Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 31

Theo felt an odd pressure on his chest. Was his injury acting up again? He hadn't felt anything since they redressed him the first time.

" You're physically fine, maybe you would feel a little itchiness or irritation from the wound. But I don't see anything that would cause pressure. Your bloodwork seems normal."

He nodded and buttoned up his shirt.

" Maybe you're jealous." The doctor giggled. She placed a piece of candy next to him.

" Enjoy your day."

Was he jealous? He didn't like the idea of Darius recently. He didn't feel any way about him before but now with Clara...

There it was again. An odd squeezing pressure on his chest.

**

" Are you killing Soto tonight?"

" Yes, the king is going to call a meeting with Soto. During the meeting, a guard will sneak in and kill him."

A shiver ran down my spine, it was so creepy how calm Oria was acting.

" You might think of me as cold and ruthless, but I'm not. I love Theo and the royal family too much for what Soto is planning for the kingdom."

I stayed silent, I had been too careless in the last few hours. Too comfortable because it is Oria who is talking to me, but she still had a gun. I needed to be more careful.

" I'm sure you have your reasons." I said, " I have painkillers in my apron, may I take one? My sides are aching."

Oria nodded.

I opened the bottle quickly and grabbed a pill. I really wasn't in much aching pain but I needed to make sure the Nine heard everything. I placed the bottle next to me.

" I didn't realize that you're hurt."

" I was attacked yesterday by the maids, they don't like me being with Theo," I answered quietly. I didn't want to think about Theo right now.

Oria looked alarmed, " They did that to you?"

" Yeah and I told Prince Theo, we couldn't be together because I didn't want to get attacked again." I lied, Oria was interested in what I had to say.

" I mean it doesn't matter anyway because apparently, all the princes received a ring at birth with their initials to give to their brides. And Theo gave the ring away to another maid."

If I could just get her far away from the gun and closer to me. I might be able to grab it before she does and bluff my way out.

" Who?" She leaned forward.

" Rachael."

**

It took a few hours but Darius managed to get thorough the maids. He fired eighty percent of them and they were in their rooms packing up to leave in the morning

One hundred and sixty maids knew about the attack and none of them bothered to help or warn Clara. It pricked his nerves.

He rubbed his neck, maybe now he would finally have some time to himself.

" Captain," Libby said.

" Yes." He was tired.

" Is this a bad time?"

" No, it's fine. You needed something?". Despite how tired he felt, he felt his heart pick up in speed.

She suddenly became shy. He tilted his head, this was new.

" I found something out about Clara and I think you should know."

" What is it?" He tensed, every time Clara was involved in something, somehow he always ended up in the mess.

" I was helping my roommate pack up for tomorrow and I saw that Tara was being taken away by guards. When she saw me, she started screaming about how Clara couldn't be trusted, that she's a spy and she wants to ruin us all. I'm not sure if she was trying to get her in trouble with you because of what happened but I thought you should know."

Darius needed to see her.

" I'll sort it out. Thank you for telling me."

Damnit, Clara.

He headed for Theo's room, there was a high chance they had already made up about whatever they were fighting about.

Darius bumped into someone. Rachael, another one of Theo's maids. She seemed frantic.

" Have you seen Clara or Oria? I've been searching for hours and now that a guard told me Clara was attacked, I'm really worried."

" Clara's missing?"

The plot to kill Theo was happening, Frederick probably had Clara locked up somewhere or killed. He preferred to think of the first option.

" Did you see Theo?" He asked, He was walking quickly to his door and Rachael followed suit.

" I just checked his room but he was gone."

He should have reported Clara as soon as he found out who she was. He should have worked harder at finding the culprit.

He pushed opened the door and found a very startled Prince Theo. His hair was dripping wet and it looked like he just stepped out of the shower.

" Theo!" Rachael exclaimed and rushed to hug him.

" Captain Darius, is something wrong?"

Darius looked around, " Clara's not here." He exhaled deeply. Damnit.

" Rachael take Theo to the saferoom and let no one in. Not the King, not Frederick, not Soto."

" Captain!" It was the first time, he had ever heard Theo raise his voice. And the first time he was looking at him.

" What happened to Clara?"

**

Why would Frederick and the King kidnap Clara if they weren't targeting Theo? She's his girlfriend. There wouldn't be a reason to take her-

Darius stopped unless she found out the real target. It was odd when Clara came to him, nearly crying that the King wanted Theo dead because of her.

He started running, they never were planning to kill Theo, they were planning to kill Soto.

He burst through the doors into Prince Soto's chambers. But no one was around, not even the Duchess who should have been on bed rest.

In the corner of his eye, he spotted the familiar flash of clothing. It was a maid.

" Where is Prince Soto and the Duchess?" He grabbed her by the arm.

She seemed panicked, " The Duchess left this morning to their summer home, she said she needed some fresh air. I don't know where Prince Soto is, he hasn't returned since this morning."

Darius couldn't breathe. He left quickly. Prince Theo was a mess when he explained what happened.

" I should have believed her when she told me. She would have stayed here and she would-" Prince Theo broke off.

" Your highness please, we shouldn't stay." Rachael was pleading.

He couldn't think about that now. The force field hadn't been deactivated which meant Clara and Soto were still in the castle. It was just a matter of who he would find first.