Determined to take control of their fates, Arjen and Arien escape Derolina Castle at the age of sixteen after their cruel mother dies. They adopt new names and find a home in the city of Aramore, while the Emperor of Yuriana searches for his missing...
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Adren sat across from the the queen and princess at the table, Lloyd and Eiji flanking him. He could taste the tension and discomfort in the room, combined with the bitterness in the back of his mouth from the night's events.
Lloyd had arrived early that morning, accompanied by Kazeya. When he introduced himself to their guests, Queen Keoneli had given him a stiff, formal greeting, and even the princess was colder than usual.
It was unfortunate the crown prince had to meet them under these circumstances. Adren had imagined a different scenario, but he needed this meeting to happen. Since the attack on the princess, the Isterisians had been holed up in their guest rooms, both their guards and the imperial guards keeping close watch. Under his worry lay a burning rage against the anti-emperor faction that had caused this.
"We have gone through our staff again to weed out any more potential threats," said Adren. "We will continue to do this throughout the duration of your stay."
The queen gave him an even stare. "Is this a normal procedure when you have guests?"
"No. But this situation is unique."
"There is much opposition to our being here."
"This is true."
"Why is there opposition?"
He was a little annoyed that she would ask that. It should've been obvious to her. "Because...there are some who find Isteris to be a threat."
Keoneli chuckled. "We have not been a threat to anyone. We only protect ourselves when needed, and that has not happened for a long time."
"And there are also some who preferred other marriage candidates."
"My granddaughter is as worthy as anyone, if not more so."
Adren rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers in front of him. "I agree with you on all these. What happened last night was an attack by a radical faction that believes what they are doing is for the benefit of our empire. I do not agree with them."
Keoneli glanced at Zemerri. The princess hesitated to begin. "The man who assaulted me...claimed he was compelled to do it because the third prince was always against the marriage."
Eiji almost jumped up from his seat but stopped. "That's crazy! I've never said anything to anyone about—" He squeezed his mouth shut.
"These people oppose me," Adren said. "They want to sow doubt and suspicion."
"In other words," said the queen with an arched eyebrow, "they will say anything to do so?"
"Yes, that is precisely what I mean."
Eiji firmly nodded in agreement.
"They're not doing this for us," Lloyd chimed in. "They only do it for their own agenda, and that agenda is to sabotage his plans."
