopes.

He held both of them up. One was white and the other was pale yellow.

"Bracelet analysis," he said, waving the white envelope.

"Let's start with that one," I sighed.

I opened it carefully. My dread was mounting and it didn't help that Ashton was beginning to look as anxious as I did.

I slid the letter out of the envelope and read it slowly.

I could feel the color draining from my face. Ashton observed my expression and took the letter. His eyes scanned the page quickly and then he tossed it on the table with a sigh.

"So it is the royal bracelet," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It doesn't mean I'm her, though," I said quickly. "Maybe the hospital mixed up who the bracelet belonged to."

"That's unlikely."

"Look, there's no way I'm the girl that the king is looking for. I can't be," I said exasperatedly. Then a thought crossed my mind. "If I'm not that Elizabeth... then where is she?"

"She's most likely alive," he murmured. "Her body wasn't found."

I shivered as a cold wind blew through the room. Outside, the sky was beginning to darken even though it was still morning.

I carefully opened the other envelope and removed the letter.

Don't worry, Elizabeth. This won't prove anything, I chanted to myself.

I read through the letter and then re-read it again. I couldn't believe my eyes. A flash of lightning illuminated the room. In a few seconds, it began to rain.

"What does it say?" Ashton asked when I didn't respond.

I didn't have the words. I didn't know what to say. How would I explain this to anyone? How would I get out of this?

He frowned at my silence and tried to take the letter, but I wouldn't let it go.

"Elizabeth..."

I stared at the ground, feeling a wave of emotion wash over me. This couldn't be happening.

He tried to take the letter again and this time I just let him. I buried my face in my hands as he read through it. This had to be some kind of mistake.

"You're Elizabeth."

"No," I mumbled.

"Your prints match hers."

"But I'm not her."

"Look at me."

I shook my head and I felt him come closer to me. He peeled my hand away from my face and studied me for a long while. I shied away from the intensity of his gaze. His brows furrowed as he stared into my eyes.

"Elizabeth?" he murmured softly.

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