Life Beyond the Doors

Chapter 65 : Order

Everi's heart was pounding with anxiety as she frantically tried to communicate with Prince Mathias. She knew that Prince Aiden was the one who had imprisoned her in this dreadful place, and she needed to know if Mathias had found him yet.

Before she could even finish her question, Mathias gently grasped her shoulders, his eyes narrowing with a look of concern.

"Have you found Prince Aiden?" Everi asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's the one who imprisoned me here. Sina was with Prince Aiden..."

Mathias shook his head, his expression grave. "No, we haven't seen him," he replied. "But Sylvia is currently looking for the murder weapon Prince Aiden used to kill our mothers."

Everi bit her lip as she took in this news. She had a sinking feeling deep in her gut that they were all in grave danger.

Suddenly, Mathias swept her up into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. Everi felt her face flush with embarrassment as he carried her along, her feet dangling limply beneath her.

"Your highness, I can walk on my own," she protested weakly.

"Shh, don't move," Mathias murmured soothingly. "Let me–"

But before he could finish his sentence, Marlin interrupted them, her voice laced with frustration.

"We are really invisible in his eyes, aren't we?" she muttered to Prince Ethan, who was standing beside her.

He nodded.

Everi felt a surge of embarrassment at the comment, but she knew she couldn't take it personally. They were all under a great deal of stress and pressure, and they were just trying to survive.

As they moved through the crumbling stone walls of the castle, Everi felt a sense of foreboding settle over her. She knew they were running out of time, and if they didn't find Prince Aiden soon, they might all be doomed.

The sun had barely risen when Prince Mathias sprang into action. He didn't waste a single moment as he sent out a royal order to capture Prince Aiden, the prime suspect in the murder of Concubine Amara and the empress.

As the day wore on, tension only continued to rise within the palace walls. There was a sense of urgency that hung thick in the air as everyone awaited news of Prince Aiden's capture.

In the evening, the king called for a private meeting with Prince Mathias and Prince Ethan to discuss the events that had transpired. They sat in the grand hall, surrounded by the opulent decor of their noble family.

The room was quiet, each man lost in thought as they considered the weight of the matter at hand. The death of Concubine Amara was a tragic event, but the fact that Prince Aiden was responsible made it all the more complicated.

He also killed the empress.

Finally, Prince Mathias spoke up, his voice taut with emotion. "We have to catch Prince Aiden, Father. He's the one who did this. He can't be allowed to go unpunished."

Prince Ethan added his voice to the conversation, agreeing with his brother. "We can't let him get away with this. Justice must be served."

The king listened to his sons' arguments with a heavy heart. It was difficult to sit there and face the reality that his own son was capable of something so horrific. He hesitated for a moment, struggling with his own emotions.

But in the end, he knew that he had to make the tough decision. "You're right. We have to capture him and bring him to justice," he finally said, his voice firm.

The room fell silent once more, each man lost in his own thoughts. None of them spoke of the pain they felt at the idea of one of their own being responsible for such a heinous crime. But they knew that they had a duty to serve, no matter how difficult it may be.

The king's hesitation was palpable, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and disbelief. "Are you sure it was Prince Aiden?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

When he said that, suddenly the door burst open and Sylvia came in holding something. The scared Sylvia was no more .

"This is the evidence your majesty...!"

The king's eyes widened in shock as he looked at the murder weapon, which Sylvia had just handed over to him. It was a sharp, silver dagger with intricate designs etched onto the handle. The king's hand trembled as he reached out to take it, his fingers closing around it tightly.

Sylvia had been the one to find the dagger earlier that morning, and she had immediately brought it to Prince Mathias and Prince Ethan, knowing that it could be the key to solving the murder mystery.

As the king inspected the dagger, his mind raced with a thousand thoughts and questions.

Prince Mathias and Prince Ethan exchanged glances, then turned back to face their father. "Yes, Father," Mathias replied with conviction. "All evidence points to him. We have to bring him to justice, no matter who he is."

The king nodded slowly, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the decision. It was difficult to accept that his own son could be capable of such a heinous crime.

"I understand," the king said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Do what you have to do. But please, bring him back alive. I want to hear what he has to say for himself."

Prince Mathias and Prince Ethan nodded, understanding the king's request. They knew it wouldn't be easy to capture Prince Aiden, but they were determined to see justice served.

As they left the grand hall, the tension in the air was almost palpable. The palace was abuzz with whispers and rumors about the murder of Concubine Amara and  the empress death.

More was Prince Aiden's involvement. It was a delicate situation, one that had the potential to tear their family apart.

But Prince Mathias and Prince Ethan were determined to see it through. They would capture their brother and bring him to justice, no matter what it took. For the sake of their family and their kingdom, they couldn't afford to fail.

After hours of searching, Mathias and Ethan were starting to lose hope. They had scoured every inch of the palace, from the grand ballroom to the servants' quarters. But there was no sign of Prince Aiden anywhere, not even a trace.

Just then, a guard came rushing towards them, panting and breathless. "Your highness, we found something! You should come and take a look," he exclaimed urgently.

Without delay, Mathias and Ethan followed the guard to what appeared to be a secret passageway hidden behind a tapestry. They eagerly followed the guard into the darkness, their hearts racing with anticipation.

As they made their way through the winding tunnels, Mathias couldn't help but wonder who could have built them and for what purpose. It was clear that whoever had created them was skilled at concealing their work.

But their thoughts quickly turned back to their mission as they reached the end of the passage. To their surprise, they found themselves in a small room that looked like it had been untouched for years. It was clear that nobody had been in there for a very long time, and yet, as they looked around, they realized that there was still a faint odor coming.

As they followed the faint odor, Mathias suddenly froze. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. Ethan turned to look at his brother and saw him staring at a corspe.

"It was Sina's...."