Crown of Lies II

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A look in the past....

Once, the Kingdom of Neverland was a place where laughter echoed through its halls and peace flourished beneath its bright skies. The royal family, led by the wise and beloved King, was adored by the kingdom’s people. At the heart of this happiness were the king’s two daughters, Princess Lily and Princess Lena. They were more than sisters—they were the embodiment of an unbreakable bond, inseparable in both spirit and heart.

Growing up together in the palace, Lily and Lena were as close as twins, though they were not born on the same day. They shared everything: their dreams, their fears, and their adventures. Their world was a realm of endless possibilities, where nothing could tear them apart. The two princesses were not only united by blood but by a sense of purpose. They often discussed ruling the kingdom one day, each one knowing that they would stand side by side, as equals, sharing in the burdens and joys of the crown.

But there was another constant presence in their lives—Edward, the young knight who had grown up with them. Edward had always been there, a quiet protector, a companion, and a friend. Though Lily and Edward were the same age, and had spent their youth together, their relationship was always one of camaraderie. Edward treated both sisters with the same care and affection, like a protective older brother. There was never any doubt in his mind that Lily and Lena were as dear to him as family. And for Lily, Edward’s steadiness was something she relied upon, always trusting him as a confidant and a loyal companion.

Then there was Dave, Edward’s younger brother, who had always been close to both of the princesses. Dave, though younger than the rest, had always shared the same closeness with Lily and Lena. He was a lively soul, full of mischief and charm, and his connection with Lena was undeniable. They had been inseparable for years—long before they even realized their feelings for one another were deeper than simple friendship. In secret, they had fallen in love, their bond growing stronger each day. Though never a public affair, their love was something both of them cherished deeply. And when they shared their first kiss, it was as though the world had suddenly become a place where anything was possible.

But as time passed, things began to shift. The peaceful kingdom was slowly changing, as the world beyond Neverland began to encroach upon its borders. One fateful day, word arrived from the neighboring empire that their relations with Neverland were faltering. The kingdom was being drawn into an international conflict, and peacekeeping forces were needed. The king, despite his wishes to protect his people from war, had no choice but to send, Dave, to the neighboring empire to negotiate terms and ensure peace was maintained. It was a call of duty, one that could not be ignored.

But with Dave’s departure came an even greater blow to Lena’s heart. Just as the news of the peacekeeping mission arrived, the announcement was made that Lily would be crowned queen in just a year’s time. It was the moment they had all been waiting for—the moment where Lily would step into her role as the kingdom’s leader. It should have been a time of celebration. But for Lena, it was the beginning of a deep sorrow that would shape her future in ways she could not yet understand.

Lena, who had always envisioned the two sisters ruling together, now found herself facing the reality of standing alone. The kingdom’s people had always expected Lily to be the next queen, but Lena had imagined a future where they would both share the title, ruling side by side, each offering their strengths to guide the kingdom. But now, as Dave was being sent away on his peacekeeping mission, Lena felt her world slipping through her fingers. Her deep fear of being forgotten, of losing her place in the kingdom and in the hearts of those she loved, began to consume her.

For the first time, Lena questioned her worth, her identity, and the love that had always been so certain in her life. She feared that with Dave gone, and Lily soon to become queen, there would be no place left for her. Her heart ached as she watched her sister prepare for her coronation, knowing that Lily’s ascension meant she would have to face the future alone, without her twin by her side.

Edward, too, was struggling with his own turmoil. Though he had always considered both Lily and Lena his closest friends, the truth had begun to settle within him. He had developed feelings for Lily that went far beyond those of mere friendship. As much as he tried to suppress them, he knew deep down that his affection for her had blossomed into something much deeper, something more profound. But with the coronation looming and Lena’s sorrow ever-present, Edward found himself wrestling with a deep conflict. He knew he could never act on his feelings—not when Lily was destined for the throne and when her heart was so deeply tied to the kingdom. His place was to protect them, to serve them as a loyal knight, not to claim something for himself that could tear them apart.

And then there was Lena and Dave. Their love had always been quiet, a secret shared only between them. But with Dave’s departure for the neighboring empire, their time together was cut short. Lena’s heart broke as she watched him leave, knowing that they had been torn apart by duty. Dave, ever the optimist, promised her that they would be reunited soon, but Lena could not quell the gnawing fear that their separation would somehow break their bond. The distance between them, both physical and emotional, would change things—she could feel it in her bones. And as the days passed, Lena's mind became consumed with a sense of loss, not only of her love for Dave but also of her connection to the only family she had ever known.

