In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 15: Right and Wrong~

A/N: Again, apologies for taking so long. The life of a college student is hectic and crazy. In my defense, I've also had a sinus infection.

Anyway, this is a shorter chapter, but I already have the next one written, so it'll be a double update today!! Woo!! Enjoy! :)

For all his insistence that he wasn't a dutiful king, Kalysta found her father awake despite the late hour and pouring over financial summaries in his study.

"Oh, Pa-pa, it's obvious I learned my dedication from the best," she commented, stepping into his study. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Dearest, I am a creature born from adversity," he said. "My first choice would not be to scour documents to scrounge up money our country doesn't possess."

"Not your first choice, perhaps, but you're still here at the first hour of the morning," she pointed out.

"I suppose so," he acquiesced. "Now what has you up so late... or early?"

"The Ambassador approached me with a stunning concept, after we discussed Hayden's incarceration," she began, but he cut her off.

"Hayden? What's this about Hayden?"

"I had him arrested," she answered, confused at his consternation. "He confessed to raping Emily, my personal maid."

"Release him," he breathed, "release him immediately."

"I beg your pardon, Father," she protested, "but I thought I just heard you order me to release a criminal."

"Release him," he repeated.

"I won't! We may not be able to hang the prick, but he can certainly let him fume while he cogitates on what he did wrong. Besides..." She bit her lip, wondering how much she should reveal to him. She'd never questioned her father's rationale before, but she was starting to. "I've got the situation well in hand. You don't have to worry about Hayden."

"We already walk on a knife's edge, Kalysta!" he spouted. "Would you incite Murdoch further by arresting his favorite nephew?"

"He committed a capital offense within our borders!" she cried. "His position and bloodlines should be of no consequence!" Her father was starting to sound like a Mullingan, always tempering punishments based on having friends in high positions, another thing she despised about their ruling class.

"I do not decide how the world operates, I simply live in it." His eyes were narrowed and his breaths came heavy. "You may think me fearful, but I have more than one life to think of. It's terrible, what he's done, but we cannot endanger all of Elysium for this."

"This isn't about fear any longer, Father," she responded coldly. "This is about right and wrong. You're choosing wrong. What kind of ruler can you claim to be if you are willing to sacrifice everything our nation stands for in order to take the easy way out? You're right. We do stand on a knife's edge and on one side is difficult morality, on the other is an easy decision accompanied by the abandonment of all we've championed for generations."

"I don't expect you to understand this at your age," her father scoffed. "Choosing the lesser of two evils has never been an easy decision. It's very difficult for me to do this, but it is necessary."

"And I thought at your age you would realize the importance of this," she answered in kind. "Age is supposed to grant you wisdom, not remove it. This is no choice between two evils. This is a clear choice between right and wrong! Choose carefully, I beg of you, because the efficacy of all we've worked for rests on you."

With that last sentence she left without being dismissed. She would leave him to think about what she had said. The conversation had her reeling. Never had she so wholly disagreed with her father, and never had she voiced her conflict in so forthright a manner.

She didn't want to take matters into her own hands, but she would do what needed to be done.

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The walk to her room left her seething and thinking about how stupidity could infect anyone, even her level-headed father. He had never been so ready to succumb to pressure before. Although, she had to admit that they had never faced pressure like this, the threat of a battle looming.

"What has that Ambassador done to have you so petulant this time?" Delia asked as Kalysta entered the room. Emily was there as well, holding a towel, presumably for Kalysta to use in her bath. Delia really was serious about training her well.

"Surprisingly, it's not the Ambassador this time," Kalysta sighed. "It's my father."

"That is a surprise," Delia commented. "What is going on?"

Kalysta looked to Emily, unsure how to explain that she had to release the man who had raped the poor girl. She steeled herself.

"Emily, I have something I need to tell you," she said quietly.

"Yes, milady?"

"I found the man that... hurt you," she said.

"W-well that's a blessing," Emily commented, obviously unsure of how to respond.

"He is in the dungeons, but my father plans to release him soon." Kalysta said this quickly, hoping that Emily wouldn't have a breakdown at the news.

She hoped too much, it seemed.

"B-but you said-..." The girl seemed to be having trouble breathing.

"I'm sorry, Emily," Kalysta sighed. "I arrested him after he confessed, but he is King Murdoch's nephew. My father believes it best if we release him because if not, we risk causing a war between our nations."

The girl gasped for air, the fear of knowing the man was out again making her lose all semblance of control.

"Emily, I need you to breathe," Delia said, cutting in. "Breathe inward through your nose, and out through your mouth. Do it, child!" Emily did as commanded, but as she started to breathe properly, tears began to run down her face and sobs replaced her erratic breathing patterns.

"Emily, I'm sorry," Kalysta repeated. "I'm sorry this has happened."

"H-he's going to get me again," Emily gasped. "He's going to find me!"

"No, he won't!" Kalysta said sharply. "I won't let him anywhere near you. You stay in this room, and don't leave unless Delia is with you. She'll take care of you." A thought struck Kalysta a moment later. "And Emily, there are ways to find justice for you outside of court rooms and trials. He won't get away with this, no matter who he's related to, I promise."

Emily just nodded, still crying.

"Let's go to the kitchens, child," Delia said, pulling Emily under her arm. "We'll get something to eat and I'll talk you through this." They walked toward the door and Delia said, "I'll be back later to clean up, milady. Try not to mess up your room too much."

Kalysta scoffed, but they were already gone.

She removed her gown and climbed into bed. It had been such a very long day. How could so much have changed, gone wrong, and been fixed all in the matter of a day? She would never understand it.

A/N: As always, PLEASE comment. Feedback is amazing. As I've read before, "don't be a ghost reader". If you're reading this book, leave some feedback, an "OMG" or whatever. Thanks!!