We fought. Fists to fists. I could’ve killed him if I’d used magic. I know I would’ve. I wanted to. But being that close to the king I’d be hanged for sure. If only there was a way to let him destroy himself? Let his beloved kingdom see him for who he really is. I’m not the monster. He is. He just needs to see it for himself.
I read the passage several times, each time sending a new chill through my body. I flipped to the final page. Only three words were written in dark black ink. Thick and thrice underlined.
I am done.
I slammed the book shut, and looks around the room, tiny spots from concentrating so hard encroached on my vision. After all, they had been through, Edwin and my father were not friends. Maybe they never were. But one thing did come clear through the journal, Edwin wanted to be king and without my father, he could have it. That also meant one other terrifying truth, without me, he still could.
I held my hand over the final diary, unsure if I really wanted to know more. I'd been uneasy around him for days, but never once had I considered he might be plotting my death. I flipped open the cover. No words. No symbols. Just a hand-drawn picture of the beast and a figure wearing a dress and a crown, both with their eyes slashed out. I slammed the book shut and chucked it against the wall, then let it fall to the floor with a thud.
The room spun. I grabbed my head in my hands and stared at the desktop, trying to make it stop. My stomach churned, this morning’s breakfast threatening to come back up.
Things finally started making sense. Edwin hated my father and wanted the crown for himself. When he turned into the beast he thought he had his chance, but instead, my mother came and saved my father thwarting Edwin's opportunity. Now with the curse back again, Edwin had a second chance at taking the throne. He tricked my mother, pretending to be helpful when all he really wanted was to get me alone and vulnerable before he could take what was rightfully mine. And I'd played right into his trap. In fact, I was the one who told him everything. I sent my mother to him. I left myself alone. I opened every window to pay my father back for the pain he'd cost him so many years ago. I needed to get him out of the castle. Fast.
I collected the diaries and hid them back in my original spot behind the picture book, then slid the trunk into the corner.
The sun through the skylight had already started to fade, which meant Edwin was probably already looking for me. Plotting against me. I checked the hall and fortunately found it empty, then slid out the door and casually walked down the hall trying to pretend that nothing happened. Now for the biggest problem, who could I get to believe me?
People buzzed around the grand foyer like bees working hard at the hive. Any other moment it would've been empty, but as my tongue bled to tell someone what I'd found, fate decided to play games.
"There you are, my prince," Griswold said clasping his hands together as a joyful smile burst across his face. "We've all been looking for you."
I started down the grand staircase as my mind tried to come up with a reasonable answer that would prompt any more questions.
"Yes, dear prince. Where have you been?” Edwin stalked out from the corner, always where I least expected and least wanted him to appear.
I bit the inside of my cheek trying to hold in the hatred building inside me. "Just roaming around the castle. Sometimes I miss my father, the true king of Aboria, so much I just want to be near his things and remember all the goodness he's given me and his loyal subjects."
Edwin's face twisted sour. "Yes, your father will be missed by many."
"Griswold, I'm feeling out of sorts right now. Could you get the kitchen to make me some soup and bring it by my room? I have some other tasks to be taken care of, so if you can handle it personally I would be ever grateful." I descended the rest of the staircase and forced myself to near tears. "And Edwin, you've done such an amazing job handling things, I hope you don't mind taking my place for the rest of the afternoon. I just don't feel up to the job right now."
"Of course, Your Highness. Anything that I can do to help." He gave a grand bow, the delight practically rolling from his smile in double rainbows. “I just hope it’s nothing serious.”
"I'm so fortunate to have such an ally right now." I tapped him on the shoulder and bit the inside of my cheek to keep a smirk from sneaking onto my lips. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I just need some time alone. Forgive me for this display of weakness, but it’s been rough these past few weeks.”
“Anything for you, my prince. Don’t worry about a thing.”
I held my hand to my chest, gave a dramatic heaving sigh, then headed down the hall toward my room. I peeked back over my shoulder, Edwin’s stare followed my heels as he vibrated with joy. Maybe I was getting better at lying.
Once my door had clicked closed behind me, I started to pace. I twisted my fingers together. I grabbed at my hair. Anything to keep my hands busy and away from wringing Edwin's neck. Even though the diaries were dated long ago, I didn't doubt that his desires remained the same. No one with that much vengeance gave it up so easily without some sort of payoff.
Finally, a hollow knock landed on my door. I let Griswold in, ushering him quickly as he tried to avoid upending the steaming bowl of chicken soup. I grabbed the tray from his careful hands and deposited it on the dresser.
"Thank you, Griswold. I'm so glad you're here."
"Yes, sir. I'll do whatever you ask, that's my job."
"I needed to speak to you in private and this was the only way I could think to do it. I have the proof I need to show that Edwin isn't what he seems."
Griswold tossed his hands in the air and scrambled for the door. "I've told you before, my comments were out of line and everything has been a misunderstanding. There is nothing going on with Edwin Macario and I was foolish to say otherwise."
He yanked the door open but I slammed my hand between the panel in the frame keeping it shut.