As the year of Lily’s coronation drew closer, the kingdom seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the day when the crown would be placed upon Lily’s head. For most, it was a time of joy, a time to celebrate the future of Neverland. But for Lena, it was a time of deep anxiety and growing fear. She felt herself slipping into the shadows of her sister’s inevitable greatness, unsure of where she fit in a world that was rapidly changing.

And so, with the coronation approaching, the ties that once bound the sisters together began to fray. The love between Lena and Dave, once pure and bright, now faced the challenge of distance and duty. The unspoken feelings between Edward and Lily hung like a storm cloud, casting an unspoken tension over their once joyful companionship. And Lena, lost in the chaos of her emotions, began to feel that her existence—her very worth—was at risk of being overshadowed by the crown that Lily was destined to wear.

As the years passed, the kingdom’s tranquility was shattered by forces far beyond anyone’s control. The seeds of jealousy, fear, and unspoken love began to take root, setting in motion the tragic events that would forever change the fate of Neverland.

Present

Two years had passed since Lena had taken the throne, and Neverland, once a land of joy and hope, now trembled beneath the shadow of her reign. The people had forgotten, or at least chosen to overlook, the unnatural and tragic death of their beloved Princess Lily. The whispers of Edward’s betrayal, his unjust imprisonment, and eventual death had also been silenced by Lena’s swift manipulation and control.

From the outside, Lena’s rule seemed perfect. The kingdom prospered in terms of wealth and power, and the people adored their queen, believing her to be a compassionate and grieving sister who had borne the heavy burden of the crown alone. But inside the palace, behind the walls where no one could see, the toll of her actions was taking its toll.

Lena’s once sharp mind had begun to dull, clouded by the weight of her guilt. The throne she had fought so hard for now felt like a prison—a reminder of the lives she had destroyed. Each passing day, the memories of Lily’s bright smile and Edward’s unwavering loyalty became a torment, haunting her in the darkest corners of her mind.

It started with small things at first. Faint whispers in the palace halls when no one was there. The flicker of shadows out of the corner of her eye. It wasn’t until the nightmares began that Lena could no longer ignore what was happening to her.

In her dreams, Lily would appear, her lifeless eyes accusing Lena of the most terrible betrayal. The ghost of her sister would walk through the palace, her once-vibrant form now a haunting silhouette, whispering words that Lena couldn’t quite make out but that were filled with sorrow and anger. Edward, too, joined the visions, his face contorted in the agony of death, his accusations far more piercing than Lily’s ever could be.

Every time Lena awoke, drenched in sweat and shaking, she would clutch her chest, heart racing, as if she could still feel the weight of the dagger in her hand, the weight of the betrayal she had committed. The guilt gnawed at her, poisoning her thoughts, but she kept up the mask of a grieving queen, pretending that everything was fine. The kingdom did not know the truth, and she would make sure it stayed that way.

But as the weeks went on, the nightmares grew more intense. They weren’t confined to her sleep anymore. During the day, Lena would hear footsteps behind her that weren’t there, feel cold hands brushing her skin in the silence of her chambers, and see flickers of movement in the corners of her vision. The ghosts of Lily and Edward were closing in, and the whispers in her mind grew louder. "You will never be free," they told her. "You can never escape what you’ve done."

Lena’s mind became unhinged. She began seeing threats everywhere. Anyone who entered her chambers or approached her on the streets was a potential enemy. She became suspicious of her closest advisers, certain that they were plotting against her. The kingdom that she had once ruled with careful deliberation was now under her iron grip, each decision made out of fear and paranoia. The people began to notice the shift in her demeanor. The once-kind queen was now unpredictable, her moods erratic.

Her temper would flare without warning, her voice cold and venomous, as if she were a completely different person. She no longer smiled, no longer held court with the same grace. Those who had once adored her now feared her, and even the loyalists who had remained quiet began to whisper of her madness.

