"Oh, Rome. I never thought you'd be this... simple."
"Give me your word." Roman ignored the amused grin plastered on Ismael's face as his expression remained solemn. "It is a cheap price compared to what I can offer. Wasn't that the reason you did what you did?"
Ismael smirked as he laughed weakly. "I did nothing, brother." He shrugged but didn't elaborate on what he meant by that.
"You have my word, seventh prince," promised Ismael to his brother. "Once the crown prince had fallen, I will keep my promise. But I am warning you. You might regret this decision, for I had planned to squeeze everything I can from you."
"Never." Roman's jaw tightened as he rocked his head. "I will be on my way since that is all I need to say."
Ismael simply shrugged nonchalantly as he watched Roman assist himself up. His eyes followed the seventh prince's figure until the door shut closed with a soft click.
A shallow breath slipped past the third prince's lips as he peeled his eyes away from the door and onto the vacant seat across from him.
"Roman..." he tapped his fingertips against the armrest, recalling Roman's confession. "Unbelievable. No wonder he's been serving Joaquin like a mindless dog."
Ismael had been mystified at Roman's reason for pledging to the crown prince. He knew his brother, the seventh prince, and it was so out of his character to condone Joaquin's inhumane nature. It was easy to say Roman was simply wise and chose someone whose position on the throne was secure.
But it had always bothered him.
Now that Roman confessed his reasons for sticking with the crown prince, it made sense. Being Joaquin's henchman and doing all the dirty work, Joaquin wouldn't know if all the people he wanted to silence died just as he ordered. Roman had spent over a decade serving the crown prince and surely, he had done more that no one else knew.
"This is fucking... scary and hilarious." Ismael laughed as he gripped the armrest tightly. The more he delved deeper into this silent power struggle, the more it made his stomach tremble.
Who wouldn't?
In the past, there were only two key figures fighting for power in the royal court: Joaquin and Ismael. But ever since Aries came into the picture and sat him down in the last row, he realized there wasn't just a platform in this seemingly huge theater.
The seats were filled, and their guests had their own cards to play.
Just who else was just like Roman?
"That's not the point," he whispered and closed his eyes, shaking his head mildly. "I might've figured this out a little later, but things are the same."
It was a good thing Roman wasn't as ambitious as he should be with his simple request in turn for his services. He could've gained more with the power he was holding.
"Now that I think about it..." Ismael slowly opened his eyes, and they instantly glinted. "... why did she let me do her bidding?"
He frowned as he thought about what was going on inside that madwoman's head. "I will lose my mind trying to understand that lunatic crown princess."
Ismael clicked his tongue in irritation and shook his head once more. Negotiating with Roman was something Aries could do easily. She simply needed to give Violet's address and it would be easier for the two of them to work since Joaquin trusted the crown princess. And yet, she deliberately gave this matter to the third prince to handle.
Just what was she planning?
Ismael might not know the reason for now, but... what mattered now was that everything was in motion. Now, Ismael could say his power now wasn't just title or birthright alone. The people that he slowly gathered solidified his ground.
"For the people..." he whispered as determination crossed his eyes. "For our land... Manuel, watch how I will deliver your murderer to hell."
*******
Roman let out a deep exhale as soon as he exited the third prince's chancery. Standing in front of the door, he looked back and sighed once more.
'There's no turning back,' he told himself as he peeled his eyes away from the door and marched through the hallway. 'Violet... my princess.'
His eyes softened as he walked silently. As he did, his mind drifted to the memory from a few days ago in the small land near the empire.
When Ismael told him about the land he purchased for his winery, Roman refused to believe his brother. But he found himself galloping to that place without asking anyone's permission. He didn't even rest and before he knew it; he stood outside the hectares of vineyard.
Roman simply wanted to confirm Ismael was just that rotten to use Violet and give him false hope. But as he intruded the vineyard, he soon caught a beautiful woman with a hat to shield her head from the sun harvesting grapes while two boys were munching them from the basket.
That second, he stood frozen from his spot. His eyes were fixed on that beautiful smile while he held her hat to still it on her head. He listened to her melodious laughter while her children bantered.
'You're safe...' his eyes softened in relief as his knees trembled, but he managed to keep his ground.
There were questions in his head about how Violet survived the fire. Was it part of Ismael's scheme? But Carlos died because of it. Ismael wouldn't be that crazy to sacrifice one of his strongest supporters. It would hurt him more than anyone.
But that didn't matter to Roman now. The most important part was that Violet survived and her children, too. Not just that, but she was now living a freer and more peaceful life — away from the suffocating imperial palace where her every movement was being watched.
"Thank God," he whispered as a subtle smile resurfaced on his face. Roman watched Violet from that distance before he turned around to leave. It was better if she didn't know he knew she was here and she was alive.
However, just as Roman turned around, he froze when he heard his name being uttered in her soft voice.
"Your Highness, the seventh prince? Is that you?" Roman ground his teeth and didn't turn around. "Your highness..."
He took a deep breath and, after a minute, he turned around. As soon as he did, he lowered his eyes to the hat that was on her head previously, now several feet away from his vantage point.
Roman silently sauntered forward to pit up the hat. But when he straightened his back, he saw the horror resurface in her eyes as she discreetly hid her boys behind her. This was the reason he didn't want to approach her.
"Please pretend I didn't come here." He ignored the fear in her eyes as he handed her the hat, which she accepted with shaking hands.
"I'm glad to see you well, Princess. I'll be on my way now." Roman smiled subtly before he tilted his head down. But before he could turn around to leave once again, Violet called.
"Wait!" he looked back at her with furrowed brows while Violet forced a smile on her face despite the fear in her eyes being obvious. "Do you... have time for a cup of tea? Your Highness?"
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