It wasn't news that many people disliked the mere existence of Prince Ivan. So hearing that he was awake made many of them disappointed and then annoyed when he began to throw a tantrum when he heard that his mother had been taken to the hot palace and he was still not being allowed to leave his chamber.
He had barely enough information about what was happening in the palace, nor did he know how Luciana was doing. There was no way in hell he was going to let himself be confined in his room.
He tried to go through the window, and as soon as he touched it, it burned him harshly, the pain sending him flying away from there. He just remembered that his witch of a mother had ordered for them to be coated with wolfsbane to confine him inside the last time.
Maybe she did indeed deserve to be punished like that. But as long as the punishment was not coming from him directly, he was not going to let that happen.
He continued to constitute a nuisance by banging on the door with the little energy he had left. He also threw everything in his room against the door and tried to slice through it with his sword.
After an hour of his craziness, his door opened.
He was ready to strike at whoever was on the other end, but he paused when he found Sir Rager and some guards behind him, and he eyed them unpleasantly.
"HOW DARE YOU TREAT A PRINCE IN THIS FOUL MANNER? DO YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR LIFE—" He began to cough as his throat went dry from all the yelling he had been doing.
Sir Rager simply stared into his room at all the mess on the floor and shook his head.
"I am sure you are aware of all that has been happening within the palace." Sir Rager mentioned to him.
"I don't care about any stupid thing happening in the palace. Get out of my way!" Ivan said as he tried to walk away, but the man blocked his way.
"The queen is being suspected of several crimes. Especially being responsible for poisoning the King."
"What?!" Ivan asked in disbelief. "Have you lost your senses, old man?"
"The poison the King is suspected to be suffering from was found in her special safe. And if she has planned to get rid of the king, it has to be because of you. And that is... treason."
"What? You think my mother and I tried to get rid of the King?"
"Not only the king. But Prince Harold and his bride as well. It is a well-known fact that you attacked Prince Harold with a poisoned sword. Prior to that, he was attacked on the banquet night, and so was his bride."
He scoffed in disbelief. "Your point is?"
"You are a suspect. Therefore, you will continue to remain in your chamber. But first of all, we would have to search your chamber."
"YOU WILL NOT DO SUCH A THING TO A PRINCE!"
"Okay," Sir Rager said to humour him before he gestured at two guards to follow him inside the chamber while the other three guarded the door so Ivan could not leave. They even drew their swords at the annoyed Ivan, who could only rant but was too weak to move. Not only had he been starving and dehydrated for days, but he had also fallen into a long sleep. So he felt weak all over.
He decided to forgive them and let them do as they pleased for now. But he took note of all their faces. He was going to ruin their lives.
Unfortunately, it seemed like his life was going to get ruined first because they found two potions in his chamber. He recognized the one he had used on his sword, but the second one was something he had never seen before in his entire life and had no idea why it was inside his chamber.
*******
Paulina raced toward the direction her mistress had taken. She was not very smart, but she knew quite well that her mistress, Princess Amber, was back. She was supposed to be excited. But instead, she was scared.
She wanted to meet her, but at the same time, she was too frightened to.
Fortunately, she found Harold coming from the opposite direction.
"My... P-Prince..." she called in a hurry.
Whether it was Amber or Alicia, she believed she could trust Harold with it.
He looked up at her with a weak gaze, and she quickly pointed in the direction Amber had taken in a panic as she said, "She... went that way. She.. is leaving the palace."
Despite his ill health, he went in that direction, and as soon as he found her, he drew her into the nearby room, but she pushed him with force, making him stumble and hit his back on the wall, hissing out in pain.
"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Me!" Amber warned in a dark voice as soon as she faced him.
Her eyes were blazing red and angry. She looked a mess.
Her hair was scattered, and she still had dried blood on her face from the residue that she had refused to wipe off. Her hair and dress also had blood on them.
The strong stench of blood was hurting Harold's nose, and the urge to throw up grew.
"You can't... leave. Alicia... where is Alicia?" He managed to ask.
"You... are the son of the King." She spoke quietly as she looked at him.
"Amber—"
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THE NAME MY MOTHER GAVE ME!" she barked at him as she drew out a dagger.
He recognized it. It was the dagger Alicia had bought when they went outside the palace for the first time. And one of them was still stuck in Queen Darcy's throat.
"I... hate you." She choked with tears in her eyes and staggered backwards as her head began to ache and stupid memories began to flood in while she screamed in pain, letting go of the dagger to clutch her head as she cried for the pain to stop.
"Alicia... Alicia!!" Harold called in concern as he hurried to her and held her shoulders gently, shaking her carefully to get her to return to her senses, but once again, she shoved him with all her might as a sudden wind blew past her.
Her pain stopped, and so did her cries.
Harold's back hit the wall again, and he groaned in pain.
This was not going to be easy.
"Where... is she? Alicia?" He asked, his voice almost pleading.
"It's my body. Why are you looking for someone else?" Amber asked.
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