Lena's rule was becoming a reflection of her fragile psyche—a kingdom built on a crumbling foundation. She had held onto her power by any means necessary, but it was slipping from her grasp, and she knew it. The paranoia that gripped her mind made her desperate. She would do anything to keep the throne—anything to silence the ghosts, to keep the truth buried, to maintain the illusion of control.

It was in the midst of this turmoil that the news arrived, unexpected and uninvited: Dave is returning to Neverland.

The message arrived on a cold, stormy evening, carried by a trembling messenger. Lena had been pacing restlessly in her chambers, her mind clouded by another night of vivid nightmares, when the messenger arrived, breathless from travel.

"My queen," the man said, bowing before her, "news from the border. Prince Dave... he is returning to Neverland. He is on his way back to the kingdom."

For the briefest moment, Lena froze. Her heart, already racing from the chaos in her mind, seemed to stop entirely. Dave—her childhood friend, her love’s last remaining hope—was returning. The very thought of him made her feel a fleeting sense of warmth, a memory of better days when things were simpler. When the four of them—Lily, Lena, Edward, and Dave—had been happy and whole.

But as quickly as that warmth came, it faded. Her mind, twisted by guilt, began to spiral. Was Dave truly returning to heal the wounds of the past? Or was this his way of seeking retribution? Lena could no longer trust her own thoughts. Was he returning to save her… or was he returning to destroy her?

The news, however, sparked a new obsession in Lena's mind—a single thought that filled her with both terror and excitement: Dave’s return could be her salvation. She had to ensure his loyalty. She had to win him over. She had to make him see that she was still the sister he had known, the ruler he could trust, even though so much had been lost.

In her fevered state, Lena began to plan a grand welcome for Dave. She would have a feast prepared, a celebration that would be so grand, so dazzling, that it would leave no room for doubt. She would show Dave the kingdom, tell him of her sacrifices, and explain that she had been protecting them all. She would convince him that Lily’s death, Edward’s betrayal, everything that had transpired, was all for the greater good of the kingdom.

In the depths of her paranoia, Lena thought that if she could just hold onto Dave—keep him by her side—she could regain control. The very idea of him returning filled her with an overwhelming sense of power. She would charm him, manipulate him, make him believe that she was still the sister he loved, the ruler he could serve.

But what Lena didn’t realize was that Dave’s return could also be her undoing. His arrival could uncover the truth, shatter her carefully constructed facade, and reveal her darkest sins to the kingdom. Her guilt had already cracked her sanity, but Dave—he might be the one who would expose everything.

As the day of Dave’s return drew nearer, Lena’s plans grew more frantic. She could already feel the weight of the storm brewing, not just within her mind, but in the kingdom itself. Would Dave embrace her as the queen, or would he see the broken woman behind the crown? Would he finally uncover the truth of Lily and Edward’s deaths and expose the monster Lena had become?

The storm clouds loomed over Neverland, and for the first time in two years, Lena felt the full force of her actions closing in on her. She had lived in the shadows of her guilt for so long, but Dave’s return—his presence—might just be the spark that ignites everything. 

The gates of Neverland opened wide, and the grand procession for Prince Dave’s return unfolded before him like a scene from a dream. Lanterns lined the streets, casting a warm, golden glow on the path that led to the castle. People cheered and waved, welcoming him home as if he were the kingdom’s prodigal son. For a brief moment, as Dave rode through the crowd, he allowed himself to savor the adoration, feeling the pride and comfort of the kingdom that had once been his.

Lena, standing at the foot of the grand staircase, greeted him with open arms, her smile radiant and full of warmth. She had been the perfect queen in this moment, her façade so seamless that no one could see the cracks beneath her perfect veneer.

“Welcome home, Dave,” she said, her voice smooth and polished, her eyes brimming with something that could have been love, had it not been so tainted by years of manipulation and deceit.

Dave stepped off his horse and embraced her. His heart, usually so steady, began to pound in his chest. This was the moment. The moment he would finally face the woman who had brought about so much suffering, so much ruin to their family, to his brother, Edward, and to the kingdom he had once called home. The weight of his brother’s death and the silent promise he had made to him began to resurface in Dave’s mind.

He played his part perfectly, of course. A gracious return, all smiles and gratitude. But inside, he was a storm, a quiet rage building beneath his calm exterior. He admired Lena’s performance—her ability to make everyone around her believe she was the grieving, benevolent queen. It almost made him feel sorry for her, as if she were just a puppet, dancing to her own delusions.

