The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 408

“Liora Belrose, please come to the principal’s office at your earliest convenience.”

The announcement was met with a chorus of ooohs, which I ignored, and began making my way toward the principal’s office. I had a sinking feeling that this was about last night.

When I walked into Mrs. Oakes’ office, though, I was surprised to find that she was smiling slightly from behind her desk. Two cups of tea, clearly freshly poured judging from the tendrils of steam curling up from them, were sitting in front of her.

She slid one toward me and gestured for me to sit. I hesitated, but obeyed and carefully perched on the edge of one of the chairs across from her desk.

“Miss Belrose,” she began.

“Is this about last night?” I blurted out. “I didn’t know the room was still in use—”

“What?” Mrs. Oakes blinked at me in confusion, and I snapped my mouth shut, heat creeping up my neck. “No, Miss Belrose. This is about Bianca.”

“Oh.” I straightened a little. “Look, I know I was supposed to report everything to you, but I thought—”

“Forgive me, Princess, but I would prefer if you let me finish speaking before you jump to conclusions.”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. Then, suddenly, it hit me. “Wait. Did you just call me…”

“Princess.” Mrs. Oakes leaned forward. “I know who you are, Liora.”

The silence stretched taut between us, punctuated only by the ticking of all the clocks, which perfectly matched the tempo of the pounding of my heart at the inside of my ribs.

She knew? But how?

“But,” she said, “then your father sent me this. I received it first thing this morning.”

She slid the paper across the desk. I took it and read the letter. The first paragraph was standard, but it was the body that made my brows lift.

“Liora’s identity is to be kept a secret until the end of the school year,” it read. “Please ensure that the true identity of the princess is not revealed, even by the princess herself, until further notice.”

At the bottom of the letter was my father’s signature and seal.

I looked up at Mrs. Oakes. The confusion on my face must have been interpreted as panic, because she smiled gently and pushed my tea a little closer toward me.

“Don’t worry, Princess. Your secret is safe with me.”