CHAPTER 289: LOST BUT FOUND

After the three left, Aristia and Alaric returned inside the mansion.

Not long after, Wilson returned home.

While they had dinner, Catherine explained what happened.

Wilson had already heard from Ross, but what he knew was not very detailed.

"I’m pleased with the way you handled the situation, Tia." Catherine said with a proud smile.

"Thanks, mama." Aristia smiled with a light nod.

"I plan to take a stroll around the square tomorrow. Maybe you can come along with me?" Catherine asked after some thought.

It would be a great mother-daughter bonding time.

***

The next day, Aristia left the mansion with Catherine.

Her mother had asked her to join her for a stroll around the capital the previous day during dinner and they had decided to go now.

It was the perfect time when they weren’t busy, especially since it was the late afternoon.

Aristia changed into outing clothes and put on a cloak.

Catherine also put on a cloak at her daughter’s request.

But unlike the non-expensive cloaks Aristia usually put on during her undercover outings, this one literally spelled expensive, made from high quality material.

Aristia didn’t expect Catherine to put on the cheap cloaks she usually wore, and it wasn’t like she needed to hide her identity.

The mother and daughter got into the carriage, setting off towards the streets of the capital.

The coachman rode the carriage out of the mansion’s gates.

After some time, the carriage finally stopped.

The mother and daughter duo came down from the carriage.

People worked about, carrying out their various activities. The street was busy.

Catherine held Aristia’s hand as they strolled the streets leisurely.

Suddenly, someone bumped into her mother.

"Mama!" Aristia exclaimed with concern.

Catherine was pushed back a bit but fortunately managed to steady herself.

A look of annoyance appeared in her eyes as she looked up at the careless person.

"I— My apologies. Are you alright?" The lady who bumped into her asked with concern as she steadied the food basket she carried.

She hadn’t been looking when she was walking as she had been in a hurry.

Catherine was about to reply but stopped in shock.

The other lady was also shocked, so much that the basket almost fell out of her hands again.

[What? Do they know each other?]

Aristia raised her head and looked up, curious to know why both her mother and the lady suddenly froze.

"What. The. Hell!" She was stunned speechless.

The two women were too stunned to even notice her words. But that wasn’t her concern.

Her mother was opposite her. Oh no, that wasn’t her mother. Her mother was still standing beside her. That was her mother’s lookalike.

[Are there such close resemblances in this world?] Aristia thought, her mouth almost hanging open.

The lady and her mother looked exactly the same, except that unlike her mother’s black hair and purple eyes, this lady had black hair and red eyes.

The eyes reminded her of her grandfather, Edgar Anton. Edgar had black hair and red eyes, while Claire had Ivory hair and purple eyes.

When Catherine finally spoke, it was a name that left her lips.

"E-Evelyn?" She stuttered out.

[Stuttered. She stuttered? When has she ever stuttered apart from when papa...] Aristia shuddered thinking about it.

But she grasped something.

[She said Evelyn... If it’s correct, how does she know her name? That means she knows her? But the lady obviously doesn’t. Wait, doesn’t mama have a twin...?]

"How do you know my name?" The lady asked.

Her confusion was clearly pasted on her face. She was sure she had never met this lady who looked so much like her except for the eye color. And she knew her name...

Evelyn’s eyes went down, taking note of the way they were dressed.

She noticed that they seemed to be very well off. The cloak didn’t look like the regular cloaks people often wore.

Her eyes scanned Aristia.

’She’s so beautiful.’ She couldn’t help thinking.

She was about to avert her eyes when she saw grey hair peeking out from underneath the cloak.

Only one family in the entire kingdom had grey hair.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she bowed.

"Your highness, the imperial Princess!"

"Oh no, stand." Catherine suddenly held her arms. "You may rise."

Evelyn straightened up just at the same time Catherine let go of her hands.

"Where do you live?" Catherine asked.

