30 Days As A Substitute Prince

Chapter 33

"Joshua?"

To say they were shocked was an understatement. Seeing Joshua again was definitely not what either of them was expecting.

Joshua, too, was surprised to see Zadkiel. He hadn't been expecting him to back just yet, let alone be standing with Aria.

Joshua stepped forward to embrace his friend, but he was left devastated when Zadkiel backed away. He was about to ask why, but then he was faced with the rage of the princess.

"You!" She pointed an accusing finger at him as she pushed herself in front of Zadkiel. "How dare you!"

Her tears were back again, this time from the steaming anger she felt in herself for this man.

"Princess, please let me explain--"

"Explain?" She cut him off angrily. "You're a traitor!" She was screaming at the top of her lungs, most likely getting the attention of some of the guards. Zadkiel took matters into his hands by pulling them both inside the room and closing the door. That way, Aria's shouting world at least be muffled.

"I never liked you, you know? And I dare say you had somehow found your way in my sister's heart and shattered it to pieces when you left!"

The evident hurt on Joshua's face when Aria said that showed Zadkiel that what Liziath had said wasn't entirely wrong. Joshua was actually in love with that woman. So, why did he leave?

Hope for a friendship he once believed in sparked in Zadkiel's heart again, and before Aria could continue scolding him, he spoke up.

"Joshua? Why did you leave?" It was a simple question, yet it was so complex. Joshua eyed Aria sceptically for a while as if silently asking for permission to explain himself.

Heeding to his request, Aria folded her arms stubbornly over her chest as she decided to hear him out. He alone was probably the key to finding Chad. With the sudden thought of her beloved, Aria's anger for the man lessened as her worry resurfaced. If somehow Joshua is connected to his disappearance, then it wouldn't hurt to hear him out.

After seeing Aria's surrender, Joshua relaxed a bit until he remembered that he still had to explain everything. After all those years with the prince, this was finally the moment of truth. He was both relieved and worried--worried that Zadkiel would resent him for keeping such a truth from him but relieved of finally getting to say it.

Too long has he been under the power of that woman, even if they hadn't spoken in years. And now, good people are being hurt because of her crazy obsession. Joshua had tried to stop her--to appeal to whatever humanity she had left. But it was useless.

She tricked him too and went against his wishes to do the one thing he asked her not to do. Heather is a monster. He has known for years, but now he knows for sure.

"Joshua?" Zadkiel mumbled after seeing the look on his face. This snapped him back to reality, and he sighed deeply when he saw the two pairs of expectant eyes on him. There was no turning around now, but he already knew that from the minute he befriended Zadkiel. With one deep breath, Joshua began his story.

"I was 19 when I was sent to be your royal guard," Joshua started, and Zadkiel was already confused.

"Sent?" Zadkiel asked, knowing that guards were appointed, not 'sent' from somewhere.

Joshua sighed. "Yes, my friend. Sent."

Flashback

"Mother? Why must I do this? I cannot even protect myself, let alone a prince!"

"Oh, hush, child. This is what we have always wanted. We will finally get sweet revenge for what they did to us. It will be wonderful, my boy. You will see."