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The next few days were filled with uncertainty. My determination to uncover the truth about my parents' deaths burned like an unquenchable fire, and I felt the walls of the palace closing in on me. Every shadow seemed to conceal a hidden enemy. Every whisper of the wind seemed to carry a warning.
I had ordered my most trusted spies to seek out any information that could be connected to the death of my parents, but so far, the leads had been nothing more than empty rumors. I could sense that someone within the kingdom was pulling the strings, but they were careful. Too careful.
It was on the fourth day of this relentless pursuit that I received an unexpected visitor. Lucien entered my chambers, his face more grave than usual. He was always the composed one, the man who saw through the complexities of the court with ease, but today, there was a subtle unease about him.
"Your Majesty," he said softly, "we've found something."
I stood up from my desk, my heart quickening at the prospect of a breakthrough. "What is it?"
Lucien handed me a thick, weathered scroll, sealed with a crest I had not seen in years—the crest of my late father's closest confidant, Lord Belvane. I broke the seal and unrolled the scroll, my eyes scanning the words that were written in haste, as though someone feared the information would be uncovered too soon.
"This letter," Lucien began, "was hidden in the ruins of the old palace. It's dated just before the death of your parents."
I read through it quickly, my heart racing as the words sank in.
---
"To my trusted Lord Belvane,
The time has come for us to act. The Empress, though powerful, is but a shadow of what she once was. We must strike while her defenses are weak. Your alliance with the eastern provinces will provide the final push needed to dethrone her. The kingdom must be ours.
The death of the King and Queen will be the first step in our plan, but there is more to be done. I have arranged for a divine beast to be brought into play. Its power will be enough to seal the fate of the throne. But do not delay—if the Empress is allowed to ascend without challenge, our efforts will be in vain.
Prepare your men. The hunt begins now."
---
The letter sent a chill through me, a cold realization dawning upon me. The death of my parents had not been a random act of violence—it was a carefully orchestrated plot. Someone had planned it long before I had even been born.
"Who signed it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Lucien's expression darkened. "There's no signature. But the mention of a divine beast... That is significant. Only the highest of powers could have arranged something like that."
I looked at the letter again, my mind racing. The mention of the eastern provinces made me uneasy, as did the reference to a divine beast. I had heard stories of such creatures—immense beings with powers that could shake the very fabric of the world. But how could someone have obtained one? And why?
"I need to speak with Lord Belvane," I said, my mind made up. "If anyone knows about this, it's him."
Lucien nodded. "I will arrange it immediately."
---
Hours later, I found myself in the royal gardens, standing before the stone statue of my father. His likeness towered over me, cold and unforgiving, as though he were watching over the kingdom even in death. I had always come here to think, to clear my mind. But today, the statue felt like a reminder of everything I had lost.
Footsteps approached, and I turned to see Lucien leading a man toward me. Lord Belvane was older than I remembered, his once-dark hair now streaked with silver, but his sharp eyes remained as calculating as ever. He bowed deeply before me, his movements precise.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice respectful but laced with something I couldn't place. "How may I serve you?"
"I have read your letter, Lord Belvane," I said, my tone as cold as the stone beneath my feet. "And I want answers."
He straightened, his expression remaining neutral. "I see. You have questions about the death of your parents, I presume?"
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My anger was still simmering just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.
"I do," I said. "And I demand that you tell me everything."
Lord Belvane sighed, his eyes flickering briefly with what seemed like regret. "It was never meant to be this way, Your Majesty. I had no choice but to follow orders."
"Orders from whom?" I pressed, my voice sharp.
He hesitated before answering, his gaze dropping to the ground. "From the Empress."
The words hit me like a blow to the chest. "What?"
"Your mother, Your Majesty," he said quietly. "She was never the ruler of this kingdom. She was merely a figurehead, controlled by those who truly held the power. The Empress was the true ruler, the one who pulled the strings from behind the scenes."
I took a step back, my mind reeling. My mother had been a puppet? The thought was too much to process, too painful to accept.
"What does this have to do with my parents' deaths?" I managed to ask, my voice barely audible.
Lord Belvane met my gaze, his eyes filled with regret. "The plan was always to eliminate your parents and place you on the throne, Your Majesty. But there was more. The Empress knew that you would one day rise to challenge her, and she could not allow that. She planned your downfall long before your birth."
I staggered back, my breath catching in my throat. Everything I had known was a lie. My parents' deaths, my family's legacy... it had all been part of a twisted game.
"Who else is involved in this plot?" I demanded, my fists clenched at my sides.
Lord Belvane looked away, a shadow passing over his face. "I cannot say more. There are too many secrets that even I do not know. But I will help you, Your Majesty. I owe it to your parents."
The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy with the promise of betrayal. I nodded slowly, my mind whirling with the implications. The hunt had just begun. And this time, I would not be the one who was hunted.
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Chapter End.
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