Chapter 124: Chapter 124 - Betrayal (Part 2)
Peace had been established between the Kingdom of Seraiya and the Kingdom of Tricus in the west for nearly two decades.
Caravans traded across the border weekly.
Farmers traded food and livestock.
Merchants did not have anything to fear.
People in both kingdoms grew up knowing that there would never be any conflict in the western border of their nation.
Peace was not only based on treaties but also on family.
Years ago, Princess Eleanor KingHeart, eldest daughter of King Aldric and Queen Celestine, got married to Crown Prince Victor of Tricus. Their marriage united their two royal families and ended years of conflict.
People called it the beginning of a new era.
King Aldric believed it entirely.
One sunny day, preparations for another diplomatic discussion were made.
The purpose of this discussion was to discuss how to secure their borders because of increasing number of monsters.
King Aldric decided to come himself to the discussion.
"If the monsters keep coming west," said King Aldric during the council meeting, "we need to unite."
Arthur adjusted the King’s cape before departure.
"Your Majesty, can I ask the Royal Hands to stay near you?"
King Aldric smiled warmly.
"You are too concerned."
Arthur replied with a faint smile.
"It is my job."
Lucas, the Commander of the Royal Knights, saluted.
"Sir, our borders are safe. Our scouts did not see any strange signs."
Lilia came with her father to the gates of the palace.
"I will greet my sister for you."
King Aldric gently patted her head.
"I will."
"And if we finish discussing everything, perhaps we’ll host them for the Summer Festival?"
Lilia smiled.
"I want that."
The royal delegation left on that sunny day.
Neither of them could imagine that would be the last time that Lilia saw her father leaving the capital.
Several days later...
The delegation arrived to the majestic city of Tricus.
While the capital of Seraiya was build of white marble, the city of Tricus was built of dark granite. Its tall walls guarded the fertile plains.
Flags with silver lion symbol of the Kingdom of Tricus waved proudly.
Crown Prince Victor personally greeted the delegation.
He smiled politely.
"Your Majesty."
"Welcome."
King Aldric greeted back.
"It has been a long time."
Victor bowed.
"Council hall has been prepared."
Everything seemed fine.
Servants were smiling.
Musicians played.
Nobles were discussing friendly.
Even Arthur, although he kept his suspicion, could not find anything wrong.
But...
Something was wrong.
There were too many soldiers standing near the council hall.
There were too few servants running around.
Arthur’s intuition was telling that something was wrong.
The discussion started after noon.
There were maps covering the table.
They discussed the way to fortify forts, protect merchants and share patrol duties.
Victor spoke perfectly polite.
"Our kingdoms have prospered together."
King Aldric nodded.
"And they will do it again."
The discussion went peacefully for several hours.
Then...
All of a sudden...
The huge doors of the hall were shut.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
His hand immediately took a sword.
"What is going on?"
The smiling faces at the table disappeared.
Soldiers appeared in the side corridors.
Crossbows were lifted.
Steel surrounded the delegation of Seraiya.
Victor slowly rose.
His smiling face disappeared.
Only ambition remained.
"I’m afraid..."
"...that our alliance ends today."
Silence covered the hall.
King Aldric looked at him in disbelief.
"Victor..."
"What have you done?"
Victor walked towards King Aldric.
He stood behind King Aldric.
"I’ve gotten tired of living in the shadow of Seraiya."
"Our kingdoms have never been equal."
"They have just been waiting for the stronger one to take the future."
Then... All of a sudden... With dagger penetrating the heart of King.
Keep stabbing... As the blood flowing threw to the floor.
Arthur stood between
the soldiers who were walking towards him.
"Your Majesty."
"You should leave."
King Aldric tried to be calm despite the pain .
"So..."
"This was your plan all along."
Victor did not answer.
Outside the castle...
Chaos started.
The visiting delegation got separated among the chaos.
Royal Knights were fighting hard trying to evacuate the civilians.
Messengers ran towards the border.
In minutes, what started as a diplomatic discussion became betrayal.
Somewhere else in the castle...
Prince Adrian of fourteen was taking a tour in the royal garden accompanied by a light guard.
He admired the blooming roses, not knowing what happens in the castle at this very moment.
Suddenly, armed soldiers surrounded the path.
Guards drew their weapons.
"Protect the prince!"
The guards formed a defensive circle around the prince.
Adrian’s eyes widened.
"What is happening?"
One loyal knight knelt besides him.
"Your Highness..."
"We need to leave."
Before they could run, more soldiers blocked all exits.
The young prince got separated from his guards amidst the chaos.
His last sight was the royal flag of Seraiya disappearing behind the garden walls.
In other rooms of the castle...
Princess Eleanor’s chambers were open.
The maids were looking everywhere.
Her jewelry was still there.
Her royal seal laid upon the table.
But Eleanor herself was gone.
Some people said that she has run away.
Others said that she has been taken somewhere else in mysterious circumstances.
No witnesses could agree on that.
No servants could confirm that.
It was like she has just disappeared.
At the sunset time, a lone rider crossed the border riding at full speed.
His horse was exhausted.
His armor was damaged.
Not even stopping to rest, he galloped to the capital of Seraiya.
He had only one message.
The discussions have failed.
Our western alliance has broken apart.
Prince Adrian has been kidnapped.
Princess Eleanor is missing.
And the King Aldric...
Is DEAD.
The age of peace which lasted for decades ended before the first stars appeared in the western sky.
It was already dark in Seraiya, the Royal Capital.
The white stone streets were filled with thousands of lights as merchants were packing up their stands and people were getting ready for dinner.
