Behind the Royal Mask

A Feeling of Betrayal

Beatrice sat in the middle of the bed, tracing the patterns on the fabric with her fingers, absentmindedly. Her mind was swirling with conflicting emotions and the conversation she had with Alaric.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts and before she could respond, Derin stepped in. His gaze shifted to her, brows knitting together as he took in her tense expression. He walked over, his presence both comforting and uneasy, and sat down beside her.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

Beatrice's eyes darted up to him, the words tumbling out before she could hold them back. "Did ten civilians die because of Vigil last year?"

Derin's face froze, concern replaced with a startled, guarded look. She watched as he straightened, lips pressing together in an uneasy line. His hesitation was all the answer she needed, yet it only fueled her frustration.

"How did you find out?" he finally asked, his voice low.

Beatrice stood up abruptly, her fists clenched at her sides. "So it's true?" she demanded, her voice rising despite her best efforts to keep it steady. "It actually happened?"

Derin's shoulders slumped, and he nodded slowly, his eyes avoiding hers. "Yes," he admitted, "it's true. But Bea, it's not as simple as it sounds."

She took a shaky breath, staring at him. "Then explain it to me, Derin. Explain how ten innocent people lost their lives in the name of Vigil's 'justice'!"

He glanced at the door, then back at her, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was a mission gone wrong. We were targeting a convoy—part of Duke Etherwood's supply line. But they changed routes at the last minute. A few of our new members panicked, and... it turned into a mess. By the time we realized civilians were caught in the middle..." He shook his head, looking pained. "It was too late."

"And that's it?" she said, her voice barely audible. "Just an accident? Ten lives taken because someone panicked?"

He looked away, jaw clenched. "We didn't intend for anyone to get hurt, but in these kind of battles...things don't always go as we hope."

"Derin," she pressed, her voice quivering, "was it the only incident? Or were there others?"

He didn't answer right away, and that pause—the way his gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders sagging under some invisible burden—was enough to make her heart sink.

"There have been... other mistakes," he admitted quietly. "We've tried to keep collateral damage to a minimum, but—"

" 'Collateral damage,' " she interrupted, the bitterness seeping into her tone. "Is that what we're calling it now? Innocent lives reduced to... collateral damage?"

Derin winced. "Bea, this is war. And in war, there are casualties. No one in Vigil wants that to happen, but sometimes, things don't go according to plan. We can't always control every outcome. When you're fighting for something this big... sacrifices are inevitable."

Beatrice shook her head. "Sacrifices? We are talking about lives of people, Derin. Lives we had no right to take."

Derin let out a frustrated breath. "That's why your father didn't want you to know, Beatrice. You are too... idealistic. He said that you wouldn't understand what we are doing."

Beatrice flinched, a wave of fresh betrayal passing over her. "So you decided to keep me in the dark?"

"It wasn't my decision to make," Derin argued, his voice rising defensively. "Your father wanted you to stay focused on the goal, not on the... the setbacks along the way. He thought that if you knew about these incidents, it would shake your belief. And he was right, wasn't he?"