The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 7 - LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

*FLASHBACK*

"My lord! Earl is here. He's..." Albert called out.
"Be there in a minute!" Edward answered. Albert flinched as if someone poked his kidney. He was an old stubborn man who liked things a certain way. He kept on trying to change Edward's way of talking but Edward won't budge!

"Ah, at last!" Chris hugged Edward as he stepped down the grand staircase, into the hall where Chris was already waiting.
"Good morning!" he replied.
"Morning! Good or bad? It's yet to be decided." Chris answered grimly.
"Is everything okay?"
"Far from okay!"
"What?"
"I was supposed to come here 4 days ago, do you know why I didn't?"
"No...?" Edward gave him a confused look.
"Well, things have not been... let's say, in place! Ever since the announcement I made... things seem a bit... heated! That Baldwin convinced more people against you and wants to take your name off the list of nobles."
"Oh? Can he?"
"Nah! He can try!" Chris laughed.
"Then what's the trouble?"
"Trouble... is for you! You're too young and... I..." Chris looked away, deep in his own thoughts.
"For what?"
"They want you to prove yourself..."
"How?"
"He wants you to find the royal flower!"
"A flower?" Edward raised his eyebrow.
"It's not just any flower, my lord!" Albert said coldly.
"He's right! It's very important to our heritage. But finding it is extremely difficult. It's deep within the forest... somewhere near the hidden lake, they say. Even I haven't been there. It's impossible to find. People have died in attempts! There hasn't been even one person who returned... in over a hundred years. In fact, even their bodies weren't found. They say, there's some sort of demon. Obviously, he wants you to get hurt..."
"Or die!" Edward completed his sentence. Chris gave him a sympathetic look.
"You cannot allow this!" Albert shot an angry look at Chris. "He's the only Harrington alive. People will try to end the house... you know the reasons. I swear to God if something happens to Lord Edward..."
"I hear you, Albert. I want this as much as you do! We need a Hale to stop this and we're out of luck. These aren't just words. That dumb codger had every noble house sign his petition to remove Ed even before he could take charge."
"Petition?" Albert's brows shot up in surprise.
"Charge?" Edward looked between Albert and Chris.
"Oh, my dear boy." Chris covered his face with his hands. "Why do you think your application got approved out of the blue? Why do you think a Hale came forward to help you?"
"What? It was a plan?" Edward stood up.
"You could say that. Nothing in this realm happens 'luckily', you know." Albert made air quotes with his fingers.
"I'm gonna need more than that!" Edward said.
"Stuart Hale, the king of the valley? Reckon you heard of him?" Chris asked.
"Yes, of course!"
"Well, he's the one that came forward to sign your mother's application. He summoned me to the palace a week before you got our letter. He was sick and dying. He was never a good king, you see. But he was a kind man. He signed the application on the condition that you ascend in his place as king regent until the rightful heir arrives! And if the heir fails to claim the throne, you shall be crowned." Chris sighed. Edward froze. "Yes, in a week, you'll be regent. He died shortly before you arrived. He was really looking forward to seeing you. Please forgive me for what I've done. But I had no choice." Chris joined his hands and bowed his head.
"What the hell? You're not serious... are you? You can't be serious!" Edward said, bewildered.
"I wish it were a joke!" Chris buried his face again.
"I can't! You know I can't!!" Edward stepped away.
"If you don't, the crown will be up for a fight! I don't know why he specifically chose you but you're more worthy of the title than anyone else here. Other nobles are more interested in treasures than people! Please, don't let the crown fall into the wrong hands. I beg you!!" Chris cried.
"But... I hardly know anything about this place. And as you just mentioned, people are already against me! How...?" Edward sat down and clutched his head in his hands. He was breathing heavily and soon, his voice turned into low growls.
"I know it's hard. Especially at your age. But it's the right thing to do. That's what your mother would have done! That's what she would have wanted you to do! The valley needs you!" Chris placed a hand on his shoulder, comforting. Edward jerked it away.
"I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF COMPLETELY... AND YOU WANT ME TO BE A FUCKIN REGENT?" he barked. Chris stepped back at the sight of his fangs. Edward looked away and took deep breaths. He closed his eyes and soon he was breathing normally. An awkward silence followed.

"Thank you, for understanding. I hope you'll be at my estate this evening. We will start with duels." Chris hugged Edward on his way out.
"Wait. You...?" Edward looked at him, from head to toe. Chris chuckled.
"Looks can be deceiving, my lord." he winked.