Griswold glared at me.
"I don't know what happened to you or who is behind this, but you don't have to worry anymore. I can prove that Edwin is a threat to the crown, a threat to my reign, and a threat to everyone in Aboria.”
"What kind of proof, sir? That would be a lot to demonstrate."
"Edwin wrote everything down. He kept diaries from his life at the castle and beyond. He tells everything that happened and even talked about himself. If written proof is not enough, I'll bring my mother back to support the story. You don't need to be afraid of him anymore."
"Well done, sir." Griswold relaxed and removed his hand from the doorknob. "These diaries? Where did you find him?"
"I found them in his old cottage. But I have them here, hidden away in the castle, just waiting for the right moment to present what I’ve found.”
Griswold eased back into the room as a strange shadow cast over his face. A dark look. Not his typical level-headed self. ”I hope you have them hidden somewhere safe. Maybe I should move them to the vault where the guards can keep an eye on them?”
The vault? The only thing we kept in the vault were jewels, and Griswold never had access to that space. Only the family and Captain Amir could enter the vault. He knew this, but something still seemed wrong. Griswold wasn’t himself.
"You're probably right.” I stroked my chin and scrunched up my face to appear lost in thought. “If you really think the vault would be better then maybe you should go get them. I left them in the throne room, behind my father's throne. I piled them in a gap between it and the wall. No one would ever think to look there.“
"I'll be sure to deal with that straight away, sir."
"Thank you. You may go.”
Griswold rushed to the door and quickly sped out of the room. I watched him from the threshold then silently followed him out. Something twinged at the back of my brain. I'd never seen Griswold that jumpy before, and he knew better to accuse anyone without being certain. If no one had threatened him, then what could he be hiding? Maybe I needed to read further in the diaries to see if he made a guest
appearance?
I raced down the corridor and headed for the throne room, except from the public entrance side. The oversized door creaked and the sound echoed through the giant room, but it looked as though it was still empty. Three large metal suits of armor lined the throne room entrance on each side, reminding the citizens of the grandeur of the castle while still hinting at security to keep everyone on their best behavior. I tiptoed to the left and slid in behind the middle suit to wait.
Colored shapes like puzzle pieces projected on the floor from the stained-glass and moved down the aisle as time ticked on. Maybe my intuition wasn't as strong as I thought. My stomach growled. Last night's dinner had worn off and I hadn't stopped today to refuel. I slipped out from behind the armor and headed for the kitchen, but as I reached the door I heard a creek on the other end. I doubled back behind the suit as Griswold crept in on the far side of the room. He bounded up the platform and stuffed his hand behind my father's throne. Finding nothing, he reached further, falling down to his knees for a better grip.
The door creaked again as Edwin entered the throne room. I clasped my hand over my mouth, fearful that even my breath would get me noticed. The victory of being right landing like a brick in my stomach and felt more like defeat.
"They aren't here, sir,” Griswold said as he rose from the floor.
Edwin skulked past him and placed his head on the wall trying to see behind the throne. He extended his arm fishing around, the angry tension in his face visible even from my position yards out of the way.
"You're certain he said behind his father's throne?"
"Of course. Perhaps, maybe he's already moved them."
Edwin marched past Griswold and exited the room. I relaxed against the cold stone wall.
Grrr.
My hungry stomach gurgled again. I slapped my hand over my abdomen as the blood rushed from my face.
Griswold stepped to the end of the platform and surveyed the room.
"Hello,” he called, but only his own voice echoed back. He took one more step, scrutinizing every wall, then shrugged, finally satisfied, and followed Edwin's path out of the room.
I dropped to the floor, my knees to my chest. If Edwin had Griswold spying for him who else did he have working against me? He seemed to get along well with everyone, but I never thought he might be building his own internal army. He was readying himself for war, every calculated move attempting to overthrow me as king. I finally knew the stakes of the game, but was it already checkmate?
6
8th June
The castle had become a prison. Ever since Griswold betrayed me and told Edwin about the diaries, my entire world had become covertly locked down. Every hall had at least two guards on watch at all times, and even with my instructions to stand down there would be another less than five feet away to deal with. Even if I got past a few, they would've reported enough to Edwin that I'd never make it to either of the secret passage entrances without raising suspicion. He also had the Council completely on his side. No matter what I suggested or which of the lords I tried to reason with, they shut me down refusing to help me remove Edwin and telling me I should listen to his experience. Of course, he had experience, he’d been waiting for a chance to take the throne his entire life.
Changing my appearance did nothing either. Edwin had instructed that anyone coming or going from the castle needed to meet with him beforehand or not be allowed to pass. I'd fooled him once before, but with his paranoia on high, I doubt I'd make it halfway to the gate. One by one he severed my connections to the outside world. Soon I’d be nothing more than one of his puppets, or worse, I might be dead.