There were no disturbances inside the Royal Palace.
Princess Lilia was sitting in the royal library reading the reports about trading in the borderland and drinking tea.
There was another cup on the table in front of her.
It was untouched.
As usual.
She glanced at the cup, then softly smiled to herself.
"I did it again."
But before she could take the cup out...
BANG!
The doors to the library opened violently.
An excited palace guard ran in, breathing hard.
"Your Highness!"
Lilia got up immediately.
"What happened?"
The knight was trying to breathe deeply.
"A royal messenger from the western border just arrived."
"The matter is... urgent."
Lilia’s heart started beating faster.
Without another word, she rushed to the throne room.
The warm and merry mood of the palace was disappearing with each step she made.
The great hall was already filled with ministers, generals and royal advisers.
No one said anything.
A single messenger was kneeling before the throne.
His armor was worn and covered with dust from the endless ride.
The royal banner of king Aldric, which used to decorate his lance, was hanging in tatters by his side.
Queen Celestine got up from her throne slowly.
"Where is His Majesty?"
The messenger bowed.
His voice was trembling.
"Your Majesty..."
"The peace conference in Tricus..."
"...was a trap."
All hall went silent.
And the messenger went on speaking with effort.
"The royal delegation was attacked."
"Our forces became separated in the middle of the chaos."
"Prince Adrian has been captured."
Everyone was making an involuntary sound.
Lilia’s emerald eyes were widening.
"Adrian?"
The messenger nodded.
"We haven’t managed to recover him."
Silence.
Silence so profound that the crackle of the torches became deafening.
Queen Celestine took a single step forward.
"And..."
"...the King?"
The messenger closed his eyes.
"The royal escort informs that His Majesty did not return from the meeting."
"We have lost him."
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Queen Celestine was staring at the messenger, as if refusing to believe his words.
And then...
The strength left her body.
"L... Lady Celestine!"
Several ladies-in-waiting ran to help the Queen fall.
Royal physicians were summoned immediately.
Lilia knelt next to her mother and held her hand gently.
"Mother!"
"Please wake up!"
The physicians quickly examined the Queen and carried her on a stretcher.
The oldest physician looked at Lilia with deep concern.
"The shock has been severe."
"Her Majesty must rest immediately."
"Further tension can make her condition worse."
Lilia nodded.
While they were carrying away the Queen, she was reaching her fingers towards the empty throne.
"Aldric..."
She whispered the name of her husband before falling unconscious.
The news spread through the palace incredibly quickly.
Servants were crying quietly in the halls.
Knights were tightening their grip on their swords.
The great bells of the capital began ringing, calling all the members of the Royal Council.
An hour passed...
Arthur came.
Still dirty from his ride, he strode into the throne room.
Usually calm expression was gone.
Report.
The messenger told everything again.
Arthur listened silently.
After he finished his speech, Arthur closed his eyes.
"So..."
"It has happened finally."
He opened his eyes slowly.
And looked at Lilia.
"We have been betrayed."
Lilia lowered her head.
"Yes."
Arthur clenched his fists.
For years he was trusting Tricus.
For years he was believing that the peace would stay.
But now...
Everything had changed.
The heavy steps of boots echoed in the palace.
Lucas entered in silver armor of the Commander of the Royal Knights.
He was accompanied by several captains.
He saluted sharply.
"Your Highness."
"The First, Third and Fifth Knight Orders have assembled."
"The city gates are sealed."
"Scouts have been sent toward the western frontier."
Arthur nodded.
"Good."
Lucas spread the map on the council table.
"We have also reinforced every fortress on the border."
"If this betrayal will lead to war..."
"We will be prepared."
His voice sounded confident.
Professional.
But under that discipline...
Aruther could see grief in her eyes.
Adrian was not only the prince of the kingdom.
He was family.
Ministers turned their attention to the throne.
One of the elderly nobles stepped forward.
"Your Highness..."
"With Her Majesty unable to govern..."
"And His Majesty missing..."
"The kingdom needs a leader."
Those words hit Lilia harder than any blade.
She looked at the empty throne slowly.
Yesterday...
Her father was sitting there.
And now...
There was only silence.
The Royal Chancellor fell on his knees.
"Princess Lilia KingHeart."
"Until the Prince returns..."
"We request that you become the Regent of Seraiya."
One by one...
All ministers fell on their knees.
The generals followed.
Then the Royal Knights.
Finally...
Arthur and Lucas fell on their knees too.
"We pledge our loyalty..."
"...to the Regent."
Lilia was standing petrified.
She was only sixteen.
She had learned politics.
She had participated in the council meetings.
But she did not expect to sit on her father’s throne like this.
So...
She slowly approached it.
Every step was unbelievably heavy.
But when she turned around and faced the court, she saw hundreds of people staring at her, expecting her decision.
Expecting hope.
Expecting strength.
Taking a deep breath, she sat on the Lion Throne.
The gold crown lying next to it was untouched.
She was not the Queen yet.
She was just the person who had to support the kingdom.
Lilia straightened.
Even though her heart was full of grief, her voice did not shake.
"Send additional scouts."
"Defend every village near the western border."
"Increase the capital’s defense system."
"Abandon no citizen."
Arthur smiled faintly.
The frightened princess was gone.
Now she was a ruler.
Outside the palace, the rain began to fall on the capital.
The citizens were looking at the royal castle, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Inside the throne room, sixteen-year-old Lilia KingHeart was taking the burden of the whole kingdom on herself.
And she did not even realize it...
The first steps to the legend which the future history will call the Mad Princess were already made.