But Dave wasn’t fooled. He had never been fooled.

This is your last act of deception, Lena, he thought, his gaze sharpening as he looked at her. Soon, the truth will come out, and this kingdom will know what you truly are.

In that moment, Dave knew exactly what he had come back to do. He would tear her empire down. He would uncover the darkness she had buried so deep, the betrayal, the murder, the lies that had cost them their sister and his brother. He would expose Lena for the monster she had become, and he would do it in the most public way possible.

But it wouldn’t be easy. Not with how cleverly she had woven her lies, how carefully she had masked her true nature. He could already see the subtle threads of her manipulations, the way she controlled everyone around her with a smile and a whispered word. Yet he was resolute. His mission was clear, and he would not be swayed. For Edward. For Lily.

Dave would wait for the right moment. He would be patient. He had learned from his brother’s letters, and he would not make the same mistake Edward had. He would not rush. This time, when the truth was revealed, there would be no going back for Lena. No place for her to hide.

And so, with a quiet resolve, he embraced his role in the charade for now. He smiled at the crowd, clapped Lena’s shoulder in mock camaraderie, and said nothing. Beneath the outward show of joy and unity, there was only the burning desire for revenge that had festered within him for so long.

Months before Dave’s return to Neverland, as he traveled through foreign lands on a peacekeeping mission, he had received the first letter. At first, it had seemed like nothing more than a letter from a concerned brother, the kind of letter one would expect when separated by such distance. But the words in that letter were unlike anything Dave had ever read before.

Dave,

I fear I am too late in writing this. I have seen things. I have uncovered things about Lena that have made my blood run cold.

She is not the sister we knew. She is not the woman she presents herself to be. I can’t explain everything in detail, but I’ve come to believe, with a heavy heart, that she is responsible for Lily’s death. I believe she killed her, Dave. I’ve seen too many signs, heard too many whispers. I am afraid for my life, and for yours.

You have to be careful when you return. If you confront her, she will stop at nothing to protect her secret. I don’t know how much longer I can keep digging into this, but if something happens to me, promise me you will not stop searching for the truth.

Your brother,
Edward.

Dave had read those words over and over, the implications heavy on his heart. Lena? His mind had rejected the idea at first, but as time passed, the details began to fit together. Edward had been getting closer to the truth, uncovering evidence of Lena’s dark side. But Dave also knew his brother too well. Edward had been driven by a sense of duty, by a relentless desire to protect the kingdom and its people, even at the cost of his own safety. And it was this very trait that would ultimately lead to his downfall.

The letters had continued. Edward’s words became more desperate, more fragmented. He spoke of secret meetings, strange figures, and the growing darkness within Lena. But with each passing letter, there was less hope in his words, more fear.

Finally, the last letter came, and it was unlike any of the others. It was hastily written, the ink smudged with what looked like tear stains.

Dave,

It’s too late for me. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up, but Lena knows. She’s figured out what I’ve been doing. I’ve uncovered enough to ruin her, to expose everything, but I’m afraid... I’m afraid that if I don’t finish this, she will destroy me, just like she did Lily. I can’t live with myself if I don’t stop her. But I need you, Dave. I need you to come home.

If I don’t make it... promise me you will avenge me. Promise me you will finish what I started. And when you do... let the world know who Lena really is. Don’t let her rule this kingdom any longer.

Edward.

When Dave received that last letter, he felt a cold chill race down his spine. He could feel his brother’s fear, and it mirrored his own. Lena had killed him. The truth had been right there in front of him the entire time, buried beneath the layers of deceit. And now, with Edward gone, there was nothing left but to return to Neverland, to seek justice for his brother and Lily, and to expose Lena’s monstrous deeds.

As he stood on the streets of Neverland, amidst the grand celebration of his return, a burning rage flickered deep within him. He had promised Edward he would take revenge, that he would reveal Lena for the monster she was. But now, it wasn’t just about vengeance—it was about freeing the kingdom from the dark hold Lena had over it.

Lena was playing the perfect queen, her mask flawless, her manipulations deft, but Dave could see through it all. Her time was coming. The truth would out.

Soon, there would be no place for her to hide.........

Written By:- Muskan Nim

Date:- 27-02-2025