CHAPTER ONE: THE SECRET

Aria stood behind the wooden door, holding her breath as she listened to her parents whispering inside the small cottage.

She had not meant to eavesdrop.

Aria had only returned earlier than expected after finishing her chores, and the moment Aria reached the door, she heard her mother's trembling voice.

“Thomas, Aria is turning fifteen tomorrow, and every day, I get scared.”

Aria frowned.

Why was her mother scared?

Thomas shifted in his chair.

“Lower your voice, Mira.”

There was a brief silence before he continued.

“We have been doing this for the past fourteen years. Or are you saying we should return her?”

“No!” Mira's voice came immediately. “No, I can't lose her.”

Aria's heart skipped.Return her? Where?

She moved closer to the door.

“I am just concerned,” Mira continued. “I don't want them to take her away from us. She has brought so much joy to our family, Thomas. She is all we have.”

Thomas sighed.

“And we will do everything we can to protect her.”

Aria's fingers tightened around the bundle of firewood in her arms.

Protect me from who?

That question had followed her for years.

Her parents had always been strange about her.She wasn't allowed to go to the village alone.She wasn't allowed to speak to travelers.She wasn't allowed anywhere near the main road.And most importantly, she wasn't allowed to tell anyone her age.

Whenever she asked why, they always gave her the same answer.

We're protecting you.

But they had never told her what they were protecting her from.

Aria heard the sound of Thomas moving his chair.

She quickly stepped away from the door.

A few seconds later, Aria walked into the room as though she had heard nothing.

“Mummy.”

Mira immediately looked up.

Her eyes widened slightly before she let out a smile.

“My daughter.”

Aria smiled back.

“I'm going to the forest to gather more firewood.”

Thomas adjusted his glasses.

“Be careful. And come back before dinner”

“I will.”

“And don't go too far,” Mira added quickly.

Aria rolled her eyes playfully.

“I know.”

Mira's expression became serious.

“Aria.”

“I know, Mummy.”

She reached for the door.

“Remember the rules.”

Aria sighed.She had heard them so many times that she could recite them in her sleep.

“Don't approach strangers,” she began. “Don't talk to travellers. Don't go near the main road. Don't tell anyone my age. And don't tell anyone where I live.”

Mira nodded.

“Good girl.”

Aria smiled.

“Can I go now?”

“Yes,” Thomas said.

Aria stepped outside.

The moment the door closed behind her, her smile disappeared.Something was wrong.She could feel it.

Her parents were hiding something from her.And she was determined to find out what.

The forest was quiet that afternoon.

Tall trees surrounded Aria as she walked deeper into the woods, carrying a small axe over her shoulder.

She had grown up in this forest.It was the only place she knew.Thomas had taught her how to recognize edible plants, how to track animals, how to light a fire, and how to defend herself.Mira had taught her how to cook, sew, and treat small injuries.

They had never treated her like a burden.They loved her.Aria knew that.That was why she couldn't understand why they were always afraid of losing her.

Aria stopped beside a fallen tree and began chopping small branches.

The sound of the axe echoed through the forest.

Suddenly, she heard something.

A branch snapped behind her.Aria froze.Her grip tightened around the axe.

She slowly turned around.

Nothing.

Only trees.

“Hello?”

No answer.She listened carefully.

There it was again.A low rustling sound.Aria raised the axe.

“Who's there?”

A small animal suddenly jumped out of the bushes.

Aria screamed and stumbled backwards before realizing it was only a rabbit.

She laughed nervously.

“You scared me.”

The rabbit disappeared between the trees.

Aria lowered the axe.But something about the moment bothered her.

For a brief second, she could have sworn she heard something else beneath the sound of the animal.

A distant growl.She looked around.

Nothing.

She shook her head.“I'm imagining things.”

She gathered the firewood and hurried home.

By evening, the cottage smelled of roasted meat and herbs.

Aria sat between Thomas and Mira at the dining table.

For several minutes, none of them spoke.

Aria pushed food around her plate.

Her mind was still on what she had overheard.

Finally, she looked at Thomas.

“Daddy?”

Thomas looked up.

“Yes?”

“You once told me that you lived in the city.”

His expression changed slightly.

“Yes.”

“Why did you leave?”

Mira's hand stopped halfway to her mouth.

Aria noticed.

“And why did you come here?”

