Fallen Prince, Risen King - Where Lies Hide

Chapter 5 - Despair becomes Hope

"Repent and tell your secrets, otherwise be like the lying prince." declared white monks as they travel through the streets of the capital. The people have heard what happened and felt guilt for keeping secrets. Others felt dread and despair, the former prince somehow became their hope and was now dead after rescuing the princess.

Lord Tyron looked from the window of the palace, watching the people and the monks pass through the streets. "Thank you for coming to hear me." thanked Empress Wēi.

"It's not like I had anywhere to go now." stated the boy standing in front of them. His cloak and cowl were up as he carried a Wyvern around his hip.

"I'll have you know, I've dropped all the former prince's family sentences. I would like you to join me and become one of my strategists. I've heard you were good at strategy." said Empress Wēi.

"I'm touched, but I refused." stated the boy.

"Will you be going somewhere else then?" asked Lord Tyron, turning around to look at him.

"With our reason to fight dead, I've lost the motivation for men to fight. I'll go somewhere where I can be more powerful than here." stated the boy.

"My mother offered you a key position that you'll be great at. Why leave?" stated Princess Zhen, she was feeling pain since watching Zhōng die in front of her three weeks prior. Around her hip, she carried her Roktavor and the Ninja Sword like Zhōng did, it was a reminder to her that she couldn't save him.

"Because I will not bow my head to someone my brother trusted to be his heir. Especially since all that was promised to him was promised to me first. If anything, I should be getting everything." stated Zhēngfú. He turned and left the room as the guards opened and closed the doors behind them.

"Hard to believe that's my nephew." stated Lord Tyron as he shook his head and went back to looking out the window.

"I can see the resemblance." commented Empress Wēi as she turned her chair around to look out the window as well.

"Where did you bury him, again?" asked Princess Zhen, looking down at her hands.

"I've buried him in the ruins of Daiichi City, it was said that the last of Daiichi's line will be buried with the first." replied Lord Tyron watching outside of the window.

"How's your niece holding? It must be hard for her." asked Empress Wēi as they watch the monks trying to drag someone out of its home. They couldn't do anything, if they tried, more men will be killed. The guards couldn't seem to beat them even with the advantage, they had someone to deal with the guards.

"She's okay, like the rest of us, it's hard for her to accept that he won't come back. I have someone that Zhōng trusted in the black market protecting her right now along with my sister." replied Lord Tyron.

"Will that be enough to stop them from going after her?" asked Princess Zhen, he looked for more of them in the streets as they continued to watch the window.

"From what I've been told, they are only here." replied Lord Tyron.

"But why here only?" asked Empress Wēi.

"With all due respect, your majesty, I think the answer is right in front of you. They're after..." began Lord Tyron as he turned and paused. Empress Wēi and Princess Zhen were curious why before turning around and standing up in shock. Standing by a bookshelf nearby, was a boy. His hair was dark blond and disorganized, his eyes were blue and shined as he looked through a book, his cloak covered his body but a blue and silver pommel stuck out of the crack. He looked up and gesture for them to continue and went back to the book before realizing they were surprised. "It can't be," muttered Lord Tyron.