The Scholar and The Crown

27

Maude

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

"Maude!" I jolted when a familiar voice called my name from behind. I immediately turned my head and saw my father.

"Father!"

"What are you doing here?" he whispered, his eyes darting towards the commotion.

"I'm finishing some errands." I showed him the book I had retrieved from the library.

He sighed in disbelief. "Go back to the Kaye Manor for now," he said, his tone firm but concerned.

He accompanied me until we reached just outside the palace gates.

"Maude, don't say a word to anyone about what you just witnessed, alright?" Father's voice was stern but caring.

I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. "What should I spread? When I already knew the truth firsthand?" I assured him.

Father had already told my siblings and me about this secret that the palace had been keeping from the people for so long. Being scholars, we were accustomed to knowing the truth behind such veiled matters.

He sighed, relieved. "Good. Remember, some truths are too dangerous to be shared carelessly."

"I understand, Father. I'll be careful," I promised.

"Now go, and get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow," he said, giving me a quick hug before turning back towards the palace.

I watched him go, then turned and headed back to the Kaye Manor, my thoughts a whirlwind of the night's revelations. It's like my core memory of my father telling us that secret back when I was a student came back in my mind.

I yawned and decided to go back to the mansion. I had just taken a few steps when I noticed a shadow leaning against one of the pillars.

"So, you knew?" The familiar voice of Prince—no, Sylas—came from the shadows.

Too bad, he also knew he wasn't really a prince to begin with.

"Scholars around the kingdom knew that," I shrugged off, trying to sound nonchalant.

I looked up at the starry sky.

"This got too complicated quickly." I whispered to myself.

"Maybe that's the reason why you aren't addressing me properly to begin with?" Sylas mused. I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious.

I laughed. "No, you just lack some manners, that's why," I confessed.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Fair enough."

He's too calm.

Maybe he was prepared for this kind of day? The Day that his real father would come in here and get him.

I sighed and reached into my pocket. "Here!" I tossed him the pumpkin candy my mother had made, which my siblings had brought when they came to the capital. Sylas caught it easily.

"What is this?" he asked, examining the candy.

"It's pumpkin candy. You can have it," I said, nodding toward the treat in his hand. "It actually tastes better than you'd think."

As I spoke, I heard a rustle in the bushes nearby, making me glance in that direction for a moment. I then turned my back to him, ready to continue my walk. "Also, that candy has the same color as your eyes." I waved to him and resumed my walk.

"There's probably no more classes tomorrow," I muttered to myself, setting my pen down and gazing out the window in front of my study table.

It was fortunate everyone was asleep when I returned to the Kaye mansion. They must have been exhausted from the recent festival. It had been a long and tiring day for me as well.

The scandal at the palace was too significant to keep from the public. Things will change starting tomorrow. But this kind of issue could have been mitigated if the royals accepted that they didn't need a male heir to rule the kingdom.

King Sylvan and Queen Elara never had a male offspring. Princess Amara and Princess Lysandra were their only children. However, the former King Silva didn't want a woman to lead the kingdom. This forced King Sylvan to take in his cousin's child, who was a year older than Princess Amara, and make him the Crown Prince.

In the rule book, there was no law stating that a male heir must reign. It simply required the firstborn legitimate child of the King and Queen.

As I reflected on this, I couldn't help but feel frustrated by the outdated views that had led to the current situation. If only the kingdom could embrace a more progressive stance, recognizing the capabilities of their princesses, we wouldn't be in this predicament.

Tomorrow would bring challenges, but perhaps it would also be a chance for change—a chance for the kingdom to see that leadership wasn't confined to one gender.

I hope the royals know that, I thought, stretching my arms in the air. At least I might be going home one of these days. Since Sylas wasn't really a prince, the Crown Princess selection would likely be halted.

Too bad, Lady Sia seemed to have already fallen for Sylas. But Sylas still has royal blood in him, given that King Sylvan and his father are cousins on their father's side, which carried the royal bloodline for centuries. They can still marry each other.

"And I can finally go back home—" I paused, suddenly remembering that I would be sent to Magnus' school.

Sighing, I leaned back in my chair. The thought of returning home was bittersweet. On one hand, I missed my family and the simplicity of life away from the palace. On the other hand, the prospect of continuing my studies under Magnus' watchful eye wasn't exactly thrilling.

"Can't catch a break," I muttered to myself, closing my book and tidying up my papers.

I glanced around my room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The Kaye mansion had become a second home to me, but the idea of leaving it behind for Magnus' school was daunting. I would have to make the most of these last few days here.

"Maybe it won't be so bad," I tried to reassure myself. "At least I'll be learning something new."

With that thought, I prepared for bed.

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