Thomas remained silent.

Aria leaned forward.

“This cottage is deep inside the forest. There are only a few neighbours nearby. We hardly see travellers. Why?”

“You ask too many questions,” Mira muttered.

Aria frowned.“I'm just curious.”

“Curiosity can be dangerous.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

Mira glared at her.

“Just eat your food, Aria.”

Aria leaned back.She was becoming frustrated.

“Are you hiding from someone?”

Mira suddenly choked on her food.Thomas immediately reached for the glass beside her.

“Mira.”

She drank the water, coughing.

Aria stared at them.

Thomas gave a nervous smile.

“You are not completely wrong.”

Mira looked at him sharply.

Thomas continued.

“Your mother and I once lived in the city.”

“Then what happened?”

“Enough,” Mira snapped.

Aria's eyes narrowed.“Why won't you tell me?”

“Because you don't need to know.”

“How can I not need to know when it concerns my own life?”

“Aria, please.”

Aria stared at her.Then an idea came to her.She decided to tease them.

“A stranger asked me about my age today.”

Mira's face immediately went pale.

“What?”

Aria watched her carefully.

“He asked how old I was.”

Thomas placed his spoon down.

“What did you tell him?”

Aria hesitated.

“I told him my age.”

Mira shot to her feet.

“You did what?”

Aria almost laughed at the reaction, but she quickly realized her mother was genuinely terrified.

“Why are you so scared?”

“Did you tell him your age?”

“Yes.”

Mira's hands began trembling.

“Aria!” she shouted.

Thomas looked at Mira, telling her to calm down.

“Calm down.”

“How can I calm down?” Mira shouted. “She told a stranger her age!”

Aria slammed her hand against the table.

The room fell silent.

Mira stared at her.

“You shouldn't have done that.” Mira said slowly.

“Why?”

“Because we're trying to protect you!”

“From what?”

Mira opened her mouth but said nothing.

Aria's tears finally spilt.

“For fourteen years, I've followed every rule you gave me!”

Her voice trembled.

“I wasn't allowed to talk to strangers. I wasn't allowed to go to the city. I wasn't allowed to have friends. I wasn't even allowed to walk near the main road!”

She wiped her cheeks.

“Do you know what it's like to grow up without knowing anyone except your parents?”

“Aria…”

“No!”

She stood up.

“My whole life has been a prison!”

Mira's eyes filled with tears.

“We love you.”

“Then trust me enough to tell me the truth!”

Silence.

Aria looked between them.

“What are you so afraid of?”

Neither answered.

Her voice became quieter.

“Who are you protecting me from?”

Still nothing.

Aria shook her head.

“I hate this.”

She pushed her chair back.

“I hate being treated like a child. I hate all these secrets. I hate being told that you're protecting me when you won't even tell me why I need protection.”

She turned toward her room.

Mira called after her.

“Aria!”

But Aria didn't stop.

She ran into her bedroom and slammed the door.

She leaned against it, covering her mouth as she cried.

For the first time in her life, she wondered if the people she trusted most had been lying to her.

Silence filled the cottage.

Thomas looked at Mira and gently took her hand.

“I think you were too hard on her.”

Mira's eyes filled with tears.

“She's our little girl.”

“We're doing this to keep her safe.”

“I know,” Thomas whispered.

Thomas looked toward Aria's closed bedroom door.

“But she deserves to know the truth, Mira.”

Mira shook her head.

“No, Thomas. We can't tell her.”

“She is turning fifteen tomorrow. And someone approached her today.” Thomas said calmly.

Mira's expression changed.

Thomas continued.

“If she starts asking questions outside this house, someone will eventually become suspicious. We can't keep hiding the truth forever.”

Mira wiped the tears from her face.

“She might hate us.”

Thomas looked at her sadly.

“But if we don't tell her, she may discover the truth from someone else. And if that happens, we won't be able to protect her.”

Mira lowered her gaze.

For fourteen years, they had lived in fear.

They had hidden their daughter from the kingdom.

They had hidden her existence.

Mira finally let out a deep sigh.

“Okay.”

Thomas looked at her.

“Okay?”

She nodded slowly.

“It's time.”

“Time for what?” Thomas asked with his eyes widely opened, expecting a positive reply.

Mira looked toward Aria's bedroom.

“It's time we tell her the truth.”