Royal Flower

Chapter Thirty

"Reese... Reese!"

Reese opened his eyes slowly. He saw the familiar dungeons walls and heard the familiar sound of clanging shackles. When he looked out the cell window, it appeared to be almost dawn.

"Reese," he heard someone urgently say again.

He turned his head to see Bryan, Devin, and Zane next to him sleeping soundly.

"Bryan," Reese greeted. So they got captured too.

Bryan sighed. "I hoped you had escaped by now. I tried to calculate an escape path the whole night, but the Azalea dungeons have strong security."

Reese shook his head. "Bryan, innocent lives were lost. What happened with Ivy is on me. It is time to be judged by Aster."

"You couldn't have known what would have happened," Bryan protested, almost seething in frustration. "This just proves that Raymond was right. The Azalea magic has the dangerous potential to spin out of control."

"Yes, my father was right, but I am still responsible for what happened. For that, I will face the consequences," Reese stated, determination in his voice and eyes.

Bryan scowled. He finally relented, "Then I will follow you, Reese."

"Thank you for supporting my decision," Reese nodded.

Reese peered out the window again and sighed, waiting for morning to come.

--

"Bring forth the prisoners," Aster proclaimed, resting his hands on his throne. Rose, Lily, Violet, and Acacia all sat in their respective thrones as well. All of them would dart a glance at Ivy's empty throne once in a while, but said nothing. Thierry stood to the far right, ready to take orders.

The doors opened and Aster narrowed his eyes as the four prisoners were dragged forth. Bryan was shoved forward first.

Aster immediately noticed Violet's urge to electrocute him, but she kept control of herself. Instead, she turned to Aster and said bitterly, "He is the one who shot me in the chest, and his wife was the one who shot Julian."

Bryan glared at Violet at the mention of his wife. Aster nodded, and said, "Bryan Hilton. You stand accused of high treason. I give you one chance to bring forth any information you deem necessary."

Bryan narrowed his eyes, and Aster mirrored him. Bryan raised his head arrogantly and replied, "Ivy has killed two of my best friends, Derek and Lorraine." He smirked when he saw most of the Azaleas shift uncomfortably at the mention of Ivy's name. "Violet has also mercilessly killed my beloved wife, Tania. As one of Raymond's last friends, my duty is to Reese."

Reese's eyes lit up from Bryan's loyalty, but said nothing.

Aster gestured his head, and Devin was then shoved forward. Thierry straightened, recognizing him as the boy who had attacked him on Rose's birthday party. Aster recognized him too.

"Devin Hilton. You also stand accused of high treason," Aster tilted his head, curious as to what a fourteen year old boy would want to say to him.

Violet gave a scoff when she realized that Devin was Bryan's son, and immediately glared at him with the same hate she did with Bryan.

"My duty is to Reese and my father," Devin stated, his voice unwavering. "What are you going to do, King Aster?" he asked, mocking Aster's title. "Are you going to execute two teenagers?" he then gestured his head to his brother, Zane. "I may be a Red Phoenix, but I've never killed anyone."

Devin stared intensely at Aster, who narrowed his eyes in turn. Aster knew what Devin really asked him. "Are you going to mercilessly execute two teenagers, just like your mother would?"