Chapter 24: The Unexpected Visitor
The sun was already beginning to set when Mia finally returned home.
The sky above San Francisco was painted with soft shades of orange and pink. A cool breeze drifted through the narrow streets as she pushed her scooter up the small hill toward her house.
Lilly had already gone home, and Anshul had separated from them earlier near the intersection.
"You should probably go home too," Mia had told him.
"Maybe," Anshul had replied with a small smile.
Now Mia stood in front of her house, still thinking about the strange traveler she had met that morning.
Anshul was… unusual.
Most people at school barely noticed her.
But somehow he had treated her like she was completely normal.
That alone made the day feel a little less embarrassing.
Mia opened the gate and walked into the yard.
Before she could reach the door, however, she noticed something strange.
A long black limousine was parked in front of the house.
Mia froze.
"…What?"
Her house had never had a limousine parked outside before.
She slowly approached the front door and opened it carefully.
Inside the living room, her mother stood nervously beside a tall elderly woman wearing an elegant suit and white gloves.
The woman's posture was straight and dignified, and her expression carried an unmistakable sense of authority.
Two men in dark suits stood nearby.
Bodyguards.
Mia stared at them in confusion.
"Mom?"
Her mother turned around.
"Mia, you're home."
"Yeah… but what's going on?"
Her mother hesitated.
Then she looked toward the elderly woman.
"Mia," she said carefully, "there's someone here who wants to meet you."
The elegant woman stepped forward slowly.
Her gaze carefully examined Mia from head to toe.
Mia shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
Finally the woman spoke.
"Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi."
Mia blinked.
"…What?"
The woman smiled faintly.
"It has been many years since I last saw you."
Mia looked completely confused.
"I'm sorry… do I know you?"
The woman removed her gloves with graceful movements.
"I am Clarisse Renaldi."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Your grandmother."
Mia's eyes widened.
"My… what?"
Her mother stepped forward gently.
"Mia, sweetheart… she's telling the truth."
The room fell silent.
Mia stared at them both, trying to process what she had just heard.
"That's impossible," she said.
Her mother sighed softly.
"There's something we never told you."
Clarisse continued calmly.
"You are the daughter of Philippe Renaldi."
Mia's confusion only deepened.
"Who?"
"The Crown Prince of Genovia."
Mia laughed nervously.
"This is a joke, right?"
"No."
Clarisse's voice remained firm.
"You, Amelia, are the sole heir to the throne of Genovia."
The words seemed to freeze the air in the room.
For several seconds, Mia didn't move.
Then suddenly—
"Nope."
She turned around and ran toward the door.
"Mia!" her mother called.
But Mia had already rushed outside.
Meanwhile, across the street, Anshul stood quietly on the sidewalk.
He had returned earlier and positioned himself where he could observe the house.
Just as expected, the limousine had arrived.
And now—
The moment had happened.
He watched as Mia ran out of the house in shock and hurried down the street.
Anshul smiled faintly.
"Right on schedule."
The future princess of Genovia had just discovered her destiny.
And the story of this world had finally begun.