30 Days As A Substitute Prince

Chapter 34

The world was spinning. 

The room was shaking. 

It even felt as if the ground had slipped from underneath Aria's feet as the words kept echoing in her head. 

She took Chad.

Aria couldn't quite grasp what Joshua had said simply because it felt surreal. Only this morning, they were by the duck pond in each other's arms, after going so long without seeing each other. Now, he is gone again--maybe forever. 

That simple thought finally did it, and it felt as if her feet had given up on her. A sob broke through her lips, and luckily, Zadkiel's strong arms were there to catch her on her way to the ground. Joshua watched as the very thing he dreaded from the minute he realized what his mother had done unfolded before him. The only reason why he returned was to tell Aria the truth and inform her about what happened to Chad. 

He still couldn't believe he fell for Heather's tricks, thinking that she would actually leave them alone. He had considered telling Heather that Chad wasn't the actual prince, that the real prince was far away and wouldn't come back. But he thought she'd be angered by it, or worse, seek the real prince. 

Either way, it didn't seem like a good plan. So, he had hoped that she would've kept her word. He had hoped that she had just enough love for him to see his pain and give him this one request. All his life, he had been in the shadow of this vendetta, and all he wanted to do was make it all disappear. But he should've known better. And now Chad will have to pay. 

It was only an hour ago when he returned to the house where Heather had been staying when he found a note from her. For the time Aria and Chad had been away, Heather had been trying to figure out where they were. Naturally, this made her upset, and the minute she realized that the princesses were back this morning, she sprang into action once again, plotting to get the prince. She ensured to keep her son busy as she came to the castle, and it was far too late when Joshua had found the brief yet serious note. 

I have your prince, so we have no reason to correspond again. It was nice seeing you again. 

-Mother

It was a heart-wrenching minute for Joshua, realizing that his mother had never changed. The pain got worse when he remembered Chad, Zadkiel, and even Aria. 

He knew she'd hurt the most, and the sobbing mess she was in as Zadkiel held her fed his assumption even more. He hated to see her like this, but each second that passed meant a second closer to Chad's death, and he was sure that she wouldn't like that very much. 

"The only reason why I came was to tell you, Aria," Joshua said. "I assumed you'd have your parents get some guards so we could—"

"No," she interrupted through her sobs. "My parents cannot kn-know. At least not yet. If they do, then they would forbid me from going with you to-to save him." Though her words were muffled, it was pretty clear to Joshua, and it didn't take her to say it twice for him to protest. 

"No. I will not involve you too. Heather is far too dangerous, which is why I needed to have some royal guards for backup." 

"I have to agree with Joshua," Zadkiel interjected. "If what I've heard so far is true, Heather won't hesitate to kill you. God forbid if we're too late and she sees you as a next target--"

"We won't be too late," she said. "He will be okay. We leave now." Aria wrenched her arm from Zadkiel's hold and bolted for the door, but Joshua was swift to catch her. 

He sighed as she wriggled and protested in his grip. "Princess, you are driven by your emotions, and I understand that you want to save Chad. Trust me, I do too. But if we go head-on like this with no plan and no backup, we all will die, including Chad."