The Scholar and The Crown

26

Maude

It was already night when Father and I returned to the palace grounds. I stretched my arms in the air and yawned as we entered the Left Wing, where we teach the ladies in selection and house our faculty. There were still tasks I needed to finish before tomorrow.

"Goodnight, Father," I said, giving him a quick hug.

"Goodnight, Maude. Don't stay up too late," he replied with a smile before heading to his quarters.

I made my way through the dimly lit halls, my footsteps echoing softly on the polished floors. The palace was quiet at this hour, a stark contrast to the bustling activity during the day. 

I reached my office and opened the door, greeted by the familiar scent of parchment and ink.

Sitting down at my desk, I lit a small oil lamp to illuminate the space. Papers were scattered across the surface, and I began sorting through them, prioritizing the tasks that needed immediate attention—reports to finalize, lesson plans to prepare, and evaluations to complete.

 The workload seemed never-ending, but there was a strange comfort in the routine.

As I worked, my mind wandered back to Father's announcement about studying with Magnus and Maeve. It was an unexpected twist, but perhaps it was the change I needed.

Then I remembered I needed books from the royal library for tomorrow's lesson discussion. Sighing, I stood up, feeling the fatigue in my limbs but knowing it was a task that couldn't be postponed.

I grabbed my coat and draped it over my shoulders, heading out into the dimly lit corridors once more. The palace at night had a different feel, almost serene, with only the faint sound of distant footsteps and the occasional flicker of candlelight breaking the stillness.

The royal library was located in the central wing of the palace, a bit of a walk from the Left Wing. As I made my way there, I passed a few guards who nodded respectfully, and a handful of servants still attending to late-night duties.

When I reached the library, the grand doors loomed before me. Pushing them open, the familiar scent of old books and polished wood filled my senses. The library was massive, with towering shelves filled with volumes on every subject imaginable. 

I headed to the section dedicated to history and politics, knowing that tomorrow's lesson would cover the history of our kingdom's diplomacy. Finding the books I needed quickly, their titles well-known to me from previous studies, I grabbed them and hurried out of the library.

Is something going on?

Curiosity piqued, as I stepped into the corridor, I saw a group of knights rushing toward the main entrance of the palace, their armor clanking loudly with each step.

My heart quickened. Something must have happened to cause such a commotion. I decided to follow the knights, keeping a safe distance so as not to draw attention to myself.

I steeled myself, knowing that my curiosity had to take a backseat to my immediate task. I needed to get back to the Kaye Manor, and to do that, I had to pass through the main entrance where the knights were gathered.

Taking a deep breath, I started walking towards the main entrance, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible. The knights were still bustling around, but I managed to weave through the crowd without drawing too much attention to myself.

The usually serene palace was now buzzing with activity. Servants were whispering among themselves, their faces pale with worry. I caught snippets of their conversations as I passed by.

"An intruder..."

"...never seen anything like it..."

"Is the royal family safe?"

Approaching the main entrance, I saw more knights assembling, their expressions grim. The captain of the guard was barking orders, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Secure all exits! No one leaves the palace without my permission!"

An intruder? 

I stopped in my tracks, turning to watch the commotion unfolding in the main hall. The man being dragged by the guards looked frantic, his eyes wild with desperation.

"Let me go! I'm telling the truth!" he shouted again, struggling against the firm grip of the guards.

My breath caught in my throat as I took a closer look at the man. His features were strikingly similar to those of the King—same piercing eyes, same strong jawline. It was as if I were seeing a younger version of the King himself.

"The King needs to know this!"

I stood there, momentarily paralyzed by the sight. 

What could this mean? Was he a relative of the King, or was there something more sinister at play?

"What should I know?" The voice of the king echoed through the hall, causing the man to stop struggling against the guards.

"What now, Silas?" the king asked, his tone filled with both anger and confusion.

Silas? Wasn't it the king's cousin that he vanished from this kingdom 25 years ago?

"I came here to get my son!" Silas announced, shocking everyone present.

Son? But the king only had one son...

"How dare you?!" the king thundered, his anger palpable. "Lock him!"

"Sylvan, stop this charade! Stop using my son as your pawn!" Silas shouted back.

The king drew a knight's sword, pointing it dangerously close to Silas's neck. "He is my son, Silas!"

"No, Sylvan. Sylas is my son!" Silas insisted vehemently.

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