My jaw clenched as my hands curled into fists. The letter, now but a crumpled ball, encased within my hands. Whoever did this, whoever took Laura by force, they would regret the very day they plotted against me. “Your Highness,” one of the servants groaned. His call pulled me out of my dark thoughts and made me rush back to him. As I arrived before him, he tried to sit properly but his body was too weak from all the beatings that they received. “Please… Your Highness,” his teeth gritted as he tried to speak through his groans, “Forgive me.” “Forgive you? For what?” I asked. He attempted to speak once again. But he stopped as soon as the pain caught up with him. “Good sir,” I put my hand behind his back, my other hand by his arm, “You mustn’t try to stand. You are badly wounded.” “Your Highness… we tried… to protect her,” he continued to struggle as he spoke. “But… before we could get to her… we were… surrounded… by the masked men,” he explained. Masked men? This could only mean

I turned my head as someone called me from downstairs. In the middle of the main hall, Gonzalo stood as he stared at me. Immediately, I sprinted towards him. Gonzalo was just the person that I needed in James’ absence. “Thank goodness you are here, Gonzalo,” I remarked. Gonzalo bowed even before I arrived before him. “What can I do for you, Your Highness?” he asked as he slowly stood properly, with his hands in front of him. “Is His Majesty home?” I asked as I panted. “His Majesty was summoned to the Crystal Palace. He was asked to attend a meeting with the Elder Council,” Gonzalo replied. He then explained, “According to the invitation, they wanted our king to plan for gaining new territories. It seems that there have been bandits in other kingdoms who are trying to exploit your fellow monarchs.” “And as for Mother?” “She accompanied him, Your Highness,” said Gonzalo. I groaned as my hands landed on my face. I sighed desperately as I ran my hands down my face. Why was it that

At the foot of the entry staircase, Gonzalo held the door open as he waited by the carriage. Gonzalo has returned to his calm and refined self. But, underneath that silent exterior, I could tell that he was still opposed to my cause. Gonzalo was everything but a good liar, especially when it came to traditions and law. “I sense that Gonzalo is starting to dislike us,” I whispered into Elizabeth’s ear as we made our way down the stairs. For a moment, Elizabeth looked at Gonzalo. With a smile, she replied, “I prefer to be hated than to be loved for agreeing to everything that this world led us to believe is right.” “You don’t do the same when it comes to James, though?” I smirked.” “That is a different matter, Robert,” said Elizabeth as she playfully pinched my arm. “That hurts, Elizabeth,” I winced as I rubbed the pinched area. I moved a few spaces away from her and added, “With all honesty, I prefer to be punched rather than to be pinched.” “My apologies, little brother,” Elizab

My eyes widened. My body stiffened and my mouth was unable to speak. “James, would you please keep your voice down?” Mother intervened as she stood beside me. She turned to Gonzalo and continued, “Kindly leave us and close the door.” Gonzalo agreed and left the four of us in the room. “Now, can we have a conversation where not one of us is shouting?” Mother continued as she looked at all of us. “We are not in our home. It isn’t right to argue here.” “Then, can you please explain to me why your son made a scene back at the Crystal Hall?” James answered as he turned to Mother and then, back to me. “James, if I may, Robert didn’t do anything wrong. He remained polite all throughout his conversation with the warriors,” Elizabeth also entered the conversation. James slowly turned to Elizabeth. “And you, Elizabeth, I expected more from you. You know better than to barge into a private meeting, especially here in this palace. Instead of stopping your brother, you tolerated his actions a

James’ eyes widened in horror, his mouth slowly hung open in shock. “Your Highness, why would you do such a thing?!” Gonzalo ran up to me. “Since the king has his conditions in order to approve my request, that is mine,” I replied as I stared James completely in his eyes. I added, “I am now closing any kind of opportunity for you to prove yourself to me.” “But, Your Highness–” “Say no more, Gonzalo,” James replied as he stopped Gonzalo, “If this is what the prince wants, so it shall be done.” He returned to me and continued, “You will not rule Western Wind once I depart from this world. Let us see where you will last.” He then turned back around and proceeded to the door. “I prefer to rule somewhere else than to wear the crown of the monarch who failed as father,” I raised my voice, enough for my words to echo throughout the entire room. James paused for a brief second before he walked away completely. And as soon as he was gone from our sights, I let out a deep sigh. I was not