As Liira debated her next move, a shiver ran down her spine. She looked around, but couldn’t see anyone. The feeling she was being watched, however, didn’t go away. She was about to cast an offensive spell when she heard a soft voice whisper in her ear.
“Youngest of the eight firstborn, meet your mother.” Liira’s heart jumped to her throat. Her mother? The biggest question mark in her entire life?
“Where?” she whispered in response. The voice, sounding pleased, gave her an address. It was for a house just outside the Capitol gates. Liira sighed in relief. If her brother, now sisters, had their memories altered to fit their new forms, it was possible other people knew the Princes as Princesses now. Of course, that would be a massive work of magic, but Liira didn’t know what was happening, so she had to consider it a possibility. If that was the case, then she would be recognized as a Princess, and unable to sneak to the address she had been given. But she would be less likely to be recognized outside of the Capitol.
Liira mounted Satin and rode through the woods, heading for the address she had been given. Instinctively, she was now riding sidesaddle, as though she had been riding that way her entire life. Maybe she wasn’t as unaffected mentally as she thought. She rode up to a large house, tucked away behind some trees, as though it was hiding.
“Okay, Liira, time to meet your mother,” she whispered. She dismounted, tied Satin to a fence, and walked up to the door. Before she could knock, the door opened, revealing the most beautiful woman Liira had ever seen. The woman gasped.
“You came so quickly!”
“Are- are you my-” Liira started. The woman nodded tearfully. Liira embraced her, burying her face in her mother’s long, red hair. She could see her mother’s features in her siblings: the red hair and gray eyes. But she could even see those features in herself to an extent: the large lips and flawless figure. “Father said my mother was a concubine.”
“I used to be. Before he demoted me for birthing eight daughters.”
“Eight…daughters?” Liira asked, breaking off the hug. Her mother nodded.
“My dear, you were always female. Your father transformed you, the same way he has transformed all in his harem, to solidify his claim to the throne.” Her mother stroked her face. “It was a crime, what he did, to hide that you are truly a beautiful woman.”
“How did you send me the message?” Liira asked.
“My husband, Yevgeny, he is a witch.”
“You have a husband?”
“Yes. I married him after I was demoted from your father’s harem.” Liira’s mother smiled. “I think you will like him. And I look forward to you meeting your other siblings from me.”
“You told me your husband’s name. But what is yours?”
“Janessa. And yours?”
“You do not know my name?”
“I know the name Antyny gave you as a man. But not the name you have as a woman.”
“Liira.”
“A lovely name. Almost as lovely as you.”
“Thank you, mother.” Liira cleared her throat, straightening her spine, summoning all her Royal training. “Now, please, tell me why you have asked me to come here.”