Unmasking the Heiress

"Don't worry, I'm not."

Evangeline caressed her belly, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at her companion.

"I've got company now, and Grandpa is waiting for me back at the family house. Why would I have any doubts?" She was just trying to relive a moment from her past. Perhaps this could be said as... a goodbye ritual.

A final wave to the girl who once rescued Walter and lost her heart to him in an instant.

"Good to know." Snow Wolf's grin widened as he breathed a sigh of relief.

He sure did not want to lose her just when they had met.

"Feeling hungry? Want me to grab you a bite?"

Snow Wolf had not expected that she would be expecting a little one, so he had not thought to bring any snacks. He was pretty thoughtful. As soon as he brought it up, Evangeline's stomach let out a loud rumble.

She laughed off the embarrassment and gestured to Snow Wolf. "Hold on, I've got a bit more to do here. We can head out together in a bit." With that, Evangeline got to her feet.

She was standing at the gateway to Amberstream Riverbank, flanked by two towering square columns, each crowned with a tiny white lion. Evangeline made her way toward the lion on the right.

Snow Wolf, curious about her actions, followed close behind, only to see her reaching out her hand.

"Do you have anything like a tiny stick?"

Snow Wolf eyed the key in his house, shaped just like a little stick, and without a second thought, he passed it over.

"Will this do the trick?"

Evangeline looked it over and quickly gave a nod.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

She grabbed the key and pushed the rounded end into a tiny hole she had spotted before.

In no time, she had the metal plate off the back of the miniature lion, unveiling the cramped space hidden behind it.

A keychain, carved into the shape of a brown bear, was nestled quietly inside.

Evangeline reached in, retrieved the keychain, and nonchalantly snapped the metal plate back onto the lion.

The keychain's craftsmanship was exquisite despite being just a simple brown bear. It had not faded a bit after years inside the lion's belly, looking just as it did when she first placed it there. en

Evangeline held it close to her heart, as if she was embracing Walter with all her might. That was the very thing she had gripped tightly while unconscious.

When she came into the Foster family's care, she realized the

keychain had followed her back

the keychain's true owner had vanished forever.

With a heavy heart, Evangeline buried the little bear at their special meeting spot and never returned to Amberstream Riverbank.

Years later, at a grand party, she spotted Walter, dapper in a suit, every inch the prince.

Even though he had an older brother named Alex who looked just like him, she just knew that the person she rescued from the water was Walter.

Throwing caution and traditional shyness to the wind, she persuaded her grandfather and uncles that she was destined to marry Walter.

The ending was no surprise. Evangeline had gambled her whole life's happiness on Walter, only to be left with nothing.

Of course, not quite nothing. She still had her precious treasure, did she not?

With that thought, she felt a wave of comfort wash over her.

That time, she did not sit down. Clutching the keychain, she stretched out her hands over the waters of Amberstream Riverbank. With her palms facing down she opened her fingers.