Evelyn was cut off guard by the question. "Pardon?" She asked.

Then realising she had been asked a question by a member of the royal family, she answered.

"I live a few streets away from here..." But why did the imperial Princess want to know where she lived?

"Then, let’s go." Catherine said.

"Huh? Okay." Evelyn started to lead the way.

Catherine stopped her. "Our carriage is parked not far from here. We’ll take the carriage."

Evelyn paused for a second before following. Even though the Imperial Princess was unfamiliar and she should have felt guarded, Evelyn realized that she didn’t feel uncomfortable around her.

But throughout the walk to the carriage, she started to think of if she had offended the Imperial Princess when she bumped into her.

They arrived at where the carriage was parked in the corner of the street not long after.

The coachman quickly placed the bag of nuts he was munching on on top of the seat beside him and held the reins, bowing lightly.

He glanced at the person following behind Catherine and Aristia. But upon seeing the resemblance she had with Catherine, he didn’t show any reaction.

Once Catherine, Aristia and Evelyn had entered the carriage, Catherine asked Evelyn.

"Which route leads to your street?"

"The next street from here." Evelyn answered.

Catherine spoke to the coachman through the parted compartment between them.

"Coachman, head to the next street." Then she turned to Evelyn. "You’ll give directions. Say when we’ve neared your home."

Evelyn could only nod from where she sat across the mother and daughter, tightly holding the basket on her lap. Her thoughts raced.

It was understandable. She had just met the Imperial Princess and third Princess and suddenly, they were going to her home with her.

Aristia kept silent, only watching what was happening. She was still a bit confused, but she could only wait and see.

After a few directions from Evelyn, the carriage finally arrived in the street where she lived.

"That’s my home." Evelyn said, looking out of the window and pointing at the particular house.

Hearing her words, Catherine asked the coachman to stop.

The Coachman parked the carriage in front of the small house.

The three got down from the carriage.

The sun was already setting. Soon, the sky would begin gradually darkening to welcome nighttime.

"Um... your highness. This is my humble home."

Evelyn grabbed the handle and opened the door.

As the door opened, a little voice sounded.

"Mama? You’re back."

The door opened fully to reveal a little boy around five. He smiled widely and ran towards Evelyn.

He finally noticed the strangers. His eyes widened on seeing how closely the guest resembled his mother. But that wasn’t the only reason.

’It’s her.’ He thought, then turned to his mother.

"Mama? Who are these people?" He asked.

"This is her Imperial highness and her highness the third princess." Evelyn said.

The boy nodded, then bowed. "Greetings, your Imperial highness and third princess. I am Allen."

"You may rise." Catherine said.

The boy, Allen, stood straight then turned to his mother, unable to hold back.

"Mama... I’m hungry."

Evelyn’s face turned worried. She had left to buy ingredients for cooking for herself and her son. She should have returned earlier, but she had been held up by her highness.

Now that her highness was here at her home, she still wanted to make something for her son, but with the guests here, she didn’t know what to do.

Before she could worry too much, she heard her highness say.

"Go make the child some food." Catherine said, going to sit on one of the four chairs placed around a table in what she guessed was the dining room.

The house was just a small cottage. There wasn’t much decorations. It was just a simple house.

Evelyn disappeared behind a door Aristia guessed was the kitchen.

Allen stayed in the room with them for a few minutes without saying anything before leaving for the kitchen when the smell of food wafted in the air, closing the kitchen door behind him.

It was now only Aristia and Catherine left in the Kitchen.

Aristia looked at her mother whose eyes were stuck on the kitchen door, but her eyes showed that she was lost in thoughts.

"Mama." She called.

Catherine turned away from the door and to her daughter.

"Hm?" She asked, showing that she was listening.

"Is she..." Aristia trailed off.

Catherine nodded. "My sister."

A sound of a plate falling was heard just as the dining door was pushed open.

They turned to see Evelyn standing there, looking shocked out of her mind.