In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 43: Do Better~

A couple of shorter updates, but I hope you like them! Lemme know what you think, good and bad! Love you all!

Louis was older than Liam, and had been the next in line for the throne. After the death of their father, he had mysteriously disappeared and Liam had become king. Some thought Liam had died. No one in the other countries understood what had happened, but this was apparently old news to those of Wolvecaster. It was a well-kept secret, particularly for something that didn't seem to be much of a secret.

She continued to struggle with the concept, until the girl (Louis' daughter?) wiggled down from his grasp.

She walked over to Zayn and smiled up at him.

"Hello, Ambassador," she said. "Thank you for bringing Father back to visit early."

"You're welcome, Elise," he replied softly.

"Everyone out," the King commanded to the rest of the room at large. "I would speak to my brother in private."

There was a shuffling as the nobles did as he said, leaving the room and throwing confused glances at the three interlopers.

The girl, Elise, turned to Kalysta when they left, her eyes widening. Then, her brow furrowed and she stared.

"You're a girl!" she accused. "Why are you dressed as a boy?"

"Aren't you smart?" Kalysta pointed out gently. Her heart stuttered at the idea that someone saw through the disguise so easily. She kneeled so as to be at eye-level with Elise. "I'm testing to see how many people actually notice," she joked. "You're the first."

The girl smiled, proud of herself.

"My name is Princess Elise," she announced formally. "Who are you?"

"You can call me Lyra," Kalysta answered.

Zayn coughed derisively, which Elise noticed, for she turned to give him a searching stare.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Lyra," she said next, choosing to ignore the interruption.

"Elise, it is time for me to talk with your Father and the Ambassador," Liam cut in.

The girl's face fell, but she nodded and said, "I will go study." She walked over and hugged Louis one more time. "How long are you here, Pa-pa?"

"Only a couple of days," he murmured sadly.

"But I will see you later?"

"Yes."

She released him and curtsied to the room at large.

"I will return later," she announced.

"Yes, thank you, Elise," the King said.

The child Princess exited with all the decorum of an older woman.

The silence was ominous, full of unspoken emotion.

"So you have returned, brother, and you come with this woman who I doubt greatly is as unimportant as she makes herself to be," the King commented. "Why have you come back, and in such strange company? And, Ambassador, what is your role in this?"

Zayn and Louis exchanged looks before Zayn nodded.

"It's time, brother," Louis said, stepping past the Ambassador and thereby accepting and asserting his own authority. "It is time to acknowledge that this problem with Murdoch isn't going to right itself, isn't going to be fixed by ignoring it. We must move before Wolvecaster is consumed. No longer can we sit idly by while nations fall, not when our aide is so desperately needed."

Louis' words infuriated the King. Unlike in Cheshire, Liam didn't have any societal dictations keeping him from showing it either. He was furious and barely containing it.

"How dare you come back and speak such things to me, brother," Liam snapped. "You leave me here to take your place, to assume the duty you abandoned, and then tell me I've ruled incorrectly? I have a response and that is, go back to sea and stop pretending you care for anything other than yourself. I won't deny you visiting the twins, but this audience is over. Go, take the Ambassador and your little chit there, and don't come before me again."

No! Kalysta rushed forward, kneeling slightly ahead of Louis.

"Please, oh King, I beg you," she called out. "I am no chit, but a fellow Royal. My name is Kalysta, and I am the Princess of Elysium."

The King was startled, to say the least. "No noblewoman would be seen in a man's clothing," he countered harshly.

Was that all anyone would ever comment on? She was starting to realize how ridiculous it was to judge someone's aptitude or standing based on their attire.

"You of all people know the lengths one must go to in order to properly serve their people," she breathed.

"Why are you here then, and poorly disguised as a man?"

Kalysta took a moment, trying to gather her thoughts; this meeting was nothing like she'd envisioned it.

"However you feel toward your brother, I beg that you do not make a rash choice when so many lives are at stake." There was no more pride for her. Harry wouldn't support her, but maybe Liam would. "I know that you've done your best. I know that it is difficult to protect a nation that is not strong in military, does not have the lands and products to essentially purchase autonomy. I know it better than most. I can see you had to take the throne unexpectedly and under difficult circumstances. But Murdoch has stated his intention to move against Elysium, perhaps not in so many words. I have to move, because he won't stop. My father attempts diplomatic solutions, which, while admirable, would have me married to Prince Niall, proving to do nothing but give Murdoch another peaceful takeover. Then he'll be after you next and what can stop him?

"We have to stand together. Do not push me away, I plead. You've sat out of the political fray, but our parents did the same when Murdoch took Bradford and you see how well that's turned out. We have a choice, and the opportunity, to do better than our parents."

She lowered her head, showing obeisance, and hoping that it was enough. Once more, she was at the mercy of a king.

A/N: She's learning, eh? It's taken her a lot to get here, but she's willing to put herself out there and forget her pride. What do you think is next? Will Liam set aside his bitterness toward Louis and help her/them?? Share your thoughts!

All the love,

~Kari~