I continued my melancholy prince act and tried to manipulate his sympathies, but since my cover had already been blown it didn’t seem to help. Every time I left a room someone came after me as if they needed to see what I was doing. Even my private chambers felt different every time I returned. A pillow out of place, a new footprint in the plush carpet, and even as blatant as my dresser drawers being left open. Whoever was doing Edwin’s bidding wasn’t even bothering to be discreet about it anymore. Or maybe he wanted me to feel the constricting squeeze he’d put on my life? If so, it worked.
Edwin knew that I knew his grand plan, the only thing I had going for me anymore was that he didn't know what, if anything, I planned to do about it. And unfortunately, that remained a mystery for both of us. Everyone in the castle had turned against me, or at the very least wasn't entirely under my command. Any contacts with the outside world had been shut off, not like I had many people in my corner to call on anyway. If I planned on getting any traction with this, I needed to know what exactly I was up against. He'd only given me a small sampling of his powers, what exactly could he do?
Plus, I needed to find my parents. They needed to know what was going on and be here to help me take him down. It seemed strange that my mother hadn’t sent word to me again, but with Edwin’s prison-like regime her letters might just have been confiscated before they reached me.
I sat alone in the casual dining room and finished my breakfast, the salty taste of smoked pig still burning on my tongue. But Edwin's eggs and bacon sat across from me untouched. His presence at meals ran like a perfectly wound clock, exactly on time. I assumed it gave him yet another way to keep me in line by knowing when I came and went, and raise the alarm if I decided to skip eating again. Or maybe, he'd already gotten used to indulging in the luxuries of the royal life. I dropped my napkin on the table and nodded for the servant to clear my dishes, then headed into the hallway. A steady stream of loud voices echoed through the hall. Laughter and pleasantries mixed with accents I didn't recognize.
I crept along the hall nodding to the guards on watch as I followed the sound toward the throne room. I eased the door back, the small opening enough to see eight strange people standing in the middle of the room, each one dressed in their prim and proper best. White gloves, petticoats and dapper suits adorned with bronze chains and brooches. The men had elegant top hats while the ladies wore intricate bonnets atop their heads.
The group carried on politely, their voices blending together in a delightful din. Except, one voice stood out amongst them all. Deep and menacing, coming from the front of the room. I shuddered as fury coursed through my blood and my fingernails dug into the flesh of my palms. I pulled the door open further, pushing my entire head in.
"You can't go in there." A guard slapped his hand down on my shoulder and wretched me back into the hallway.
I ripped his fingers from my shirt and tossed them back at him.
"Do you understand who you are talking to? As ruler of this kingdom, I may come and go as I please. You'd be best to remember that.”
His eyes widened then narrowed again hard as stone. "I'm on explicit orders from Edwin Macario that no one is to enter the throne room while he is with his guests."
I clenched my hands tighter into fists and fought the urge to swing. "Edwin Macario is not a resident of this castle, therefore, he cannot possibly have guests."
I smacked my hand into the door throwing it open and marched through the center of the throne room. Edwin bolted upright, his presumptuous buttocks sullying my father's throne. The rage within me nearly bubbled over seeing him sitting there, although flames likely shot out my eyes as Edwin stood and inched away from the throne as I approached.
The foreign visitors gasped and looked back and forth between us. I took a deep breath and plastered on my royal smile. "Hello, welcome to my castle. I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but I hadn't been informed that you had arrived. Prince Fallon Aldric.” I walked forward and extended my hand. The gentlemen took their turns at shaking and the ladies curtsied with an elegantly graceful motion.
"I'm sorry to hear no one passed on the message, Your Highness." Edwin stood behind me the grind of his gritted teeth the most pleasant sound I'd heard all day. "However, I'm sure you have so many important matters to take care of that I can handle one simple meeting with the lovely delegate
s from The Forge."
I clasped my hands together and pushed my grin to nearly artificial levels. "Actually, I don't have much on my agenda for today. It appears that everyone else is watching everything else in the castle, so I am completely free to meet with these fine individuals."
Edwin's grimace deepened. "But you've also not been well over the last few days, I'm certain a day of rest would serve you and the kingdom the most."
"Thank you so much for your concern, Edwin. But I seem to be feeling much better today."
"That is wonderful news. Maybe we could meet in private for a moment and I can get you up to speed on what we've been discussing."
Edwin skulked into the hallway and I followed him, not before giving a cordial wave to The Forge delegates.
"How dare you barge into my meeting like that?" Edwin snarled as he wagged his plump index finger in my face.
“Your meeting? This is still my kingdom and any meeting that happens with any delegates must go through me."
"I'm afraid you’re wrong, prince. This isn’t your kingdom as your father still holds the crown, not you. And last time I checked he sat precariously on the side of a mountain."
"Because you put him there." I pushed past toward the throne room again and knocked Edwin with my shoulder. He snapped his fingers and my arms jerked back behind me as two guards lifted me off my feet.
“Let me go at once. You are under the command of the royal family of Aldric. You'll be arrested for treason if you do not stop immediately."
Edwin smirked as the guards pulled me away. “I think you should take my advice and rest, Your Majesty. It seems your condition is making you say feverish things.”
Fallon: Son of Beauty and the Beast (Kingdom of Fairytales Boxset Book 6) Page 23
