The Prince's Male Concubine

Chapter 27: A Lie

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Augustus yelled.

"Oh calm yourself. It was just a little white lie" Emory rolled her eyes.

"Emory, you proclaimed that Prince Nathaniel Hawthorne of the Kingdom of Lendorr is the father of your non-existent child?!"

Yes, you read that correct. Princess Emory Gother, the heiress to the throne of the Kingdom of Speldia, lied about conceiving a child with Prince Nathaniel. It was all a ruse to ruin  his banquet.

"Well how will they know? Unless you inform them of this ruse"

"Emory, you fucking idiot, you know that falsely accusing royalty can get you executed, so you best pray to the gods that they don't find out. My word, I didn't think you would be such an idiot"

"Hey, annoying me isn't your duty, prince"

Augustus sighed and said, "It's fine. We'll manufacture a wax stomach for you to wear under all your clothing that will act as your expanding stomach. We will then fake a miscarriage and get all of this over and done with"

"What?! B-but this is the only time that Nathaniel cares about my wellbeing. I can't lose thi-"

"Emory, you lied to the person that you proclaim that you adore more than anyone else on Earth! Would you want to begin your relationship on the foundation that is unleveled by lies?!" Augustus snapped, causing Emory to stay quiet. He was right. She didn't think of what would happen if they find out.

"Thank you for your help, Augie, I don't know where I'd be without you" she said as she hugged her brother.

"Of course, Emmy. I will always look out for you, my queen" Augustus hugged her back as he rubbed her back.

Emory was glad that Augustus was still looking out for her, even though they did fight quite a lot.

But all of this was about to turn around and stab them in the back. Sooner, rather than later...

--

"So, who is this woman and what is she doing here?" Brandon asked as they sat in the lounge, with a lady from the kingdom of Speldia amongst them. Archer brought her tea and she thanked him and took a sip as he sat next to Nathaniel.

"So, you have news regarding Princess Emory's pregnancy, correct?" Jonathan asked the strange lady.

"Indeed. My name is Flora. I am a maid from the palace of Speldia and I am so sorry to inform you of this but," Flora took a deep breath in and looked down at her tea before snapping her eyes straight up at Nathaniel, startling both him and Prince Archer.

"Prince Nathaniel Hawthorne, you are not the father to Princess Emory's child, for she does not have a child in her womb to begin with."

"...excuse me?" Nathaniel scoffed. "But she said that she is pregnant. Why- I'm sorry but I'm finding it very hard to understand what you are saying"

"Your royal highness, Princess Emory has always hated Prince Archer, correct?"

"Well... you aren't wrong-" Archer coughed.

"After receiving the news that you and Prince Archer had gotten married, she was filled with anger and frustration. That's when she came up with this ruse..."

*FLASHBACK*

"I was serving Princess Emory her tea during her tea party, when she ordered her coachman to ready her carriage.

'Where are you departing to, my princess?' One of her lady friends asked.

'Well, dear, I will be making my way to Archer and Nathaniel's banquet. I must tell him about my pregnancy and that he shall be a father to our child' the princess smirked.

'But you are a virgin, my queen' another one of her lady friends gasped.

'But does he know?' Emory smirked.

Then recently, I overheard a conversation between her and Prince Augustus, confirming my suspicions.

'Emory, you proclaimed that Prince Nathaniel Hawthorne of the Kingdom of Lendorr is the father of your non-existent child?!'

Those were the prince's words that confirmed what I was theorizing."

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"That is why I felt obligated to speak to you, Royal Hawthornes. I'm ashamed that the heiress to my home kingdom would do such a thing to this great kingdom. I ask you to forgive me for not informing you earlier. If I did, then all of this would not have happened" Flora said, her voice sounding disappointed.

The four Hawthornes were shocked at this new information. A heavy atmosphere took over as silence filled the room.

"Flora," Jonathan spoke up.

"Yes, your majesty?"

"We need you to confirm your family's location" he continued.

"I... I'm not quite sure I follow, sire" Flora said, confused.

"We must protect your family from the Gothers. They might attack your children once we confront them. We will confront them only after we know that your family is safe in Lendorr. Brandon"

"Brother," Brandon nodded in agreement. "I will speak to the Commandant of the knights to proceed with a reconciliation mission"

"Perfect. Nathaniel-" Jonathan turned to his brother to find him pale.

Archer understood what he felt. Emory got his hopes up. He was prepared to have a child of his own. He planned to name the child either Anthony, if it were a boy, Angelique, if it were a girl, in memory of the Queen. He felt angry. Angry that Emory would go to such low lows just to ruin him and Archer's relationship. Now, he hated her. He resented her. He couldn't stand her.

"Let us destroy Speldia..."

--