Kara sat with her mouth agape, looking lost. "What did you just say?" she stammered.
"I'm your sister, Kara," Lisa repeated, her expression serious. "Kalim isn't only looking for you; he's here to take me back as well."
Kara's eyes widened in shock as Lisa continued. "After I found out about your whereabouts, I left the royal palace to be with you. It took me a long time to get close to you, but I've always watched you from the sidelines. And when the opportunity came, I became your friend."
"Why did you do that?" Kara asked, her voice still laced with anger and confusion.
"To protect you," Lisa replied, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "I knew that if anyone found out about your existence, your life would be in danger. The royal family has many enemies, and if they knew you were alive, they would stop at nothing to eliminate you."
Kara's face contorted in anger. "Protect me?" she spat. "You took my life away. When you had the chance to find me, you didn't. Why weren't you taken away from the palace? Weren't you in danger?"
Kara's anger was palpable, and Lisa knew she was on the verge of a panic attack. She moved to hug Kara, but Kara shoved her away, her eyes blazing with anger. " Don't touch me."
Lisa sat back, watching Kara's outburst. "Kara, let me explain," she said calmly. "I'm not the next in line to the throne, so I'm safe. Only the next in line poses a threat, and you were the next in line. After your abduction, I was engaged to Kalim, immediately after my birth so I couldn't take over the throne in that manner. I'm also too young to seat on the throne so no one will see me as a threat."
Lisa's words tumbled out in a rush as she tried to justify her actions. "The person who takes over must be single, and only after her ascension will she pick a king. Now do you understand why I was safe, and you weren't?"
Kara's anger was slowly giving way to curiosity. "But why did you leave the palace to find me?" she asked, her voice a little softer.
Lisa's eyes filled with tears. "Because you're my sister, Kara. And I couldn't bear the thought of living without you. I wanted to be with you, to protect you, and to help you claim your rightful place in the palace."
Kara's expression softened further as she looked at Lisa. She saw the sincerity in her sister's eyes, and she began to understand the motivations behind Lisa's actions. But she still had questions, and she wanted answers.