**WARNING!** Heavy use of language and violence is present. Some scenes may not be suitable for younger readers.
This book, "Regal Rift," is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidenta...
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Overwhelmed by the revelations and chaos in the castle, Prince Lyxander felt an urgent need to escape.
Without a word to anyone, he turned and marched purposefully toward a familiar passage.
This hidden route, known only to a few, connected Eldoria Castle to the world outside, offering a secret escape.
His footsteps echoed softly as he traversed the dimly lit corridor, the walls closing in around him like the very secrets they concealed.
Reaching the exit, Lyxander emerged into the open air, his heart pounding.
He saw his horse, Marsh, waiting faithfully. He mounted quickly, the need to distance himself from the castle driving him onward.
Kicking Marsh into a gallop, he rode away from the castle, the distant sounds of turmoil fading into the background.
The familiar landscape of Eldoria blurred past him as he made his way toward a place of solace, a place where he could breathe and think, it was at Cassiel's family farm.
Arriving at the farm, Lyxander dismounted and surveyed the surroundings. The fields were eerily quiet, the usual signs of life conspicuously absent.
The farmhouse, typically bustling with activity, stood silent, a stark reminder that Cassiel was no longer here. Rhys had taken her, and the thought filled him with a mix of rage and sorrow.
He wandered the grounds, his steps heavy with the weight of recent events.
Memories of happier times spent here with Cassiel flooded his mind, each one a bittersweet reminder of what had been lost.
He found himself in the small, cozy garden where they had often sat and talked, the flowers now seeming to mourn her absence.
Lyxander sank to his knees, the enormity of his situation crashing down on him.
He had lost his father, discovered a brother he never knew he had, and now faced the daunting task of saving Cassiel and confronting Rhys. The burden felt almost too much to bear.
As he sat there, surrounded by the familiar yet now hauntingly empty farm, he allowed himself to grieve.
Tears streamed down his face as he silently vowed to find the strength to face the trials ahead.
He would save Cassiel. He would honor his father's final wish. And he would confront Rhys, not just as a prince, but as a brother determined to find the truth.
Hours had passed since Prince Lyxander's sudden disappearance, and the Eldorian Castle was engulfed in a flurry of activity.
The grand halls echoed with the hurried footsteps of guards and the worried murmurs of courtiers.
King Eirian's advisors, still reeling from the recent betrayal, now faced the additional crisis of a missing prince.
Queen Lyzandra, her face pale with worry, stood in the throne room directing the search efforts.
Her voice, usually calm and composed, now carried a note of desperation.
"Check the eastern wing again. Search the stables, the gardens, everywhere! He cannot have gone far."
The castle guards, their armor clinking with each step, scoured every corner of the vast estate.
Some had ventured into the nearby forest, hoping to find any trace of the prince. Others interrogated the staff, desperate for any clue that might lead them to Lyxander.
In the war room, maps of the surrounding area were spread across a large table.
General Linus, a seasoned warrior with a stern demeanor, leaned over one of the maps, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"We need to extend our search beyond the castle grounds," he declared, pointing to various locations on the map.
"He knows these lands well. We must consider all possible routes he might have taken."
Courtiers and advisors whispered amongst themselves, the atmosphere heavy with anxiety.
"Where could he have gone?" one of them murmured.
"He needs time," another replied softly.
"But we cannot afford to lose him now. Not after everything we've been through."
Meanwhile, the stable master approached Queen Lyzandra, his hat clutched nervously in his hands.
"Your Majesty," he began hesitantly, "Marsh, the prince's horse, is missing. I believe he must have taken him."
Queen Lyzandra's eyes widened with a mix of relief and concern.
"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"At least we know he left on his own terms. But we must find him before it's too late."
The castle's alarm bells had been silenced, but the sense of urgency remained palpable. The once festive atmosphere was now replaced by a somber determination to locate their missing prince.
Queen Lyzandra turned to General Linus, her expression resolute.
"Expand the search. Leave no stone unturned. We must find Lyxander and bring him back safely."
As the castle continued its frantic search, the distant sound of hooves echoed in the night, a reminder that somewhere out there, Prince Lyxander was grappling with the weight of his newfound truths and the daunting path that lay ahead.
Master Ellias traversed the hidden passage he had once taught Prince Lyxander, his steps quickening with each stride.
He knew this was the route the prince would take when seeking solitude, a sanctuary away from the chaos of the castle.
As he emerged into the open air, Ellias's gaze swept over the familiar landscape, his mind racing with thoughts of the young prince.
He couldn't believe the betrayal that had unfolded, the treachery of Rhys cutting deep into his heart.
Now he sees the devastation he had wrought, Ellias struggled to reconcile the image of the boy he had known with the villain he had become.
Determined to find Prince Lyxander and offer him solace in this dark hour, Ellias pressed on, his resolve unwavering.
He knew that the prince needed him now more than ever, and he would not rest until he had found him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of searching, Ellias spotted a figure sitting alone in the garden of Cassiel's farm.
It was Prince Lyxander, his posture slumped and his eyes distant, lost in his own thoughts.
Approaching quietly, Ellias spoke softly, his voice laced with concern.
"Prince Lyxander, everyone has been worried about you."
Prince Lyxander glanced up, his eyes red-rimmed from tears, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face.
