30 Days As A Substitute Prince

Chapter 32

It had been three hours since Chad had left to talk to Aria. Zadkiel assumed that things would have either been on fire or as cool as ice by now.

The evening was drawing nigh, and Zadkiel found himself famished after sitting under a tree for hours, waiting to hear back from his friend. He thought it would be wise to get settled in the castle for now. There was no chaos, so that was a good enough sign to proceed with caution, still playing as the someone sent from Imperial to 'help the prince', at least until they are all ready to reveal the truth. 

The guilt he felt never made it easier, either, since he saw just how much his actions had affected everyone. Zadkiel never believed himself to be a spoiled prince growing up, but he was used to getting what he wanted. Had he let this old luxury cloud his mind, and now might cause a good man like Chad his happiness or even his life? 

He didn't think about it. In fact, Zadkiel has been keeping positive thoughts from the moment Chad left because he simply wouldn't be able to live with himself if something should happen to Chad because of something he brought the village painter into. 

Zadkiel knew that Chad was selfless and believed that Zadkiel deserved that month of freedom after being locked up all his life. It wasn't the offer of endless trips that bought Chad, but just the mere humanity in him that saw a desperate man and wanted to help. 

Now, it was clear to Zadkiel why he had been locked up. Indeed, his parents told him of the danger of this woman, but seeing it for himself sparked a sliver of understanding to the degree his parents went to protect him. Heather is obviously dangerous, and if he was honest with himself, Zadkiel knew that if he had stayed this month and courted Aria as he was supposed to, there was no doubting that he would've been dead. 

Chad's a fighter and far more experienced; hence he knows how to protect himself. Chad survived being sick, almost being poisoned and even being pushed down a flight of stairs that landed him a broken arm. Zadkiel knew that he wouldn't have ever survived that. 

So, he had to be grateful not only for allowing him to see life for the first time but indirectly for saving his life. They've come a far way from being on that bridge the first night he arrived. He was lucky he had ever met Chad. 

But in that moment of thinking, something hit him. Zadkiel used just that--the plain truth to cook up a plan that will surely save them all. 

Why lie to the king and queen about the truth of their identities? With Crazy Heather on the loose, this plan will surely make sense. 

A broad smile took over Zadkiel's face as he headed for the castle. Surely, they would all still be in a lot of trouble, but it would definitely soften the blow on Chad and even spark a bit of understanding in them all. 

If Chad had told Aria the truth already, then they'd just need to get her on track. Too bad Joshua wasn't there. Even though Zadkiel didn't show it much, the loss of Joshua hurt like hell. He still couldn't believe that all this time, Joshua was against him. His best friend. 

Was he the one who lured Heather to Oryn too? Nobody even knew that the prince was leaving Imperial Kingdom. Who else would it be but him? 

However, Zadkiel no longer dwelled on the thought. With his new plan in mind that he knew for sure was going to work, he found his way around the castle quite well, after asking a few guards for directions, of course. 

First, he went to Chad's room, ready and excited to share his idea to save them both from the wrath of the king and queen, but Chad wasn't there. He remembered that Chad earlier mentioned that he switched rooms, so he went to Chad's second sleeping quarters, but he wasn't there either.