The Royal Curse

Twenty Three - The Cells

Kace Holland

"Mallor, you cannot be serious. You cannot mean to tell us that, before my brother died in the fire, he knew about the Ring and he chose to include it in his will. You cannot expect us to follow that—"

"Prince Nicholyn's will surely can't be stronger than the decision of the trial today. He's dead for God's sake!" Princess Senna added.

Mallor glanced between us, then back at the lords who shared similar confused looks. "Your highnesses, I do not know what this will means or what the proper course of action is."

"Prince Nicholyn is dead," Rafe, the bastard, reiterated. As bastardly as he was, even he was infuriated by the implications of this revelation. Why was he angry about this? One would've thought him to be relieved that King Lius could be spared. "I mean, what good is his word, and why should we give a shit?"

"You are speaking of my son," my father now spoke. "Watch yourself."

"Why did he include that in his will?" I spun to face my father.

His head was tilt to the ground as he answered. "He is the Dark Prince—he always knew his place in this family. Unlike you."

"Yes, I'm sure Prince Nicholyn would be overcome with joy if he saw you in chains," Princess Senna said, serving him a pointed glare.

Surprisingly, my father looked up at her and smiled, though didn't say anything back.

"Return him to his cell while we attempt to remedy this... situation," I ordered the guards. It took no more than a second for the guards to heave my father and walk him out the room.

The questions were written all over the lords's faces: what do we do? What do I do? Nicholyn would know. I couldn't even ask him because, for some reason, he hasn't responded to my letters, and I have a strong feeling that this was the reason why. That he knew what he did was wrong and he was avoiding accountability. He might've just ruined all of Entorre. He might've ruined the monarchy—and he is galavanting around Thaeleck hiding behind a mask and a ridiculous alias. I needed him to respond and explain to me what the hell was going on—

Mallor and Princess Senna whispered, then exited the room together while the lords bombarded me with questions.

All except one. Rafe.

"I will have an answer for you all by the conclusion of the gala tonight. Now exit my palace while I handle these matters."

The floor shook from their protests. I couldn't deal with them—not when I knew there was something going on. Nicholyn knew. Mallor knows.

Princsss Senna tried having Mallor removed, but all of a sudden, she has confided in him rather consistently. Think, Kace. Princess Senna, as difficult as she was to figure out, was not interested in Mallor romantically. She knew something, and Mallor did, too. And apparently Rafe did, too.

As the lords were escorted out, I grabbed ahold of Rafe's arm, stopping him. "Are you upset that things aren't going your way, Prince Kace?"

"Do not mock me."

"You are completely powerless. Forgive me if I'm not exactly threatened by you."