Chapter 58: Who are you?

Emily sighed and shook her head, looking as if she had already given up on trying to understand anything happening around her. "Well, whatever," she muttered before turning to Hazel with a more serious expression. "I’m just glad you came back. There is something wrong with Mom, and I don’t understand her anymore. She doesn’t even remember my birthday date!"

Hazel’s smile disappeared as she studied her friend’s face, wondering if Emily was exaggerating because of everything that had happened recently. However, Emily didn’t look like someone who was joking, and the sadness in her eyes made Hazel sit up straight.

"Wait, are you sure?" Hazel asked, moving closer to her. "Could her pregnancy be the reason she’s acting strangely? Maybe she’s tired or dealing with something we don’t know about."

Emily shook her head immediately. "That’s what I thought at first, but it doesn’t explain everything. A few weeks ago, Father even moved me to another room without giving me a proper reason. Mom didn’t say anything about it, and whenever I try to ask her questions, she acts as if I’m disturbing her." She paused, pressing her lips together before adding, "I know my mother. Something isn’t right."

Hazel frowned as she remembered the strange things she had heard about Emily’s mother, including the secrets surrounding her pregnancy. She had been trying not to think too much about the matter, but Emily’s words made her uncomfortable again. If a mother could forget her own daughter’s birthday, then something was definitely wrong.

"Then let’s go and see her," Hazel suggested, getting out of bed. "We’ll ask her a few questions and see what happens. If she’s really your mother, she should be able to answer them without any problem."

Emily agreed, and the two girls left the room together. As they walked through the familiar corridors of the Blackwood Pack residence, Hazel couldn’t help thinking about the information Rita had once shared with her. There were too many secrets surrounding this family, and she had a terrible feeling that they were about to discover another one.

When they arrived at Charlotte’s room, they found her sitting on the bed with one hand resting on her swollen stomach. She looked up as soon as the door opened, and her face brightened when she saw Hazel standing beside Emily.

"Hazel! You’re back!" she exclaimed happily. "I was wondering when you would visit us again. How is His Majesty treating you? I hope you’re not having any problems at the palace."

Hazel smiled politely, deciding not to explain that her relationship with Caius was a problem she couldn’t even understand herself. "I’m fine mom. His Majesty is treating me well enough." She glanced at Emily before turning back to the woman on the bed. "By the way, I hope you haven’t forgotten that Emily’s birthday is tomorrow."

Charlotte’s smile froze.

For a moment, she simply stared at Hazel as if she were trying to understand what she had just heard. Then she lowered her eyes, pressing her fingers against her forehead while thinking hard. The silence stretched for several seconds, and Hazel exchanged a confused look with Emily.

"Oh, my goodness," Charlotte finally said, forcing a smile. "I’m so sorry, Emily. I’ve had so much on my mind lately that I completely forgot. Tell me, darling, how would you like to celebrate your birthday? We can arrange something special for you."

Hazel’s heart sank.

Emily’s birthday wasn’t tomorrow. It wasn’t even close. She had only said that to test the woman, and the result was worse than she had expected. A real mother might forget a small detail during a difficult time, but forgetting her own daughter’s birthday was one thing. Apologizing for forgetting it after being given the wrong date was something else entirely.

Emily slowly rose from her seat, her expression changing as she reached for the sword at her waist. Before Charlotte could understand what was happening, Emily had drawn the weapon and pointed it directly at her.

"Who are you?" Emily demanded, stepping back from the bed. "Where is my mother?"

Charlotte’s eyes widened in shock, and she immediately raised both hands. "Emily, what are you doing? Put that sword away! I’m your mother!"

"Don’t you dare lie to me!" Emily shouted, her voice trembling with anger. "My mother would never forget my birthday, and she would never behave like this! Tell me who you are before I lose my patience."

Hazel moved beside Emily, her face hardening as she watched the frightened woman. "You should tell us the truth now. If you continue lying, we’ll report everything to His Majesty, and I don’t think you’ll enjoy explaining this situation to him."

The moment Caius was mentioned, Charlotte’s expression changed completely. The color seemed to drain from her face, and she quickly climbed down from the bed despite her pregnancy. To their surprise, she fell to her knees and pressed her hands together in front of them.

"Please, don’t tell him!" she begged, her voice shaking. "I know I’ve done something wrong, but I didn’t mean to hurt either of you. Your mother is fine, I promise! She’s alive, and nothing has happened to her. Please, just keep this a secret until I give birth. After that, I’ll leave immediately, and you won’t have to see me again."

Emily stared at her in disbelief, while Hazel struggled to understand what she had just heard.

"Wait a minute," Emily said, lowering her sword slightly. "If you’re not my mother, why do you have her face?"

Charlotte slowly raised her head, looking between the two girls before forcing a nervous smile. "Because I changed my face. A witch helped me perform a face swap so I could look exactly like your mother. She knows about it, and she agreed to help me."

Hazel went completely still.

A face swap?

Suddenly, Rita’s words from their conversation in the library came back to her. She remembered hearing something about her mother making a deal with a witch and a friend. At the time, Hazel hadn’t understood what Rita meant, but now she wondered if this was connected to the secret her mother had been hiding.

She looked at Charlotte carefully, trying to decide whether the woman was telling the truth or simply making up another story to escape their questions.

"Is my father the father of your child?" Emily asked nervously.