The Bloody Crown ||Sanders Sides

2. A Well Of Despair

Hehehehe we're just getting started.

TW: swearing, being kicked out, Remus, manipulation, lying, talks about murder, crying, threats of death,

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"I just... I still can't believe that dad is dead..." Remus trailed off, looking down at his hands. He and Roman were sitting in the Royal Gardens. Roman had said he wanted to talk, and Remus had gladly accepted since they hadn't had much time in the few days since Roman became king. "It's like everything's just been flipped."

"It really is," Roman said with a soft smile. "Everything has changed now."

"I'm actually really glad you wanted to talk," Remus stated. "Any ideas about who killed him? Clearly the fact that it was murder should be kept from people until we know who did it, but any ideas?"

"Absolutely none," Roman said quietly. "Paranoia hasn't found anything yet and clearly the murder happened in the later hours of the morning. He didn't even hear anything apparently, though he was right outside of the room."

"You don't think... you don't think he did it, right?" Remus whispered, glancing at Virgil, who was standing far enough away to see them without intruding. "What if Paranoia was the one who killed him? Are you sure we're safe?"

"Even if he was the one who killed father, if he wanted us dead we'd already be dead," Roman said, shaking his head. "It was likely someone from Elodia trying to spark up a conflict with us."

Elodia was the neighboring kingdom, known for violence and bloodshed. The people there were always restless, like a windup toy that was constantly being wound. Trouble seemed to be in their blood.

"Probably," Remus said with a sigh. "I just wish we could figure out who did it. I want to make whoever it was pay." Roman's eyes flashed with cold amusement, but Remus was too lost in thought to notice.

"We'll probably never find out," Roman mused. "However... there is some unifinished business now that I'm king..."

"What's that?" Remus tilted his head, staring at Roman with curious eyes. Roman flicked his eyes towards Virgil, who was much closer than he had been before.

"You." Remus' eyes widened in shock as suddenly a knife was being held to his throat. "Paranoia won't kill you... that is, unless I tell him to."

"Or if I just really feel like it," Virgil stated with a smirk. "There's no guarantee I won't just kill you."

"Paranoia now is not the time," Roman snapped.

"What- what's going on?" Remus asked, his voice shaking.

"You're a lose end, Remus." Roman's kind act had dropped, and in it's place was a cold expression. "And lose ends need to be taken care of."

"W-what are you going to do?" There were tears in Remus' eyes at he stared at Roman in shock, trying to ignore the knife that was up against his neck. He was fighting the panic that was inside of him, making his head spin and his blood run cold. "Y-you aren't going to kill me, are you?"

"Of course not..." Roman trailed off. "Unless you don't listen, of course. You're going to do exactly as I say, or I'll let Paranoia have his fun with you."

"What do you want from me?" Remus whispered. "What's so important that you would threaten to kill me?"

"I don't have to share anything with you," Roman stated coldly. "From now on you are stripped from your title as prince and will leave the castle immediately."

"What?" Remus couldn't process what he had just heard.

"He said  that you are no longer a prince, and that you have to leave. Now I'd listen before I lose my patience," Virgil snapped, removing the blade from Remus' neck. When Remus didn't move, Virgil let out a low growl. "Your time is ticking, ex prince. I'd suggest you run before I change my mindto let you go."

So Remus did. He ran to his room as fast as possible, quickly throwing on a cloak and running out. He could hear Virgil's laughter echoing through the hallway. Roman really wasn't even going to try and stop Virgil from killing him.

Remus felt his heart drop at the realization that Roman really didn't care. He wasn't going to be saved by anyone, and he was no longer a prince. There wasn't much kindness he would find anywhere with a possibility of death hung over his head.

Remus was running faster than he had ever had to before, his heart rate eratic. He didn't stop until he was in the middle of the nearest town, Colia, and then he promptly collapsed into the nearest alley. He couldn't hear Virgil following him, but then again, no one ever did.

He heard footsteps walk into the alley, but Remus couldn't bring himself to care if he was about to die or not. He had lost his home the only family he had left. He didn't care anymore.

Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts and making him flinch. He looked up at a man with glasses and a blue polo shirt with a cardigan wrapped around his shoulders, and let out a soft sigh of relief that it wasn't Virgil.

"Are you alright?"

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