Edward couldn't sleep that night. He was lying in bed when he pulled his phone out. He played a recording.
"Take care, Harrington. I know things have been... rough between us lately. You'll be faaaaar away somewhere in that creepy-sounding valley... ooh, it's kinda spooky! But remember, you're the best. You can do anything if you set your mind to it..." he turned it off and put it back. He sighed as his screen flashed a smiling Natalie and Edward at him.
"Nat!" he whispered to himself.

"WHAT THE HELL, MAN?" a man was shouting as Edward stepped out of his car. He stopped a few feet away from the screaming man. An elf was ushering the man away.
"Sir, I request you to leave at once!" the elf said, softly.
"I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!! I NEED TO TALK TO THE EARL!" he yelled even louder.
"What's going on?" Edward asked. The man turned towards him.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" he asked.
"That's no way to talk to anyone, Sean." Alyssia walked forward.
"Oh... hey! Tell this stupid elf here to let go of my arm. I don't want to hurt him." Sean said, trying to sound calm. Alyssia's eyebrows shot up at the words stupid elf.
"No elf is stupid. Let go of him, Alvin. And, well... what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Ask your father. He gave me a job and hasn't paid yet." Sean sighed.
"Oh?"
"What oh? Ask him. He hasn't!" he said, irritated.
"Okay, okay. Just calm down. I'll talk to him." she smiled.
"Ahem." Edward cleared his throat.
"And who's this idiot?" Sean said, loud enough for Edward to hear. Edward opened his mouth to answer but decided otherwise. Alyssia smacked him and looked at Edward, apologetically.
"I'm Edward... Edward Harrington!" he extended his hand. Sean slapped it away.
"Another noble?" Sean muttered.
"Someone is trying to be nice... even for a jerk like yourselves!" Edward said angrily but somehow still managed to keep a calm face. Sean turned in surprise and gaped at him.
"I apologize! Sean doesn't... well... he's just like that." she looked at Sean, who scowled in response. "He's kind of allergic to nobles" she leaned in to whisper. Edward choked a laugh.
"You don't have to apologize, Alyssia. And as for you Sir, I'm not like other nobles! In fact, I wasn't one until a few days ago. So I'm going to try again..." he extended his hand again. Sean looked at Alyssia who nodded in response. Sean sighed and shook hands with him.
"Thank God!" Alyssia sighed.
"Why?" Sean asked.
"Umm... he's going to be a regent king in a week... so thank God that he's such a generous man!" Alyssia answered. Sean stumbled over his own foot but Edward caught his arm in time.
"Watch it!" Edward said.
"Uh, thanks." the corners of Sean's ears turned red as the words left his mouth.
"Oh, my God! My ears are deceiving me!" Alyssia giggled.
"Yeah, yeah. Relish the rare sight!" Sean scoffed.
"Am I missing something here?" Edward asked.
"Sean never uses the THREE GOLDEN WORDS!" Alyssia laughed loudly.
"Hey! I'm not that bad!!"
"Wow! Anyways, I was here to see Chris!" Edward said, checking his watch. His eyes lingered over an engraved text on the top of his watch: WATCH IT, HARRINGTON! It was a gift from Natalie for his 18th birthday. He sighed, then smiled.
"Here I am, my lord!" Chris bowed a little. He was not wearing his shirt, flaunting his body.
"Earl!" Sean said.
"Sean? What are you..." Chris was surprised.
"I did your job... I need the money!" Sean said, trying not to sound angry.
"Oh... yes, yes! Sure... we'll uh... talk after the training." Chris said, nervously. "Oh, God! I just remembered. I have some unfinished business at the court. I... I shall leave." he left without a word.
"What? What's wrong with him?" Alyssia looked at her father walk away.
"Dodgy!" Sean raised a brow.
"I was supposed to learn..." Edward sighed. Alyssia looked between Sean and Edward.
"I'll teach you. I'm well-trained." Sean walked towards the clearing. Alyssia touched his forehead with her hand to check.
"First, you say Thanks... now you wanna help?" she giggled. "Who are you and what did you do to Sean?" she laughed. Sean made faces.

After a while, Alyssia handed them swords. Edward set the sword down and removed his shirt. His chiselled abs were surely a treat! Sean looked at Alyssia from the corner of his eye and removed his shirt, exposing his abs. She raised a brow at him and smirked.
"Well, who are you fighting?" she asked.
"I'll fight him!" Sean pointed at Edward.
"What? You're trained and it's his first day. You're supposed to teach him!" Alyssia said, shocked.
"Well, lesson number 1... It doesn't matter how much or how less you are trained. Fight to save your ass. Mind you... I aim to kill. Let's see what you've got, city boy!" Sean smirked at Edward.