The Academy For The Aces: BOOK 1 OF THE ACE SERIES

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Andrew took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving Faith's eyes. "I want you to stay here at the palace with me because I believe it may not be safe for you at the school. There are things I haven't told you, things about my past..." he admitted, his voice tinged with concern.

Faith nodded, her expression serious as she listened to him. "I appreciate your concern, but I need you to explain everything to me from the beginning," she said firmly. "Starting with the mark."

Andrew took a moment to gather his thoughts before he began, "My mother, Queen Theresa, is the daughter of the King of Arden, my grandfather. She fell in love with a mundane king, left Arden, and gave birth to my sister and me. However, I inherited the mark. That makes me the next heir to the throne of Arden."

Faith's eyes widened in surprise, her mind trying to process the revelation. "So you're the Prince and you're supposed to be the next king of Arden?"

Andrew nodded, "Yes, that's correct. I've been to Arden, I've lived there for the first few years of my life. But as I grew older, I started to feel confined, like there were expectations placed upon me that I couldn't meet. I wanted to leave, to explore the world beyond the palace walls, but my grandfather forbade it."

"And then one day, I couldn't take it any longer. I felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of my responsibilities. So I made a choice, a reckless one perhaps. I escaped Arden and came to the mundane world, returning to my parents" he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

Faith listened intently, her heart going out to Andrew. "Does Antheia know of this?" she said softly, understanding the gravity of his decision.

"She only knows mere fragments of the truth," Andrew said, "the burdens of royal life are already enough. Why would I add more to her worries by telling her she has a long lost evil grandfather and her brother is to accept the throne of a place that shouldn't exist"

Faith nodded with empathy, realizing the weight of Andrew's concerns. "It's a lot to bear, and you wanted to shield her from that," she said softly, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "But keeping such secrets can also be a heavy burden for you."

Andrew sighed, appreciating Faith's understanding. "You're right," he admitted. "I've carried this burden alone for so long, afraid of the consequences and the impact it might have on those I care about. But now that you know, I feel like a weight has been lifted."

As Faith stood there, her heart swelled with a mix of emotions. She was grateful that Andrew had trusted her enough to share his deepest secrets and the burdens he had been carrying alone. The realization of how much he had been grappling with weighed heavily on her, but at the same time, she couldn't help but ask the questions that weighed on her mind.

"Why were you studying the Book of Arden, if you already knew about it? And what does it have to do with my grandfather's disappearance" She questioned.

Andrew took a deep breath, contemplating his answer. "The Book of Arden contains ancient knowledge and secrets about the kingdom. It's not just about my lineage, but also about the history of
the people and the power that lies within the Mark of the King," he explained.

"I wanted to understand the full extent of my responsibilities and the potential consequences of my actions," Andrew continued. "But I also hoped that somewhere in those pages, I might find a way to break free from the expectations placed upon me and find a life that I truly desired."

Faith listened attentively, realizing the weight of the burden he carried. "So, the Book of Arden holds the key to your destiny," she said softly.

"In a way, yes," Andrew replied. "It's said that the book contains prophecies and guidance for the next ruler of Arden. But it's also filled with warnings and dangers that come with wielding the power of the Mark."

"As for your grandfather's disappearance," he continued, "I have reason to believe that it's linked to the secrets hidden within the book. The missing page you mentioned earlier might be the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding his vanishing."

Faith's eyes widened with curiosity and concern. "Do you think he knew about the book? Is that why he disappeared?"

Andrew nodded solemnly. "It's possible. Your grandfather was a brilliant man, and I believe he was entangled in the complexities of Arden's history. His knowledge of the kingdom might have made him a target for those who seek to control the power of the Mark."

Faith's mind raced, trying to process the implications of Andrew's words. The idea that her grandfather might have been involved in a world she knew nothing about was both thrilling and unsettling. She wanted to know more, to understand the connection between her family's past and the enigmatic realm of Arden.

"But why keep all this a secret from me?" Faith asked, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and hurt. "Why didn't you trust me enough to tell me the truth?"

Andrew's gaze softened as he reached for her hand, gently squeezing it. "I was afraid," he admitted. "Afraid that if you knew the truth, you would be in danger, that you might be dragged into a world you weren't prepared for. I wanted to protect you, to shield you from the darkness that lurks within Arden."

"Is that why you took out that page from the book?" Faith questioned and Andrew's eyebrows furrowed, "What page?"

Faith's expression turned grave as she realized the implications of the missing page. "While I was studying the book, I noticed that there was a page torn out," she confessed, her voice tinged with concern. "It seemed to be a significant part of the text, and I couldn't find any trace of it."

Andrew's eyes widened with worry. "Are you saying that someone deliberately removed a page from the Book of Arden?" he asked, his mind racing with possibilities.

"It appears that way," Faith replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "And based on what I've learned, that missing page might contain crucial information about the Mark of the King and its potential dangers."

Andrew's expression darkened as he processed the gravity of the situation. "If someone tampered with the book, it means there could be forces at play that don't want me to know the truth," he said. "I need to find out who did this and why."

Faith nodded in agreement, her determination matching his own. "We should be cautious, Andrew," she cautioned. "There's a reason the page was removed, and we don't know who we can trust."

"I won't let fear dictate my actions anymore," Andrew said firmly. "I want to embrace my destiny and the responsibility that comes with it. But I can't do it alone. I need your help, Faith."

Faith raised an eyebrow and shot him a playful smirk. "Oh, so you finally realized you can't handle all this on your own?" she retorted, feigning surprise. "What about all that talk about not offering any assistance in my endeavors?"

Andrew chuckled, not at all deterred by her snarky remark. "Well, it seems I've come to my senses," he replied with a grin. "And who better to help me than the girl who managed to sneak into my quarters unnoticed?"

Faith couldn't help but laugh at his response. "Touché," she said with a wink. "Alright, Andrew, you've got yourself a partner in crime. Let's unravel the mysteries of Arden together."

Faith couldn't help but laugh at his response. "Touché," she said with a wink. "Alright, Andrew, you've got yourself a partner in crime. Let's unravel the mysteries of Arden together."

Determined to proceed with their plan, Andrew led Faith toward the door. However, as they reached the threshold, they froze in shock as they saw who stood there.

"Looking for this?" she said with a sly smile, holding the Book of Arden in her hands.

"So much for going unnoticed," Faith muttered under her breath, frustration creeping into her voice.