The New King (Sequel to The Prince Behind the Veil)

Chapter 4: Explanation

Violet stomped all the way to Grasmere's palace. By the time she arrived, her legs ached, she was soaking wet, and very, VERY angry.

"I demand to see Prince Edward, at once!" Violet shouted to a guard in the palace.

"Madam, you are soaking wet. Please change into some dry clothes before speaking with the prisoner," he replied.

The guard did have a point, so Violet stomped upstairs, changed out of her purple ball gown, and into a midnight blue silk.

After changing, Violet asked another guard for permission to see Edward, and headed for the dungeons.

It was very dark in the dungeon. The walls had a few moldy spots on the beige stones, and it reeked of decay. Violet almost felt bad for Edward.

"Prince Edward!" The guard shouted at one of the cells, pulling out a key ring, selecting a silver key. "Princess Violet is here to speak with you."

"So he hasn't escaped?" Violet thought, very puzzled. It was worth a shot to ask the prince where Thomas was, though.

"Violet, my darling!" The disguised Simon answered, sitting on the cold, stone bench. "I haven't seen you for quite some time, love!"

Violet stepped in the cell. She felt a drop of water hit her head, and looked up. There was a crack between the ceiling stones. Rain water had been leaking in, leaving a puddle under her feet.

"Edward?" Violet grumbled, standing a few feet away from him. "What have you done with Thomas?"

Simon stared at Violet for a while, then said, "I haven't done a thing to that fool!"

"Then who else would have him, hmm?" Violet replied, getting angrier by the second. She knew Edward had done something to Thomas, but wasn't admitting it.

"I swear! I didn't do anything! Edward probably took him the Kingdom Vi-" Simon tensed, realizing he had just told Violet very his secret. "Oh, Edward's going to kill me!" Simon thought.

Violet opened her mouth to say something, but it just stayed in an o shape. Was this really Edward? Or someone else?

"What- are you even Prince Edward?" Violet asked, raising an eyebrow.

Simon looked up at her, bit his lip, then sighed. "No," he said. "I'm not Edward. I'm just an earl named Simon, in a really bad situation,"

"But... wait, you! What was Edward's plan? And, why did he take Thomas?" Violet replied, stepping closer.

"Edward disguised me as himself, then built some

kingdom, getting the courtiers from his own palace, and naming the place Kingdom Violet, after you, of course.

"Then, Edward decided he needed to get you back. So, he thought if he brought Thomas to the Kingdom Violet, that you would find Thomas, free him, and then Edward would trap both of you. Probably killing Thomas," Simon finished, then added under his breath, "If Thomas isn't dead now."

Violet paused. "Oh no," she sat down beside Simon, trying her best not to cry. "Do you know where the portal to the Kingdom Violet is?"

Simon looked at Violet. "Yes... well sort of. I still have the plans Edward and I created, displaying all possible locations for the portal. We can try each one of them and then find the real one."

"We?" Violet asked. "You want to come along too? I thought you were in league with Edward?"

Simon sighed, placing his elbows on his legs, placing his head in his hands. "Honestly, I don't want to be a part of this at all. I just got tricked by Edward, and can't find my way out!"

Violet put her hand on Simon's leg. "I know how you feel. Say, Edward used magic to disguise you?" Simon nodded. "Then, let's undo it!"

"But, your majesty!" Simon said, standing up. "I can't use my magic to undo the spell, and you don't have any!"

Violet winked, then pulled her wand out of her bodice.

Simon, eyes wide, said, "How do we get past the guards?"

"Leave it to me!" Violet walked over to the guard

standing by Simon's cell, and said, "Excuse me, sir? Prince Edward has escaped, disguised this young man as himself. I would like to take him in for questioning, please."

The guard looked Simon up and down. "How do you know he's not lying?"

"Oh, I can tell," Violet turned around and smiled at Simon. At least she had one more good person on her side.

"Alright, come on!" The guard handcuffed Simon, and rushed him out of the cell. Violet followed, raising her wand just behind Simon, and undid the disguise spell.

She studied Simon for a while. He wore soft, midnight blue pants, a black tunic, and a brown coat. His hair was also red.

Violet hoped that she could trust Simon, and that he wasn't some phony like Edward was.... and still is.