Chapter 9 - The Restoration of Moncoeur
The trial of the Vane family lasted less than a week. With the physical ledgers from Box 1406 and Baron Adrian’s state-witness testimony, the high court returned a verdict of guilty on all counts of grand larceny, treason, and kidnapping.
Baron Maximillian Vane was sentenced to life imprisonment in a federal penitentiary. Lady Beatrice received thirty years without the possibility of parole, her name struck entirely from the royal register of Moncoeur. Adrian Vane was appointed the new chairman of the restructured banking group, turning its assets over to a public oversight committee to ensure the restitution of the royal funds.
Two weeks later, the sun rose bright and warm over the palace grounds, burning off the last of the autumn fog.
The grand courtyard was filled with thousands of citizens carrying the white-and-gold flags of the House of von Hanover.
I stood in the royal dressing room, looking at myself in the mirror. I was no longer wearing the lavender wool or the waitress uniform. I wore a gown of pure white silk, embroidered with silver threads that formed the crest of the crescent moon and the wolf. Around my neck, the sapphire pendant hung proud and clear, catching the morning light.
Eleanor walked into the room, her face full of an overwhelming, radiant joy that erased every wrinkle of sorrow twenty years had carved into her skin. She held a velvet cushion, upon which rested the small, diamond-encrusted tiara that had belonged to my mother, Valerie.
"Are you ready, Anastasia?" she asked softly, her eyes shining with tears.
"I’m ready, Nana," I said, turning to face her.
May you like
She lifted the tiara and placed it gently upon my head, pinning it into my dark curls. "Your mother is looking down on us today, my darling. You’ve brought the light back to this house."
Julian stepped into the room, wearing his full ceremonial military uniform. He held out his arm to me, his smile wide and proud. "The citizens are waiting for their princess, Anastasia. Let's go show them who we are."
